VMware Certified Professional on vSphere 5 is an official exam run by VMware under exam code VCP-550. Passing it awards the VMware Certified Professional 5 - Data Center Virtualization (VCP5-DCV) certification, which sits at the Professional tier. It also counts toward related credentials such as VCAP5-DCA, VCAP5-DCD, VCDX5-DCV. Certified professionals remain in shorter supply than the market wants, which is precisely why this exam keeps showing up in conversations about better roles and better pay.

The VMware Certified Professional on vSphere 5 exam gives you 120 minutes to work through 135 questions. That is a tight ratio, and it punishes candidates who get emotionally attached to any single item. The fix is mechanical: answer what you know, flag what you do not, and keep moving. A few full-length timed runs in the PrepAwayETE test engine, with its randomized question order, will calibrate your pace far better than untimed reading ever could.

The official fee for VMware Certified Professional on vSphere 5 is $250 USD (varies by region), and 300 (scaled 100–500) is what passing takes. The uncomfortable part: retakes cost the full $250 USD (varies by region) again, which makes preparation the cheapest line item in this whole project. Before booking, put yourself through repeated scored sessions with the PrepAwayETE practice tests and compare results over time; a stable margin above the passing line, not a single lucky run, is when you are ready.

Complete VMware authorized training course (e.g., vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V5.5]); minimum 6 months hands-on experience with vSphere 5.x

Vendor rules do get revised, so treat this as your starting point and confirm the current eligibility details before booking via the official exam page.

VMware Certified Professional on vSphere 5 registration runs through these official channels.

• Pearson VUE (historical)
• VMware Certification Page

Worth noting when you schedule: the exam is delivered Onsite at Pearson VUE test centers; retired since March 31, 2017, no longer available.

Yes, VMware points VMware Certified Professional on vSphere 5 candidates toward the following training.

• vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V5.5]
• vSphere: Fast Track [V5.5]

Whatever course you choose, close the loop with question practice: the 267 items in the PrepAwayETE VCP-550 package convert course knowledge into exam-day scoring ability.

It is. PrepAwayETE publishes a free PDF demo of the VMware Certified Professional on vSphere 5 material, so the product can prove itself before you pay. Your purchase then comes with 365 days of free updates, and once that period ends, extending the update service costs 50% of the regular price. The test engine software itself is verified malware-free and safe to install.

PrepAwayETE stands behind the product with a 100% money-back guarantee under defined conditions. If you take the VMware Certified Professional on vSphere 5 exam within 60 days of purchase and fail, you qualify for a full refund, provided the exam corresponds to your product. Sitting the exam within 3 days of purchase does not qualify, and neither do unused downloads, free materials, or expired orders; the candidate name must match the payer name. Submit a scanned enrollment slip and the official Score Report PDF within 2 days of the exam, and claims are resolved within 7 days. You may also choose an exchange instead of a refund: two other exam products of equal value, free, with the update service on your original purchase retained.

Delivery takes about a minute. Files unlock for instant download at payment and are emailed to you automatically; if 2 hours pass with nothing received, check spam and contact customer service. There is no installation limit, so the test engine can live on every device you own, phone included.

VMware Certified Professional on vSphere 5 breaks down into 7 official domains, led by Plan and Configure vSphere Storage (25%), Deploy and Administer Virtual Machines and vApps (9%), and Establish and Maintain Service Levels (16%). You will find the full topic-by-topic outline above on this page; use the weightings to budget your study hours where they pay back the most.