Best Docker Courses on Pluralsight 2026

Docker fundamentally changed how developers build, ship, and run applications. Over 80% of organizations now use containers in production, and Docker remains the dominant containerization platform with 83% market share. If you are looking to master Docker through Pluralsight, you are making a smart career move---container skills are now essential for DevOps engineers, cloud architects, and modern developers.

But with dozens of Docker courses on Pluralsight spanning beginner to advanced topics, which ones actually teach you production-ready container skills? We analyzed the complete Docker catalog, evaluated hands-on labs, instructor expertise, and real-world applicability to identify the top 12 courses that build genuine Docker competency.

Quick Picks: Best Docker Courses by Skill Level

Start with the course that matches your experience:

Complete Beginners (No Docker Experience):

• Docker and Kubernetes: The Big Picture by Nigel Poulton (4 hours) - Perfect introduction to container concepts before diving into technical courses

Beginners Ready for Hands-On Learning:

• Getting Started with Docker by Nigel Poulton (5 hours) - The definitive beginner course with clear explanations and practical labs

Intermediate (Some Docker Experience):

• Docker Deep Dive by Nigel Poulton (9 hours) - Comprehensive coverage from basics to production deployment patterns

Advanced (Production Docker Users):

• Docker Swarm: Native Docker Clustering by Wes Higbee (6 hours) - Master orchestration and high-availability container clusters

Kubernetes Path (Beyond Docker):

• Kubernetes for Developers: Core Concepts by Dan Wahlin (5 hours) - Bridge from Docker to Kubernetes orchestration

The Top 12 Docker Courses on Pluralsight (Ranked)

After evaluating course quality, hands-on labs, instructor expertise, and industry relevance, here are the best Docker courses on Pluralsight:

1. Docker Deep Dive

Instructor: Nigel Poulton Duration: 9 hours Level: Intermediate Best For: Comprehensive Docker mastery from basics to production

This is the gold standard for Docker education on any platform. Nigel Poulton (Docker Captain and leading container educator) covers everything: Docker architecture, images, containers, volumes, networking, Docker Compose, Docker Swarm, security, and production best practices. The course includes extensive hands-on labs where you build multi-container applications.

What makes it great: Nigel teaches not just the commands, but why Docker works the way it does. You will understand container internals, image layering, networking modes, and orchestration patterns. This course alone can take you from Docker beginner to production-ready.

Key topics: Dockerfile best practices, multi-stage builds, overlay networks, secrets management, rolling updates, service scaling, stack deployments

2. Getting Started with Docker

Instructor: Nigel Poulton Duration: 5 hours Level: Beginner Best For: First-time Docker learners

Nigel Poulton delivers the perfect entry point for Docker. This beginner-friendly course assumes no container knowledge and builds your skills progressively: installing Docker, running containers, creating images, Docker Compose for multi-container apps, and basic networking. The hands-on labs let you practice immediately.

What makes it great: Clear explanations without overwhelming technical jargon. Nigel uses practical examples (running web servers, databases, WordPress) that make concepts immediately relevant.

Key topics: Docker Engine installation, pulling images from Docker Hub, running containers, port mapping, building custom images, Docker Compose basics

3. Docker and Kubernetes: The Big Picture

Instructor: Nigel Poulton Duration: 4 hours Level: Beginner Best For: Understanding container ecosystem before technical deep-dives

This conceptual course explains why containers matter, how Docker works at a high level, and how Kubernetes fits into the ecosystem. Perfect for managers, architects, or developers who need context before learning Docker commands. No hands-on labs---this is pure conceptual foundation.

What makes it great: Answers the “why” before the “how.” You will understand business drivers for containers, DevOps workflows, microservices architecture, and when to use Docker vs. Kubernetes.

Key topics: Container vs. virtual machine differences, Docker architecture, orchestration needs, Kubernetes overview, container security basics

4. Building and Orchestrating Containers with Docker Compose

Instructor: Michael Levan Duration: 3 hours Level: Intermediate Best For: Multi-container application development

Michael Levan focuses exclusively on Docker Compose---the tool for defining and running multi-container applications. You will learn YAML syntax, service definitions, networking between containers, volumes, environment variables, and development workflows. The labs have you build real application stacks with databases, web servers, and caching layers.

