VCAP-DCA 550 retirement date?

[AllBlack]

Hi,

I have started preparing for VCAP a few times now but every time life got in the way.

VMware is now changing the cert to VCIX and I wonder if it is worth continuing with VCAP. I am aware that you can use the VCAP cert towards VCIX but I am not sure whether I can complete VCAP before it retires all together. Has there a retirement date been set for VCAP-DCA 550?

Cheers

[scott28tt · Accepted solution]

‌Not that I'm aware of...

[AllBlack]

Thanks Scott,

In general, how much warning does VMware give before an exam is expired?

[JAndrews42]

VCAP4-DCA launched Summer 2010 and was retired May 2014

VCAP5-DCA DCA510 launched July 2012 and was retired Feb 2015

VCAP5-DCA DCA550 launched May 2014

My guess would be 9-12 months after VCIX6-DCV launches.

[mdale]

Hi All,

i was about to book this VCAP DCA 550 exam through pearson vue and they are saying that the exam is going to expire in October / November' 15, is it true ? if so, what is the point of writing this exam at this stage and what will be the alternative / equivalent exam for this.

how long is the validity for these exams in general before it gets expired ?

Thanks

[VirtualVanguard]

Hello Mdale!

I have just meet the same issue yesterday when i have tried to schedule my exam via phone call with Pearson.

I was told that exam is available until end of November in all test-centers... I was trying to search any information regarding VCAPs 550 retirements but found nothing at all. What I`m afraid of is that we can face similar situation as VCAPs chopped off in the beginning of 2015 (less than 2 weeks notice)

https://blogs.vmware.com/education/2015/03/exam-retirement-announcement.html

No information regardin VCIX:DCV ...

I have asked via email Vmware Education and Certification whats going on with 550 VCAPs - waiting for their reply

[scott28tt]

This was the most recent announcement on exam retirements, as you can see they have given much more notice this time: VCA and VCP Retirements Coming in September, November - VMware Education and Certification Blog - VM...

No mention of the exams for VCAP5-DCA or VCAP5-DCD - given that there is no news yet on VCIX6-DCV exams (not event a beta) I think you're OK for a while yet.

[VirtualVanguard]

Well, I`m not as i would like to schedule for exam, but I`m unable to do At least thats what Pearson Vue says.

[scott28tt]

I'd wait to see what the VMware certification team come back to you with - they are usually more accurate in their responses than Pearson can be.

[VirtualVanguard]

Yes, i`m will wait for their official response, nonetheless whole thing is really messy. Not to mention that a lot of people complain about quality of network connection during DCA exams ...

I will provide you all an update when i will receive an update from VMware Education team,

[JoshuaAndrewsVM]

There is a temporary halt on scheduling exams after Nov 30 due to a pending back-end change.  This will be resolved soon and more information should be available shortly.

The DCA550 is not being retired.

[VirtualVanguard]

That`s great to hear! Were we could find this info in official resources?

[bugblatterbeast]

I emailed the cert team this week to get clarification on my current VCAP5-DCA status (gained from the VCAP-DCA 510 exam).  Here is what they said:-

Upgrading to VCIX6: For anyone certified as a VCAP5 one exam is required. There is no course attendance required (but it is recommended).

We are still working on the VCIX6 exams, so some of the details are pending, but I can provide you with this information:

If you hold either a VCAP Administration or Design certification, you will be given credit towards the corresponding VCIX6 requirement for that track, so you only need to take the other VCIX6 exam (the one that you have not earned). For instance, if you have a VCAP5-DCA then you would only need to take the VCIX6 Data Center Design exam to earn your VCIX6-DCV.

If you hold both VCAP Design and VCAP Admin certifications for a certification track you can take either the VCIX6 Design exam or the VCIX6 Admin exam in order to upgrade to the new VCIX6 credential for your technology track (this policy was updated based upon your feedback below – thank you!).

So my basic assumption is that if I take (and hopefully pass) the VCIX6-DCD then i should automatically become VCIX-DCV.  Presumably the same holds if you pass the VCAP-DCA 550 before the cutoff date, otherwise you will have the take the DCA and DCD in the vSphere 6 track.

Hope this helps.

[JoshuaAndrewsVM]

Simplified Registration Process for Advanced Exams Coming - VMware Education and Certification Blog ...

[VirtualVanguard]

Thank You Joshua!

[scott28tt]

What about those who already have 2 Pearson accounts? Will they be merged?

[vicboss]

Hello

what do you mean by "resumably the same holds if you pass the VCAP-DCA 550 before the cutoff date,"

i am hopefully planning to pass the DCA550 on December . will it still be valid especially for the VCIX upgrade Path ( meaning i will have to pass only the DCD one after that to get VCIX-DCV ) ?

Thanks

[sagarkmaru]

Thank You Joshua

[VirtualVanguard]

vicboss‌ were you able to schedule it in december? I`m checking all available test centers in europe, and none have places after end of november .... Additionaly, do you also have a lot of stuff like this while searching calendars on perason site?

This application has encountered an unexpected problem. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please close your browser and start over.

Date:2015-10-21 06:06:40.960 CDT Server:www1.pearsonvue.com

[VirtualVanguard]

Joshua,

We are still blind here. Indeed acounts were merged and it works just fine, but we are not able to schedule anything (VCAPs) after november .... Even, when I have confirmation from test center that they have opened their own calendar for public registration