F5 Certified Administrator, BIG-IP Roadmap: Navigating the 5‑Exams
Quick Definition: The F5 Certified Administrator, BIG-IP (F5-CA, BIG-IP) is the entry-level certification for F5 administrators. Introduced in 2025, it requires passing five shorter, modular exams that validate skills in installation, traffic management, troubleshooting, and day-to-day BIG-IP administration.
As application delivery becomes more complex across hybrid and cloud environments, enterprises are heavily relying on F5 BIG-IP to keep apps secure, optimized, and always available. That makes F5 certifications more valuable than ever. The new five-exam structure is designed to be more approachable, flexible, and aligned with real-world responsibilities.
In this article, we’ll walk through what BIG-IP and its LTM module do, how the certification roadmap has changed, and what each of the five exams covers. We’ll also explore who should pursue this credential, what skills you need to succeed, and how it can set you up for advanced certifications and career growth.
What is BIG-IP LTM? Why is it Worth Learning?
F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) remains one of the most critical modules in the F5 ecosystem. It enables enterprises to deliver applications reliably by balancing traffic, offloading SSL, and ensuring optimized performance across hybrid and cloud environments.
Because LTM is at the heart of application delivery, mastering it creates a foundation for advancing into other F5 technologies like DNS, ASM, or AFM. Even as BIG-IP Next modernizes deployment, LTM continues to anchor F5’s platform.
Key capabilities of BIG-IP LTM include:
Intelligent load balancing and traffic distribution
SSL/TLS offloading for improved application performance
Application health monitoring and failover support
Performance optimization across data center and cloud
What Does the F5 Certification Path Look Like?
In 2025, F5 introduced a new certification path for administrators that breaks the process into smaller, more focused exams. Instead of one or two long assessments, candidates must now pass five shorter exams to achieve the F5 Certified Administrator, BIG-IP (F5-CA, BIG-IP) credential. Each exam can be taken in any order, making scheduling more flexible and reducing the pressure of retakes. This modular approach also ensures candidates focus on the exact skill domains needed for real-world administration.
The five required exams are:
F5CAB1: Install, Initial Configuration, and Upgrade
F5CAB2: Data Plane Concepts
F5CAB3: Data Plane Configuration
F5CAB4: Control Plane Administration
F5CAB5: Support and Troubleshooting
Who Should Pursue This Certification?
The F5 BIG-IP certification is best suited for IT professionals responsible for ensuring uptime, application delivery, and network performance. By validating BIG-IP skills, this certification speaks directly to the needs of enterprises managing hybrid or cloud environments. It also positions professionals for advancement in networking, security, and DevOps. Organizations in industries like finance, healthcare, and telecom rely heavily on certified F5 administrators.
Ideal candidates include:
Network engineers managing enterprise routing and traffic flows
System administrators responsible for application uptime and support
Cloud or DevOps engineers integrating ADCs into hybrid deployments
Security engineers overseeing SSL traffic and ADC configurations
What Topics Do the Exams Cover?
Each of the five exams focuses on specific administration tasks, aligning closely with how BIG-IP is used in production environments. Candidates can expect scenario-based and multiple-choice questions, with objectives mapped to both foundational and advanced skills. Because exams are shorter and domain-specific, they are easier to schedule and target in study plans.
Exam coverage at a glance:
F5CAB1: System installation, licensing, image management, and provisioning
F5CAB2: VLANs, trunks, self-IPs, routes, ADC concepts, and HA fundamentals
F5CAB3: Virtual servers, pools, monitors, profiles, and iRules awareness
F5CAB4: HA operations, UCS backups, authentication/AAA, services like NTP, DNS, SNMP, syslog, and config-sync
F5CAB5: Performance metrics, PCAP troubleshooting, load-balancing misconfigurations, virtual and pool-level troubleshooting
What Experience and Skills Should You Have First?
Candidates aiming for F5-CA, BIG-IP should already have several months of hands-on experience with F5 platforms. Core networking knowledge is crucial, as well as familiarity with protocols like TCP/IP, HTTP/S, and DNS. Experience with Linux CLI for troubleshooting is highly recommended, along with exposure to SSL/TLS and certificate management. While scripting and BIG-IP Next familiarity are optional, they provide a competitive edge.
Recommended baseline skills:
TCP/IP, HTTP/S, and DNS fundamentals
SSL/TLS and certificate management
Familiarity with iRules for traffic manipulation
How Do You Register for the Exams?
F5 certification exams are delivered through the Education Services portal in partnership with Certiverse. To register, candidates create an account, accept program terms, and select their desired modules.
Because each exam is shorter, candidates can schedule multiple sessions over time and focus their study efforts on one domain at a time. Pearson VUE test-center availability is expanding, but Certiverse remains the main platform.
Here are the steps to register:
Create or log in to an account at certification.f5.com.
Accept program terms and gain exam authorization.
Schedule each F5CAB exam through Certiverse (or Pearson VUE if available).
Review exam blueprints and objectives before test day.
Pay exam fees (~$50 each) and plan retakes by module if needed.
How Does Recertification Work?
F5 certifications are valid for two years, ensuring certified administrators stay aligned with the platform’s evolution. Renewal can be done by retaking the five modular exams or by completing a single F5CABR renewal exam.
This streamlined option saves time while still validating up-to-date skills. Ongoing practice with BIG-IP Next and staying current on F5 updates is strongly recommended to avoid surprises during recertification.
Recertification options:
Pass the F5CABR renewal exam (60 minutes, 50 items)
Or retake the five required administrator exams (F5CAB1–F5CAB5)
What are the Next Steps in the F5 Certification Roadmap?
Achieving the F5-CA, BIG-IP credential opens the door to advanced F5 certifications. Professionals can pursue Technology Specialist tracks, each focused on deepening expertise in specific modules. For those aiming at enterprise-wide expertise, the Solution Expert level validates mastery across multiple F5 technologies. Building skills in automation and orchestration is also encouraged as enterprises increasingly rely on BIG-IQ, APIs, and Ansible.
Next steps include:
Pursue F5 Certified Technology Specialist (F5-CTS) in LTM, DNS, ASM, or AFM
Develop automation and orchestration skills with BIG-IQ, APIs, and Ansible
Work toward the F5 Certified Solution Expert (F5-CSE) credential
What Career Opportunities Can F5 BIG-IP Unlock?
Certified F5 administrators are in high demand as organizations continue to rely on BIG-IP for critical application delivery. The certification validates skills that apply directly to roles in networking, security, and cloud operations. With enterprises investing in hybrid environments, F5 expertise is increasingly seen as a differentiator. Job opportunities span a range of industries and seniority levels.
Common job roles include:
Application delivery engineer
F5 administrator
Infrastructure or security engineer with ADC responsibilities
F5 Certification Roadmap: What's Next?
The updated F5 certification roadmap makes earning the F5-CA, BIG-IP credential more approachable without sacrificing depth. By breaking the process into five shorter exams, F5 ensures administrators can focus on one skill set at a time while still proving their ability to manage enterprise-grade application delivery.
For IT professionals, this certification isn’t just about passing tests—it’s about building confidence in critical skills that keep apps secure, reliable, and high-performing. Whether your next step is pursuing advanced F5 certifications or leveraging your credential for career growth, mastering BIG-IP is a move that pays off in the long run. Ready to take the next step?
Explore CBT Nuggets’ F5 training courses and start preparing for your certification journey today.
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