The changes are not limited to only these vendors as VMware has also recently announced a major change in its recertification policy. Now, you can choose when to recertify your VCP because the vendor has removed the mandatory recertification prerequisite. In this blog, we’ll explore the reasons for these changes and their implications for the specialists pursuing this certification path. First of all, let’s understand what the VCP credential is all about.

Overview of VMware VCP Certification

There are numerous credentials offered by this vendor to validate the experience of the professionals on VMware technologies. VMware Certified Professional (VCP) is a certification program that confirms the individuals’ skills and knowledge to use, troubleshoot, and maintain VMware vSphere. Due to the fact that VMware is the core player in the field of virtualization, this credential has become a highly valuable one in the IT industry. According to the report from PayScale, a VCP certified professional can earn an average salary of $88,000 per annum.

Prior to the change, there is a two-year recertification policy on the VCP credential, and it is designed to ensure that the certified specialists possess up-to-date knowledge and maintain their skills. No doubt, this policy is ideal for all IT certificates. For instance, a lot of Cisco and CompTIA certifications expire after a period of three years. Interestingly, VMware announced earlier this year that it will make some changes to its VCP recertification policy. What is the change? The vendor has removed the compulsory 2-year renewal prerequisite. This means your VCP will not expire if you don’t upgrade to an advanced or more recent certificate.

Main Reasons for This Change

There are quite a number of reasons why the change is appropriate. On the one hand, renewal was not always necessary in some cases. For instance, there are many companies that put upgrading of their virtualization infrastructure on hold for a long time. With this, there is absolutely no reason why their IT professionals should upgrade their credentials. The previous recertification process requires that the specialists retake the vSphere Foundations exam, in addition to any other relevant elective test, bi-yearly. Considering the time required for preparing for the exams, the two-year timeline becomes cumbersome for a lot of students. However, without this requirement, the individuals can choose when to update their VMware certificate based on their availability.

Consequences of Recertification Process Removal for Current VCP Certified Professionals

The removal took effect in February 2019. These changes have been made to officially reflect in CertManager, as well as the transcript of the candidates from April. This means many certifications that have expired before will appear active now. This generally minimizes the need to initiate the process from the scratch, and the candidates can choose when to upgrade or recertify. In case your VCP certificate has already expired, you can progress with an update path rather than starting over like a new student. If you have the expired VCP credential, it is likely to appear active now when you check your transcript.

Some versions of certificates will continue to be inactive, and you will be required to start the process from the very beginning. No doubt, this might be a bit exasperating, especially for an individual who has already gone through the expired certification path. The good news is that all hope is not lost. If you have already done the expired program within the past six months, VMware is offering you one-year premium license to the VMware Learning Zone, which is free. Combining the VMware training with the VMware Learning Zone will significantly enhance your preparation for the VCP exams.

Upgrading to VMware VCP Certification

In addition to the changes made to the recertification process, there is also an extension to the ability of the certification holders to upgrade their credential. The candidates can now upgrade any of the three most recent certificates in any given track. For instance, you can upgrade VCP5-DCV, VCP6-DCV, or VCP6.5-DVC to the new VCP-DCV 2019 certification. Prior to this change, only two most recent credentials could be upgraded.

The implication of this is that the applicants have the opportunity to upgrade without starting all over again. It is important to note that the extension is only applicable to the same VCP certification track. If you want to upgrade to another path, you have to do this within two versions of the current one, as it was in the previous policy. If you don’t meet this prerequisite, you have to start the new track from the scratch.

The Bottom Line

The core reason for changes in policy is to make the certification process simpler for the candidates. It started in 2018 when the vendor announced changes to the VMware certificate naming conventions to simplify the certification identification. Now, the recruiters can easily track the level of experience and authority of their employees.

Without the recertification prerequisites for VCP, the applicants and the employers can decide when the advanced credential is needed. This will definitely make the VMware certificates more popular among the professionals since they are in high demand and have no expiration date. It is not surprising that many other certification providers will tow this strip.