What makes it great: Compose is essential for local development and testing multi-container apps. This course makes you productive with Compose quickly.

Key topics: Compose file syntax, service dependencies, named volumes, overlay networks, secrets, environment variable injection, scaling services

5. Docker Swarm: Native Docker Clustering

Instructor: Wes Higbee Duration: 6 hours Level: Advanced Best For: Production orchestration without Kubernetes

Wes Higbee teaches Docker Swarm---Docker’s built-in orchestration platform for clustering Docker engines. You will build production-grade container clusters with high availability, load balancing, rolling updates, and secret management. While Kubernetes dominates orchestration, Swarm is simpler and sufficient for many production workloads.

What makes it great: Learn orchestration concepts (service discovery, load balancing, health checks) in a simpler environment than Kubernetes. Excellent foundation before tackling Kubernetes complexity.

Key topics: Swarm initialization, worker and manager nodes, service deployment, ingress networking, rolling updates, stack files, secrets, health checks

6. Docker Security

Instructor: Nigel Poulton Duration: 4 hours Level: Intermediate Best For: Securing containers in production

Nigel Poulton addresses Docker security comprehensively: image scanning, least privilege principles, secrets management, network isolation, kernel capabilities, AppArmor profiles, and security benchmarks. This course is essential before deploying containers to production.

What makes it great: Security breaches through misconfigured containers cost companies millions. This course teaches you to build secure containerized applications from the start.

Key topics: Image vulnerability scanning, Docker Content Trust, secrets vs. environment variables, user namespaces, read-only filesystems, security scanning with Trivy, CIS Docker Benchmark

7. Docker for Web Developers

Instructor: Dan Wahlin Duration: 6 hours Level: Beginner to Intermediate Best For: Web developers containerizing applications

Dan Wahlin tailors Docker training specifically for web developers. You will containerize Node.js, Python, and .NET applications, configure development environments, use Docker Compose for local stacks, and integrate Docker into development workflows. The course includes Visual Studio Code integration and debugging containerized apps.

What makes it great: Practical focus on web development workflows. You will learn to containerize real web applications, not just run example containers.

Key topics: Containerizing web apps, bind mounts for live code reloading, multi-stage builds for smaller production images, debugging containers, Docker in CI/CD pipelines

8. Docker Images and Containers for ASP.NET Core

Instructor: Wes Higbee Duration: 5 hours Level: Intermediate Best For: .NET developers moving to containers

Wes Higbee shows .NET developers how to containerize ASP.NET Core applications. You will create optimized Dockerfiles, use multi-stage builds, configure health checks, handle configuration and secrets, and deploy to Azure Container Instances. Includes deep coverage of Windows vs. Linux containers.

What makes it great: Addresses .NET-specific challenges: SDK vs. runtime images, Windows container licensing, Azure integration, and performance optimization for .NET workloads.

Key topics: ASP.NET Core Dockerfiles, multi-stage builds, health checks, environment-based configuration, Windows vs. Linux containers, Azure deployment

9. Managing Docker on Linux Servers

Instructor: David Clinton Duration: 4 hours Level: Intermediate Best For: Linux administrators managing Docker hosts

David Clinton focuses on the operational side of Docker: installing Docker on Ubuntu and CentOS, configuring Docker daemon, managing disk usage, monitoring containers, log management, and troubleshooting. This course is essential for sysadmins responsible for Docker hosts.

What makes it great: Covers the unsexy but critical operational details that keep Docker running smoothly in production. You will learn to diagnose and fix real Docker problems.

Key topics: Docker daemon configuration, log drivers, disk space management, resource constraints, monitoring with cAdvisor, systemd integration, backup strategies

10. Kubernetes for Developers: Core Concepts

Instructor: Dan Wahlin Duration: 5 hours Level: Intermediate Best For: Transitioning from Docker to Kubernetes

Dan Wahlin bridges Docker knowledge to Kubernetes. This course assumes Docker competence and teaches Kubernetes fundamentals: pods, deployments, services, volumes, ConfigMaps, Secrets, and kubectl commands. The labs have you deploy multi-container applications to Kubernetes clusters.

