Virtual Musings

It’s been about two weeks since VMUG announced the changes to the VMUG Advantage program for 2025 (link here to the announcement). Since then more information has come out around the changes, as well as an excellent podcast describing the new programs for both VMUG Advantage and vExpert here.

Much of the community has not been happy about these changes, feeling that VMUG and vExpert have lost their value given the fact you are now longer provided with VMware licenses simply by joining the respective programs but instead are required to take and pass the VMware Certified Professional – VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2 (VCP-VCF) exam in order to get those benefits.

My opinion is much different than others. I think this is a good thing. Below is my four reasons why I think embracing this new model is going to be an overall benefit not a detractor to the community.

1. It will increase the value of certification for those that pass the VCP-VCF certification

VMware certification has struggled for the last few years, meaning the value has been diminished both by the number of people certified and that fact that so much information is out there on how to pass the exam, meaning it’s perfectly possible to pass the VCP-DCV exam without ever really touching the product. Having started in IT in the ‘paper certification’ age in the early 2000’s, seeing a new certification come out focused on the product as it is today and being able to demonstrate base knowledge is a good thing. As someone that has to often interview people for my employer, seeing the VCP-VCF certification is going to be much more valued that what is out today. And it will show a commitment by the engineer to VMware, not someone that may have used it 10 years ago but keeps it on the laundry list of a skills resume.

2. The cost is still less than in previous years

Before you had to sit a VMware class, oftentimes at a cost of several thousand dollars, to sit the exam. That barrier has been removed, and with the combination of VMUG advantage you’ll have a 50% discount voucher, meaning that you could sit the exam for under $350 US AND have a community that is planning on provided both study guides and a forum to ask questions for help. And since this forum will be only VMUG members the quality of answers should be much higher than before.

3. The value to pass the exam is huge

As brought up in the podcast linked above, the value of a VCF license is over $20,000 US. Asking a candidate to invest less than $350 US to get that amount of value is completely reasonable. You are getting a lot more than just some license keys, you are getting an advanced stack.

4. It reflects reality

Many of the complaints I’ve read are from people that ran ESXi to run parts of their home, either in lab or in their own consumption. The reality is that is not the product sold anymore. VCF (and it’s little cousin VVF) are the way forward, and I personally expect even VVF may slowly drift more ‘VCF like’ over time. VCF is the product for VMware now, and if you are a VI admin you really do need to know it. So will this weed out some people, I’m sure it will. But that only creates more value and opportunity for those that choose to ‘lean in’ to the new offerings as opposed to resist.

I’m personally planning on sitting the exam in about a week. I’ll post a blog of my opinion of the exam after I sit it.