New and updated Cloud Management and Automation exams

VMware recently released 2 new exams for different Cloud Management and Automation certifications:

VMware Certified Technical Associate - Cloud Management and Automation 2021 (VCTA-CMA 2021)

This is the new foundation-level certification for VMware's vRealize Cloud Universal offering, and how it can be used within both the data center and the cloud.

There is no "hard" training requirement, but there is a "core technical skills" course which is recommended as it was created specifically for the VCTA-CMA 2021 exam.

The exam tests on a knowledge of a typical VMware cloud architecture, the role of the vRealize Cloud Universal products, plus monitoring and basic administration.

Learn more about the certification and the exam here: VCTA-CMA 2021

VMware Certified Professional - Cloud Management and Automation 2021 (VCP-CMA 2021)

This is not a new certification, but it now has a new exam option based on vRealize Automation 8.3 in addition to the older 8.1 exam.

Learn more about the new 8.3 exam here: Professional VMware vRealize Automation 8.3

NEW: VMware Certified Technical Associate - Application Modernization 2021 (VCTA-AM 2021)

Another new exam and certification from VMware - this time it's the foundation-level certification covering the VMware Tanzu portfolio:

VMware Certified Technical Associate - Application Modernization 2021 (VCTA-AM 2021)

As will all other VCTAs, there is recommended training and a required exam, so a low "barrier to entry" for anyone who wants to earn the certification.

The VCP-AM 2021 was released just a couple of weeks ago, will we also see VCAPs and a new VCDX track on the same technology line?

NEW: Master Specialist - VMware Cloud on AWS 2021

VMware have just released a new version of the Specialist Badge on VMware Cloud on AWS solution for 2021.

This is an ideal certification for VCP-DCV or VCP-NV holders to demonstrate their expertise with VMware Cloud on AWS.

There are 3 required elements to achieve the badge:

• VCP-DCV or VCP-NV obtained either in 2020 or 2021
• Attendance of VMware Cloud on AWS training
• Pass the specialist exam

Learn more about the certification and each of the individual requirements on this Master Specialist - VMware Cloud on AWS 2021 page.

NEW: VCP-AM 2021 (VMware Certified Professional - Application Modernization 2021)

VMware have just released a brand new exam for a brand new certification: VMware Certified Professional - Application Modernization 2021, or VCP-AM 2021 for short!

The exam centres around the technologies included with VMware Tanzu Standard Edition:

• vSphere with Tanzu
• Tanzu Kubernetes Grid
• Tanzu Mission Control

A candidate will also need a good understanding of core cloud native skills:

• Containerization
• Kubernetes
• Application Modernization

As with other VCPs there are two required elements in addition to just knowing your stuff:

• Completion of authorised training
• Passing an exam

Learn more about the certification on this VCP-AM 2021 page.

New exam for VCAP-CMA Design 2021 - proper Cloud Management!

VMware have just released the latest exam for their VCAP-CMA Design 2021 certification.

There is a big shift in the objectives of the new exam compared to the previous version - the older exam focused only on vRealize Automation, the new exam also includes objectives on vRealize Operations as well as other products from the vRealize Suite - so it really is now a "proper" Cloud Management exam and certification.

As you'd expect from any new exam, the latest generation products are also covered - the old exam was based on vRA 7.x while the new exam covers vRA 8.x as well as vROps 8.x.

Learn more about the new exam on this Advanced Design VMware Cloud Management and Automation page, and about the certification more generally on this VMware Certified Advanced Professional - Cloud Management and Automation Design 2021 page.

March 2021 Update

Here's a collection of the latest news from VMware regarding certifications and how their learning content maps to the exams...

New Year, New Options

Some of this news has already been covered on this very blog, but here's a "straight from the horse's mouth" version of updates from VMware: 2021 VMware Certifications

Certification Manager

Here's a brief Certification Insights update: When Will My VMware Certification Appear in Certification Manager?

