Nutanix NCP-CI-AWS
Nutanix Certified Professional - Cloud Integration - AWS (NCP-CI-AWS)
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Nutanix Certified Professional - Cloud Integration - AWS (NCP-CI-AWS) is a professional-level credential for engineers who run Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) on Amazon Web Services. It targets administrators, cloud engineers, and consultants who deploy and operate Nutanix software on AWS infrastructure rather than on-premises hardware, and who need to connect the two environments. The exam tests six areas: NC2 on AWS architecture and deployment; AWS networking and connectivity for Nutanix workloads; identity, access, and security management; operations, monitoring, and lifecycle management; data protection, disaster recovery, and migration; and troubleshooting and support. Expect scenario-based multiple-choice and multiple-response items that ask you to reason about design trade-offs, not just recall menu paths. Preparation should combine hands-on time in an NC2 on AWS environment with study of AWS VPC design, IAM, and security groups, plus Nutanix Prism, AOS, and data protection concepts. Review how NC2 clusters are provisioned, how traffic flows between AWS and on-premises networks, and how failures are diagnosed. This page is an independent study guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Nutanix; confirm all exam logistics on the vendor's official certification site.
What you'll study
About Nutanix NCP-CI-AWS preparation
What is the exam format?
The vendor delivers it as a proctored exam using multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. Some items may present a short scenario and ask for the best design or next troubleshooting step. The official certification page lists the current delivery options and item types, so check there before scheduling.
How many questions are there and how long do I get?
The official body publishes the current question count and time limit, and they can change between exam versions. Rather than relying on secondhand numbers, confirm both on the vendor's certification site when you register. Plan your pacing around roughly a minute per item and flag long scenario questions for review.
What does it cost and what is the passing score?
Fees and passing scores are set by the vendor and vary by region and exam version. The official certification page publishes the current fee and scoring policy. Register through the vendor or an authorized testing partner so the price you see is the authoritative one.
How hard is the exam?
It is a professional-level exam, so it assumes working knowledge of both Nutanix core concepts and AWS networking. Candidates who have only read documentation often struggle with scenario items about VPC design, routing, and failure diagnosis. Hands-on time deploying and operating an NC2 cluster on AWS is the strongest predictor of comfort.
What happens if I fail, and can I retake it?
Retake rules, waiting periods, and any fees are defined by the vendor and may change. Check the official certification page or your testing provider's policy for the current retake terms before you book. Use a failed attempt diagnostically: note which domain the score report flags as weakest and rebuild hands-on practice there.
How long is the certification valid?
Validity periods are set by the vendor and are not fixed across all credentials. Confirm the current recertification or renewal policy on the official certification site. Because NC2 and AWS services evolve quickly, expect renewal to involve retaking the exam or completing a specified continuing-education path.
In what order should I study the domains?
Start with NC2 on AWS architecture and deployment, since everything else assumes you understand how a cluster is provisioned and what it consumes in AWS. Then study AWS networking and connectivity, followed by identity and security. Operations, data protection, and troubleshooting land best once you can picture a working deployment end to end.
Where do candidates most often lose points?
Common weak spots are AWS networking details: subnet and route table design, security group behavior, and how traffic reaches on-premises networks. Others are confusing Prism Element with Prism Central scope, and guessing at troubleshooting steps instead of following a layered diagnostic order. Practice explaining each choice out loud before the exam.
Do I need an AWS certification first?
No AWS certification is required, but you should be comfortable with VPCs, subnets, route tables, security groups, IAM roles, and basic EC2 concepts. Those fundamentals appear throughout the networking and security domains. If they are new to you, spend a week on AWS networking basics before starting NC2-specific study.
Is this page an official study resource?
No. This page is an independent study guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Nutanix or Amazon Web Services. Use it to plan your preparation, then verify exam objectives, logistics, and policies against the vendor's own published certification materials.