diff --git a/generated/latest/apis/concierge/authentication/v1alpha1/types_webhookauthenticator.go b/generated/latest/apis/concierge/authentication/v1alpha1/types_webhookauthenticator.go
index 207249b28..a78e7a7e5 100644
--- a/generated/latest/apis/concierge/authentication/v1alpha1/types_webhookauthenticator.go
+++ b/generated/latest/apis/concierge/authentication/v1alpha1/types_webhookauthenticator.go
@@ -5,6 +5,19 @@ package v1alpha1
 
 import metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 
+type WebhookAuthenticatorPhase string
+
+const (
+	// WebhookAuthenticatorPhasePending is the default phase for newly-created WebhookAuthenticator resources.
+	WebhookAuthenticatorPhasePending WebhookAuthenticatorPhase = "Pending"
+
+	// WebhookAuthenticatorPhaseReady is the phase for an WebhookAuthenticator resource in a healthy state.
+	WebhookAuthenticatorPhaseReady WebhookAuthenticatorPhase = "Ready"
+
+	// WebhookAuthenticatorPhaseError is the phase for an WebhookAuthenticator in an unhealthy state.
+	WebhookAuthenticatorPhaseError WebhookAuthenticatorPhase = "Error"
+)
+
 // Status of a webhook authenticator.
 type WebhookAuthenticatorStatus struct {
 	// Represents the observations of the authenticator's current state.
@@ -13,6 +26,10 @@ type WebhookAuthenticatorStatus struct {
 	// +listType=map
 	// +listMapKey=type
 	Conditions []metav1.Condition `json:"conditions,omitempty" patchStrategy:"merge" patchMergeKey:"type"`
+	// Phase summarizes the overall status of the WebhookAuthenticator.
+	// +kubebuilder:default=Pending
+	// +kubebuilder:validation:Enum=Pending;Ready;Error
+	Phase WebhookAuthenticatorPhase `json:"phase,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // Spec for configuring a webhook authenticator.
diff --git a/internal/controller/authenticator/webhookcachefiller/webhookcachefiller.go b/internal/controller/authenticator/webhookcachefiller/webhookcachefiller.go
index c7b24cc6f..191f7c77b 100644
--- a/internal/controller/authenticator/webhookcachefiller/webhookcachefiller.go
+++ b/internal/controller/authenticator/webhookcachefiller/webhookcachefiller.go
@@ -5,12 +5,17 @@
 package webhookcachefiller
 
 import (
+	"context"
+	"crypto/x509"
 	"fmt"
+	"net/url"
 	"os"
 
-	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
 	k8sauthv1beta1 "k8s.io/api/authentication/v1beta1"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/equality"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
+	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+	errorsutil "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/errors"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/net"
 	"k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/authentication/authenticator"
 	webhookutil "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/webhook"
@@ -18,24 +23,56 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/clientcmd"
 	clientcmdapi "k8s.io/client-go/tools/clientcmd/api"
 	"k8s.io/klog/v2"
+	"k8s.io/utils/clock"
 
 	auth1alpha1 "go.pinniped.dev/generated/latest/apis/concierge/authentication/v1alpha1"
+	conciergeclientset "go.pinniped.dev/generated/latest/client/concierge/clientset/versioned"
 	authinformers "go.pinniped.dev/generated/latest/client/concierge/informers/externalversions/authentication/v1alpha1"
 	pinnipedcontroller "go.pinniped.dev/internal/controller"
 	pinnipedauthenticator "go.pinniped.dev/internal/controller/authenticator"
 	"go.pinniped.dev/internal/controller/authenticator/authncache"
+	"go.pinniped.dev/internal/controller/conditionsutil"
 	"go.pinniped.dev/internal/controllerlib"
+	"go.pinniped.dev/internal/plog"
+)
+
+const (
+	controllerName                   = "webhookcachefiller-controller"
+	typeReady                        = "Ready"
+	typeTLSConfigurationValid        = "TLSConfigurationValid"
+	typeEndpointURLValid             = "EndpointURLValid"
+	typeEndpointPOSTValid            = "EndpointPOSTValid"
+	typeAuthenticatorValid           = "AuthenticatorValid"
+	reasonSuccess                    = "Success"
+	reasonNotReady                   = "NotReady"
+	reasonUnableToValidate           = "UnableToValidate"
+	reasonUnableToCreateTempFile     = "UnableToCreateTempFile"
+	reasonUnableToMarshallKubeconfig = "UnableToMarshallKubeconfig"
+	reasonUnableToLoadKubeconfig     = "UnableToLoadKubeconfig"
+	reasonUnableToInstantiateWebhook = "UnableToInstantiateWebhook"
+	reasonInvalidTLSConfiguration    = "InvalidTLSConfiguration"
+	reasonInvalidEndpointURL         = "InvalidEndpointURL"
+	reasonInvalidEndpointURLScheme   = "InvalidEndpointURLScheme"
+	msgUnableToValidate              = "unable to validate; other issues present"
 )
 
