Preparing for the VCP-DCV Took Most People Between 6 Weeks and 3 Months

by Ross Heintzkill | Published on January 17, 2025

The VMware Certified Professional - Data Center Virtualization is most commonly known as VCP-DCV. To earn it, you have to pass the difficult VCP-DCV 2024 exam. Do you know how long it'll take you to prepare for it? We asked IT professionals who've earned VCP-DCV how long it took them to study via survey shared on X, LinkedIn, and email.

Read on to find out what the certification is, how to earn it, and how long it takes most people to prepare for the VCP-DCV.

What is the VCP-DCV?

The VCP-DCV certification, offered by VMware, is designed to prove a candidate's skills in managing, implementing, and troubleshooting VMware vSphere environments. This certification is ideal for early and mid-career system administrators, virtualization engineers, and IT professionals who work with VMware infrastructure in data centers. 

Earning the VCP-DCV cert demonstrates that you know how to use vSphere 8.x and helps open up career paths in cloud computing, data center operations, and IT infrastructure management. VMware certifications are highly regarded in the virtualization industry, making VCP-DCV a strong choice for sysads looking to advance their careers in virtualization technologies.

There’s only one exam for the certification: the VCP-DCV 2024. It costs $250 to attempt the 135-minute test, but fortunately there are no prerequisites to earn before you attempt the cert.

How Long Does it Take to Study for the VCP-DCV?

The time it takes to prepare for the VCP-DCV varies widely, and a major factor seems to be your level of experience going into it. Nearly 20% of respondents managed to prepare for the VCP-DCV in less than 6 weeks. But 26% needed over 5 months to prepare for it. Most people reported needing between 6 weeks and 3 months to prepare.

That divide suggests that prior experience with VMware and data center virtualization is extremely helpful. If you already have a strong foundation in virtualization, you might be able to fast-track your preparation. A quarter of survey respondents needed more than 5 months — indicating that the VCP-DCV cert is not to be taken lightly if you’re new to the material. 

As with any test, the more complex or unfamiliar the subject matter, the longer it might take to feel confident in the concepts and pass the exam. Since the survey data shows most people needed somewhere between 6 weeks and 5 months to prepare for the VCP-DCV, it would be wise to set aside enough time to get comfortable with the material well in advance of exam day — especially if you don’t have a lot of experience with vSphere environments already.

Your preparation depends not just on your starting knowledge of VMware technologies but also on how consistent and focused your study process is. The right materials and a structured study plan can help cut down your VCP-DCV preparation time, but you’ll still need to commit several months if you’re not already well-versed in configuring and managing the VMware vSphere environment.

What's on the VCP-DCV Test?

The VCP-DCV test is a 70-question exam that you have 135 minutes to take. The content of every VMware exam follows the same 7-section blueprint:

The VCP-DCV test includes questions from every section except Section 3, and you can download and review the VCP-DCV exam guide on your own. It's a challenging exam, and even people with a lot of hands-on experience with virtualization end up needing help. Your best bet is to find an online VMware course to guide you through the exam material.

It can take several months to prepare for the VCP-DCV because it covers such a broad range of virtualization and data center management skills. At its core, the exam tests a candidate’s understanding of setting up, configuring, and managing virtualized storage, networking, and compute resources within VMware environments. Storage management plays a significant role, as do network configurations and network resource optimization.

Advanced configuration and security protocols within VMware environments is another key section. You'll need to know topics like single sign-on (SSO), identity federation, and role-based access control. VMware vSphere’s encryption and key management services are also crucial, and the exam requires a strong grasp of vSphere’s lifecycle and performance management tools.

Performance tuning and troubleshooting are a major component of the VCP-DCV exam. You'll need to be able to identify and manage resource pools, adjust performance settings, and monitor resource usage with VMware’s performance charts. Troubleshooting and repair skills are tested on log file analysis, generating diagnostic logs, and using predefined or custom alarms in vCenter to monitor system health.

Ultimately, the VCP-DCV tests not only your technical knowledge but also your hands-on proficiency with data center tools. You'll want to be comfortable with everyday tasks like virtual machine management and storage configuration, as well as more complex operations like disaster recovery setups, encryption, and system troubleshooting.

