An interesting email hit my inbox offering the ability to recertify my VCP-DCV certification using a delta exam. Essentially, this exam covers “new material between the vSphere 5.0/5.1 and vSphere 5.5 ” using 65 questions in 75 minutes. This new VCP550D exam is scheduled through Pearson VUE, which is the go-to entity for VMware exams. You do not, however, have to sit the exam in a Pearson VUE testing center – the exam is delivered online. To begin the process, VMware has published a delta exam page to request authorization to sit the exam. You have until November 30th, 2014, to pass the exam.

I still don’t see the expiration dates in MyLearn, which is VMware’s certification and transcript portal, so apparently this earlier article questioning recertification has been answered. The valid through dates have once again appeared, as shown below:

And here’s what the VCP550D exam information looks like on Pearson VUE’s website:

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Notice that when you apply for approval to take the exam, it only lasts for 3 days.
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Yet Another Rant

The point of vendor certification is to offer value to the partner and customer ecosystems, and to gain mindshare and marketshare for the vendor by way of a pool of certified individuals for organizations to rely upon. I struggle to internalize value behind dropping $120 to answer questions that focus on product specific changes. Yes, the test is online – which is vastly more convenient than having to schedule a testing center – but to meet what ends?

I once again go back to my earlier posted frustration around expiring an exam that focuses on a specific product version but dresses itself up as a non-product specific exam. Wouldn’t it make more sense to start the clock when a new version of vSphere hits the shelves, and it actually makes business and technical sense to go take the VCP exam against vSphere.next?

Or are enough folks out going to pull the trigger on a Delta exam – or perhaps even go for VCAP or a different type of VCP – that this is all just me ranting about kids on my lawn? 🙂