Following up on my last post on the VCA-DCV Exam Review and in identical style, Friday evening I sat the VMware Certified Associate – Cloud (VCA-Cloud) exam (exam code VCAC510).

VMware’s take on VCA-Cloud preparation:

There is no training requirement, however there is a free, self-paced elearning class that can help you prepare.

VMware summarizes the VCA-Cloud certification as follows:

With the VCA-Cloud certification, you’ll have greater credibility when discussing cloud computing, the business challenges the vCloud Suite is designed to address, and how deploying the vCloud solution addresses those challenges. You’ll be able to define cloud computing and provide use case scenarios of how vCloud and cloud computing can take advantage of private and public clouds without changing existing applications and leverage a common management, orchestration, networking, and security model.

VMware further explains that a successful candidate who passes the VCA-Cloud will realize the following benefits:

• Recognition of your technical knowledge
• Official transcripts
• Use of VCA-Cloud logo
• Access to the exclusive VCA portal & logo merchandise store
• Invitation to beta exams and classes
• Discounted admission to VMware events
• Greater opportunities for career advancement

Once again, I recognize two additional benefits to this exam experience:

• The exam can be taken online from any location with a compatible internet web browser and an internet connection
• By virtue of the above, coffee is available in the exam room – those who know me know this is a perk

Chris Wahl has a new blog post introducing The New VMware Certified Associate (VCA) Exams.  His video includes VCA exam background, preparation, as well as step by step instructions covering exam registration.

On to the exam.  Length for native English speaking vGeeks is 50 questions in 75 minutes.  Both multiple choice and multiple select style of questions.  VMware’s exam summary was consistent with my exam experience.  I’d also add that there was a pretty large focus on hybrid cloud solutions and connectivity.  I found this exam to be more difficult and outside the scope of my daily expertise than the VCA-DCV exam.  While I’ve had quite a bit of experience with vCloud Director and its operational use of storage and networking, and those discussion points weren’t much of a problem, I was at a clear disadvantage in areas covering vFabric Suite, Hyperic, and slightly deeper use of vCOPS.  All of these topics garnered significant focus making it clear that VMware is making a very strong and intentional push into the private/hybrid/public cloud spaces.

I took my time on this exam and did not provide any comments/feedback as I did on the VCA-DCV exam.  At one point I had to stop because lightning, thunder, and rain rolled up on the deck attached to the back of my house where I was taking the exam.  I had to take my laptop, coffee, and cigar to the front of the house which is covered by the stoop.  If the candidate has a basic understanding of VMware’s product portfolio as well as the fundamental features in vSphere, time management shouldn’t be an issue.

I was able to pass the exam adding VCA-Cloud to my suite of certifications.

I will now move on to the VCAP5-DCA which I’ve been blowing off successfully since its launch.  That exam is scheduled for early November (earliest available slot at my nearby exam centers) with a 70% off voucher, again thanks to my friends on Twitter.  In the interim, I may also take a look at the VMware Certified Associate – Workforce Mobility (VCA-WM) exam.

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