Catchy title for not so catchy problem. VMware has announced yesterday a new recertification policy – Recertification Policy: VMware Certified Professional. The news came out from a fellow blogger Christian Mohn (@vninja). He posted the details on his blog and I reacted on the announce by posting two comments. I had a mixed feeling…

Feeling that I wanted to share with you, my readers. Before that announcement, my point of view on VMware certifications was different. After the announce I have a feeling that many folks won't get certified at all if they see that after 2 years, the certificate that they hardly earned, is no longer valid.

It's just way too short, and also I would prefer to keep the possibility to show off to the world that I earned other (older) VCP certifications in the past. Not only the latest one. This also won't be possible if the announce don't change.

Update: The online transcript will actually show the older VCP certs, but as “expired”.

Here is few quotes from the FAQs, which can be found on the official announce.

What happens if I allow my certification to expire?
Your certification will be revoked, and you will no longer be entitled to use the certification logo or represent yourself as VMware certified. Your certification will be shown as no longer valid on your MyLearn account. Any employer who contacts us to validate your certification will be informed it is no longer valid.

VCP certification was my first VMware certification. I traveled to different country to take a week of class, to pass the exam immediately after.  Travel costs, hotel costs, class costs, exam costs. At that time I was employee of small IT company and they paid for the expenses….

Now, fast forward few years later I have few more certs in my pocket including VCAPs, but it seems that I won't be able to keep them all… Those VCPs will it seems expire…

I moved forward, I passed other certifications, but having this limit of 2 years, I just don't feel comfortable with it. Perhaps it's not too late. Perhaps the community can make VMware change their decision…

I would like to keep my VCP 4 even if I know that it's not current.

I would like to be able to show the world that I earned other VCP certifications in the past, not only the current one ……. -:).

Final votes below:

Update: VMware Certificates are like medals. You won them, you keep them, you can show them. Perhaps VMware could call it differently than “expired” as well. The 2 years is way too short. 5 years would fit.

Find below the detailed post from VMware education:

Recertification Policy: VMware Certified Professional

Certifications are valuable assets for any IT professional and VMware Certified Professional (VCP) certifications are widely believed to reflect exceptional competence. Your VCP certification validates your ability to successfully employ current VMware products using best practices in operational environments.

Earning a VCP certification is a great achievement. But staying up to date in the expertise gained and proven by your certification is equally vital. If your skills are not current, your certification loses value. To ensure that all VCP holders maintain their proficiency, VMware is instituting a recertification policy.

Recertification is widely recognized in the IT industry and beyond as an important element of continuing professional growth. It enhances your credibility and demonstrates a commitment to your career, your employer, and your customers.

The new policy gives you three options to recertify:

1. Take the current exam for your existing VCP certification solution track. For example, if you are a VCP3, you could take the current VCP5-Data Center Virtualization (VCP5-DCV) exam.
2. Earn a new VCP certification in a different solution track. For example, if you are a VCP-Cloud, you could recertify by earning VCP5-Desktop (VCP5-DT) certification.
3. Advance to the next level by earning a VMware Certified Advanced Professional (VCAP) certification.

Regardless of the option you choose, recertifying will enhance your ability to provide the highest quality results, and improve your chances for earning increased compensation and career advancement.

Recertification Process

• You will be notified that your certification is due to expire via the email associated with your MyLearn account. Your transcript will also show the dates your certification is valid.
• To recertify, you must pass any VCP or higher-level exam within two years of earning your most recent VCP certification.
• Failure to recertify by the required date will result in revocation of your certification.
  • If your certification is revoked, you will lose access to the VCP portal and your right to market yourself as certified for that certification, which includes the use of VMware certification logos. Also, your transcript will reflect that your certification is no longer valid.
  • If you would like to re-earn a certification for which you have been decertified, you must satisfy the same prerequisites as any candidate attempting to earn that certification for the first time.

FAQs

What is VMware announcing?
VMware is implementing a recertification policy for VCP certification. To recertify, VMware Certified Professional (VCP) holders must pass any VCP or higher-level exam within two years of earning their most recent VCP certification.

Why is VMware announcing this policy change?
Currently, VCP certification holders are not required to recertify their skills, which is uncommon in the IT industry, Maintaining currency in the expertise gained and proven by VMware certifications is just as important as earning the certification initially. If your skills are not current, your certification loses value. The technical and business communities expect that VMware certified professionals are current on the latest technologies and capable of implementing VMware products with the highest level of skill. To ensure that all certification holders meet these expectations, VMware is instituting a recertification policy.