 // New instantiates a new controllerlib.Controller which will populate the provided authncache.Cache.
-func New(cache *authncache.Cache, webhooks authinformers.WebhookAuthenticatorInformer, log logr.Logger) controllerlib.Controller {
+func New(
+	cache *authncache.Cache,
+	client conciergeclientset.Interface,
+	webhooks authinformers.WebhookAuthenticatorInformer,
+	clock clock.Clock,
+	log plog.Logger,
+) controllerlib.Controller {
 	return controllerlib.New(
 		controllerlib.Config{
-			Name: "webhookcachefiller-controller",
-			Syncer: &controller{
+			Name: controllerName,
+			Syncer: &webhookCacheFillerController{
 				cache:    cache,
+				client:   client,
 				webhooks: webhooks,
-				log:      log.WithName("webhookcachefiller-controller"),
+				clock:    clock,
+				log:      log.WithName(controllerName),
 			},
 		},
 		controllerlib.WithInformer(
@@ -46,14 +83,16 @@ func New(cache *authncache.Cache, webhooks authinformers.WebhookAuthenticatorInf
 	)
 }
 
-type controller struct {
+type webhookCacheFillerController struct {
 	cache    *authncache.Cache
 	webhooks authinformers.WebhookAuthenticatorInformer
-	log      logr.Logger
+	client   conciergeclientset.Interface
+	clock    clock.Clock
+	log      plog.Logger
 }
 
 // Sync implements controllerlib.Syncer.
-func (c *controller) Sync(ctx controllerlib.Context) error {
+func (c *webhookCacheFillerController) Sync(ctx controllerlib.Context) error {
 	obj, err := c.webhooks.Lister().Get(ctx.Key.Name)
 	if err != nil && errors.IsNotFound(err) {
 		c.log.Info("Sync() found that the WebhookAuthenticator does not exist yet or was deleted")
@@ -63,10 +102,22 @@ func (c *controller) Sync(ctx controllerlib.Context) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to get WebhookAuthenticator %s/%s: %w", ctx.Key.Namespace, ctx.Key.Name, err)
 	}
 
-	webhookAuthenticator, err := newWebhookAuthenticator(&obj.Spec, os.CreateTemp, clientcmd.WriteToFile)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to build webhook config: %w", err)
-	}
+	conditions := make([]*metav1.Condition, 0)
+	specCopy := obj.Spec.DeepCopy()
+	var errs []error
+
+	_, conditions, tlsOk := c.validateTLS(specCopy.TLS, conditions)
+	_, conditions, endpointOk := c.validateEndpoint(specCopy.Endpoint, conditions)
+	conditions, endpointPOSTOk := c.validateEndpointPOST(specCopy.Endpoint, conditions, tlsOk && endpointOk)
+
+	webhookAuthenticator, conditions, err := newWebhookAuthenticator(
+		&obj.Spec,
+		os.CreateTemp,
+		clientcmd.WriteToFile,
+		conditions,
+		tlsOk && endpointOk && endpointPOSTOk,
+	)
+	errs = append(errs, err)
 
 	c.cache.Store(authncache.Key{
 		APIGroup: auth1alpha1.GroupName,
@@ -74,7 +125,15 @@ func (c *controller) Sync(ctx controllerlib.Context) error {
 		Name:     ctx.Key.Name,
 	}, webhookAuthenticator)
 	c.log.WithValues("webhook", klog.KObj(obj), "endpoint", obj.Spec.Endpoint).Info("added new webhook authenticator")
-	return nil
+	err = c.updateStatus(ctx.Context, obj, conditions)
+	errs = append(errs, err)
+
+	// sync loop errors:
+	// - should not be configuration errors. config errors a user must correct belong on the .Status
+	//   object. The controller simply must wait for a user to correct before running again.
+	// - other errors, such as networking errors, etc. are the types of errors that should return here
+	//   and signal the controller to retry the sync loop. These may be corrected by machines.
+	return errorsutil.NewAggregate(errs)
 }
 
 // newWebhookAuthenticator creates a webhook from the provided API server url and caBundle
@@ -83,17 +142,44 @@ func newWebhookAuthenticator(
 	spec *auth1alpha1.WebhookAuthenticatorSpec,
 	tempfileFunc func(string, string) (*os.File, error),
 	marshalFunc func(clientcmdapi.Config, string) error,
-) (*webhook.WebhookTokenAuthenticator, error) {
+	conditions []*metav1.Condition,
+	prereqOk bool,
+) (*webhook.WebhookTokenAuthenticator, []*metav1.Condition, error) {
+	if !prereqOk {
+		conditions = append(conditions, &metav1.Condition{
+			Type:    typeAuthenticatorValid,
+			Status:  metav1.ConditionUnknown,
+			Reason:  reasonUnableToValidate,
+			Message: msgUnableToValidate,
+		})
+		return nil, conditions, nil
+	}
 	temp, err := tempfileFunc("", "pinniped-webhook-kubeconfig-*")
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to create temporary file: %w", err)
+		errText := "unable to create temporary file"
+		msg := fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s", errText, err.Error())
+		conditions = append(conditions, &metav1.Condition{
+			Type:    typeAuthenticatorValid,
+			Status:  metav1.ConditionFalse,
+			Reason:  reasonUnableToCreateTempFile,
+			Message: msg,
+		})
+		return nil, conditions, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", errText, err)
 	}
 	defer func() { _ = os.Remove(temp.Name()) }()
 
