A Complete VMware Certification Guide
VMware is the undisputed industry leader in virtualization technologies. As a result, there's a strong demand for IT professionals who can help organizations leverage VMware products and services. VMware's certification program is designed to build and validate the knowledge and skills needed to use its technologies.
This certification guide covers everything you need to know to earn VMware certifications. It includes information about VMware certifications, the cost associated with exams, career options, and how to study for VMware certification exams.
What are VMware Certifications?
VMware certifications aim to prepare IT professionals to work with VMware products in various environments. VMware offers several different levels of certifications to help IT pros continue to develop and hone their virtualization skills.
VMware used to offer four levels of certification for virtualization professionals. However, VMware recently changed its exam structure to focus on "role-based" certifications. This allows IT professionals to focus on the specific skills they'll need in their role. Let's look at what VMware certifications used to look at and how they look now.
VMware Certified Associate (VCA): This entry-level certification was aimed at learners new to virtualization. It was replaced with VCTA certifications for each role-based category.
VMware Certified Professional (VCP): Designed for IT professionals who install, configure, manage, and optimize VMware solutions. This certification level is mainly geared toward systems administrator and engineer roles. This VCP still exists, but is now offered for each role-based category.
VMware Certified Advanced Professional (VCAP): An advanced-level certification path aimed at professionals who design and build VMware Solutions (VCAP Design) and manage and optimize VMware solutions (VCAP Deployment). VCAP is still offered, but again, each role-based category has several different versions. The previous test was retired.
VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX): This is an expert-level certification for IT professionals who design, build, and manage VMware solutions and systems. It is mainly geared toward architects. While the original test was retired, there are still VCDX certs in each role-based category.
VMware has now broken its certifications out by job role, with each category offering several levels of certifications. The role-based categories are:
Data center virtualization: Gauges your ability to design, install, and manage VMware vSphere in the real world.
Network virtualization: Tests your ability to design, implement, and manage an NSX environment.
Cloud management and automation: Proves your skill in installing, configuring, and optimizing VMware Aria for cloud solutions.
End-user computing: Tests your ability to manage digital workplace solutions using VMware Workspace One and Desktop Management solutions using VMware Horizon.
Security: Validates your experience and understanding of VMware security solutions and ability to provide support for VMware security features.
Application Modernization: These specialist certifications measure skills in various areas, such as knowledge of specialized frameworks and administrator knowledge of emerging technologies like Kubernetes and containers.
Each role-based certification category has multiple levels, which can vary by discipline. In addition to the role-based certs, VMware offers several specialist and skill certifications. This VMware guide outlines all the tracks, but we'll explore them in greater detail below.
Data Center Virtualization VMware Certifications
The VMware Data Center Virtualization certifications validate your knowledge and expertise with VMware vSphere solutions, including virtual machines, networking, and storage. VMware offers five certificate levels in Data Center Virtualization. In order of expertise, they are:
VMware Certified Technical Associate - Data Center Virtualization 2024 (VCTA)
VMware Certified Professional - Data Center Virtualization 2024 (VCP-DCV)
VMware Certified Advanced Professional - Data Center Virtualization Design 2024 (VCAP Design)
VMware Certified Advanced Professional - Data Center Virtualization Deploy 2024 (VCAP Deploy)
VMware Certified Design Expert - Data Center Virtualization 2024 (VCDX)
Jobs associated with data center virtualization certifications:
Entry-level virtualization administrators
Virtualization technicians
Virtualization administrators
Design Architects
Network Virtualization VMware Certifications
The VMware Network Virtualization certifications verify your ability to configure, deploy, and manage virtualized networking and security services, specifically NSX environments. VMware offers five levels of certifications, including:
VMware Certified Technical Associate - Network Virtualization 2024 (VCTA)
VMware Certified Professional - Network Virtualization 2024 (VCP)
VMware Certified Advanced Professional - Network Virtualization Deploy 2024 (VCAP Deploy)
VMware Certified Advanced Professional - Network Virtualization Design 2024 (VCAP Design)
VMware Certified Design Expert - Network Virtualization 2024 (VCDX)
The VCTA certification is designed for professionals newer to networking, while the VCP and above are for more advanced learners, including those at the engineer and architect levels.
Jobs associated with network virtualization certifications:
Cloud Management and Automation VMware Certifications
VMware's cloud management and automation certificates validate your knowledge of cloud management and automation using VMware tech, including Aria. The VCTA tests foundational understanding, while the higher-level certs test your ability to design, build, and deploy solutions.
VMware offers five levels of certs in cloud management, including:
VMware Certified Technical Associate - Cloud Management and Automation 2024 (VCTA)
VMware Certified Professional - Cloud Management and Automation 2024 (VCP)
VMware Certified Professional - VMware Cloud 2024 (VCP)
VMware Certified Professional - Cloud Operations 2024 (VCP)
VMware Certified Advanced Professional - Cloud Management and Automation Deploy 2024 (VCAP Deploy)
VMware Certified Advanced Professional - Cloud Management and Automation Design 2024 (VCAP Design)
VMWare Certified Design Expert - Cloud Management and Automation 2024 (VCDX)
Jobs associated with cloud management and automation certifications:
Cloud technician
Virtual infrastructure administrator
End-User Computing VMware Certifications
The certifications for this category gauge your skill and expertise in designing, installing, and managing solutions using VMware Workspace One and Horizon. VMware offers seven certification levels for this category.