Certification Tracks

Want a simple view of all current certification tracks from VCTA up to VCDX? Well here you go: VMware Certification Tracks

FAQs

Got a question about exam administration, exam registration, remote proctoring, or about a specific certification level? The chances are it is answered here: VMware Certification FAQ

3 new exams from VMware

 VMware have released 3 new "skills" badges and exams in the last couple of weeks:

• Workspace ONE for MacOS Skills
• SD-WAN Design and Deploy Skills exam (for the SD-WAN Design and Deploy 2021 badge)
• NSX-T Data Center 3.1 Security exam (for the NSX-T Data Center Security 2021 Skills badge)

Each of the links above will take you to the page where you can download the Exam Guide and find out more about how to book the exams.

All 3 exams are "proctored" which means they are either taken at a Pearson VUE testing centre or online using their OnVUE system.

VCPs, VCAPs AND VCDXs around the world - 2021 edition!

UPDATE - March 19th 2021: Added the VCDX version.

For a number of years now, VMware have published infographics about the distribution of VCPs, VCAPs, and VCDXs around the world.

The 2021 versions can be found by clicking on the images:

Some interesting observations:

• There are now more than 100,000 VCPs in the USA, but only an additional 20,000 or so across the rest of the Americas
• Eight countries now have more than 10,000 VCPs!
• Ireland has 761 VCPs per million of the population, more than double that of the USA
• While EMEA has the lowest number of VCPs it has the highest number of VCAPs

Training available for VCTA-DCV and VCTA-NV

VMware released the VMware Certified Technical Associate (VCTA) level of certifications a little while ago, if you aren't sure what VTCA means and how it fits into the full family of certifications check out my previous post on this.

Training has now been published to help candidates prepare for the VCTA-DCV and VCTA-NV, the content is available via VMware Connect Learning.

You'll need a Premium subscription in order to access the VCTA learning content, that subscription level gives you access to 1300+ videos on topics across the full portfolio of VMware solutions plus exam prep courses for VCP-level certifications - learn more about how to access the VCTA content within VMware Connect Learning.

To learn a little more about the certifications and for a sneak peak of the training content, take a look at these YouTube videos from the IT Academy team: VCTA-DCV and VCTA-NV

January 2021 Update

Happy New Year!

Let us all hope that 2021 doesn't drag us any further away from the lives we knew prior to 2020 - while there are many things we will have learned from the last 12 months I'm certainly missing many of the freedoms I had previously taken for granted...

Anyway, on to business - a summary of updates from the last couple of months in the wonderful world of VMware training and certification!

2021 Certifications

VMware's naming policy has been based on the calendar rather than the software versions for a while now, as with every January the titles of all certifications and specialist badges have been updated for 2021.

Complete the requirements of a certification or specialist badge at any point in 2021 and you'll be awarded the current 2021 title. Remember also that your certifications don't expire - so if you achieve VCP-DCV 2021 that will stay with you next January and beyond.

VCP-DCV exams for vSphere 6.7 - retirement extended

VMware had originally set a retirement date for the Foundations and Professional exams on vSphere 6.7 of December 31st 2020, but these have now been extended by 6 months to June 30th 2021.

For those of you that are skilled in 6.7 or have completed authorised training on 6.7, this gives you a path to achieving VCP-DCV 2021.

New VCAP exams

Available now are 3 new exams for the VCAP-DCV 2021 and VCAP-CMA 2021 certifications based on the latest software versions:

• VCAP-DCV Deploy 2021 - Advanced exam for vSphere 7.0
• VCAP-DCV Design 2021 - Advanced exam for vSphere 7.x
• VCAP-CMA Deploy 2021 - Advanced exam for vRealize Automation 8.x

VMTN Communities - Education and Certification area back online

The VMTN forums have been a highly-valuable resource for all of the 15 years I've worked with VMware technologies! VMTN was migrated to a new back-end platform a couple of months ago, after a lot of work the Education and Certification area is now "back in business" - you can post questions or search for previous answers on most of what you would want to know about certification requirements and learning.