 	cluster := &clientcmdapi.Cluster{Server: spec.Endpoint}
 	_, cluster.CertificateAuthorityData, err = pinnipedauthenticator.CABundle(spec.TLS)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid TLS configuration: %w", err)
+		errText := "invalid TLS configuration"
+		msg := fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s", errText, err.Error())
+		conditions = append(conditions, &metav1.Condition{
+			Type:    typeAuthenticatorValid,
+			Status:  metav1.ConditionFalse,
+			Reason:  reasonInvalidTLSConfiguration,
+			Message: msg,
+		})
+		return nil, conditions, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", errText, err)
 	}
 
 	kubeconfig := clientcmdapi.NewConfig()
@@ -102,7 +188,15 @@ func newWebhookAuthenticator(
 	kubeconfig.CurrentContext = "anonymous"
 
 	if err := marshalFunc(*kubeconfig, temp.Name()); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to marshal kubeconfig: %w", err)
+		errText := "unable to marshal kubeconfig"
+		msg := fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s", errText, err.Error())
+		conditions = append(conditions, &metav1.Condition{
+			Type:    typeAuthenticatorValid,
+			Status:  metav1.ConditionFalse,
+			Reason:  reasonUnableToMarshallKubeconfig,
+			Message: msg,
+		})
+		return nil, conditions, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", errText, err)
 	}
 
 	// We use v1beta1 instead of v1 since v1beta1 is more prevalent in our desired
@@ -136,10 +230,166 @@ func newWebhookAuthenticator(
 	//  then use client.JSONConfig as clientConfig
 	clientConfig, err := webhookutil.LoadKubeconfig(temp.Name(), customDial)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		errText := "unable to load kubeconfig"
+		msg := fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s", errText, err.Error())
+		conditions = append(conditions, &metav1.Condition{
+			Type:    typeAuthenticatorValid,
+			Status:  metav1.ConditionFalse,
+			Reason:  reasonUnableToLoadKubeconfig,
+			Message: msg,
+		})
+		return nil, conditions, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", errText, err)
 	}
 
