What will be the price of the course and exam for VCAP5-DCA?

[JRex08]

I'm currently a VCP5 and interested in pursing a VMware Certified Advanced Professional certification. I'm aware that registration for the VCAP5-DCA for the exam and course will not be available till Q2 2012 but I'm needing a approximate of how much the course and exam will be, if possible.

Thanks   

[scott28tt]

The new vSphere: Optimize and Scale [v5.0] class is aligned to the VCAP5-DCA exam, pricing will depend on your location and training provider, but here's the page where you can find out where and when they're shceduled, pricing, and see what the class covers:

http://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrreg/courses.cfm?ui=www_edu&a=one&id_subject=31835

The cost of the exam will be confirmed once it is released, but it's likely to be US$400.

[AndreTheGiant]

Exam is around 400$.

There is no mandatory courses.

[JRex08]

So, the new vSphere: Optimize and Scale [v5.0] would be the most benefical course to take in regards to VCAP5-DCA exam? I know there are alot of "Recommended Courses" in regards to this exam but I want to concentrate on the most benefical courses.

Thanks!!

[JRex08]

Thanks for the information.  Glad to here there aren't any "mandatory courses"

[scott28tt · Accepted solution]

For VCAP4-DCA there were a number of recommended classes - Troubleshooting, Performance, Security, PowerCLI - but for VCAP5-DCA it's only Optimize & Scale.

As Andre says, the training is not mandatory, but it will be useful.

[JRex08]

Thanks Scott.  That's what I needed to know.

[AndreTheGiant]

As written by Scott, course may help.

But IMHO, you need really a lot of practice with a vSphere enviroment (also a lab) and this is really mandatory to pass the DCA (I've not seen yet the v5 exam, but I suppose that will be similar to the v4).

[scott28tt]

I could not agree more...

[JRex08]

Luckily I'm been heavily involved with vSphere 4.0 and vSphere 5.0 deployments and administration for a few years now.  Also, prior to taking my VCP, I used VMware Workstation 8 and fired up a couple ESXi servers and simulated an iSCSI SANs which helped out greatly for practicing labs.  I will make sure I follow this same approach during my studies.  Thanks again for the input.  If there is anything else I need to incorporate, let me know. The information will be greatly appreciated.

[AndreTheGiant]

You can find some pointers on Scott's blog.

Also have a look at: http://vinfrastructure.it/2012/05/vcap5-dca-study-guides/

[JRex08]

Awesome.  Thanks!!