VCTA aims to test entry-level skills, while the higher-level certifications test your ability to design and optimize solutions using VMware Horizon and VMware Workspace ONE solutions, App Volumes, and Unified Access Gateway.
The seven certifications in end-user computing include:
VMware Certified Technical Associate - End-User Computing 2024 (VCTA)
VMware Certified Professional - Desktop Management 2024 (VCP)
VMware Certified Professional - Digital Workspace 2024 (VCP)
VMware Certified Advanced Professional - Desktop Management Design 2024 (VCAP Design)
VMware Certified Advanced Professional - End-User Computing 2024 (VCAP Design)
VMware Certified Advanced Professional - Desktop Management Deploy 2024 (VCAP Deploy)
VMware Certified Design Expert - End-User Computing 2024 (VCDX)
Jobs associated with end-use computing certifications:
End-user computing administrators
End-user computing consultants
Senior administrator
End-user computing architect
Security Certifications from VMware
VMware offers two security-focused certifications. Earning these certs proves you have a deep understanding of VMware's security solutions and can provide (at least) entry-level support for the security features in NSX-T Data Center, Workspace ONE, and Carbon Black Cloud.
The two security certifications are:
VMware Certified Technical Associate - Security 2024 (VCTA)
VMware Certified Professional - Endpoint and Workload Security 2024 (VCP)
Job roles associated with security certifications include:
Application Modernization VMware Certifications
The application modernization certificates test your skills in specialized areas, such as emerging tech like Kubernetes and containers. There are currently two certificates in this area, including:
VMware Certified Technical Associate - Application Modernization 2024 (VCTA)
VMware Certified Professional - Tanzu for Kubernetes Operations 2024 (VCP)
The jobs associated with these certs vary by topic. However, they're ideal for any professional, including cloud administrators and platform operators, who want to be at the forefront of VMware tech.
How Much Does It Cost to Get VMware Certified?
The cost of VMware certification depends on the level of certification. The cost to sit for VMware VCP is $250 (USD), while VCAP levels cost $450. The cost of VCDX includes two different fees — a $995 application fee plus a panel defense cost of $3000 for in-person defenses or $995 for remote.
Exam costs can also vary based on location, currency, and whether they are proctored or taken remotely.
Remember, exam costs aren't the only expense associated with getting certified. Between training materials, lab equipment, and travel and lodging (for VCDX), earning VMware certifications can be quite an investment.
VMware Recertification and Renewal Changes
Recertification is widely recognized in the IT industry as essential to professional growth. If your skills are not current, your certification loses value. Staying current with your certifications enhances your credibility and demonstrates a commitment to learning, your career, and your organization.
VMware certifications no longer expire two years from the date they were earned. In fact, they do not expire at all.
However, VMware does recommend recertifying or earning the next level of certification every few years due to the rapidly changing nature of the IT industry.
Regardless of the option you choose, recertifying keeps your VMware knowledge up to date.
VMware Certification Salary and Career Information
Demand for IT professionals with virtualization skills continues to grow as increasing numbers of organizations take advantage of the increased efficiency, availability, and cost savings of virtualizing IT resources. VMware is one of the leading providers of virtualization products and solutions. Getting certified in VMware technologies can boost value in almost any IT career.
Payscale.com provides a helpful salary guide to help learners determine appropriate pay scales for job opportunities associated with advanced levels of VMware certification.
Depending on professional experience, an employee who holds a VCP certification can earn anywhere from $82,000 to $118,000 (USD) annually. Roles for VCPs include Senior Systems Administrator, IT Manager, and Systems Engineer.
Employees with VCAP certification can earn between $119,631 and $157,264 (USD) annually. VCAP holders are typically seen in roles such as IT Architect, IT Director, and Senior Technical Consultant.
VCDX holders, on the other hand, can earn up to $180,000 (USD) per year. They are typically seen in Chief Architect, Virtualization Architect, and Solutions Architect roles.
Investing in VMware certification and training provides the foundations needed to leverage virtualization technologies. As you work through VMware certifications, you can specialize in technologies like storage, networking, and virtualization, which can help you specialize in your IT career.
VMware Certification Training
CBT Nuggets offers a variety of training resources for learners who are interested in pursuing VMware certification. Below, you'll find a list of all VMware courses that CBT Nuggets offers:
VMware Certified Professional – Data Center Virtualization 2024 (VCP-DCV 2024)
VMware Certified Professional – Network Virtualization (VCP-NV)
VMware VCA - Data Center Virtualization (VCA-DCV) (Entry level)
VMware NSX (Intermediate)
VMware vSphere 6 (Intermediate)
VMware vSphere 6.5 with 6.7 Updates (Intermediate)
VMware Horizon (Intermediate)
The CBT Nuggets Way helps you learn more efficiently, retain information longer, and gain practical, hands-on experience. In addition to watching our videos, you can reinforce core IT practices and concepts with built-in quiz questions, simulated practice exams, and customized VMware virtual labs. Get started today.
Note: Our course library is constantly updated, and as of the publication date of this post, we are working toward providing more specific training for VMware technologies and certifications.
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