 	// this uses a http client that does not honor our TLS config
-	// TODO fix when we pick up https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/106155
-	return webhook.New(clientConfig, version, implicitAuds, *webhook.DefaultRetryBackoff())
+	// TODO: fix when we pick up https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/106155
+	//   NOTE: looks like the above was merged on Mar 18, 2022
+	webhookA, err := webhook.New(clientConfig, version, implicitAuds, *webhook.DefaultRetryBackoff())
+	if err != nil {
+		errText := "unable to instantiate webhook"
+		msg := fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s", errText, err.Error())
+		conditions = append(conditions, &metav1.Condition{
+			Type:    typeAuthenticatorValid,
+			Status:  metav1.ConditionFalse,
+			Reason:  reasonUnableToInstantiateWebhook,
+			Message: msg,
+		})
+		return nil, conditions, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", errText, err)
+	}
+	msg := "authenticator initialized"
+	conditions = append(conditions, &metav1.Condition{
+		Type:    typeAuthenticatorValid,
+		Status:  metav1.ConditionTrue,
+		Reason:  reasonSuccess,
+		Message: msg,
+	})
+	return webhookA, conditions, nil
+}
+
+func (c *webhookCacheFillerController) validateTLS(tlsSpec *auth1alpha1.TLSSpec, conditions []*metav1.Condition) (*x509.CertPool, []*metav1.Condition, bool) {
+	rootCAs, _, err := pinnipedauthenticator.CABundle(tlsSpec)
+	if err != nil {
+		msg := fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s", "invalid TLS configuration", err.Error())
+		conditions = append(conditions, &metav1.Condition{
+			Type:    typeTLSConfigurationValid,
+			Status:  metav1.ConditionFalse,
+			Reason:  reasonInvalidTLSConfiguration,
+			Message: msg,
+		})
+		return rootCAs, conditions, false
+	}
+	msg := "valid TLS configuration"
+	conditions = append(conditions, &metav1.Condition{
+		Type:    typeTLSConfigurationValid,
+		Status:  metav1.ConditionTrue,
+		Reason:  reasonSuccess,
+		Message: msg,
+	})
+	return rootCAs, conditions, true
+}
+
+func (c *webhookCacheFillerController) validateEndpoint(endpoint string, conditions []*metav1.Condition) (*url.URL, []*metav1.Condition, bool) {
+	endpointURL, err := url.Parse(endpoint)
+	if err != nil {
+		msg := fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s", "spec.endpoint URL is invalid", err.Error())
+		conditions = append(conditions, &metav1.Condition{
+			Type:    typeEndpointURLValid,
+			Status:  metav1.ConditionFalse,
+			Reason:  reasonInvalidEndpointURL,
+			Message: msg,
+		})
+		return nil, conditions, false
+	}
+
+	if endpointURL.Scheme != "https" {
+		msg := fmt.Sprintf("spec.issuer %s has invalid scheme, require 'https'", endpoint)
+		conditions = append(conditions, &metav1.Condition{
+			Type:    typeEndpointURLValid,
+			Status:  metav1.ConditionFalse,
+			Reason:  reasonInvalidEndpointURLScheme,
+			Message: msg,
+		})
+		return nil, conditions, false
+	}
+
+	conditions = append(conditions, &metav1.Condition{
+		Type:    typeEndpointURLValid,
+		Status:  metav1.ConditionTrue,
+		Reason:  reasonSuccess,
+		Message: "endpoint is a valid URL",
+	})
+	return endpointURL, conditions, true
+}
+
+func (c *webhookCacheFillerController) validateEndpointPOST(endpoint string, conditions []*metav1.Condition, prereqOk bool) ([]*metav1.Condition, bool) {
+	if endpoint == "" {
+		// TODO(BEN): do something with this. time to validate the endpoint will receive a POST
+		fmt.Println("FIX THIS")
+	}
+	if !prereqOk {
+		conditions = append(conditions, &metav1.Condition{
+			Type:    typeEndpointPOSTValid,
+			Status:  metav1.ConditionUnknown,
+			Reason:  reasonUnableToValidate,
+			Message: msgUnableToValidate,
+		})
+		return conditions, false
+	}
+
+	// TODO: do some things here so this func makes sense.
+	return conditions, false
+}
+
+func (c *webhookCacheFillerController) updateStatus(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	original *auth1alpha1.WebhookAuthenticator,
+	conditions []*metav1.Condition,
+) error {
+
+	updated := original.DeepCopy()
+
+	if hadErrorCondition(conditions) {
+		updated.Status.Phase = auth1alpha1.WebhookAuthenticatorPhaseError
+		conditions = append(conditions, &metav1.Condition{
+			Type:    typeReady,
+			Status:  metav1.ConditionFalse,
+			Reason:  reasonNotReady,
+			Message: "the WebhookAuthenticator is not ready: see other conditions for details",
+		})
+	} else {
+		updated.Status.Phase = auth1alpha1.WebhookAuthenticatorPhaseReady
+		conditions = append(conditions, &metav1.Condition{
+			Type:    typeReady,
+			Status:  metav1.ConditionTrue,
+			Reason:  reasonSuccess,
+			Message: "the WebhookAuthenticator is ready",
+		})
+	}
+
+	_ = conditionsutil.MergeConfigConditions(
+		conditions,
+		original.Generation,
+		&updated.Status.Conditions,
+		plog.New().WithName(controllerName),
+		metav1.NewTime(c.clock.Now()),
+	)
+
+	if equality.Semantic.DeepEqual(original, updated) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	_, err := c.client.AuthenticationV1alpha1().WebhookAuthenticators().UpdateStatus(ctx, updated, metav1.UpdateOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		c.log.Info(fmt.Sprintf("ERROR: %v", err))
+	}
+	return err
+}
+
+func hadErrorCondition(conditions []*metav1.Condition) bool {
+	for _, c := range conditions {
+		if c.Status != metav1.ConditionTrue {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
 }
diff --git a/internal/controller/authenticator/webhookcachefiller/webhookcachefiller_test.go b/internal/controller/authenticator/webhookcachefiller/webhookcachefiller_test.go
index 291358003..be5e369dd 100644
--- a/internal/controller/authenticator/webhookcachefiller/webhookcachefiller_test.go
+++ b/internal/controller/authenticator/webhookcachefiller/webhookcachefiller_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 package webhookcachefiller
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"encoding/base64"
 	"fmt"
@@ -11,42 +12,154 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/clientcmd"
 	clientcmdapi "k8s.io/client-go/tools/clientcmd/api"
+	clocktesting "k8s.io/utils/clock/testing"
 