What makes it great: Docker is the foundation, but Kubernetes runs containers at scale. This course provides the smoothest path from Docker mastery to Kubernetes competency.

Key topics: Pods vs. containers, deployments and ReplicaSets, services and load balancing, persistent volumes, ConfigMaps and Secrets, kubectl basics

11. Creating Docker Images

Instructor: Michael Levan Duration: 2 hours Level: Intermediate Best For: Mastering Dockerfile and image optimization

Michael Levan focuses exclusively on building Docker images: Dockerfile syntax, layer caching, multi-stage builds, image tagging, pushing to registries, and optimization techniques. This course makes you an expert at creating efficient, secure images.

What makes it great: Image creation is where most Docker inefficiencies happen. Poorly designed images waste disk space, slow deployments, and create security vulnerabilities. This course teaches you to build professional-grade images.

Key topics: Dockerfile instructions (FROM, COPY, RUN, CMD, ENTRYPOINT), layer caching strategies, .dockerignore files, multi-stage builds, alpine vs. debian base images, image size optimization

12. Monitoring Containerized Application Health with Docker

Instructor: Elton Stoneman Duration: 3 hours Level: Advanced Best For: Production container monitoring

Elton Stoneman (Docker Captain) teaches container health monitoring: health checks, logging patterns, metrics collection, integrating with Prometheus and Grafana, and building observable containerized applications. Essential for running containers reliably in production.

What makes it great: Containers fail differently than traditional apps. This course teaches you to detect and respond to container failures before users notice.

Key topics: HEALTHCHECK instruction, structured logging, log aggregation, metrics with Prometheus, visualization with Grafana, distributed tracing, graceful shutdown

Docker Learning Path: Beginner to Kubernetes

Pluralsight’s Docker courses create a structured path from container basics to orchestration:

Phase 1: Container Fundamentals (4-6 weeks)

Week 1-2: Conceptual Foundation

• Take Docker and Kubernetes: The Big Picture to understand why containers matter
• Learn container vs. virtual machine differences
• Understand microservices architecture and DevOps workflows

Week 3-4: Hands-On Basics

• Complete Getting Started with Docker
• Install Docker Desktop on your machine
• Run containers, build images, use Docker Hub
• Practice with bind mounts and volumes

Week 5-6: Production Skills

• Start Docker Deep Dive (complete first half)
• Learn networking modes and security basics
• Build multi-stage Dockerfiles
• Understand image layering and caching

Phase 2: Multi-Container Applications (3-4 weeks)

Week 7-8: Docker Compose

• Complete Building and Orchestrating Containers with Docker Compose
• Define multi-container applications with YAML
• Set up local development environments
• Learn service dependencies and networking

Week 9-10: Security and Optimization

• Take Docker Security to learn production security
• Complete Creating Docker Images for optimization techniques
• Practice image scanning and vulnerability management
• Implement secrets management

Phase 3: Orchestration (4-6 weeks)

Week 11-13: Docker Swarm

• Complete Docker Swarm: Native Docker Clustering
• Build production container clusters
• Learn service discovery and load balancing
• Practice rolling updates and stack deployments

Week 14-16: Kubernetes Foundation

• Take Kubernetes for Developers: Core Concepts
• Understand pods, deployments, and services
• Learn kubectl commands and YAML manifests
• Deploy containerized apps to Kubernetes clusters

Timeline: 3-4 months of consistent study (10-15 hours/week) takes you from Docker beginner to Kubernetes-ready. Adjust pace based on hands-on practice---building real projects accelerates learning significantly.

Hands-On Labs: Essential for Docker Mastery

Docker is a hands-on skill---watching videos alone does not build competency. Pluralsight’s Docker labs put you in real container environments where you execute commands, troubleshoot issues, and build applications.

