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● Red Hat · Cloud-native

Containerize your apps with Podman, hands-on.

The Red Hat Certified Developer in Cloud-native Applications credential proves you can build images, run and manage containers, deploy multi-container applications and troubleshoot them with Podman. Three days of labs prepare you for the practical EX188 exam.

✓  HRD Corp claimable✓  Exam included✓  Performance-based exam✓  Yayasan Peneraju may apply

Course fee RM6,905/pax including exam · HRD Corp claimable

CERTIFICATIONRed Hat Certified Developer in Cloud-native Applications EX188
Training3 days Exam length2.5 hours
FormatHands-on Current for3 years
Next intake 27 to 29 Jan 2027

●  Quick answer

What is the Red Hat Certified Developer in Cloud-native Applications?

This Red Hat certification that proves you can work with containers and Podman. Holders can run, find and manage containerized services, deploy single and multi-container applications, and build custom container images. You earn it by passing the EX188 exam.

The credential was previously called Red Hat Certified Specialist in Containers. EX188 is a hands-on exam based on RHEL 10, Podman v5 and OpenShift Container Platform 4.22.

●  Exam facts verified against Red Hat on 21 Oct 2026

Issued by

Red Hat

Exam

EX188, 2.5 hours

Format

Practical tasks on a live system

Based on

RHEL 10, Podman v5, OpenShift 4.22

Previously known as

Red Hat Certified Specialist in Containers

Results

Emailed, usually within 3 US business days

Recommended course

DO188: Red Hat OpenShift Development I: Introduction to Containers with Podman

Funding in Malaysia

HRD Corp claimable, Yayasan Peneraju may apply

●  Why Trainocate

Official Red Hat training with labs on live systems

Practise every exam task on real environments with certified instructors, in Kuala Lumpur or live online.

  • Red Hat Training Business Partner

  • HRD Corp Registered Training Provider and Yayasan Peneraju ALTI, based in KL Eco City

  • Classes in Kuala Lumpur and live online

  • 30+ years in training, operating in 25 countries
82%Of container users now run Kubernetes in production, up from 66% in 2023Source: CNCF Annual Cloud Native Survey, Jan 2026 98%Of surveyed organisations report adopting cloud native techniquesSource: CNCF Annual Cloud Native Survey, Jan 2026 92%Of organisations require or strongly prioritise certification in their workforce strategySource: Pearson VUE, 2026 Value of IT Certification
82%Of container users now run Kubernetes in production, up from 66% in 2023Source: CNCF Annual Cloud Native Survey, Jan 2026
98%Of surveyed organisations report adopting cloud native techniquesSource: CNCF Annual Cloud Native Survey, Jan 2026
92%Of organisations require or strongly prioritise certification in their workforce strategySource: Pearson VUE, 2026 Value of IT Certification

●  Your certification pathway

From developer to Red Hat certified in four steps

Get comfortable with Linux, learn Podman hands-on, prove it on a live system, then move up to OpenShift.

01

Step 01 · Foundation

Bring web and Linux basics

Some experience with web application architectures, plus Linux terminal and shell scripting familiarity.

02

Step 02 · 3 days

Attend DO188

Build images, manage containers, persist data, run multi-container apps with Compose and troubleshoot.

03

Step 03 · 2.5 hours

Pass the EX188 exam

Complete real tasks on a live system with Red Hat documentation available. Your exam is included.

04

Step 04 · Advanced

Move up to OpenShift

Go on to EX288, Red Hat Certified Advanced Developer in Cloud-native Applications.

●  Exam objectives

What the EX188 exam asks you to do

Red Hat publishes five objective areas for EX188 without weightings. Every task is performed on a live system.

Practical exam.
Your work must persist and keep running across normal system restarts without manual fixes. Red Hat reports a total score only.

Implement images using Podman and Containerfile

Base images, runtime settings, ports, environment variables, build arguments, volumes and permissions.

ContainerfileVolumesLifecycle

Manage images

Private registry security, multiple registries, tags, push and pull, and backing up images.

RegistriesTagsBackup

Run containers locally using Podman

Run containers, read logs, listen to events, inspect and expose running applications.

LogsEventsInspect

Run multi-container applications

Application stacks, container dependencies, environment variables, secrets, volumes and configuration.

StacksSecretsConfig

Troubleshoot containerised applications

Read resource descriptions, get logs, inspect running apps and connect to containers.

DiagnosticsLogsExec

Objectives from the Red Hat EX188 exam page.

●  Who it’s for

For developers and engineers new to containers

Application developers

Package and run your applications in containers.