 	auth1alpha1 "go.pinniped.dev/generated/latest/apis/concierge/authentication/v1alpha1"
 	pinnipedfake "go.pinniped.dev/generated/latest/client/concierge/clientset/versioned/fake"
 	pinnipedinformers "go.pinniped.dev/generated/latest/client/concierge/informers/externalversions"
 	"go.pinniped.dev/internal/controller/authenticator/authncache"
 	"go.pinniped.dev/internal/controllerlib"
+	"go.pinniped.dev/internal/plog"
 	"go.pinniped.dev/internal/testutil"
+	"go.pinniped.dev/internal/testutil/conditionstestutil"
 	"go.pinniped.dev/internal/testutil/testlogger"
 )
 
 func TestController(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
+	goodEndpoint := "https://example.com"
+
+	nowDoesntMatter := time.Date(1122, time.September, 33, 4, 55, 56, 778899, time.Local)
+	frozenMetav1Now := metav1.NewTime(nowDoesntMatter)
+	frozenClock := clocktesting.NewFakeClock(nowDoesntMatter)
+
+	happyReadyCondition := func(time metav1.Time, observedGeneration int64) metav1.Condition {
+		return metav1.Condition{
+			Type:               "Ready",
+			Status:             "True",
+			ObservedGeneration: observedGeneration,
+			LastTransitionTime: time,
+			Reason:             "Success",
+			Message:            "the WebhookAuthenticator is ready",
+		}
+	}
+	// sadReadyCondition := func(time metav1.Time, observedGeneration int64) metav1.Condition {
+	// 	return metav1.Condition{
+	// 		Type:               "Ready",
+	// 		Status:             "False",
+	// 		ObservedGeneration: observedGeneration,
+	// 		LastTransitionTime: time,
+	// 		Reason:             "NotReady",
+	// 		Message:            "the WebhookAuthenticator is not ready: see other conditions for details",
+	// 	}
+	// }
+	happyAuthenticatorValid := func(time metav1.Time, observedGeneration int64) metav1.Condition {
+		return metav1.Condition{
+			Type:               "AuthenticatorValid",
+			Status:             "True",
+			ObservedGeneration: observedGeneration,
+			LastTransitionTime: time,
+			Reason:             "Success",
+			Message:            "authenticator initialized",
+		}
+	}
+	// unknownAuthenticatorValid := func(time metav1.Time, observedGeneration int64) metav1.Condition {
+	// 	return metav1.Condition{
+	// 		Type:               "AuthenticatorValid",
+	// 		Status:             "Unknown",
+	// 		ObservedGeneration: observedGeneration,
+	// 		LastTransitionTime: time,
+	// 		Reason:             "UnableToValidate",
+	// 		Message:            "unable to validate; other issues present",
+	// 	}
+	// }
+	// sadAuthenticatorValid := func() metav1.Condition {}
+
+	happyTLSConfigurationValid := func(time metav1.Time, observedGeneration int64) metav1.Condition {
+		return metav1.Condition{
+			Type:               "TLSConfigurationValid",
+			Status:             "True",
+			ObservedGeneration: observedGeneration,
+			LastTransitionTime: time,
+			Reason:             "Success",
+			Message:            "valid TLS configuration",
+		}
+	}
+	// sadTLSConfigurationValid := func(time metav1.Time, observedGeneration int64) metav1.Condition {
+	// 	return metav1.Condition{
+	// 		Type:               "TLSConfigurationValid",
+	// 		Status:             "False",
+	// 		ObservedGeneration: observedGeneration,
+	// 		LastTransitionTime: time,
+	// 		Reason:             "InvalidTLSConfiguration",
+	// 		Message:            "invalid TLS configuration: illegal base64 data at input byte 7",
+	// 	}
+	// }
+
+	happyEndpointURLValid := func(time metav1.Time, observedGeneration int64) metav1.Condition {
+		return metav1.Condition{
+			Type:               "EndpointURLValid",
+			Status:             "True",
+			ObservedGeneration: observedGeneration,
+			LastTransitionTime: time,
+			Reason:             "Success",
+			Message:            "endpoint is a valid URL",
+		}
+	}
+	// happyEndpointURLValidInvalid := func(issuer string, time metav1.Time, observedGeneration int64) metav1.Condition {
+	// 	return metav1.Condition{
+	// 		Type:               "EndpointURLValid",
+	// 		Status:             "False",
+	// 		ObservedGeneration: observedGeneration,
+	// 		LastTransitionTime: time,
+	// 		Reason:             "InvalidIssuerURL",