What Docker Labs Offer

• Pre-configured environments: Docker already installed and ready to use
• Guided scenarios: Step-by-step challenges with specific objectives
• Validation: Labs verify you completed tasks correctly
• Safe experimentation: Break things without fear---just restart the lab
• Real-world tasks: Build images, configure networks, deploy multi-container apps

Top Docker Lab Categories

Container Basics Labs:

• Run containers from Docker Hub images
• Map ports and access containerized services
• Manage container lifecycle (start, stop, remove)
• Inspect container logs and processes

Image Creation Labs:

• Write Dockerfiles for custom applications
• Build images and tag them properly
• Push images to Docker Hub registries
• Optimize images with multi-stage builds

Networking Labs:

• Create bridge, host, and overlay networks
• Connect containers across networks
• Configure DNS and service discovery
• Implement load balancing with ingress

Docker Compose Labs:

• Write docker-compose.yml files
• Define services, volumes, and networks
• Manage multi-container application stacks
• Scale services and handle dependencies

Docker Swarm Labs:

• Initialize Swarm clusters
• Deploy services across multiple nodes
• Implement rolling updates
• Configure secrets and configs

Sandboxes for Docker

Pluralsight offers Docker sandboxes---open environments where you experiment without guided objectives. Sandboxes are perfect for:

• Testing Dockerfile changes before committing to repositories
• Experimenting with networking configurations
• Prototyping multi-container architectures
• Practicing for real-world scenarios

Best Docker Courses by Topic

If you need to master specific Docker capabilities, these specialized courses dive deep:

Docker Images and Registries

• Creating Docker Images (Michael Levan) - Dockerfile mastery and optimization
• Docker Images and Containers for ASP.NET Core (Wes Higbee) - .NET-specific image creation
• Managing Docker Images (David Clinton) - Registry management and image distribution

Docker Compose

• Building and Orchestrating Containers with Docker Compose (Michael Levan) - Complete Compose guide
• Docker for Web Developers (Dan Wahlin) - Compose for development workflows
• Developing React.js Apps with Docker (Cory House) - React-specific Compose patterns

Docker Networking

• Docker Networks (Elton Stoneman) - Deep dive into Docker networking
• Docker Deep Dive (Nigel Poulton, networking sections) - Bridge, overlay, and ingress networks
• Managing Docker on Linux Servers (David Clinton) - Network troubleshooting

Docker Security

• Docker Security (Nigel Poulton) - Comprehensive security practices
• Securing Docker Platform (Chad Smith) - Security hardening and compliance
• Container Security Fundamentals (Chad Smith) - Industry security standards

Docker Swarm (Orchestration)

• Docker Swarm: Native Docker Clustering (Wes Higbee) - Production Swarm clusters
• Deploying Containerized Applications (Elton Stoneman) - Deployment patterns
• Docker Deep Dive (Nigel Poulton, Swarm sections) - Swarm fundamentals

Monitoring and Operations

• Monitoring Containerized Application Health with Docker (Elton Stoneman) - Health checks and observability
• Managing Docker on Linux Servers (David Clinton) - Operational management
• Docker Logging and Monitoring (David Clinton) - Log aggregation and metrics

Docker Certification and Career Path

While Docker Inc. discontinued official Docker certifications in 2021, Docker skills remain essential for modern DevOps and cloud roles. Here is how to build marketable Docker competency:

Entry-Level Docker Skills (Junior DevOps/Developer)

Required knowledge:

• Run containers from public images
• Build custom images with Dockerfiles
• Use Docker Compose for local development
• Basic networking and volume management
• Push images to Docker Hub

Relevant Pluralsight courses:

• Getting Started with Docker
• Docker for Web Developers
• Building and Orchestrating Containers with Docker Compose

Career impact: Junior DevOps Engineer ($70K-90K), Backend Developer with Docker skills ($80K-100K)

Intermediate Docker Skills (DevOps Engineer)

Required knowledge:

• Multi-stage builds and image optimization
• Docker networking modes (bridge, overlay, host)
• Security best practices and vulnerability scanning
• Docker Swarm basics
• CI/CD integration with Docker

