A Complete Citrix Certification Guide

Citrix Systems is known for its Xen desktop, server, and application virtualization products. The suite is an established alternative to VMware, Microsoft Hyper-V, and other enterprise virtualization and cloud offerings.

Citrix donated its Xen Hypervisor to the Linux Foundation, where it's now the foundation of the open source Xen Project. The company has since renamed the products in its virtualization suite, added new digital workplace and networking products to its portfolio, and embraced the cloud with its own Citrix Cloud Platform.

Like most enterprise software companies, Citrix recognized the value of certification to both its customers and IT professionals. The company supports a comprehensive Citrix certification program with defined Citrix certification paths.

This guide contains a comprehensive introduction to the various Citrix certification badges, recommended Citrix certification paths, the costs associated to acquire Citrix certification, and insights into job opportunities related to the Citrix certification path:

• What is Citrix Certification?

• Citrix vs. VMware

• Citrix Digital Workplace Certifications

• Citrix Certified Associate

• Citrix Certified Professional

• Citrix Certified Expert

• How Much Does It Cost to Get Citrix Certified?

• Citrix Recertification and Renewal

• Citrix Certification Salary and Career Information

• Citrix Certification Training

What is Citrix Certification?

Citrix certifications validate that an IT professional has the proficiency to install, configure, and manage relevant Citrix Digital Workplace or Networking products in complex enterprise cloud and networking environments. The basic Citrix certification path features three levels of experience: Citrix Certified Associate, Citrix Certified Professional, and Citrix Certified Expert for Virtualization or Networking.

The Citrix certification path features credentials for Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops on Citrix Cloud or Microsoft's Azure cloud platform, as well as for Citrix ShareFile, Citrix Endpoint Management, Citrix XenServer, and Citrix SD-WAN. Citrix certifications also include the Citrix Certified Services Delivery Professional certification for those IT professionals who work for Citrix solution providers.

In addition to credentials which require candidates to pass certification exams, the Citrix certification program offers Proficiency and Skill digital badges, which IT professionals can display on their resumes to demonstrate their familiarity and skill with various Citrix products and solutions. These badges only require completion of relevant Citrix eLearning courses and assessments.

All Citrix certification exams are administered through PearsonVue and can be taken at a local Pearson VUE testing center. Certain Citrix certification exams may be taken at the candidate's home or office. In either case, the exams are online and overseen by an authorized proctor. The Citrix certification exams cost $300 for the Citrix Certified Expert and Citrix Certified Professional exams, and $200 for all other exams. Exam candidates who are U.S. military veterans can be reimbursed for their Citrix certification exam costs under the VA education and training benefits program.

Citrix certification candidates and certified professionals can use the web-based Citrix Certification Manager tool to keep track of their Citrix certification status as well as publish their Citrix certification credentials to authorized third parties. The Citrix Certification Manager also maintains a record of candidates' statuses on Citrix certification exams and self-paced online certification courses.

Citrix vs. VMware

While VMware is undoubtedly the 800-pound gorilla in the field of virtualization, Citrix does have a loyal enterprise following. The company claims that 99% of the Fortune 500 companies and 100 million users over 400,000 organizations use Citrix products.

The Citrix product suite is not as broad as VMware's and is focused on specific niche areas that leverage Citrix strengths in connectivity. For example, Citrix has a longstanding relationship with Microsoft, and as such its virtual app and desktop products work seamlessly within Microsoft's Azure cloud and Office 365 environments.

That said, the question of whether to follow a Citrix certification path — or say the VMware one — depends on your individual circumstances.

If you work — or would like to work — for an organization that is heavily invested in VMware, then Citrix certification is probably not for you. However, if your organization uses, or is considering using, Citrix — especially in conjunction with Azure and Office 365 — then Citrix certification is going to be a good option. In that case, as well, you might be wise to consider a joint Microsoft/Citrix certification approach.

Citrix Digital Workplace Certifications

The credentials covered by Citrix Digital Workplace Certification include those for Citrix Virtualization, Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops on Cloud — Citrix Cloud, as well as Microsoft Azure, ShareFile, Endpoint Management, and XenServer.