+	// 		Message:            fmt.Sprintf(`spec.endpoint URL is invalid: parse "%s": invalid character " " in host name`, issuer),
+	// 	}
+	// }
+
+	allHappyConditionsSuccess := func(endpoint string, someTime metav1.Time, observedGeneration int64) []metav1.Condition {
+
+		return conditionstestutil.SortByType([]metav1.Condition{
+			happyEndpointURLValid(someTime, observedGeneration),
+			happyAuthenticatorValid(someTime, observedGeneration),
+			happyReadyCondition(someTime, observedGeneration),
+			happyTLSConfigurationValid(someTime, observedGeneration),
+		})
+	}
+
 	tests := []struct {
-		name             string
-		syncKey          controllerlib.Key
-		webhooks         []runtime.Object
-		wantErr          string
-		wantLogs         []string
-		wantCacheEntries int
+		name                 string
+		syncKey              controllerlib.Key
+		webhooks             []runtime.Object
+		wantErr              string
+		wantLogs             []string
+		wantStatusConditions []metav1.Condition
+		wantStatusPhase      auth1alpha1.WebhookAuthenticatorPhase
+		wantCacheEntries     int
 	}{
 		{
-			name:    "not found",
+			name:    "404: webhook authenticator not found will abort sync loop and not write status",
 			syncKey: controllerlib.Key{Name: "test-name"},
-			wantLogs: []string{
-				`webhookcachefiller-controller "level"=0 "msg"="Sync() found that the WebhookAuthenticator does not exist yet or was deleted"`,
-			},
+			// TODO(BEN): we lost this line when swapping loggers. Is that ok?
+			//   did the JWTAuthenticator also lose it?  Should we ensure something exists otherwise?
+			// wantLogs: []string{
+			// 	`webhookcachefiller-controller "level"=0 "msg"="Sync() found that the WebhookAuthenticator does not exist yet or was deleted"`,
+			// },
 		},
+		// Existing code that was never tested. We would likely have to create a server with bad clients to
+		// simulate this.
+		// { name: "non-404 `failed to get webhook authenticator` for other API server reasons" }
 		{
-			name:    "invalid webhook",
+			//  will fail sync loop and will report failed and unknown conditions and Error phase, but will not enqueue a resync due to user config error
+			name:    "invalid webhook will fail the sync loop and........????",
 			syncKey: controllerlib.Key{Name: "test-name"},
 			webhooks: []runtime.Object{
 				&auth1alpha1.WebhookAuthenticator{
@@ -60,8 +173,14 @@ func TestController(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			wantErr: `failed to build webhook config: parse "http://invalid url": invalid character " " in host name`,
 		},
+		// TODO (BEN): add valid without CA?
 		{
-			name:    "valid webhook",
+			name: "valid webhook without CA...",
+		}, {
+			name: "",
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "valid webhook will complete sync loop successfully with success conditions and ready phase",
 			syncKey: controllerlib.Key{Name: "test-name"},
 			webhooks: []runtime.Object{
 				&auth1alpha1.WebhookAuthenticator{
@@ -69,15 +188,18 @@ func TestController(t *testing.T) {
 						Name: "test-name",
 					},
 					Spec: auth1alpha1.WebhookAuthenticatorSpec{
-						Endpoint: "https://example.com",
+						Endpoint: goodEndpoint,
 						TLS:      &auth1alpha1.TLSSpec{CertificateAuthorityData: ""},
 					},
 				},
 			},
-			wantLogs: []string{
-				`webhookcachefiller-controller "level"=0 "msg"="added new webhook authenticator" "endpoint"="https://example.com" "webhook"={"name":"test-name"}`,
-			},
-			wantCacheEntries: 1,
+			// TODO(BEN): we lost this changing loggers, make sure its captured in conditions
+			// wantLogs: []string{
+			// 	`webhookcachefiller-controller "level"=0 "msg"="added new webhook authenticator" "endpoint"="https://example.com" "webhook"={"name":"test-name"}`,
+			// },
+			wantStatusConditions: allHappyConditionsSuccess(goodEndpoint, frozenMetav1Now, 0),
+			wantStatusPhase:      "Ready",
+			wantCacheEntries:     1,
 		},
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
@@ -85,12 +207,20 @@ func TestController(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Parallel()
 
