VMware Certification After Broadcom
Broadcom acquired VMware in 2023 and restructured the certification program around two product lines, vSphere Foundation and Cloud Foundation, with credentials split by job function rather than by technology. Administrator, architect, and support variants exist within the tracks.
This restructuring is why many older certification paths do not lead anywhere: the credentials they pointed to were retired before the current program existed.
Retired Credentials and What Replaced Them
Broadcom maintains a Retired Exams and Certifications document recording retirement dates and stated replacements. Key entries for the vSphere 5.x generation: VCP5-DCV retired March 31, 2017 with VCP6-DCV named as replacement; VCP-NV retired November 30, 2015 with VCP6-NV; VCP-Cloud retired June 24, 2016 with VCP6-CMA.
Several of those replacements have since retired themselves. The VCP6-DCV exams, 2V0-620 and 2V0-621, retired August 30, 2019.
The Current Tracks
VCP-VCF Administrator, exam 2V0-17.25, covers VMware Cloud Foundation. Its exam guide expects knowledge of vCenter, ESX, vSphere Supervisor, vSAN, NSX, VCF Identity Broker, VCF Automation, VCF Operations, VCF Operations for Logs, VCF Fleet Management, VCF Operations for Networks, and VCF Operations HCX, plus a minimum of one year of IT experience and foundational Kubernetes knowledge.
Network Virtualization remains a separate track: VCP-NV 2024 is earned through the VMware NSX 4.x Professional V2 exam, code 2V0-41.24, a 55-item exam with a 135-minute appointment.
Returning After a Gap
The gap from a vSphere 5.x credential to the current platform is wider than the version numbers suggest. Hypervisor and cluster fundamentals transfer well. Storage architecture shifted toward vSAN, networking toward NSX, and an entire operations tooling layer appeared that has no earlier equivalent. Kubernetes is new to the requirements.
Verify current exam codes and requirements on Broadcom's certification site before booking, since the program has changed repeatedly since 2023.
All Guides
VCPVCD510: The Short Route to VCP-Cloud, and Where It Leads Now
VCPVCD510 was not a separate vCloud Director certification: it was the shorter of two exam routes to VCP-Cloud, open only to existing VCP5-DCV holders.
VCPC510 and VCP-Cloud: What the Long Route Was Worth
VCPC510 was the longer of two routes to VCP-Cloud, covering vSphere infrastructure as well as vCloud Director for candidates without a VCP-DV prerequisite.
VCPN610 and VCP-NV: The NSX Track That Survived
VCPN610 earned the original VCP-NV and retired on 30 November 2015, but unlike VCP550 the network virtualization track continued through VCP-NV 2024.
VCP550 and VCP5-DCV: What Your Retired Cert Is Worth
The VCP550 exam and VCP5-DCV certification retired March 31, 2017, and the VCP6-DCV replacement retired in 2019.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are my old VMware VCP certifications still valid?
Most VCP credentials from the vSphere 5.x era are retired. VCP5-DCV retired March 31, 2017, VCP-NV and VCP5-DT retired November 30, 2015, and VCP-Cloud retired June 24, 2016. Broadcom publishes a Retired Exams and Certifications document listing each credential's retirement date and, where one exists, its stated replacement.
What is the current VMware professional certification?
For VMware Cloud Foundation, it is VCP-VCF Administrator, earned through exam 2V0-17.25. Per Broadcom's exam guide dated April 23, 2026, it is a 60-item exam with a passing score of 300 using a scaled method and a 135-minute appointment delivered through Pearson VUE. Broadcom also maintains a vSphere Foundation track and separate architect and support variants.
Is there an upgrade path from a retired VCP to a current certification?
Generally no. Most retirement chains from that era terminated: VCP5-DCV pointed to VCP6-DCV, which itself retired in 2019. The exception is Network Virtualization, where the track ran unbroken from VCP-NV through VCP6-NV to the year-versioned VCP-NV 2024. In all cases the current credential is earned by passing the current exam, with no credit for the old one.
Should I still list a retired VMware certification on my CV?
Yes, if presented accurately. Listing it with its year and retired status, or folding it into an experience bullet describing the platform work you did, documents genuine experience. Presenting a retired credential as current misleads, and hiring managers in virtualization know the VMware retirement schedule.
What does this VMware Certifications section cover?
VMware certification changed substantially after Broadcom acquired VMware in 2023. The program is now organised around two product lines, vSphere Foundation and Cloud Foundation, with credentials split by job function. This guide covers the current tracks and explains what happened to the retired VCP credentials many people still hold.