Citrix offers eight Digital Workplace certifications:

• Citrix Certified Associate – Virtualization (CCA-V)

• Citrix Certified Professional – Virtualization (CCP-V)

• Citrix Certified Expert – Virtualization (CCE-V)

• Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Service on Citrix Cloud Certified (CC-VAD-CC)

• Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Service Integration with Microsoft Azure (CC-VAD-MA)

• Citrix ShareFile Certified (CC-SHAREFILE)

• Citrix Endpoint Management Certified (CC-CEM)

• Citrix XenServer Certified (CC-XENSERVER)

The Citrix Virtualization certifications are tiered — Associate, Professional, and Expert — with each lower tier being a prerequisite to the higher one.

Citrix Certified Associate – Virtualization (CCA-V)

The Citrix Certified Associate – Virtualization is designed for early-career IT professionals who install, configure and manage Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7, either on-premises or in the Citrix Cloud.

The CCA-Virtualization certification validates a candidate's understanding of these topics and skills:

• Architecture Overview

• Deploying the Site

• Apps and Desktops Images

• Provisioning and Delivering App and Desktop Resources

• Providing Access to App and Desktop Resources

• Managing the User Experience

• Published App and Desktop Presentation and Management

• Managing Printing for User Sessions

• Citrix Profile Management

• Managing Sites

• Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Basic Security Considerations

• Monitoring Sites

• Supporting and Troubleshooting Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops

• Migrating To Citrix Cloud

Required exam: Earning the CCA-Virtualization certification requires passing one exam — Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 Administration (1Y0-204).

Prerequisites: None.

Recommended experience: Citrix recommends hands-on experience installing, configuring and managing a high availability configuration of Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops and other Citrix virtualization and cloud technologies prior to attempting the CCA-V exam.

Citrix Certified Professional – Virtualization (CCP-V)

The Citrix Certified Associate – Virtualization is designed for mid-career IT professionals — desktop virtualization engineers and system administrators — who work in a Citrix virtual app and desktop environment.

The CCP-Virtualization certification validates a candidate's understanding of these topics and skills:

• Workspace Environment Management (WEM)

• FlexCast Management Architecture (FMA)

• The Virtual Delivery Agent (VDA)

• App Layering

• User Environment

• StoreFront

• HDX

• Provisioning Services Infrastructure

• Streaming the vDisk

• Target Devices

• Integrating Provisioning Services with XenApp and XenDesktop

• Advanced Provisioning Services Architecture

Required exam: Earning the CCP-Virtualization certification requires passing one exam — Citrix XenApp and XenDesktop 7.15 Advanced Administration (1Y0-311).

Prerequisites: Prior to attempting this certification, candidates must earn the Citrix Certified Associate – Virtualization certification.

Recommended experience: This Citrix certification is for IT professionals with six (6) or more months of hands-on experience with a XenDesktop 7.15 solution prior to attempting the CCP-V exam.

Citrix Certified Expert – Virtualization (CCE-V)

The Citrix Certified Associate – Virtualization is designed for senior IT professionals — architects, engineers, and consultants.

The CCE-Virtualization certification validates a candidate's understanding of these topics and skills:

• Design Methodology and Readiness Assessment

• User Layer and Connectivity

• Accessing Architecture and Store Design

• Accessing Layer Scalability, Redundancy, and Security

• Image Management Strategy and Design

• Application Delivery

• Personalization Design

• XenApp and XenDesktop Site and Administrative Design

• Physical Resource Design

• High-Availability and Multi-Location Solutions

• Disaster Recovery Planning and Design

Required exam: Earning the CCE-Virtualization certification requires passing one exam — Citrix XenApp and XenDesktop 7.15 Assessment, Design and Advanced Configurations (1Y0-402).

Prerequisites: Prior to attempting this certification, candidates must earn the CCP – Virtualization certification.