Relevant Pluralsight courses:

• Docker Deep Dive
• Creating Docker Images
• Docker Security
• Docker Swarm: Native Docker Clustering

Career impact: DevOps Engineer ($100K-130K), Site Reliability Engineer ($110K-140K)

Advanced Docker Skills (Senior DevOps/Architect)

Required knowledge:

• Production Docker Swarm or Kubernetes
• Container security hardening
• Monitoring and logging architecture
• Registry management and distribution
• Migration strategies from VMs to containers

Relevant Pluralsight courses:

• Docker Swarm: Native Docker Clustering
• Monitoring Containerized Application Health
• Kubernetes for Developers: Core Concepts
• Managing Docker on Linux Servers

Career impact: Senior DevOps Engineer ($130K-160K), Cloud Architect ($140K-180K), Platform Engineer ($150K-200K)

Kubernetes Path (Beyond Docker)

Docker is the foundation, but Kubernetes runs containers at scale in production. Most organizations using containers in production have adopted Kubernetes orchestration.

Learning sequence:

1. Master Docker fundamentals (3-4 months)
2. Learn Docker Swarm for orchestration concepts (1-2 months)
3. Transition to Kubernetes (2-3 months)
4. Pursue Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) or Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)

Pluralsight Kubernetes courses:

• Kubernetes for Developers: Core Concepts (Dan Wahlin)
• Getting Started with Kubernetes (Nigel Poulton)
• Kubernetes Installation and Configuration Fundamentals (Anthony Nocentino)

How to Use Skill IQ for Docker Learning

Pluralsight’s Skill IQ assessments help you identify exactly where you stand with Docker knowledge and which courses to take next.

Taking Docker Skill IQ Assessments

1. Search for Docker skills: Find “Docker” in Skill IQ assessments
2. Take the adaptive test: Answer 15-20 questions that adjust difficulty based on your responses
3. Get your score: Receive a score from 0-300 placing you in one of five levels (Novice, Proficient, Expert)
4. Get course recommendations: Pluralsight suggests courses targeting your specific gaps

Available Docker and Container Skill IQ Tests

• Docker (general container knowledge)
• Kubernetes (container orchestration)
• DevOps (includes Docker as component)
• Linux (often tested alongside Docker skills)

Using Role IQ for Container Careers

Role IQ assessments evaluate your readiness for specific container-related job roles:

• DevOps Engineer (Docker is core component)
• Site Reliability Engineer (container operations)
• Cloud Engineer (cloud-native containers)
• Platform Engineer (container platforms)

Role IQ tests multiple related skills (Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD, Linux, cloud platforms) and identifies your complete readiness for the role. This helps you understand which areas need work before applying for DevOps positions.

Docker vs. Virtual Machines: When to Use Each

Understanding when containers make sense versus virtual machines is critical for architects:

Use Docker When:

• Microservices architectures: Docker excels at running many small, isolated services
• Development environment consistency: Eliminate “works on my machine” problems
• CI/CD pipelines: Fast startup makes containers perfect for build and test automation
• Application portability: Run the same container on any Docker host
• Resource efficiency: Run more workloads on same hardware compared to VMs

Use Virtual Machines When:

• Full OS isolation required: Regulatory compliance or security requirements
• Windows legacy applications: Older apps requiring full Windows OS
• Kernel-level access needed: Low-level system programming
• Running multiple operating systems: Different OS types on same host

Hybrid Approaches:

Many organizations run Docker on virtual machines, combining VM isolation with container efficiency. Cloud platforms (AWS ECS, Google GKE, Azure AKS) often run containers on VM-based infrastructure, giving you both benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Docker still relevant with Kubernetes dominance?

Absolutely. Kubernetes runs Docker containers (or compatible runtimes like containerd). Docker is the foundation---you cannot effectively use Kubernetes without understanding Docker fundamentals. In fact, 92% of organizations using Kubernetes also use Docker for local development and testing. Docker Desktop remains the standard development tool even in Kubernetes-first organizations.

How long does it take to learn Docker using Pluralsight?