December 31, 2017 – the last day of the year. The time of New Year’s Eve, presents and miracles. They say that people should say goodbye to old things, thoughts and grievances… Evidently, the IT company VMware adheres to this superstition. After all, on December, 31 the company will retire the whole list of old exams and related certifications. The main reason for such a great withdrawal is the release of the new VCA-DBT certification.

VMware is retiring the following VMware Certified Associate 6 certifications and exams:

1. VMware Certified Associate 6 – Data Center Virtualization (VCA6-DCV) – 1V0-621 exam
2. VMware Certified Associate 6 – Network Virtualization (VCA6-NV) – 1V0-642 exam
3. VMware Certified Associate 6 – Desktop and Mobility (VCA6-DTM) – 1V0-605 exam
4. VMware Certified Associate 6 – Cloud Management and Automation (VCA6-CMA) – 1V0-603 exam

After December 31, these exams will no longer be available, and the certification will no longer be awarded. But there is enough time to earn one of these retiring certs.

VMware Certified Associate 6 – Data Center Virtualization (VCA6-DCV)

Gain greater credibility when discussing data center virtualization, the business challenges that vSphere is designed to address, and how virtualizing the data center with vSphere addresses those challenges.

1V0-621

This exam tests candidates on their skills and abilities identifying technical requirements for managing a VMware vSphere 6 environment. It consists of 50 single and multiple choice, non-proctored, online questions and lasts 75 minutes.

Preparation options: Data Center Virtualization Fundamentals [V6]; VCA6-DCV (1V0-621) Practice Exam; ExamCollection Practice Exam.

VMware Certified Associate 6 – Network Virtualization (VCA6-NV) 

Gain greater credibility when discussing network virtualization, the business challenges VMware NSX and related networking technologies are designed to address, and how virtualizing the network with NSX addresses those challenges.

1V0-642

This exam tests candidates on their skills and abilities identifying technical requirements for managing a VMware NSX 6.2 environment. It consists of 50 single and multiple choice, non-proctored, online questions and lasts 75 minutes.

Preparation options: VMware Network Virtualization Fundamentals 2016;  VCA6-NV (1V0-642) 6.2 Practice Exam; ExamCollection Practice Exam.

VMware Certified Associate 6 – Desktop and Mobility (VCA6-DTM)

Gain greater credibility when discussing desktop virtualization, the business challenges that Horizon with View and related desktop technologies are designed to address, and how virtualizing desktops and mobile devices with View addresses those challenges.

1V0-605

This exam tests your skills and abilities identifying the technical requirements for desktop virtualization. It consists of 50 single and multiple choice, non-proctored, online questions and lasts 75 minutes.

Preparation options: VMware Workforce Mobility Fundamentals; VCA6-DTM (1V0-605) Practice Exam; ExamCollection Practice Exam.

VMware Certified Associate 6 – Cloud Management and Automation (VCA6-CMA)

Gain greater credibility when discussing cloud computing, the business challenges the vCloud Suite is designed to address, and how deploying VMware Cloud solutions address those challenges.

1V0-603

This exam tests your skills and abilities identifying the technical requirements for cloud management and automation. It consists of 50 single and multiple choice, non-proctored, online questions and lasts 75 minutes.

Preparation options:  VMware Cloud Fundamentals; VCA6-CMA (1V0-603) Practice Exam; ExamCollection Practice Exam.

They say, when you get rid of something old, then something new comes. Well, we are waiting for the whole list of new VMware certifications and exams on January 2018.

VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX) is the highest level of VMware certification. This elite group of VCDX professionals consists of design architects highly-skilled in VMware enterprise deployments.

Earning the new VMware Certified Design Expert v6 – Network Virtualization (VCDX6-NV) certification will confirm candidate’s world-class vSphere and NSX 6.x skills and prove individual can deliver true business value through designing a VMware NSX®-platform-based data center networking infrastructure that meets customer objectives and constraints.

For the next application deadline of September 22, 2017, candidates may submit for either the VCDX6-NV or for the previous version of VCDX-NV.