Recommended experience: This Citrix certification is for IT professionals with hands-on experience assessing and designing Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops solutions based on Citrix XenApp and XenDesktop 7.15.

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Service on Citrix Cloud Certified (CC-VAD-CC)

The Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Service on Citrix Cloud Certified certification is designed for IT professionals who regularly use Citrix Cloud platform, or plan to move to Citrix Cloud platform.

The CC-VAD-CC certification validates a candidate's understanding of these topics and skills:

• Architecture Overview

• Deploying Sites

• Apps and Desktops Images

• Provisioning and Delivering Apps

• Providing Access to Apps

• Managing User Experience

• Published App and Desktop

• Managing Printing for User Sessions

• Citrix Profile Management

• Managing Sites

• Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops

• Monitoring Sites

Required exam: Earning the CC-VAD-CC certification requires passing one exam — the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Service on Citrix Cloud (Certification Assessment 1Y0-130).

Prerequisites: Prior to attempting this certification, candidates must complete one of four mandatory training courses:

• CXD-250 Moving to the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Service on Citrix Cloud

• CXD-252 Moving to the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Service on Citrix Cloud with Microsoft Azure

• CWS-215: Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 Administration On-Premises and in Citrix Cloud

• CMB-318: Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7, App Layering, and WEM Administration (Fast-Track)

Recommended experience: Citrix recommends hands-on experience with Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops technology prior to attempting this certification exam.

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Service Integration with Microsoft Azure (CC-VAD-MA)

The Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Service Integration with Microsoft Azure Certified certification is designed for IT professionals who regularly use Virtual Apps and Desktops Service, or plan to move to Virtual Apps and Desktops Service.

The CC-VAD-MA certification validates a candidate's understanding of these topics and skills:

• Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops on Azure Overview

• Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Integration with Azure Active

• Connecting to Microsoft Azure

• Deploying Apps and Desktops

• Providing Access to End Users

• Maintaining Infrastructure

• Planning for a Successful POC

Required exam: Earning the CC-VAD-MA certification requires passing one exam — Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Service Integration with Microsoft Azure (1Y0-150).

Prerequisites: Prior to attempting this certification, candidates must complete one of two mandatory training courses:

• CXD-251 Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Service on Microsoft Azure

• CXD-252 Moving to the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Service on Citrix Cloud with Microsoft Azure

Recommended experience: Citrix recommends hands-on experience with Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops technology and Microsoft Azure prior to attempting this certification exam.

Citrix ShareFile Certified (CC-SHAREFILE)

The Citrix ShareFile Certified certification is designed for IT professionals who regularly use Citrix ShareFile to provide end users with secure file sync and sharing.

The CC-SHAREFILE certification validates a candidate's understanding of these topics and skills:

• Enterprise File Synchronization

• Architecture

• Administration

• StorageZones

• User Management

• Endpoint Clients

• User Experience

• Troubleshooting and Management

Required exam: Earning the CC-SHAREFILE certification requires passing one exam — Understanding Citrix ShareFile (1Y0-100).

Prerequisites: While not required, Citrix recommends that candidates complete one training course in preparation for this exam — CSF-201 Citrix Content Collaboration Essentials.

Recommended experience: Citrix recommends hands-on experience with Citrix ShareFile prior to attempting this certification exam.

Citrix Endpoint Management Certified (CC-CEM)

The Citrix Endpoint Management Certified (CC-CEM) certification is designed for IT professionals who regularly use Citrix Endpoint Management (formerly XenMobile) to provide end users with secure file sync and sharing to facilitate mobile device management, mobile application management and secure productivity.

The CC-CEM certification validates a candidate's understanding of these topics and skills:

• Introduction to Citrix Endpoint Management

• Citrix Endpoint Management Architecture

• Cloud Components

• Common Device Management Tasks

• Device Enrollment

• Managing Device Security

• Working with Apps

• Integrating Citrix Content

• Maintaining and Troubleshooting

• Monitoring and Reporting

Required exam: Earning the CC-CEM certification requires passing one exam — Managing Citrix Endpoint Management (1Y0-170).

