Let me add a little bit of clarification to Tom's (generally correct) statements.
the VCP exam is taylored for the Install and Config course
It would be more accurate to say that the VCP exam and the Install and Config course are both tailored for the same job role. I&C is intended to teach the knowledge and skills necessary to run a VI3 of at least small to medium-size complexity, and the VCP exam is intended to measure a person's attainment of that knowledge and those skills.
The VCP exam is not the "final examination" for the Install and Config course. Although there's a lot of alignment of the course content and the exam content, people should study for the VCP exam using the VCP exam blueprint first. The I&C course materials will be valuable help, as will hands-on experience, the VI3 documentation set, and the VMware website.
No you can take any class you wish
The DSA course satisfies the course requirement for VCP, because it covers VI3 in general (just like I&C) but at a larger scale and higher level of complexity. Also, the VI3 Fast Track Program is effectively the union of I&C and DSA in one week, so it also satisfies the VCP course requirement.
But courses that are not hands-on or not directly relevant to the VCP exam blueprint do not satisfy the course requirement for VCP.
