VMware Education dropped somewhat of a bombshell today when they announced the almost immediate retirement of the VCAP CIA/CID/DTA/DTD

http://blogs.vmware.com/education/2015/03/exam-retirement-announcement.html

Effective March 2, 2015 the following certification exams will be retired and no new registrations accepted:

• VCID510 – VMware Certified Advanced Professional 5 – Cloud Infrastructure Design
• VCIA510 – VMware Certified Advanced Professional 5 – Cloud Infrastructure Administration
• VDTA510 – VMware Certified Advanced Professional 5 – Desktop Administration
• VDTD510 – VMware Certified Advanced Professional 5 – Desktop Design

There has already been a fairly big outcry in the VMware Community around the decision to scrap the exams…and even though this move had been expected with the announcements of the new VCIX Advanced Exam Roadmaps, what I think people didn’t expect was the chopping off at the head of these VCAPs. This has left some people’s plans of VCDX defense attempts in limbo…specially for those who where looking to defend for Cloud based on vCloud Director…vCloud Director has been pulled from the vCloud Suite for Enterprise but is still very much alive for Service Providers…I know of a few guys (myself possibly, though not 100% committed) who where already building documentation around vCloud for a defense.

To me I this shows a clear disconnect from the VMware Education and Certification team from what is actually happening in customer and partner land…the way this has been done is a mistake and VMware needs to retract the immediate retirement and put a 3-6 month period of these exams to EOL. There also needs to be some direction as to a roadmap for Service Providers who will continue to use vCD+NSX+VIO who would not be looking at vRealize Automation.

Feel free to comment below on your thoughts around the retirements…hopefully VMware Edu Services will read the communities thoughts and respond with something positive.