Prerequisites: While not required, Citrix recommends that candidates complete one training course in preparation for this exam — CEM-205 Manage Citrix Endpoint Management.

Recommended experience: Citrix recommends hands-on experience administering a Citrix Endpoint Management environment prior to attempting this certification exam.

Citrix XenServer Certified (CC-XENSERVER)

The Citrix XenServer Certified (CC-XENSERVER) certification is designed for IT professionals who install, manage, secure, size, and troubleshoot an enterprise XenServer implementation. XenServer is now known as the Citrix Hypervisor.

Citrix XenServer Certified certification validates a candidate's understanding of these topics and skills:

• XenServer Architecture

• Managing Virtual Machines

• Installing XenServer

• Resource Pools

• Networking

• Storage

• High Availability

• Security

• Sizing and Optimizations

Required exam: Earning the CC-XENSERVER certification requires passing one exam — Administering Citrix XenServer (1Y0-120).

Prerequisites: While not required, Citrix recommends that candidates complete one of two training courses in preparation for this exam:

• CXS-301 Citrix XenServer 7.1 LTSR Administration

• Citrix XenServer Administration eLearning

Recommended experience: Citrix recommends hands-on experience configuring, implementing, and managing an organization's virtual server environment prior to attempting this certification exam.

Citrix Networking Certifications

Citrix networking certifications are designed to validate a candidate's proficiency in using Citrix ADC capabilities — including implementation for app and desktop delivery, networking performance and optimization, network security, and automation and orchestration.

Citrix offers four networking certifications:

• Citrix Certified Associate – Networking (CCA-N)

• Citrix Certified Professional – Networking (CCP-N)

• Citrix Certified Expert – Networking (CCE-N)

• Citrix SD-WAN Certified (CC-SDWAN)

The Citrix Networking certifications are tiered — Associate, Professional, and Expert. Each lower tier is a prerequisite for the higher one. In addition to the tiers, there is also a Citrix Networking certification for the Citrix Software Defined WAN product.

Citrix Certified Associate – Networking (CCA-N)

The Citrix Certified Associate – Networking certification is designed for early-career networking professionals such as network administrators and engineers, systems engineers, sysadmins, and cloud administrators. This certification has two tracks that focus on two Citrix products:

• Citrix ADC 12

• Citrix NetScaler 12

Citrix Certified Associate – Networking (CCA-N): ADC 12

The Citrix Certified Associate – Networking certification is designed for IT professionals who implement and manage Citrix ADC for traffic management, load balancing, content switching, and SSL offloading.

The CCA-Networking certification validates a candidate's understanding of these topics and skills:

• Basic Networking

• Citrix ADC Platforms

• High Availability

• Load Balancing

• SSL Offload

• Securing the Citrix ADC

• Troubleshooting

• Classic and Default Policies

• Rewrite, Responder and URL Transform

• Content Switching

• Optimization

• Global Server Load Balancing

Required exam: Earning the CCA-Networking certification requires passing one exam — Citrix ADC 12 Essentials and Traffic Management (1Y0-240).

Prerequisites: While not required, Citrix recommends that candidates complete one training course in preparation for this exam — CNS-220 Citrix ADC 12.x Essentials and Traffic Management.

Recommended experience: Citrix recommends at least six months of hands-on experience with basic networking and security, Windows and Linux server administration, and Citrix ADC 12.

Citrix Certified Associate – Networking (CCA-N): Citrix NetScaler 12

The Citrix Certified Associate – Networking certification is designed for IT professionals who install, manage and support Citrix ADC and Citrix Gateway 12 environments.

The CCA-Networking certification validates a candidate's understanding of these topics and skills:

• Basic Networking

• Citrix ADC Platforms

• High Availability

• Load Balancing

• SSL Offload

• Securing the Citrix ADC

• Troubleshooting

• Citrix Gateway

• AppExpert Expressions and Policies

• Authentication, Authorization, and Policies

• Managing Client Connection

• Integration for Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops

• Configuring Citrix Gateway.