New Candidate Requirements

VCDX6-NV Certification Requirements

Path 1: If you hold a valid VCAP6-NV Deploy or VCIX6-NV:

1: Review and understand the blueprint.

2: Select and build a design, based on the guidance in the blueprint.

3: Submit design application and code of conduct.

4: Pass the application and design review.

5: Successfully defend the design against three panelists.

Existing Candidate Requirements

VCDX6-NV Certification Requirements

Path 1: If you hold VCDX-NV (the previous version):

1: VCAP6-NV Deploy certification.

Path 2: If you hold a VCDX in a track other than NV:

1: VCAP6-NV Deploy certification.

2: Review and understand the blueprint.

3: Select and build a design, based on the guidance in the blueprint.

4: Submit design application and code of conduct.

5: Pass the application and design review.

6: Successfully defend the design in a one-hour phone interview.

Resources:

• VCDX Policies & Procedures
• Application Deadlines & Defense Dates
• VCDX Workshop
• VCDX Community
• VMware Learning Zone
• VMware Press
• VMware Certification Market Place

You can also check out the VMware section at ExamCollection.

We have two news from VMware: GOOD and BAD. As you may have already guessed, they will be about VMware certifications: one of which was recently released and the other one will be retired soon. With what news should we begin?

Let’s begin with a retiring certification, after all, its withdrawal will be on September 15, 2017.

The VMware Certified Associate 6 – Hybrid Cloud (VCA6-HC) certification is developed for individuals who want to improve their credibility when discussing hybrid cloud platform.

You will know:

• how to increase the credibility when discussing cloud services;
• how to use a secure dedicated hybrid cloud platform to solve the business challenges;
• how to define technical requirements for public, private and hybrid cloud platforms;
• how to describe and differentiate vCloud Air and related services and technologies.

The VMware Certified Associate – Hybrid Cloud Fundamentals (1V0-602) exam is associated with the VCA6-HC certification. The 1V0-602 exam is a test which includes 50 single and multiple choice, non-proctored questions in English, Japanese, Chinese and lasts 75 minutes.

This exam validates candidate’s ability to identify technical requirements for a Hybrid Cloud solution and align them with vCloud Air based services and technologies.

Exam topics covers 3 sections:

Section 1: Identify and Differentiate VMware vCloud Air Components

Section 2: Identify and Differentiate VMware Air Networking Technologies

Section 3: Identify and Differentiate VMware vCloud Air Management Technologies

Preparation options:

• Free eLearning course: vCloud Air Fundamentals
• Practice Exam : VCA6-HC (1V0-602) Practice Exam
• VMware additional resources
• ExamCollection practice test: VMware 1V0-602 Tests

Now, when you have all necessary information about VMware retiring exam, it’s high time to move on to good news.

The VMware Certified Associate – Digital Business Transformation (VCA-DBT) certification is an entry-level certification for the cloud and virtualization industry.

The VCA-DBT is developed for individuals to demonstrate their digital transformation expertise highly valued in today’s IT marketplace. It validates the knowledge of how virtualization concepts drive an enterprise’s digital agenda. This certification proves that candidates are familiar with the VMware products and technologies that support VMware Cloud Foundation and Cross-Cloud Architecture solutions including vSphere, vSAN, NSX, and the vRealize Suite.

The VMware Certified Associate – Digital Business Transformation (1V0-701) exam is associated with the VCA-DBT certification. The 1V0-701 exam is a test which includes 50 non-proctored online – multiple choice, drag and drop, matching questions in English and lasts 135 minutes.

This exam tests a candidate’s awareness of the VMware portfolio and their ability to identify and recommend technical solutions.

Preparation options:

• Recommended Training: VCA-DBT Training Modules in VMware Learning Zone
• Exam Guide
• VMware additional resources
• ExamCollection database with free VMware materials

It’s up to you what to choose to become VMware certified specialist!

Good news from VMware! If you are among those who eagerly awaited a new certification exam from this IT company, stay here with us till the end. Today, on the agenda is a new exam which successfully replaced the old 2V0-641 exam (its retirement – 30 April, 2017).