Developers containerising apps

Site reliability engineers

Build a container foundation before Kubernetes and OpenShift.

SREs and platform engineers

System administrators

Get hands-on with containers and orchestration concepts.

Admins new to containers

Architects

Evaluate container technology with practical experience.

Solution and enterprise architects

●  Intakes and fees

Pick your intake

Five three-day intakes from January to May 2027, in Kuala Lumpur or live online. Choose a date and we’ll confirm your seat.

DO188: Red Hat OpenShift Development I: Introduction to Containers with Podman

3 days

JAN27

Wed 27 to Fri 29 Jan 2027

Next available intake

FEB3

Wed 3 to Fri 5 Feb 2027

February intake

MAR31

Wed 31 Mar to Fri 2 Apr 2027

Q1 intake

APR26

Mon 26 to Wed 28 Apr 2027

April intake

MAY26

Wed 26 to Fri 28 May 2027

Mid-year intake

Course fee per person

RM6,905/pax

Includes EX188 exam · course only RM4,890

  • HRD Corp claimable. Employers can claim this course through HRD Corp.

  • Yayasan Peneraju. Malaysian Bumiputera learners may be eligible for the financing scheme. Ask us to check.

  • Team bookings. Training a group? Tell us your headcount for a group quote.

Terms and conditions apply. Fees in Malaysian Ringgit.

●  Exam overview

The exam format and how to stay current

Exam code

EX188

Length

2.5 hours

Format

Hands-on, performance-based tasks on a live system. No multiple choice.

Resources

Red Hat documentation is available during the exam. No outside assistance.

Based on

RHEL 10, Podman v5 and OpenShift Container Platform 4.22

Fee

Included in this course fee (RM2,015 if bought separately from Trainocate)

Results

Emailed from Red Hat Certification Central, usually within 3 US business days. Total score only.

Recommended preparation

DO188 and hands-on Podman v5 experience in Linux

Keeping the certification current

Current

Three years

Red Hat certifications are current for three years. They don’t expire, but they become non-current after that.

3 years

Renew

Pass EX188 again

Red Hat’s renewal policy says specialist-level credentials stay current only by passing their exam again.

Retake exam

Official certification page ↗    EX188 exam page ↗    Red Hat certification renewal ↗

●  After EX188

Where your container skills lead

Move from containers on one host to applications on OpenShift and Kubernetes.

Red Hat Advanced · EX288

Red Hat Certified Advanced Developer in Cloud-native Applications

Deploy existing applications in a Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform environment.

4 hoursPrice: ask us

Suits
Developers moving to OpenShift

CNCF · CKAD

Certified Kubernetes Application Developer

Design, build and deploy cloud-native applications on Kubernetes from the command line.

2 hoursUSD 445

Suits
Developers working on any Kubernetes

●  FAQ

Questions people ask before booking

What is the Red Hat Certified Developer in Cloud-native Applications?

A Red Hat certification that proves you can work with containers and Podman: run and manage containerised services, deploy single and multi-container applications, and build custom container images. You earn it by passing EX188.

Yes. Red Hat now uses the name Red Hat Certified Developer in Cloud-native Applications for the credential earned by passing EX188, which was previously Red Hat Certified Specialist in Containers.

EX188 is a 2.5-hour hands-on exam. You complete real tasks on a live system instead of answering multiple choice questions. Red Hat documentation is available, but no outside help is allowed. It is based on RHEL 10, Podman v5 and OpenShift Container Platform 4.22.

Some experience with web application architectures is expected, and Linux terminal and shell scripting experience is recommended. Red Hat also offers a free skills assessment to check your fit.

Red Hat certifications are current for three years. They don’t expire, but they become non-current after that. Red Hat’s policy says specialist-level credentials stay current by passing their exam again.

Red Hat’s next step is EX288, Red Hat Certified Advanced Developer in Cloud-native Applications, a 4-hour exam on deploying applications on OpenShift. The Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) is a vendor-neutral option.

Yes. Trainocate Malaysia is an HRD Corp Registered Training Provider and this course is HRD Corp claimable. Malaysian Bumiputera learners may be eligible for the Yayasan Peneraju financing scheme. Ask us to check. Terms and conditions apply.

●  Reserve your seat

Get hands-on with containers

Tell us your preferred intake. Our team will confirm your seat, help with HRD Corp paperwork, check Yayasan Peneraju eligibility, and send joining details.

  • EX188 exam included in the course fee

  • Five intakes from January to May 2027

  • Group quotes for teams

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