Required exam: Earning the CCA-Networking certification requires passing one exam — Citrix NetScaler 12 Essentials and Unified Gateway (1Y0-230).

Prerequisites: While not required, Citrix recommends that candidates complete one training course in preparation for this exam — CNS-222 Citrix ADC 12.x Essentials and Citrix Gateway.

Recommended experience: Citrix recommends at least six months experience with Citrix technologies including Citrix ADC, Citrix Gateway, and Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops.

Citrix Certified Professional – Networking (CCP-N)

The Citrix Certified Professional – Networking certification is designed for IT professionals who deploy and manage Citrix Web App Firewall to secure application access in a Citrix ADC 12.x environment, administer a Citrix ADC environment with Citrix Application Delivery Management, and optimize ADC-managed application delivery traffic.

The CCP-Networking certification validates a candidate's understanding of these topics and skills:

• Citrix Web App Firewall Overview

• Citrix Web App Firewall Profiles and Policies

• Regular Expression

• Attacks and Protections

• Monitoring and Troubleshooting

• Security and Filtering

• Application Delivery Management: Introduction and Configuration

• Managing and Monitoring Citrix ADC Instances

• Managing Citrix ADC Configurations

• Citrix ADC Web Logging

• Integrated Caching

• Front-End Optimization

• Tuning and Optimizations

Required exam: Earning the CCP-Networking certification requires passing one exam — Citrix ADC Advanced Topics – Security, Management, and Optimization (1Y0-340).

Prerequisites: Prior to attempting this certification, candidates must earn the CCA – Networking certification. Additionally, while not required, Citrix recommends that candidates complete one training course in preparation for this exam — CNS-320 Citrix ADC 12.x Advanced Concepts – Security, Management and Optimization.

Recommended experience: Citrix recommends at least six months experience with Citrix ADC 12 operations including Citrix Web App Firewall profiles and policies, attacks and protections, and configuring, managing and monitoring Citrix ADC instances.

Citrix Certified Expert – Networking (CCE-N)

The Citrix Certified Expert – Networking certification is designed for senior IT professionals who assess and design comprehensive architectures for a Citrix networking environment and configure complex networking configurations.

The CCE-Networking certification validates a candidate's understanding of these topics and skills:

• Networking Methodology and Assessment

• Citrix ADC Deployment Architecture and Topology

• Advanced Authentication and Authorization

• Citrix ADC Security

• VPN Configuration

• Advanced Traffic Management

• Citrix Application Delivery Management Automation and Orchestration

Required exam: Earning the CCE-Networking certification requires passing one exam — Architecting a Citrix Networking Solution (1Y0-440).

Prerequisites: Prior to attempting this certification, candidates must earn the CCP – Networking certification. Additionally, while not required, Citrix recommends that candidates complete one training course in preparation for this exam — CNS-420 Citrix Networking Assessment, Design, and Advanced Configuration.

Recommended experience: Citrix recommends extensive networking and Citrix ADC experience prior to attempting this exam.

Citrix SD-WAN Certified (CC-SDWAN)

The Citrix SD-WAN Certified certification is designed for senior IT professionals who configure Citrix SD-WAN (formerly NetScaler SD-WAN) in order to increase wide-area network throughput, reliability and performance, while improving the application experience.

The CC-SDWAN certification validates a candidate's understanding of these topics and skills:

• Citrix SD-WAN Introduction

• Citrix SD-WAN Deployment

• Citrix SD-WAN Provisioning

• Citrix SD-WAN Security

• Citrix SD-WAN Quality of Service

• Citrix SD-WAN Optimizations

Required exam: Earning the CC-SDWAN certification requires passing one exam — Understanding Citrix SD-WAN (1Y0-140).

Prerequisites: While not required, Citrix recommends that candidates complete one training course in preparation for this exam — CNS-230 Deploy & Manage Citrix SD-WAN – Essentials.

Recommended experience: Citrix recommends hands-on experience deploying or managing Citrix SD-WAN wide area networks.