This certification exam is a proof of the holder’s ability and skill possession to install, configure and administer a VMware NSX for vSphere v6.2 environment.

Welcome new VMware Certified Professional 6 – Network Virtualization (NSX v6.2) exam! Its number is 2V0-642. This exam is available in two languages: English and Japanese. The 2V0-642 exam is a two-hour test with topics covered by 77 single and multiple choice queries.

These topics are presented in the list below:

Section 1: Understand VMware NSX Technology and Architecture

Section 2: Understand VMware NSX Physical Infrastructure Requirements

Section 3: Configure and Manage vSphere Networking

Section 4: Install and Upgrade VMware NSX

Section 5: Configure VMware NSX Virtual Networks

Section 6: Configure and Manage NSX Network Services

Section 7: Configure and Administer Network Security

Section 8: Perform Operations Tasks in a VMware NSX Environment

Section 9: Perform Operations Tasks in a VMware NSX Environment

Section 10: Troubleshoot a VMware Network Virtualization Implementation

The 2V0-642 exam is associated with the VMware Certified Professional 6 – Network Virtualization (VCP6-NV) certification.

VCP6-NV certification validates your ability to install, configure, and administer NSX virtual networking implementations, regardless of the underlying physical architecture.

Candidates for the VCP6-NV certification has approximately six months’ experience working with NSX implementations. They are typically infrastructure staff for networking, datacenter and cloud administrators, as well as virtualization specialists who are well versed in the relationship between physical and virtual network infrastructures and are able to install, configure, manage and troubleshoot VMware NSX problems.

Pay your attention to new candidate requirements to know exactly how to earn your VMware certification.

Path 1: Just starting with VMware Network Virtualization technology.

1: Gain experience with NSX technologies (minimum 6 months recommended).

2: Attend one of the required training courses.

3: Complete the vSphere 6 Foundations Exam or vSphere 6.5 Foundations Exam

4: Pass the VMware Certified Professional 6 – Network Virtualization (NSX v6.2) Exam or VMware Certified Professional 6 – Network Virtualization Exam (exam retired on April 30, 2017)

Path 2: Hold a qualifying Cisco Certification.

1: Submit proof that you hold one of the following certifications: CCNA Data Center, CCNA Routing & Switching, CCNP Data Center, CCNP Routing & Switching, CCIE Data Center, CCIE Routing & Switching

2: Complete the vSphere 6 Foundations Exam or vSphere 6.5 Foundations Exam

3: Pass the VMware Certified Professional 6 – Network Virtualization (NSX v6.2) Exam or VMware Certified Professional 6 – Network Virtualization Exam (exam retired on April 30, 2017)

If you are a lucky holder of VCP or VCP-NV certifications, you can find more information on how to obtain the VCP6-NV certification here.

Naturally, we cannot leave you without useful advice on how to prepare for the exam and become certified VMware specialist:

1. Exam Guide
2. Recommended Training
3. Practice Exam
4. Free VMware Preparation Materials

Earn your VCP6-NV certification and transform the economics of network and security operations for your company.

As a leader in the virtualization space, VMware certifications are a must-have for many IT professionals.

VMware certifications are based on a version of the associated technology, which means these certifications change in response to technology changes. Thus, new certifications and exams appear as fast as they are withdrawn.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you a new certification: VMware Certified Professional 6.5 – Data Center Virtualization (VCP6.5-DCV).

This industry-recognized certification claims that candidates are aware of how to implement, manage, and troubleshoot a vSphere V6.5 infrastructure, using best practices granting a powerful and secure foundation for business agility.

This new certification provides you an opportunity to prove your expertise in the latest version of the industry-leading virtualization platform.

For those who already have the VCP certification, this new VCP provides a new path and recertification opportunity.

New Candidate Requirements:

If you are new to VMware Data Center Virtualization technology:

1. Gain experience with vSphere 6.5 (minimum 6 months recommended).
2. Attend one of the required training courses.
3. Pass the vSphere 6 Foundations Exam or vSphere 6.5 Foundations Exam
4. Pass the VMware Certified Professional 6.5 – Data Center Virtualization Exam.

