The VCA6-DCV exam is a 50 question exam that tests a candidate’s primarily conceptual knowledge of VMware vSphere 6. Unlike the more technically rigorous VCP, the VCA does not require the candidate to complete a course ahead of time. A free online course is recommended, but it’s optional. The exam is offered online and can be taken on the candidate’s computer at home.

Exam Basics:

Exam Number: 1V0-601
Duration: 75 Minutes
Associated Certification: VCA6-DCV
Number of Questions: 50
Exam Product: vSphere 6
Passing Score: 300
Recommended Training: Data Center Virtualization Fundamentals
Validated Against: vSphere 6
Exam Price: $120 USD, More on Pricing
Exam Languages: English, Japanese, Chinese
First Available Appointment: 21 April 2015
Format: Single and Multiple Choice, Non-Proctored
Exam Details Information Last Updated: 21 April 2015

VMWare offers a 25 question practice exam with unlimited retries. Depending on the type of test taker you are, this will either help you, or give you more to worry about before the actual exam.

Candidates are required to request authorization before they can register to attempt the exam. VMware says the process can take up to 15 minutes to complete. For me, it took closer to 30 minutes. I’m not sure why there was a delay, but it appears to be a situation where your mileage may vary. I received an e-mail notifying me that the exam registration was available. I followed the link, and prepared to use the 20% exam discount offered through the VMware User Group (VMUG).

When I logged onto the Pearson VUE website, my Pre-approved exam wasn’t listed. I suspect the issue was caused by different VMware candidate IDs. There was a different candidate ID listed under my Pearson VUE account than what was listed for me in the VMware myLearn portal. At some point, I’ll see if these accounts can be merged. If you don’t see the approval in myLearn then check that the candidate ID on the VMware site matches what Pearson VUE has listed.

I entered my discount code, then appropriate billing information. The exam price was reduced to $96.00. The exam was ready to begin as soon as the payment was processed.

I completed the test with a little more than 50 minutes remaining. I held my breath as I hit the submit button, and exhaled when I saw the “Congratulations!” notice.

Candidates are forbidden from discussing questions, so I will avoid that type of talk. Anyone who’s ever taken a certification exam offered by Pearson VUE or Prometric will feel right at home with the controls which include marking answers and the ability to go back to review items. The format is multiple choice. While I can’t discuss actual questions, I recommend doing more than just casually watching the recommended course. In some cases, my previous experience with the product is what made the difference.

The exam results text says it can take up to 30 calendar days for notification from VMware. I received my notification in about 24 hours. The notification consisted of two e-mails. The first was to inform me that the transcript had been updated. The second was a congratulatory e-mail for passing the exam.

The VCA exam has been met with mixed results since it was introduced in 2013. Critics accused the test of not being technical enough to hold value. This exam was similarly light on deep technical content, but that was OK. The VCA wasn’t intended to replace the VCP. Overall, the exam succeeded at asking questions appropriate for an entry level professional, or for one whose job functions interact with virtualization admins.