For complete beginners: 1-2 months to become productive with Docker basics (running containers, building images, using Compose). For intermediate skills: 3-4 months to master production deployment, security, and orchestration. Docker has a gentler learning curve than Kubernetes---most developers become functional with Docker in 4-6 weeks of consistent study and practice.

Do I need the Premium plan for Docker courses?

For serious Docker learning, yes. The Standard plan ($299/year) includes video courses but not hands-on labs. Premium ($449/year) adds labs where you execute Docker commands in real environments---this hands-on practice is essential for building genuine Docker competency. The $150 difference is worth it because Docker is a practical skill that requires typing commands, not just watching videos.

Should I learn Docker Swarm or Kubernetes?

Learn Docker fundamentals first, then Docker Swarm for orchestration concepts, then Kubernetes for production container orchestration. Docker Swarm is simpler and sufficient for small to medium deployments (under 100 nodes). Kubernetes dominates enterprise container orchestration but has steeper learning curve. Swarm teaches orchestration patterns that transfer directly to Kubernetes.

Can I use Pluralsight Docker labs without Docker Desktop?

Yes. Pluralsight’s Docker hands-on labs use pre-configured Docker environments in the cloud. You do not need to install Docker Desktop on your machine. However, most Docker learners also install Docker Desktop locally for personal projects and practice outside of Pluralsight labs. Docker Desktop is free for personal use and small businesses.

Which Docker course should I start with?

Complete beginners: Start with Docker and Kubernetes: The Big Picture for concepts, then Getting Started with Docker for hands-on skills. If you have development experience: Skip the big picture course and start directly with Getting Started with Docker. After completing the beginner course, progress to Docker Deep Dive for comprehensive production skills.

How current are Pluralsight’s Docker courses?

Most Docker courses are updated within 6-12 months of major Docker releases. Nigel Poulton’s courses (the most popular) are regularly refreshed. Docker is relatively stable compared to Kubernetes, so courses from 2022-2024 remain highly relevant. Always check course descriptions for Docker version alignment. Docker fundamentals have remained consistent since 2016.

Do I need Linux knowledge to learn Docker?

Basic Linux familiarity helps significantly because Docker originated on Linux and most production Docker runs on Linux servers. You should understand basic commands (ls, cd, mkdir), file permissions, and environment variables. However, Docker Desktop makes Docker accessible on Windows and Mac. Pluralsight offers Linux courses if you need to build Linux skills alongside Docker learning.

Final Verdict: Best Platform for Docker Mastery

Pluralsight offers the strongest structured Docker education available, anchored by Nigel Poulton’s exceptional courses. The combination of conceptual foundation (Big Picture), hands-on beginner training (Getting Started), comprehensive deep-dive (Docker Deep Dive), and specialized topics (Security, Compose, Swarm) creates a complete learning path from Docker beginner to production-ready container expert.

The Premium plan ($449/year) is essential for Docker learners. Containers are inherently practical---you must execute commands, build images, and deploy applications to develop genuine competency. The hands-on labs where you practice in real Docker environments are worth the premium price alone. Docker is not a skill you can learn from videos alone.

Our recommendation: Start with the 10-day free trial. Take the Docker Skill IQ assessment to identify your starting point. Complete Docker and Kubernetes: The Big Picture for context, then Getting Started with Docker with all hands-on labs. If you find the teaching style effective (you will), invest in Premium annual subscription for full access to advanced courses, Docker Swarm orchestration, security training, and Kubernetes transition courses.

Docker skills are foundational for modern software careers. According to Stack Overflow’s 2025 Developer Survey, Docker is the third most-wanted technology by developers. DevOps engineers with Docker and Kubernetes skills command salaries from $100K to $180K depending on experience and location. Pluralsight’s Docker courses provide the fastest, most structured path to production Docker competency.

The journey from Docker beginner to Kubernetes-ready typically takes 4-6 months of consistent study and practice. Pluralsight’s learning paths, hands-on labs, and expert instruction make this journey achievable for anyone willing to invest the time. Container technology is not a trend---it is how modern applications are built, deployed, and scaled. Start learning Docker today.

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