Reddit reviews The Official Vcp5 Study Guide (VMware Press Certification)

VirtualLanger.com has a great study guide. I know the guy personally, he's awesome.

Mastering VMware vSphere 5.5 by Scott Lowe. Should literally be your bible if you're going for DCV.

I used the 5.0 version of Scotts book AFTER failing fairly badly by using The Official VCP5 Certification guide.

VMware study guides and practice exams Also helpful. Be critical of anything you read though, it'll help you learn the material better. Here's my favorite email response I received, ever.

Shpadoinkles,
Thanks for your interest in VMware certifications ans sorry for the delay in getting back to you. You are correct, that item would have been accurate for vSphere 4 but not 5. I will change the item to reference the CIM Server service on the host.

Thanks,
Josh

After reading Scotts book, I had in depth enough knowledge that I realized one of the VMware practice questions had an incorrect answer. I challenged it and got it updated.

Finally, hands on time. This is the most important. You'll get questions like, "In this menu, if you select this option, what is no longer available?" And it'll be a menu option that is so rarely used you'll shake your head in confusion. I went in cocky the first time as I studied that Official Cert Guide like crazy. Took it camping with me, read it before bed, read it at work. Nothing prepares for that test like being in the GUI or command line.

Stanly has a wait list, but the price can't be beat.

I also think Pluralsight is very very good and worth trying to convince your company to sign up for. If not, it's probably worth it to sign yourself up for $30 a month or whatever it is now.


Lastly, for VMware, these are the two books people seem to swear by for the VCP:
http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-VMware-vSphere-Scott-Lowe/dp/0470890800/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_y (This is the vsphere 5 version, I believe there is a 5.5 version as well if you're interested)

and

http://www.amazon.com/Official-Certification-Guide-VMware-Press/dp/0789749319/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394466897&sr=1-1&keywords=vmware+certification

I read through, cover to cover, http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-VMware-vSphere-Scott-Lowe/dp/0470890800 & http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0789749319/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also got a chance to go to VMWare Install, Configure and Manage 5.1 (I think that is the course name), but that didn't seem to have as much useful information as the books did.