In recent years, enterprise IT has rapidly evolved toward private cloud, hybrid cloud, and cloud-native architectures. In response to this shift, VMware has carried out a significant upgrade of its core certification portfolio, officially moving multiple VCP and VCAP certifications to version 9.0. This upgrade is not a routine refresh of exam content. Instead, it represents a strategic transformation of VMware’s certification philosophy, aligning certifications more closely with real-world enterprise cloud platforms, operational maturity, and long-term lifecycle management.

Why Did VMware Upgrade Its Certifications to 9.0?

1. From Product Skills to Platform Competency

Earlier VMware certifications primarily focused on individual products such as vSphere, NSX, or vSAN. While technically solid, this approach no longer reflects how enterprises operate modern environments.

With version 9.0, VMware certifications are clearly centered on platform-level expertise, especially around:

• VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF)
• vSphere Foundation (VSF)

Rather than testing whether candidates can configure isolated components, VMware now evaluates whether professionals can design, operate, and maintain an integrated cloud platform.

2. Stronger Focus on Day-2 Operations

In real enterprise environments, the biggest challenges arise after deployment:

• Lifecycle management (LCM)
• Platform upgrades and patching
• Stability, performance, and compliance
• Cross-component troubleshooting

VMware 9.0 certifications place much greater emphasis on Day-2 Operations, signaling a clear shift toward validating production-ready skills, not just installation knowledge.

3. Kubernetes Is No Longer Optional

Kubernetes has become a foundational technology for modern application platforms. In the 9.0 certification framework, Kubernetes is a core requirement, not an add-on.

Key areas now emphasized include:

• vSphere Kubernetes Service
• Tanzu integration
• Kubernetes design and operational considerations within VCF

This confirms VMware’s long-term strategy: virtualization and cloud-native platforms must coexist.

4. Certifications Aligned with Enterprise Reality

Under VMware’s enterprise-focused direction, certifications now aim to:

• Reflect real customer environments
• Validate scalable, repeatable operations
• Support platform engineering and cloud operations roles

As a result, VMware 9.0 exams are more scenario-driven, more architecture-oriented, and more operationally focused than ever before.

VMware VCP Certifications Upgraded to 9.0

VMware vSphere Foundation (VSF)

• 2V0-18.25 – VMware vSphere Foundation Support
• 2V0-16.25 – VMware vSphere Foundation Administrator

VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF)

• 2V0-17.25 – VMware Cloud Foundation Administrator
• 2V0-15.25 – VMware Cloud Foundation Support
• 2V0-13.25 – VMware Cloud Foundation Architect

Together, these certifications establish a complete professional pathway, from support and administration to advanced architecture.

VCAP Certifications Also Upgraded to 9.0

The VCAP track has also moved to 9.0, reinforcing VMware’s emphasis on advanced, hands-on expertise:

• 3V0-24.25 – VCAP VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 vSphere Kubernetes Service
• 3V0-21.25 – VCAP VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 Automation
• 3V0-22.25 – VCAP VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 Operations

Key Characteristics of VCAP 9.0:

• Deep alignment with enterprise production scenarios
• Heavy focus on automation, observability, and operations
• Designed for senior engineers, architects, and platform operators

VMware 9.0 vs Previous Versions: Key Differences

Simply put, VMware 9.0 certifications are more demanding—but also more valuable.

What Does This Upgrade Signal?

For Certification Candidates

• VMware certifications now validate enterprise-level capability
• Pure memorization is no longer sufficient
• Ideal for professionals pursuing long-term careers in private and hybrid cloud

For Employers and the Job Market

• 9.0 certifications better reflect real job requirements
• Stronger differentiation between junior and senior skill levels
• Greater emphasis on architecture, automation, and operations maturity

VMware 9.0 Marks a True Certification Evolution

The upgrade to VMware certification version 9.0 represents a fundamental shift—from product-centric validation to enterprise cloud platform expertise. For professionals committed to virtualization, private cloud, hybrid cloud, and cloud-native infrastructure, VMware 9.0 certifications are not just relevant—they are strategically aligned with the future of enterprise IT.