Skip to content
Independent certification guide · exam data reviewed November 2026 Study guidesBrowse by fieldHow we review
Find a certification

VCP-DCV - VMware Certified Professional (Data Center Virtualization)

Data Center Virtualization vs 3 alternatives compared

Exam fee, level, duration, validity and salary side by side. Blank cells mean we do not have verified data yet.

VCP-DCV - VMware Certified Professional (Data Center Virtualization)AWS Solutions Architect AssociateAWS Cloud PractitionerMicrosoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
VendorVMwareAmazon Web ServicesAmazon Web ServicesMicrosoft
LevelIntermediateIntermediateBeginnerBeginner
Exam fee$250$150$100$99
Duration————
Passing score————
Valid for————
Typical salary$100K–$135K$130K–$165K$90K–$115K$85K–$105K
Prerequisites————

Which should you choose?

Should I take Data Center Virtualization or AWS Solutions Architect Associate first?

Both are rated Intermediate. Pick the one whose exam domains match the job you want, and check which one employers in your area ask for.

Should I take Data Center Virtualization or AWS Cloud Practitioner first?

AWS Cloud Practitioner is the lower-level certification (Beginner vs Intermediate), so it is usually the better first step.

Should I take Data Center Virtualization or AZ-900 first?

AZ-900 is the lower-level certification (Beginner vs Intermediate), so it is usually the better first step.