I Passed the VCP-VCF Administrator Exam — Why I Took It

Quick update

I recently passed the VCP-VCF Administrator exam, and for me this one was less about chasing another certification and more about getting current.

Most of my career has been centered around supporting vSphere. That experience still matters, but it was time to update my skills to better match the direction VMware is heading. VMware Cloud Foundation is clearly where more of the platform conversation is going, and I wanted my knowledge to reflect that.

Why I took it

There were really three main reasons I decided to go after the cert.

1. My background has been mostly vSphere, and it was time to level up

I’ve spent most of my career supporting vSphere environments. That foundation has been valuable, but VCF brings a broader platform view that goes beyond traditional vSphere administration.

I wanted to make sure I wasn’t just relying on past experience. I wanted to sharpen my knowledge around where the platform is now and where it’s going.

2. I’m building my own VCF lab

Another big reason was my lab.

I’m in the process of building out my own VCF lab, and that gave me a good opportunity to connect the certification material with hands-on work. Since I have VMUG Advantage and vExpert, I also have access to a 3-year VCF license, which made this the right time to invest in learning the platform more deeply.

That part matters to me. I’ve always learned best by doing, and VCF is no different.

3. I know I’ll be leaned on more through the rest of 2026

The third reason was simple: work.

I know I’m going to be leaned on more for the rest of 2026, and I wanted to get my skills up to date quickly. Rather than waiting until I was in the middle of something and trying to learn reactively, I wanted to get ahead of it.

The cert was one step in that process.

What this cert meant to me

For me, this was not just about passing a test.

It was about making sure my skill set matches:

the direction VMware is going
the work I’m doing now
the lab work I’m building for myself
the expectations I know are coming

That’s really why I took it.

Final thought

If you’ve spent years in vSphere like I have, I think there’s real value in getting current on VCF.

Not because vSphere experience stops mattering, but because the platform conversation is broader now. For me, the VCP-VCF Administrator exam was a good push to tighten up my knowledge, validate what I know, and keep moving forward.

More than anything, it was a reminder that sometimes the right cert is not about collecting a badge.

It’s about making sure your skills still match the road ahead.