When does the policy go into effect?
The policy is effective as of March 10, 2014.

What are the benefits of recertifying?
In addition to proving that you are maintaining your skills with the latest technology, you also receive the same benefits as if you were a newly certified candidate, including:

• Recognition of your technical knowledge and skills
• Official transcripts
• Access to the exclusive VCP portal & logo merchandise store
• Invitation to beta exams and classes
• Use of the certification logo on personal websites and business cards
• Discounted admission to VMware events
• Discounts from VMware Press

What certifications do I need to recertify by March 10, 2015?
All VCP level certifications — VCP-DCV, VCP-Cloud, VCP-Desktop — that were earned prior to March 10, 2013 must be recertified. Any VCP2, VCP3, or VCP4 certification can be recertified during this period by simply taking a current VCP or VCAP exam. Anyone holding a VCP certification awarded prior to March 10, 2013 has until March 10, 2015 to recertify.

How can passing another VCP or higher-level certification recertify my existing certification?
It recognizes and rewards your continued growth into new knowledge areas.

What happens if I allow my certification to expire?
Your certification will be revoked, and you will no longer be entitled to use the certification logo or represent yourself as VMware certified. Your certification will be shown as no longer valid on your MyLearn account. Any employer who contacts us to validate your certification will be informed it is no longer valid.

Can I still access the VCP portal if my certification is revoked?
No.

Is there a grace period after my certification is revoked where I can take the exam and be reinstated, or do I need to start over?
No. There is no grace period after your certification is revoked. To regain certified status, you will need to meet all the prerequisites for the specific certification.

Will you notify me when my certification is near its expiration date?
Yes. You will receive an email notice at the email address associated with your MyLearn account.

Is there a course requirement to recertify?
Previously, a candidate was given a limited amount of time to upgrade their existing certification, after which a course was required. Effective with the announcement of this recertification policy, a candidate can recertify anytime within their 2-year recertification period, without a course requirement. However, we recommend that you do enroll in training, as hands-on experience through on demand or live (classroom or virtual) classes will provide you with the latest education to better prepare you for the exam.

Is the recertification exam different from the normal exam?
No.

Does the recertification exam cost the same?
Yes. There may be discounts and promotions available here.

Are there any course discounts available to help me get ready for the exam?
You can find the currently available discounts and promotions here.

How does this policy affect me if I received my VCP5-DCV two or more years ago?
A candidate holding any VCP level certification(s) — VCP-DCV, VCP-Cloud, VCP-Desktop — that were earned on or before March 10, 2013 must recertify by March 10, 2015.

If your certification was earned after March 10, 2013, you must recertify within two years of that date.

I have multiple VCP certifications. Which date do you look at to determine if I need to recertify?
The most recent certification date will be used to determine your recertification deadline. For example, if you earned VCP5-DCV on January 1, 2012 and VCP5-DT on February 10, 2014, then your recertification deadline will be based on the VCP5-DT date. In this case, the recertification deadline is February 10, 2016.

My VCP level certification is over two years old, but my VCAP level certification is not — do I need to recertify by March 10, 2015?
No. Your recertification date is based on the date of your most recent and highest level of certification — in this case, two years from your VCAP date.

My VCP is more than 2 years old, but I just received a VCA last month. Do I still need to recertify by March 10, 2015?
The only way to recertify your VCP is to take an exam at the same level or higher.

My VCAP certification is more recent than my VCP certification – when will the valid through date reflect this?
We will be adding functionality to the system to reflect these situations in the coming months.

I took the course and passed the exam in 2013, but it shows I am not certified until 2014 when I completed my certification tasks. Which date is used when determining recertification?
The date you completed the tasks is the official date that will be used to determine your recertification date.

I noticed that the VCP4-DCV certification is no longer offered after May — why is that?
This certification is based on technology that has since been greatly expanded. Our new recertification policy ensures that all certification holders are current on the latest technologies; therefore, we have decided to end this program’s availability.

How long will VCP4-DT, VCP4-DCV, VCAP4-DCA, VCAP4-DCD be available?
Candidates will have until March 31st, 2014 to register for any VCP or VCAP Version 4.x exam, and until May 31st to take the exam.

VCDX4-DCV candidates have until May 31, 2014 to register and must defend by July 31, 2014.

I have multiple accounts. How do I ensure my recertification is applied to the correct account?
We encourage you to merge your accounts by contacting [email protected]. If all of your certifications are under a single account, your recertification will apply to all impacted certifications. If you maintain separate accounts, you may run the risk of having multiple re-certification dates.