# cmctl > Manage cert-manager resources inside your cluster. > Check cert signing status, approve/deny requests, and issue new certificate requests. > More information: . - Check if the cert-manager API is ready: `cmctl check api` - Check the status of a certificate: `cmctl status certificate {{cert_name}}` - Create a new certificate request based on an existing certificate: `cmctl create certificaterequest my-cr --from-certificate-file {{cert.yaml}}` - Create a new certificate request, fetch the signed certificate, and set a maximum wait time: `cmctl create certificaterequest my-cr --from-certificate-file {{cert.yaml}} --fetch-certificate --timeout {{20m}}`