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Veeam Certified Engineer (VMCE) is a technical certification introduced by Veeam to documented proof that an engineer possesses the necessary level of expertise to correctly architect, implement and configure Veeam Software Solutions. If you start from scratch, in order to gain this certification, you basically need to attend a course and pass the related exam (I’ve already described the entire process for the VMCE Certification and also some comments about the VMCE 7 Course).

But VMCE needs a recertification on each new major version of Veeam Backup & Replication and recertification rules are pretty simple: online (and free) what’s new course and the new VMCE exam (for more information see this previous post or see VMCE7 to VMCE8: Upgrade Rules).

Some days ago, I’ve found a timeslot for schedule the exam and now I can give my thought about the new version of VMCE exam (for previous version see also: My experience with VMCE Exam 7).

Exam logistic

Although VMCE exam is similar to others (like VCP), there are some considerations: on VUE site you need to build a new account with a new login/password pair (nothing complicated, but just do it also if you are going to plan the exam soon). Of course this will remain the same across the different Veeam exams, so if you came from VMCE7 you already have it.

After this the booking process is exactly the same of a VCP exam (just to make an example). Note that you (may) need two different forms of valid (i.e. not expired) identification (exactly like with other VUE exams). Anyway the confirmation email is completely clear on the requirements.

The VMCE exam includes 50 randomized questions from each of the course modules. The VMCE certification is awarded to scores of 70% or higher.

About the duration I’m pretty sure that was 90 minutes, but according with the confirmation email I’ve got a 30 minutes time extension for non-native English speaker living in non-English-speaking country. So the official base duration must be 60 minutes (don’t worry about the duration, see the comment about the type of questions).

Exam preparation

Actually there only few VMCE study guide (I’ve found this, but it’s on v7 and there are several links broken) and note that there isn’t any official blueprint (you can use the VMCE course modules as a replacement). Or simple use the products documentation from Veeam web site. Mainly you have to know well Veeam Backup & Replication and enough Veeam ONE suite.

But if you upgrade from VMCE7 you don’t have the material of VMCE8 course. Will the what’s new course be enough to pass the exam? The answer is simple… no! You need to know not only the new stuff, but all the stuff of Veeam products.

Documents are of course a lot (or at least with a lot of pages) and it’s important focus on the most important. Also note that Veeam provides entry-level online free technical courses:

• Through Propartner Portal for Veeam resellers
• Through Veeam University for Veeam end users

Do you need a lab to make practice? Unless you are not really comfortable with the user interface (or you manage Veeam Backup & Replication at least once a week) it could be recommended, but the lab during the course (that it’s well done) could be enough (if you plan the exam really close).

Also you may need to make practice with the possible questions and their difficult level. For this there is a really good Practice Exam: Veeam Certified Engineer v8 created by Rasmus Haslund (VMCE instructor) that it even more difficult than the final exam. Recently Niels Engelen has realize a new practicle test: VMCE practice exam.

Exam questions

As written there are VMCE exam includes 50 randomized questions from each of the course modules. I’ve found that the balance across modules is not necessary equally (you may have more on specific feature and module), so be sure to know really well and widely the product features.

Questions are typical with closed answers that could be single answer (usually from 3-4 options) or multiple answers (usually 2 on 4 options, or 3 on 5 options). There are also some few cases really easy (like 3 answers on 4 options) where you can found the answer that it not correct. Sometimes you may have doubt on similar answers: just read carefully the answers or the question.

Note that time is not a constraints (I’ve finished the exam in less than 40 minutes): questions are really short and with simple sentences (only in few cases you really need to read twice to understand what is request). Compared to exam in version 7, there were more simple questions and without tricks or non clear (for not native english people) sentences.

And big news: now you can review there question or also use the forward or backward navigation! This seems really good  and useful (considering that in previous version was not possible).

Actually there isn’t a mock exam, but I’ve taken the VMSP and VMTSP v8 exams (are online exams for Sales and Technical Pre-Sales) before the VMCE exam and I’ve found some similar questions: the overall difficult level is not comparable, but could be a really good hint to take them before the VMCE exam. Also there are still some questions similar to VMCE7 exams.

About the difficult level I have to admit that was easiest than v7: or maybe I’ve played more with v8 of the products. Some questions are still mnemonic and you need to know well the name or the options in the interface, or the name of files, but the overall difficult level was good and better.

As written you need also know about VeeamOne and all modules included in the VMCE course that could be used as a on official blueprint. Again, maybe you can pass the exam also without this information (it’s just one module), but know it will give you more opportunity.

And what about Hyper-V specific topics? In the VMCE course the lab is only about VMware vSphere environments, and actually it’s enough to pass the exam: you need to know the management interfaces but this could be agnostic across VMware or Microsoft hypervisors. But note that not all Veeam features are implemented on both platform (or at least not in the same way), so be sure to know really well the different editions and how are implemented on the different platform (again the course material has the required information).

Exam result

Sound strange, but you will not know the result: the exam will ask for a final survey and then simple it will close. Don’t panic and keep calm! Like in VMCE7 exam, your result is ONLY in the printed report.

The score report has been improved from previous version: you have the different exam section with a percent value, but is not clear how is calculated the medium. I’ve got several 100%, some good (more than 80%) but also a really weak section with (only 56%)… the medium was less than expected (but enough for pass). Probably there are different weights in the different sections.

Also it will take time until the Veeam VMCE portal will show your status, but you can just verify on the VUE portal to see if you are fine (of course the printed report it’s enough… but a double check it’s better).

Typically you should receive a confirmation email from Veeam and have your status reported in this page.

After the exam

Not so much people has yet completed the VMCE certification path, but there are some other exam experiences (like this). VMCE numbers are actually low, but I’ve not yet receveided mine so I don’t know how much people are there. Anyway with new Veeam partner rules, gold partners need at least one VMCE… so the total number will grow for sure.

All VMCEs are required to stay current on knowledge and certifications related to Veeam Software. This includes re-certification on all new major releases of Veeam Software.

VMCEs will have 120 days, after the release of a major software update and the release of associated upgrade courses and exams, to take the course and pass the exam necessary to upgrade the certification level.

If VMCEs fail to upgrade in the allotted time, there will be another 90 days under which they must take the full course and pass the full exam. After this time, if any VMCEs have still not been upgraded, the certification will expire and the engineer will no longer be eligible for the benefits of the VMCE program

See also

• VMCE official page
• Veeam Certified Engineer (VMCE) v8
• VMCE7 to VMCE8: Upgrade Rules
• Practice Exam: Veeam Certified Engineer v8
• My experience with VMCE Exam 7

Andrea Mauro

Virtualization, Cloud and Storage Architect. Tech Field delegate. VMUG IT Co-Founder and board member. VMware VMTN Moderator and vExpert 2010-24. Dell TechCenter Rockstar 2014-15. Microsoft MVP 2014-16. Veeam Vanguard 2015-23. Nutanix NTC 2014-20. Several certifications including: VCDX-DCV, VCP-DCV/DT/Cloud, VCAP-DCA/DCD/CIA/CID/DTA/DTD, MCSA, MCSE, MCITP, CCA, NPP.