Many professionals are uncertain of what to do next due to recent changes in the IT credentials offered by popular vendors. Amazon, for example, removed all exam prerequisites and Microsoft retired some of its new certificates. Cisco also underwent a complete overhaul of its certification program not long ago. These changes have raised questions among individuals, especially for those who plan to take one or more certification tests in the near future. It is therefore important to stay current.
These changes are not restricted to these vendors. VMware recently announced major changes in its recertification policy. Because the vendor has removed the requirement for recertification, you can now choose when to recertify the VCP. We’ll be discussing the reasons behind these changes and the implications for specialists who are pursuing this certification path. Let’s first understand what the VCP credential means.
Overview of VMware VCP certification
This vendor offers a variety of credentials to validate the expertise of professionals in VMware technologies. VMware Certified Professional (VCP), a certification program that validates the skills and knowledge of individuals who use, troubleshoot and maintain VMware vSphere, is offered by this vendor. This credential is highly valued in the IT industry because VMware is a major player in virtualization. According to PayScale, VCP certified professionals can earn an average salary $88,000 per year.
Prior to the change, the VCP credential had a two-year renewal policy. This policy is intended to ensure that certified specialists have up-to-date skills and knowledge. This policy is great for all IT certificates. Many CompTIA and Cisco certifications expire after three years. VMware announced earlier this year that they will be making some changes to their VCP recertification policy. What are the changes? The vendor has removed the 2-year renewal requirement. If you don’t upgrade your certificate to an advanced or newer version of your VCP, it will not expire.
The Main Reasons For This Change
There are many reasons why a change is necessary. One, renewal is not always necessary in all cases. Many companies put off upgrading their virtualization infrastructure for long periods of time. There is no reason for IT professionals to upgrade their credentials in this situation. The previous recertification process required that specialists retake vSphere Foundations and any other relevant elective tests bi-yearly. Due to the amount of time needed to prepare for the exams, many students find the two-year timeline difficult. The individual can choose when to update their VMware certification based on their availability.
Consequences for VCP Certified Professionals who have been stripped of their recertification process
The changes were made effective February 2019. These changes were made to CertManager and the transcripts of candidates starting in April. Many certifications that were expired previously will now be active. This reduces the need to start the process from scratch and allows candidates to choose when they want to upgrade or recertify. If your VCP certificate is already expired, you can continue with an update path instead of starting over as a new student. If your VCP credential has expired, it will likely be active when you look at your transcript.
Some certificates will remain inactive and you will need to start the process again from the beginning. This will mig
