VCP-VCF Administrator Exam Cost (2V0-17.25): Price, Score, Retakes
As of September 2026, the VMware Certified Professional – VMware Cloud Foundation Administrator exam costs 250 USD. The current exam is 2V0-17.25, VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 Administrator, delivered by Pearson VUE. It is 60 questions in 135 minutes with a passing score of 300 on Broadcom’s scaled range. A failed attempt means a 7-day wait, and the certification is valid for 3 years.
At 250 USD this is one of the most expensive exams in the cluster of AI and cloud certifications I cover, and the one with the most confusion about codes. So, before the numbers: 2V0-17.25 is the administrator exam. 2V0-13.25 is not; the 13.x series is the VCF Architect track. Older VCF 5.2 Administrator exam codes (2V0-11.xx) are no longer on Broadcom’s certification list. Broadcom last updated the 2V0-17.25 exam guide on April 23, 2026.
List price
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 2V0-17.25 exam, first attempt | 250 USD |
| Each retake | Not published separately (standard exam fee is 250 USD) |
| Official exam guide (PDF) | Free |
| Discounts | Not published |
| Recommended courses (VCF: Build, Manage, and Secure; VCF: Automate and Operate) | Optional; not a prerequisite |
Broadcom lists the price in US dollars and delivers the exam through Pearson VUE as a proctored exam. No discount is published, though Broadcom’s FAQ notes vouchers can be bought through Broadcom Education Services or VCF Education Delivery Partners. The two recommended courses are exactly that, recommended; Broadcom states there are no prerequisites for VCP exams.
Questions, time and passing score
| Exam fact | 2V0-17.25 |
|---|---|
| Questions | 60 (English version) |
| Time limit | 135 minutes |
| Passing score | 300 (scaled) |
| Question formats | Multiple choice; multiple choice with multiple selection |
| Languages | English, Japanese |
| Delivery | Proctored, through Pearson VUE |
135 minutes for 60 questions is 2 minutes and 15 seconds per item, more than the AWS and NVIDIA exams in the comparison below. Broadcom says the 135 minutes include adequate time for non-native English speakers, and most objectives in the guide start with “Given a scenario”. The pass mark is 300 on Broadcom’s scaled score, and Broadcom does not publish a percentage equivalent, so there is no fixed percentage to aim for.
The exam guide is organized into 4 sections. Sections 1 and 3 (IT Architectures, Technologies, Standards; Plan and Design the VMware by Broadcom Solution) have no testable objectives. Sections 2 and 4 (VMware Cloud Foundation Fundamentals; Deploy, Configure, and Operate VCF) carry the questions, and Broadcom does not publish a percentage weighting for either. The minimally qualified candidate has 1 or more years in IT, foundational Kubernetes knowledge, and 6 or more months with VCF or its components.
What a retake costs
Broadcom does not publish a separate retake fee, and the standard exam fee is 250 USD, so that is the number to budget. The certification FAQ sets the wait at 7 days between attempts. That is half the 14-day wait AWS, NVIDIA and Google impose, and the FAQ does not state an annual attempt cap.
- 7 days between attempts.
- Retake price not published; standard fee is 250 USD.
- No annual attempt limit stated in the FAQ.
Two attempts is 500 USD. On an exam this expensive I would rather spend 3 more weeks in a lab than book early and hope.
How long it stays valid
3 years from the issue date, per Broadcom’s certification FAQ. The FAQ does not list a reduced renewal fee, so plan on the standard exam price at renewal, on whichever exam version is current then.
What you do not pay for
The official VMware Cloud Foundation Administrator exam guide is a free PDF from Broadcom, and it is the only document that lists the tested objectives for 2V0-17.25. The certification FAQ and certification paths documents are also free. Broadcom does not publish free official practice questions on the certification page.
Our free VCP-VCF Administrator practice questions follow the exam guide’s Section 2 and Section 4 objectives, and our 4-week VCP-VCF study plan turns them into a schedule.
How this compares
| Certification | Price | Questions | Time | Passing score | Valid for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VCP-VCF Administrator (2V0-17.25) | 250 USD | 60 | 135 min | 300 (scaled) | 3 years |
| NVIDIA NCA-AIIO | 125 USD | 50 | 60 min | Not published (pass/fail) | 2 years |
| AWS ML Engineer Associate (MLA-C01; English ended Sept 28, 2026) | 150 USD | 65 | 130 min | 720 / 1,000 | 3 years |
The VCP costs 100 USD more than the AWS associate exam for a similar length, and twice what NVIDIA charges for its infrastructure associate. What you get for it is a 7-day retake window, more time per question than either, and a 3-year credential in a product a lot of enterprises still run. AWS is replacing MLA-C01 with MLA-C02, whose beta began September 29, 2026; see our AWS ML Engineer exam cost and NCA-AIIO exam cost guides for those two in detail.
Pass 2V0-17.25 the first time
Free VCP-VCF Administrator practice questions, mapped to the official exam guide objectives, with a plain-English explanation on every one.
Keep reading: Study guide · All AI & cloud exam prep
HOW TO // AI is not affiliated with or endorsed by Broadcom. VMware, VMware Cloud Foundation, VCP-VCF and Broadcom are trademarks of Broadcom Inc. or its subsidiaries; we reference them descriptively. All content is original. Exam details come from Broadcom’s official pages as of September 2026 and can change, so check the official VCP-VCF Administrator page before you book.
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Related guides
- VMware VCP-VCF Administrator (2V0-17.25) Study Guide & Cheat Sheet
- VMware VCP-VCF Administrator Practice Questions
- AI Exam Prep
Frequently asked questions
How much does the VCP-VCF Administrator exam cost?
As of September 2026, Broadcom lists exam 2V0-17.25 at 250 USD. Vouchers can be bought through Broadcom Education Services or VCF Education Delivery Partners. Check the official page before booking, as prices can change.
What is the retake policy for 2V0-17.25?
Broadcom's policy is a 7-day wait between attempts. It does not publish a separate retake price or an annual attempt cap, so budget the standard exam fee for every attempt.
Does VMware still require a training course for the VCP?
No. Broadcom's certification FAQ says no prerequisites are required for VCP or VCAP exams. The two recommended VCF courses are optional.
What languages is the VCP-VCF Administrator exam offered in?
English and Japanese, per Broadcom's certification page. The 135-minute appointment already includes extra time for non-native English speakers.