If you have had previous vSphere 5.x training, but are not VCP certified:

1. Attend the VMware vSphere: What’s New [V5.5 to V6.5] training course.
2. Complete the vSphere 6 Foundations Exam or vSphere 6.5 Foundations Exam.
3. Pass the VMware Certified Professional 6.5 – Data Center Virtualization Exam.

More details on the Existing Candidate Requirements can be found here.

There are three exams associated with the VCP6.5-DCV certification:

1. vSphere 6.5 Foundations (exam # 2V0-602)

This exam validates that a candidate has the basic knowledge and skills necessary to understand and begin developing VMware vSphere 6.5 environments.

The vSphere 6.5 Foundations exam consists of 70 single and multiple choice, non-proctored questions and lasts 105 minutes. Recommended training is VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V6.5].

2. 5-DCV elective exam (exam # 2V0-622)

This exam claims that a candidate has the fundamental skills required to successfully install, deploy, scale and manage VMware vSphere 6.5 environments.

The VCP6.5-DCV elective exam is a practice test with 70 question assignments. Duration of the exam is 105 minutes, it’s pretty enough to answer all single and multiple choice, proctored questions. VMware vSphere: Optimize and Scale [V6.5] is the best training for this certification exam.

3. 5-DCV delta exam (exam # 2V0-622D)

This exam validates that a candidate has main knowledge and skills required to successfully install, deploy, scale, and manage VMware vSphere 6.5 environments.

The VCP6.5-DCV delta exam consists of 70 single and multiple choice, proctored questions with passing score – 300. It lasts 105 minutes. Recommended training is VMware vSphere: What’s New [V5.5 to V6.5].

As for exams preparation, one of the most useful 2V0-602, 2V0-622 and 2V0-622D preparation options will be real exam practice tests from ExamCollection website, which can be downloaded for FREE and are checked by the former exam takers including certified professionals.

Improve your credibility and increase value to your organization by becoming VCP6.5-DCV certified.

On today’s agenda is an advanced certification developed for design architects of VMware enterprise deployments – VMware Certified Design Expert 5 – Data Center Virtualization (VCDX5 – DCV).

Caution! This certification will retire on June 9, 2017. As you see, you don’t have much time to become a certified VMware specialist. So the following information is only for you.

The VCDX5-DCV program defines a candidate’s ability to:

• design
• implement
• document
• test

a VMware technology.

The achievement of VCDX5-DCV certification is not so easy. But no pain, no gain. The main task is to submit and successfully defend a production-ready VMware Solution before a panel of veteran VCDX-DCV holders. After this process, you can join an elite group of world-class consulting architects.

Here are some TIPS for the Defense:

• Do not spend a lot of time introducing your own experience or resume.
• Always think out loud.
• Always say why.
• Use graphics frequently.
• Turn errors into opportunities.
• Do not be afraid of making recommendations.
• Always ask questions of the panelists if something is not clear.

Of course, if you already hold the VCDX5-DCV certification, it will remain yours as long as you recertify every two years.

If you are looking for free VMware exam preparation materials, you can visit the following website.

But sooner or later some of the exams are doomed to disappear as time slips by. In part, this is the result of the intention to make VMware certification the most relevant and active virtualization certification in the market. This is the reason why older versions of VMware products are to be retired. And so, we are going to talk about the two exams associated with the VMware Certified Professional 5 – Data Center Virtualization (VCP5-DCV) certification.

• VCP5-DCV Exam (VCP550)
• VCP5-DCV Delta Exam (VCP550D)

New registrations will not be available for these exams starting from March 15, 2017. If you are making a new exam appointment, you must schedule it before March 31, 2017.

After the date these exams are retired you will no longer be able to earn a new VCP5-DCV certification. Of course, if you already hold the VCP5-DCV certification, it will remain yours as long as you recertify every two years.

If you have any specific questions or concerns, please contact the Certification Support team.

So what are the VMware courses referred to above?

