Starting Over: My VMware Cloud Foundation Certification Journey
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to work with VMware technologies in many different roles and environments. I’ve held several VMware certifications along the way, and for four years I was honored to be part of the vExpert community. Like many people who have been in the field for a while, I always had an interest in going deeper technically, but one thing would lead to another and some long-term goals would get pushed aside.
Recently, I was asked by my company to identify a meaningful professional goal for 2026. After giving it serious thought, I realized this was the right time to commit to something I’ve wanted to do for a long time: completing the VMware Cloud Foundation certification path, ultimately reaching the VCAP level.
With Broadcom now stewarding the VMware portfolio and vSphere 9 available, I decided not to shortcut the process. Instead of jumping straight into advanced material, I’m intentionally starting from the beginning and building forward with a clean, structured foundation. Even with prior experience, I believe there is real value in revisiting fundamentals, especially with a platform as integrated and opinionated as VMware Cloud Foundation.
Certification Path
My planned certification path looks like this:
- VMware Certified Professional – VMware Cloud Foundation Administrator (VCP-VCF Administrator)
- VMware Certified Professional – VMware Cloud Foundation Architect (VCP-VCF Architect)
- VMware Certified Advanced Professional – VMware Cloud Foundation Administrator (VCAP-VCF Administrator)
I’m approaching this journey as if I were learning the platform for the first time. That doesn’t mean ignoring past experience, but rather validating assumptions, filling in gaps, and aligning with how the platform is intended to be designed, deployed, and operated today.
Teaching to Fish
I’ve often said that I’m a firm believer in “teaching to fish.” For me, learning isn’t just about reaching a certification milestone — it’s about understanding why things work the way they do and being able to help others build that same understanding.
The name HumbledGeeks reflects that mindset. I consider myself a humbled geek at heart: always learning, always curious, and always willing to share what I know. No matter how long you’ve been doing this, there’s always something new to learn, and I think the best way to grow is to learn together.
As part of this journey, I’ve decided to document the entire process publicly. This blog will cover what I’m studying, how I’m building my lab, what works, what doesn’t, and the lessons learned along the way. The goal is to create content that’s practical, honest, and useful for anyone walking a similar path.
Learning Together
I also want this to be collaborative. I’m planning to start a study group for anyone interested in VMware Cloud Foundation certifications. Whether you’re starting from scratch, coming back after some time away, or just looking for structured accountability, you’re welcome to join.
You’ll likely see me active in the Broadcom community forums, and I also plan to collaborate with others through Discord under the name HumbledGeek. If you have questions, want to compare notes, or just want to learn together, feel free to reach out.
This is the beginning of the journey. I’m looking forward to learning, sharing, and seeing where it leads.
Looking forward to this adventure!