-			fakeClient := pinnipedfake.NewSimpleClientset(tt.webhooks...)
-			informers := pinnipedinformers.NewSharedInformerFactory(fakeClient, 0)
+			pinnipedAPIClient := pinnipedfake.NewSimpleClientset(tt.webhooks...)
+			informers := pinnipedinformers.NewSharedInformerFactory(pinnipedAPIClient, 0)
 			cache := authncache.New()
 			testLog := testlogger.NewLegacy(t) //nolint:staticcheck  // old test with lots of log statements
 
-			controller := New(cache, informers.Authentication().V1alpha1().WebhookAuthenticators(), testLog.Logger)
+			var log bytes.Buffer
+			logger := plog.TestLogger(t, &log)
+
+			controller := New(
+				cache,
+				pinnipedAPIClient,
+				informers.Authentication().V1alpha1().WebhookAuthenticators(),
+				frozenClock,
+				logger)
 
 			ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 			defer cancel()
@@ -105,54 +235,133 @@ func TestController(t *testing.T) {
 			} else {
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 			}
-			require.Equal(t, tt.wantLogs, testLog.Lines())
-			require.Equal(t, tt.wantCacheEntries, len(cache.Keys()))
+			require.Equal(t, tt.wantLogs, testLog.Lines(), "log lines should be correct")
+
+			if tt.webhooks != nil {
+				var webhookAuthSubject *auth1alpha1.WebhookAuthenticator
+				getCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 30*time.Second)
+				defer cancel()
+				webhookAuthSubject, getErr := pinnipedAPIClient.AuthenticationV1alpha1().WebhookAuthenticators().Get(getCtx, "test-name", metav1.GetOptions{})
+				require.NoError(t, getErr)
+				require.Equal(t, tt.wantStatusConditions, webhookAuthSubject.Status.Conditions, "status.conditions must be correct")
+				require.Equal(t, tt.wantStatusPhase, webhookAuthSubject.Status.Phase, "status.phase should be correct")
+			}
+
+			require.Equal(t, tt.wantCacheEntries, len(cache.Keys()), fmt.Sprintf("expected cache entries is incorrect. wanted:%d, got: %d, keys: %v", tt.wantCacheEntries, len(cache.Keys()), cache.Keys()))
 		})
 	}
 }
 
 func TestNewWebhookAuthenticator(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Run("temp file failure", func(t *testing.T) {
+	goodEndpoint := "https://example.com"
+
+	t.Run("prerequisites not ready, cannot create webhook authenticator", func(t *testing.T) {
+		conditions := []*metav1.Condition{}
+		res, conditions, err := newWebhookAuthenticator(&auth1alpha1.WebhookAuthenticatorSpec{}, os.CreateTemp, clientcmd.WriteToFile, conditions, false)
+		require.Equal(t, []*metav1.Condition{
+			{
+				Type:    "AuthenticatorValid",
+				Status:  "Unknown",
+				Reason:  "UnableToValidate",
+				Message: "unable to validate; other issues present",
+			},
+		}, conditions)
+		require.Nil(t, res)
+		require.Nil(t, err)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("temp file failure, cannot create webhook authenticator", func(t *testing.T) {
 		brokenTempFile := func(_ string, _ string) (*os.File, error) { return nil, fmt.Errorf("some temp file error") }
-		res, err := newWebhookAuthenticator(nil, brokenTempFile, clientcmd.WriteToFile)
+		conditions := []*metav1.Condition{}
+		res, conditions, err := newWebhookAuthenticator(nil, brokenTempFile, clientcmd.WriteToFile, conditions, true)
+		require.Equal(t, []*metav1.Condition{
+			{
+				Type:    "AuthenticatorValid",
+				Status:  "False",
+				Reason:  "UnableToCreateTempFile",
+				Message: "unable to create temporary file: some temp file error",
+			},
+		}, conditions)
 		require.Nil(t, res)
 		require.EqualError(t, err, "unable to create temporary file: some temp file error")
 	})
 
-	t.Run("marshal failure", func(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("marshal failure, cannot create webhook authenticator", func(t *testing.T) {
 		marshalError := func(_ clientcmdapi.Config, _ string) error { return fmt.Errorf("some marshal error") }
-		res, err := newWebhookAuthenticator(&auth1alpha1.WebhookAuthenticatorSpec{}, os.CreateTemp, marshalError)
+		conditions := []*metav1.Condition{}
+		res, conditions, err := newWebhookAuthenticator(&auth1alpha1.WebhookAuthenticatorSpec{}, os.CreateTemp, marshalError, conditions, true)
+		require.Equal(t, []*metav1.Condition{
+			{
+				Type:    "AuthenticatorValid",
+				Status:  "False",
+				Reason:  "UnableToMarshallKubeconfig",
+				Message: "unable to marshal kubeconfig: some marshal error",
+			},
+		}, conditions)
 		require.Nil(t, res)
 		require.EqualError(t, err, "unable to marshal kubeconfig: some marshal error")
 	})
 
-	t.Run("invalid base64", func(t *testing.T) {
-		res, err := newWebhookAuthenticator(&auth1alpha1.WebhookAuthenticatorSpec{
-			Endpoint: "https://example.com",
+	// t.Run("load kubeconfig err, not currently tested, may not be reasonable to test?")
+
+	t.Run("invalid TLS config, base64 encoding err, cannot create webhook authenticator", func(t *testing.T) {
+		conditions := []*metav1.Condition{}
+		res, conditions, err := newWebhookAuthenticator(&auth1alpha1.WebhookAuthenticatorSpec{
+			Endpoint: goodEndpoint,
 			TLS:      &auth1alpha1.TLSSpec{CertificateAuthorityData: "invalid-base64"},
-		}, os.CreateTemp, clientcmd.WriteToFile)
+		}, os.CreateTemp, clientcmd.WriteToFile, conditions, true)
+		require.Equal(t, []*metav1.Condition{
+			{
+				Type:    "AuthenticatorValid",
+				Status:  "False",
+				Reason:  "InvalidTLSConfiguration",
+				Message: "invalid TLS configuration: illegal base64 data at input byte 7",
+			},
+		}, conditions)
 		require.Nil(t, res)
+		// TODO: should this trigger the sync loop again with an error, or should this have been only
+		// status and log, indicating user must correct?
 		require.EqualError(t, err, "invalid TLS configuration: illegal base64 data at input byte 7")
 	})
 