Let’s investigate the question.

vCloud Air Fundamentals

Taking this free eLearning course, you can be sure you’ll learn fundamental information about vCloud Air and understand how to move or extend your on-premises data center to vCloud Air. This VMware training course overviews vCloud Air, the common challenges with public cloud offerings, general barriers to public cloud adoption, and how vCloud Air helps vanquish these barriers. It then explores the vCloud Air service offerings and features, security and compliance standards, and networking concepts and services connected with vCloud Air. In addition, course listeners will be able to recognize diverse management tools that one can use to manage the vCloud Air environment with the on-premises virtual infrastructure.

VMware Horizon 7 Fundamentals

Another free VMware training course offers you basic information for understanding of the VMware Horizons portfolio, as well as the key features and benefits. It also examines the components and architecture of Horizon 7, the features of the Horizon Desktop, the Horizon Agent and Horizon Client. Additionally, you will be shown how to login and navigate the features and functionality of Horizon Administrator.

VMware User Environment Manager Fundamentals [V9]

The third free 90-minute training course provides a brief survey of UEM, its components, features, and benefits. The course also clarifies the UEM installation and configuration process and the features available in the UEM Management Console.

VMware Horizon 7: Install, Configure, Manage [V7.0] On Demand

The last self-paced VMware course is useful since it gives you the abilities to deliver virtual desktops and applications by means of a single virtual desktop infrastructure platform. This VMware training course builds your skills in installing, configuring, and managing VMware Horizon® 7 through a combination of lecture and practical lessons. You will learn how to configure and deploy pools of virtual machines, how to manage access and security of the machines, and how to provide a customized desktop environment to end users.

Which course would you like to take? Which one is more effective? Share your opinions in comments below!

The Second Inning of a Nine-Inning Game: NSX Use Cases and the Networking Revolution

The software-defined networking revolution flows over more and more companies, including VMware that is at the forefront of this revolution. Rajiv notes that today networking industry is becoming more disaggregated than ever. If firstly it used to build everything – from chips to systems to software and services, now the situation is constantly changing.

VMware customers from all corners of the globe are driving the rapid adoption of NSX as a key enabler to the cloud, and three use cases are arising as main applications of NSX:

• micro-segmentation,
• IT automation,
• disaster recovery.

VMware’s vision continues to exist helping customers automate and secure workloads in the cloud, both in VMware private cloud environments and in containers or on non-VMware hypervisors in the private and public cloud. Despite of where these workloads are being run, NSX is able to help secure those workloads in very fine grain network policing, as well as automate them.

VMware NSX Is Becoming Critical to Multi-Cloud Strategies

In the second video, Rajiv discusses some of the customers that use NSX to manage multiple private and public cloud. He says there is one of the largest banks in the world that is using NSX as a basis to create extremely large private clouds. “They have those in production today, and they’re with us on a journey to extend NSX into the public cloud,” notes Rajiv.

Rajiv also talks about the success of a smaller customer in the media industry that’s using NSX to aggregate multiple public clouds inherited through some acquisitions. VMware NSX is allowing them to manage security, automation, and continuity across two data centers using a single, private cloud.

Furthermore, these customers are driving consistency of policy from their data centers to their branch offices by extending NSX to all their sites.

Mapping the Future of VMware NSX

Rajiv says that they are continually trying to solve their customers’ problems. As part of this continued commitment, VMware recently acquired Arkin, a leader in software-defined data center security and operations.

When customers deploy NSX, their common wish is to achieve two things. Firstly, they want to have visibility into which applications are talking to which within the data center, while the second thing is ‘day two’ operations support following deployment.

In order to manage these customer imperatives, VMware integrated Arkin into the vRealize® Automation™ suite, the product given a new name – VMware® vRealize® Network Insight™.

This acquisition will undoubtedly bring big, positive changes for NSX and customers. As Rajiv notes “the combination of vRealize Network Insight along with NSX is a great thing for customers. It helps them understand what they have in their data centers, and it provides them with visibility and operational support for their deployments.”

This recap was originally published by VMware Education and Certification Blog