You’ll want to set aside at least 2 months to prepare for the VCP-DCV, possibly longer if you don’t plan to spend hours every day poring over exam materials. But it is possible to streamline the process with online VCP-DCV training that offers expert guidance.  A high-quality VCP-DCV course makes it easier to cover VMware's core virtualization topics efficiently. Gain hands-on practice with virtual labs and solidify your understanding faster so you can approach the exam confidently, well-prepared, and faster.

Why Should I Spend 3-5 Months Earning the VCP-DCV?

For professionals who really want to go hard into virtualization, the VCP-DCV can be a game-changer, especially when it's combined with systems administration experience. The cert helps you optimize VMware infrastructure, a skill many system admins and engineers use every day. Investing several months to earn it can open doors to well-paying, in-demand roles like Virtualization Engineer, Systems Engineer, or Cloud Infrastructure Specialist.

Sysadmins or IT support specialists should think about spending the time it'll take to earn the VCP-DCV. It can take around 3-5 months to earn it, but if you're handling VMware or aiming for greater cloud infrastructure responsibilities, it can define your entire career. The time spent pays off in the long run with greater fluency in tools like VMware vSphere, vSAN, and other virtualization technologies. This certification brings depth to your knowledge and positions you to tackle more complex, high-stakes projects.

RELATED: Top Virtualization Certifications to Earn in 2025

How to Study for the VCP-DCV In Under 3 Months

The VCP-DCV takes most people at least 3 months to study for unless you:

1. Have solid work experience with Vsphere and

2. Use high-quality study tools like online courses, virtual labs, and practice exams. 

These tips can help you speed up your VCP-DCV exam prep process.

Leverage Your Work Experience

VMware recommends at least 6-12 months of hands-on experience working with core tools like tools like vSphere, vCenter, and ESXi. If you’re already working in a role that encounters these technologies on a regular basis, you may be able to breeze through the study materials ahead of exam day in a few weeks.

Sysadmins, data center engineers, virtualization engineers, and cloud infrastructure engineers who regularly work with VMware environments configuring virtual machines, managing storage, and troubleshooting will have an advantage. Start your VCP-DCV prep with a practice exam to find topics you may be less familiar with. Next, build a study plan that aligns with existing knowledge. Spend less time covering your strengths and more time familiarizing yourself with new topics.

Use Online Training Resources

Paying for a VCP-DCV online course might seem pricey, but it's an investment that pays off. Online VMware training from CBT Nuggets breaks the material into bite-sized videos according to the cert itself. Instructors like Kelvin Tran and Keith Barker are experienced networking and systems administration pros. They focus on the virtualization tech you actually need to know how to use based on the exam guide.

Use Virtual Labs

A virtual lab is like a computer network sandbox. Rather than hear about how VMware virtualization works — but never actually do it yourself — practice being a virtualization engineer in a digital recreation of the environment itself. CBT Nuggets courses come with virtual labs that test the skills and knowledge you can expect to find on certifying exams. These labs put you in a real-world setting and let you learn real skills ahead of test day.

Test Yourself Using Practice Exams

Certification exams can be intimidating. It's hard enough to learn to use VMware virtualization tech, now you have to prove to a test that you can manage one? Practice exams for the VCP-DCV can identify your trouble areas, help you hurry through the areas you're comfortable with, and prepare you for the certifying exam in as little time as possible. CBT Nuggets’ VCP-DCV training has practice exams that show you what to expect on the test, helping you go in without anxiety. 

Learn From Experts

The fastest way to prepare for VCP-DCV is by training with a seasoned expert who knows the technologies, but who also knows the exam information. Find a high-quality course that offers personal, easy-to-watch information. Bonus points if they’re full of simple illustrations and anecdotes that can help you make sense of complicated material.

If you’re serious about landing that promotion or stepping up into a VMware-focused role, getting your VCP-DCV certification could be the game-changer you’re looking for. Sure, preparing for it often takes months, but there are several ways to cut down your study time and boost your confidence for the exam. The latest VCP-DCV training from CBT Nuggets has structured lessons, hands-on labs, and practice exams — all designed to make sure you’re ready for anything the test throws your way. 

Invest in your future, and get certified faster with a course that keeps your career goals front and center. Start training today — your first week is free.