BIG-IP Administration Control Plane Administration
Exam Code: F5CAB6
The BIG-IP Administration: Control Plane Administration certification validates your knowledge and skills in administering, configuring, and managing the F5 BIG-IP control plane. It focuses on core BIG-IP system administration tasks such as traffic management concepts, system configuration, user and device management, high availability, and troubleshooting. This exam is the first required exam toward achieving the F5 Certified BIG-IP Administrator certification.
- Exam Breakdown
- Domain Breakdown
- Access Breakdown
Exam Format
- Exam Code: F5CAB6
- Certification Level: Associate (part of F5 Certified Administrator, BIG-IP path)
- Exam Duration: ~30 minutes
- Passing Score: Not officially disclosed by F5
- Unscored Content: The exam may include unscored pre-test questions for research purposes. These do not affect your final score and are not identified.
Exam Details
- Question Types: Multiple choice and scenario-based administrative questions
- Number of Questions: Approximately 25–30 questions
- Hands-On Questions: No live lab tasks; focuses on administrative scenarios
Exam Policies
- Offline Proctoring: Must follow scheduling and cancellation policies of the exam provider (Pearson VUE / Certiverse).
- Online Proctoring: Available via remote proctoring where supported.
- Waiting Period: Retake waiting period depends on exam provider policy.
- Retake Fee: Full exam fee must be paid for each retake.
Certification Validity and Renewal
- Validity: F5 modular exams do not have individual expiration dates.
- Renewal Options: Recertification as per F5 certification policy by passing updated exams or meeting renewal requirements.
Exam Fee
- Base Fee: $50 USD (Certiverse – online delivery)
- Alternative Delivery: $65 USD (Pearson VUE test center)
- Taxes: Country-specific VAT/GST may apply
Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites for this exam. However, it is recommended to have:
- Basic experience administering BIG-IP systems
- Understanding of BIG-IP management interfaces (GUI, tmsh, REST)
- Knowledge of authentication and authorization concepts
- Familiarity with high-availability concepts
Exam Topics
- Configuring user accounts, roles, and permissions
- Managing licensing and provisioning modules
- Configuring management network settings
- System backup and restore operations
- Configuring high availability (device service clusters)
- Managing certificates and secure access
- Monitoring system health and performance
- Understanding software images and system upgrades
- Applying security best practices for management plane
For the official blueprint, refer to the F5 Education Services portal.
Intended Audience
This certification is ideal for professionals working as:
- BIG-IP Administrator
- Network/System Administrator
- Infrastructure Engineer
- NOC / SOC Engineer
- Application Delivery Support Engineer
Career Impact
Jobs You Can Get:- BIG-IP Administrator, Systems Engineer, Network Administrator, Infrastructure Engineer
- Varies by country and experience. F5-certified professionals typically earn higher salaries due to specialized ADC expertise.
- This exam validates your ability to manage and secure the BIG-IP control plane — a critical responsibility for enterprise environments where uptime and security are essential.
Exam Mode
The exam can be taken:
- In-person at authorized Pearson VUE test centers
- Online through remote proctoring (Certiverse)
Exam Booking Link
Register and schedule your exam through:
- F5 Certification Portal
- Pearson VUE or Certiverse exam platforms
Offers
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Top Reasons to Choose
BIG-IP Administration Control Plane Administration
High Demand for Application Delivery and Load Balancing Skills
Organizations rely on application delivery controllers to ensure availability, performance, and security of applications. This certification validates essential administrative skills required to manage F5 BIG-IP environments in enterprise infrastructures globally.
Strong Foundation in BIG-IP System Administration
The certification builds expertise in system setup, access control, configuration management, and high availability. It helps professionals manage F5 infrastructure efficiently and maintain secure, reliable application delivery environments across complex networks.
Career Growth in Enterprise Networking Roles
F5 certifications enhance professional credibility in enterprise networking and infrastructure management. They support career advancement in application delivery, security administration, and network engineering roles while serving as a foundation for advanced F5 certifications.
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FAQ
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Who should take the BIG-IP Administration: Control Plane Administration certification exam?
The BIG-IP Administration: Control Plane Administration exam is designed for network administrators, system administrators, and engineers responsible for managing F5 BIG-IP systems. It is suitable for professionals who configure system settings, manage users, maintain security controls, and administer application delivery infrastructure in enterprise network environments effectively.
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How difficult is the BIG-IP Administration: Control Plane Administration exam?
The exam is considered moderately challenging because it requires knowledge of BIG-IP system administration, configuration management, and networking concepts. Candidates with hands-on experience managing F5 BIG-IP environments and understanding networking fundamentals typically find the exam manageable with proper preparation and practical experience in system administration tasks.
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Why does F5 offer the BIG-IP Administration: Control Plane Administration certification?
F5 offers this certification to validate skills required to manage and administer BIG-IP systems effectively. Organizations rely on application delivery controllers for performance and security. The certification helps professionals demonstrate their ability to configure systems, manage access, and maintain secure application delivery infrastructure in enterprise environments.
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What tools and resources can be used to prepare for the BIG-IP Administration: Control Plane Administration exam?
Candidates can prepare using F5 official training courses, product documentation, and hands-on practice with BIG-IP systems. Studying system configuration, administrative tasks, and network management concepts is recommended. Practical experience with BIG-IP deployment, configuration, and management helps candidates build knowledge and improve exam readiness effectively.
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Is the BIG-IP Administration: Control Plane Administration certification still valuable in 2026?
Yes, the BIG-IP Administration certification remains valuable in 2026 because organizations continue using application delivery controllers to manage application performance and security. Professionals with BIG-IP administration skills are in demand. The certification supports careers in enterprise networking, infrastructure management, and application delivery environments worldwide.