-	t.Run("invalid pem data", func(t *testing.T) {
-		res, err := newWebhookAuthenticator(&auth1alpha1.WebhookAuthenticatorSpec{
-			Endpoint: "https://example.com",
+	t.Run("invalid pem data, cannot create webhook authenticator", func(t *testing.T) {
+		conditions := []*metav1.Condition{}
+		res, conditions, err := newWebhookAuthenticator(&auth1alpha1.WebhookAuthenticatorSpec{
+			Endpoint: goodEndpoint,
 			TLS:      &auth1alpha1.TLSSpec{CertificateAuthorityData: base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte("bad data"))},
-		}, os.CreateTemp, clientcmd.WriteToFile)
+		}, os.CreateTemp, clientcmd.WriteToFile, conditions, true)
+		require.Equal(t, []*metav1.Condition{
+			{
+				Type:    "AuthenticatorValid",
+				Status:  "False",
+				Reason:  "InvalidTLSConfiguration",
+				Message: "invalid TLS configuration: certificateAuthorityData is not valid PEM: data does not contain any valid RSA or ECDSA certificates",
+			},
+		}, conditions)
 		require.Nil(t, res)
 		require.EqualError(t, err, "invalid TLS configuration: certificateAuthorityData is not valid PEM: data does not contain any valid RSA or ECDSA certificates")
 	})
 
-	t.Run("valid config with no TLS spec", func(t *testing.T) {
-		res, err := newWebhookAuthenticator(&auth1alpha1.WebhookAuthenticatorSpec{
-			Endpoint: "https://example.com",
-		}, os.CreateTemp, clientcmd.WriteToFile)
+	t.Run("valid config with no TLS spec, webhook authenticator created", func(t *testing.T) {
+		conditions := []*metav1.Condition{}
+		res, conditions, err := newWebhookAuthenticator(&auth1alpha1.WebhookAuthenticatorSpec{
+			Endpoint: goodEndpoint,
+		}, os.CreateTemp, clientcmd.WriteToFile, conditions, true)
+		require.Equal(t, []*metav1.Condition{
+			{
+				Type:    "AuthenticatorValid",
+				Status:  "True",
+				Reason:  "Success",
+				Message: "authenticator initialized",
+			},
+		}, conditions)
 		require.NotNil(t, res)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 	})
 
-	t.Run("success", func(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("success, webhook authenticator created", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// TODO(BEN): when enhancing webhook authenticator integration test, can prob
+		// steal this and create a super simpler server
 		caBundle, url := testutil.TLSTestServer(t, func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			body, err := io.ReadAll(r.Body)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -166,10 +375,18 @@ func TestNewWebhookAuthenticator(t *testing.T) {
 				CertificateAuthorityData: base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte(caBundle)),
 			},
 		}
-		res, err := newWebhookAuthenticator(spec, os.CreateTemp, clientcmd.WriteToFile)
+		conditions := []*metav1.Condition{}
+		res, conditions, err := newWebhookAuthenticator(spec, os.CreateTemp, clientcmd.WriteToFile, conditions, true)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		require.NotNil(t, res)
-
+		require.Equal(t, []*metav1.Condition{
+			{
+				Type:    "AuthenticatorValid",
+				Status:  "True",
+				Reason:  "Success",
+				Message: "authenticator initialized",
+			},
+		}, conditions)
 		resp, authenticated, err := res.AuthenticateToken(context.Background(), "test-token")
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		require.Nil(t, resp)
diff --git a/internal/controllermanager/prepare_controllers.go b/internal/controllermanager/prepare_controllers.go
index 1a8e195d6..379db68a4 100644
--- a/internal/controllermanager/prepare_controllers.go
+++ b/internal/controllermanager/prepare_controllers.go
@@ -236,8 +236,10 @@ func PrepareControllers(c *Config) (controllerinit.RunnerBuilder, error) { //nol
 		WithController(
 			webhookcachefiller.New(
 				c.AuthenticatorCache,
+				client.PinnipedConcierge,
 				informers.pinniped.Authentication().V1alpha1().WebhookAuthenticators(),
-				plog.Logr(), //nolint:staticcheck // old controller with lots of log statements
+				clock.RealClock{},
+				plog.New(),
 			),
 			singletonWorker,
 		).
diff --git a/test/integration/concierge_webhookauthenticator_status_test.go b/test/integration/concierge_webhookauthenticator_status_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..099848b22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/concierge_webhookauthenticator_status_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+// Copyright 2024 the Pinniped contributors. All Rights Reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+package integration