VMware Certified Advanced Professional - VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 Operations Certification: Complete Guide 2025

The 3V0-22.25 exam is considered a professional-level certification that is challenging and requires substantial hands-on experience. It includes scenario-based questions, drag-and-drop activities, and practical problem-solving tasks that test real-world operational knowledge. Most candidates spend 10-14 weeks preparing with lab practice being essential for success.

Professionals holding the VCAP-VCF 9.0 Operations certification typically earn between $110,000 and $145,000 annually, with an average salary around $125,000. Compensation varies based on experience level, geographic location, company size, and additional certifications. This advanced certification often leads to senior operations roles and cloud architect positions.

While VMware does not mandate specific prerequisites, it is strongly recommended to have a VCP-VCF Administrator certification or equivalent experience. Candidates should have at least 12 months of hands-on experience operating VMware Cloud Foundation environments, including working with vSphere, vSAN, NSX, and Aria Operations for monitoring and management.

The certification is valid for 2 years from the date you pass the exam. To maintain your certification status, you must recertify by passing the current version of the exam or a higher-level certification in the VMware Cloud Foundation track before your certification expires.

Focus heavily on monitoring and performance optimization using Aria Operations (30%), lifecycle management and day-to-day operations (30%), troubleshooting methodologies and problem resolution (20%), and understanding VCF 9.0 architecture (20%). Hands-on lab experience with real-world scenarios is critical, particularly with log analysis, capacity planning, and upgrade procedures.