Citrix Partner Services Certifications

The Citrix Partner Services certification path focuses on skills that are most important to channel partner personnel who manage and execute consulting projects pertaining to Citrix products. Citrix offers one Partner Services certification — Citrix Certified Services Delivery Professional.

Citrix Certified Services Delivery Professional

The Citrix Certified Services Delivery Professional certification is designed for engineers and consultants who work for Citrix solution provider and consulting companies.

The Citrix Certified Services Delivery Professional certification validates a candidate's understanding of these topics and skills:

• Communication

• Presentation

• Methodology

• Project Execution

Required exam: Earning the Citrix Certified Services Delivery Professional certification requires passing one exam — Service Delivery Professional (1Y0-500).

Prerequisites: Prior to attempting this certification, candidates must earn either the Citrix Certified Professional – Virtualization or Citrix Certified Professional – Networking certifications. Additionally, Citrix requires that candidates complete the Professional Services eLearning modules in preparation for this exam.

Recommended experience: Citrix recommends hands-on experience managing and executing consulting projects pertaining to Citrix products.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Citrix Certified?

Citrix certification exams cost $300 for Citrix Certified Professional and Citrix Certified Expert level credentials, and $200 for other Citrix certifications including Citrix Certified Associate. Your total Citrix certification cost also includes any fees you pay for related training, self-study, and practice.

Note that Citrix certification exams are included in VA Education Benefits, so U.S. military veterans are eligible to be reimbursed for some or all of the exam costs associated with Citrix certifications.

Citrix Recertification and Renewal

Citrix certifications are valid for three years after passing the relevant Citrix certification exam. The Citrix Recertification Program allows holders to recertify in either of two ways. As long as their Citrix certification has not yet expired, Citrix certified professionals can renew their Citrix certification(s) by either:

• Completing a designated instructor-led training course(s) relevant to their particular Citrix certification(s).

• Taking and passing the most recent version of the Citrix certification exam associated with each of their current Citrix certifications.

Individuals whose Citrix certification has expired must re-earn all lower-level certifications and pass the associated exam to regain certification. For example, a person whose Citrix Certified Expert – Virtualization (CCE – V) certification has expired would be required to pass three levels of Citrix certification exams — CCA – V, CCP – V, and CCE – V — in order to recertify.

Citrix Certification Salary and Career Information

A search for job openings for certified IT professionals on the Indeed.com/ job site reflects the relative market position of Citrix to VMware and Microsoft. Job opportunities for individuals holding their certification badges far outstrip those with Citrix certifications. However, this also indicates the possibility of a relative shortage of Citrix certified professionals — hence a scarcity which drives up employers' willingness to pay.

For example, let's compare the CCA – V certification with VMware's VCA starter cert. There are 10 times as many job openings requiring the VCA than those requiring the CCA – V, but the CCA – V's average Citrix certification salary ($81,600 USD) is 50% higher than the VDA's $52,800. At the Professional level, VMware's VCP showed 20 times the number of job openings, but average salaries were nearly 10% lower than the Citrix certification salary enjoyed by CCP – V openings ($82,500 vs. $88,400 USD). On the networking side, job openings for the Citrix Certified Professional – Networking offered an average of $97,300.

The outlook is even better on the Citrix Certified Expert front, where the analysis indicated an average Citrix certification salary of $89,300 for CCE-V and $100,500 for jobs requiring a Citrix Certified Expert – Networking.

Citrix Certification Training

CBT Nuggets offers a number of Citrix certification training courses. CBT Nuggets also has certification playlists for in-demand certifications — meaning that all the training you need to earn those certifications can be accessed in one place.

A CBT Nuggets subscription includes access to Virtual Labs that cover Citrix technologies. Virtual Labs enable learners to get hands-on experience with products in a sandbox environment.

Good luck to you as you start on your Citrix certification path. Our training offerings change from time to time as we support the Citrix certification roadmap. So, be sure to check CBT Nuggets for new and updated training that is relevant to your personal Citrix career journey.