VCP55 expired - recertification cost EUR 2000,-

[MFuchs]

Hello VMware Certification Team,

I was VMware certified since Version 2 to 3 to 4 to 5 to 5.5 since 2005.

This year i missed the renewal date by 1 month (vcp55 expired 02/20) and i was just told by VMware certification i have to retake the training sessions.

Yeah, very professional friendly.

Im already working more than a year with vsphere 6 and doing migration projects. I have to pay the exam fee of eur 250,- and now take the training (eur 1680,-) too.

Total cost EUR 2000,- to recertify. can´t believe it. what a rip off.

Can´t see any ROI on this.

This policy makes really friends. I´ll not recertify as VCP6 and recommend this to my colleagues and customers.

Regards,

Mario Fuchs

P.S.: Posted this yesterday a doc and not as discussion.

[scott28tt]

My reply from your document:

You had the option of taking either the VCP6-DCV exam, or the special VCP6-DCV Delta exam prior to your deadline - path 1 on this page: VCP6-DCV Certification

You will now need to take training, VMware will permit you to take a shorter (and cheaper) What's New class, rather than a full class, if you wish - that's path 4 on the same page: VCP6-DCV Certification

Or, of course - you have the choice to stay expired.

You said:

Unfortunately only the 3 day Option (5.5 to 6.5) is available. The 2 day Option (5.5 to 6.0) only available in spanish. The Lab Option throws an error. on the Website.

EUR1680 (Training) plus EUR 250 (exam) plus 3 days plus travel.

But, you can take the 5.5 > 6.0 class "on demand" - it's the price of a 2-day class, with no travel: VMware vSphere: What's New [V5.5 to V6] - On Demand

Like all VCPs, you had the option of recertifying within 2 years, at a minimal cost - choosing not to do that is the reason you're in this situation now.

[MFuchs]

Never seen such a rip-off like that. btw I´m certified by Microsoft, Novell and Citrix for many years.

Just tried on demand......No comment.

Mario

[scott28tt]

‌The policy was communicated many times, it was in place when you did your last exam, plus you would have been emailed with 3 months to go and 1 month to go.

Many other vendors have an expiry on their certifications.

You had the choice to recertify prior to your expiry date, and you have choices now also.

[KostasK]

Scott, I can not understand the logic of the expiration policy of a certification. You mention than many other vendors have an expiry but I h ave to say that there are also many other vendors that haven't. I believe that someone who is certified, sooner or later will have to recertify. How could I go into a job interview with a VCP 3 or 4??? But why I cannot do it on my time and without being forced to attend a class? Why I cannot study myself and just take the exam (as I can with Cisco)? That's where I disagree with the Certification policy and I hope that this point will change in the future. In some countries (like Greece) the 2000 or 2500€ are two or even 3 monthly salaries!! In other countries even more! It's not that simple

[scott28tt]

Sounds like you disagree with many aspects of VMware's policies on certification - certainly the training requirement, and recertification.

Ultimately, it's up to the vendor what their policies are - and you as an individual have to decide whether you want to meet their requirements or not.

There are over 100,000 VCPs globally who have met those requirements - I doubt they would want the requirements for a new VCP or upgrading VCP to be lowered, given that they met the requirements at the time themselves.

[Krenztor]

As one of the 100k certified VCPs, I disagree with you scott.  I would guess that the majority of those who have and continue to try and hold this certification are not too pleased with the way VMware manages it.  I hold certifications in ISC2, Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, all of whom require recertification, and none of whom require it every two years nor would charge you an exorbitant amount if you happened to let it lapse and needed to get recertified.

Here is what I would personally like to see from VMware.  Once they put out a new certification test, anyone who takes that test within the first year will have a three year expiration date rather than two.  This is due to you being very up to date on the latest VMware information already.  Secondly, if you let your certification lapse but you held a VCP that is just one major version old (ie, if you held a VCP 5 and VCP 6 is the latest one) then you aren't required to retake the course.  Clearly there is no need for that.  VMware could make a pre-recorded course of the "What's New" and sell that for a minimal fee of say $100 and make that the requirement, rather than a full on live course.  Even that is going beyond what other companies are doing, but it isn't outside the realm of fairness either.  Charging $2000 for letting your cert lapse might as well be putting a gun to someone's head and telling them they have no choice.  What sort of company does that?

VMware sees themselves as king of the virtualization world and therefore techs need to comply with them.  That will work for now but if a major competitor ever comes around that is more fair to the industry professionals who are the lifeblood of their product then VMware is going to find they have very few loyal IT managers / professionals who are going to side with them.  It would be in VMware's best interest to begin treating their own certification holders with a bit more respect and kindness than they do today.

[scott28tt]

I'll forward your feedback to the folks I know in the Certification group internally.

[Ripley8]

I've been a VCP/VCI since VI3.0. There has always been a clearly communicated policy regarding certificate renewals and expiry. I've always re-certified within the time frame. I have 2 years to plan this re-certification.

Irrespective of your interpretation of the rules, and whether they are 'fair' or not, there is little in the way of an excuse for not recertifying within the time frame.

Just don't leave it till the last minute.

[Krenztor]

Thanks Scott!  I really appreciate you passing this information on!  If I could ask for even one further thing, it is that people who currently hold a VCP should be able to download free trials of common VMware software.  I've been fortunate enough to always have access to VMware products through my employer, but if the day ever comes where I'm unemployed or my employer just doesn't have access to VMware software and I need to renew my VCP it would be nice to still be able to get my hands on the software that I'll be tested on.

[scott28tt]

Nothing to do with being certified, but there's already 2 ways I know that you can get eval software:

Evaluate VMware Products (free downloads, or free labs)

https://www.vmug.com/Join/EVALExperience (small subscription fee for downloads)

[Krenztor]

Wow, that is super helpful!  I'm glad that content is already out there

[AlbertWT]

Krenztor ,

Yes, previously VMware was very generous company giving the VCP a free license for VMware workstation.

But now not anymore.

[AlbertWT]

FYI: getting VMware certification is now harder and more expensive Certification Exam Price Increase on April 1 - VMware Education & Certification - VMware Blogs

Moreover: VMware has closed the comment section on this blog: Certification Insights: VCP Recertification - VMware Education & Certification - VMware Blogs due to many negative responses.:smileyshocked:

I guess if VMware keeps on doing this eventually, people will move away to the other cloud provider or competitor product. See what Novell certification & product has become.