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Which Self-Service task lets a script update a runtime variable so a later task can consume the new value?

A
B
C
D
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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: NCP-MCA Exam

75

Total Questions

Nutanix NCP-MCA Blueprint

120 min

Time Limit

Nutanix NCP-MCA Blueprint

3000

Passing Score (1000-6000)

Nutanix Certification

$199-$200

Exam Fee

Pearson VUE 2026

3

Blueprint Sections

Nutanix NCP-MCA EBG

2 years

Credential Validity

Nutanix Certification Program

The NCP-MCA exam contains 75 multiple-choice and multiple-response items administered over 120 minutes through Pearson VUE. The blueprint covers automation concepts and principles, Self-Service deployment and configuration, and validation of blueprints, runbooks, and playbooks. The passing score is 3000 on a 1000-6000 scale and the credential is valid for two years.

Sample NCP-MCA Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your NCP-MCA exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Within Nutanix Cloud Manager (NCM), which pillar is delivered by Self-Service (formerly Calm)?
A.Cost Governance
B.Security Operations
C.Automation
D.Performance Monitoring
Explanation: Self-Service (formerly Calm) is the Automation pillar of Nutanix Cloud Manager. NCM also includes Cost Governance (Beam), Security (Flow Security Central), and Intelligent Operations, but blueprint-driven application provisioning, marketplace publishing, and Day-2 operations sit in the Automation pillar.
2Where is the Self-Service service enabled and consumed by administrators?
A.On every AHV host through the CVM
B.Inside Prism Element on each cluster
C.In Prism Central as an enabled service
D.On a dedicated standalone Calm appliance VM
Explanation: Self-Service runs as an enabled service inside Prism Central. An administrator clicks Enable on the Self-Service service in Prism Central, which scales the underlying microservices on the PC VM(s). Blueprints, projects, runbooks, and the marketplace are all accessed from the Prism Central UI.
3Which Self-Service object is the unit of multi-tenancy that groups users, environments, quotas, and infrastructure entitlements?
A.Blueprint
B.Project
C.Application Profile
D.Substrate
Explanation: A Project is the multi-tenancy unit in Self-Service. It assigns users and groups, attaches environments and providers, sets compute/storage/VM quotas, and controls which networks and accounts members can consume. Blueprints and runbooks are scoped to a project.
4Which of the following best describes a Self-Service Blueprint?
A.A read-only snapshot of a running application
B.A reusable definition that describes services, packages, variables, and actions for an application
C.A scheduled report of provisioned resources
D.A network microsegmentation policy
Explanation: A Blueprint is a declarative, reusable definition of an application. It contains one or more Services, each with a Substrate (VM spec), a Package (install/configure logic), variables, credentials, and lifecycle actions. Application Profiles let the same blueprint target different environments.
5Which provider type allows a Self-Service Blueprint to deploy a workload to AHV without going through any external hypervisor manager?
A.VMware vCenter
B.AHV (Nutanix native)
C.Existing Machine
D.Azure
Explanation: The AHV provider is native to Self-Service. It targets a Prism Central account that manages AHV clusters directly, so no external hypervisor manager is involved. ESXi requires a vCenter account, while public cloud providers require their own credentials.
6Which statement most accurately distinguishes a Runbook from a Blueprint?
A.A Runbook can only run on AHV while a Blueprint can run on any provider
B.A Blueprint provisions and tracks the lifecycle of an application; a Runbook orchestrates Day-2 operations against existing endpoints
C.Runbooks are only available through the Self-Service API and have no UI
D.A Runbook is a deprecated synonym for a Blueprint
Explanation: Blueprints model the full lifecycle of an application (provision, configure, scale, delete). Runbooks orchestrate operational tasks against endpoints that may already exist, such as patching a fleet of Linux VMs or running a backup job. Runbooks have full UI and API support and run on multiple OS endpoints.
7What is the main purpose of an Application Profile in a Self-Service Blueprint?
A.To store backup schedules for the application
B.To define environment-specific variations such as Dev, Test, and Prod that share the same blueprint structure
C.To replace the need for Projects
D.To enable the Marketplace icon for the blueprint
Explanation: An Application Profile is an environment-specific variant of a blueprint. The blueprint structure (services, packages, actions) is shared, but each profile can override variables, substrate sizes, networks, and credentials so the same blueprint can deploy Dev, QA, and Production with different parameters.
8Which Self-Service object represents the actual VM or cloud instance specification (image, sizing, networks, cloud-init) for a Service?
A.Substrate
B.Package
C.Endpoint
D.Macro
Explanation: A Substrate defines the underlying compute that a Service will run on, including the OS image, vCPU/memory, disks, network adapters, and any guest customization (cloud-init for Linux or Sysprep for Windows). The Package handles installation logic on top of that substrate.
9Macros in Self-Service use which syntax to reference a variable or task output inside a script?
A.${variable_name}
B.@@{variable_name}@@
C.%{variable_name}%
D.<<variable_name>>
Explanation: Self-Service uses the @@{...}@@ macro syntax to inject runtime values into scripts and task fields. For example, @@{calm_application_name}@@ resolves to the app name, and @@{my_var}@@ resolves to a custom variable.
10Which task type in a Self-Service Blueprint or Runbook is used to branch the execution path based on a condition?
A.SetVariable
B.Decision
C.Parallel
D.HTTP
Explanation: A Decision task evaluates a script (Shell, PowerShell, Python, or Escript) and exits with success or failure. The two outgoing branches are followed depending on the result, providing if/else flow inside an action or runbook.

About the NCP-MCA Exam

The NCP-MCA validates a professional's ability to design, build, and validate automation on the Nutanix platform using Self-Service (formerly Calm), runbooks, and X-Play playbooks across hybrid multicloud environments.

Questions

75 scored questions

Time Limit

120 minutes

Passing Score

3000 (scaled 1000-6000)

Exam Fee

$199-$200 (Nutanix University (delivered by Pearson VUE))

NCP-MCA Exam Content Outline

~25%

Automation Concepts and Principles

Self-Service service architecture in Prism Central, projects, providers (AHV, vCenter, AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, Existing Machine), blueprints, runbooks, X-Play, NCM pillars, Calm DSL, terraform-provider-nutanix, and IaC patterns.

~50%

Self-Service Deployment and Configuration

Authoring blueprints (services, substrates, packages, variables, macros, credentials), Cloud-Init / Sysprep guest customization, lifecycle and Day-2 actions, replicas, environments and quotas, marketplace publishing and entitlements, approval policies, runbooks and endpoints, X-Play triggers and actions, Flow categories, and LCM upgrades.

~25%

Validate Blueprints, Runbooks, Playbooks, and Automation

Static blueprint validation, task logs and macro resolution, troubleshooting failed launches and Day-2 actions, validating Cloud-Init / Sysprep, marketplace entitlement checks, X-Play test runs, partial-success runbook handling, Calm DSL compile, and post-upgrade verification.

How to Pass the NCP-MCA Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 3000 (scaled 1000-6000)
  • Exam length: 75 questions
  • Time limit: 120 minutes
  • Exam fee: $199-$200

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

NCP-MCA Study Tips from Top Performers

1Build at least one multi-VM blueprint that uses dependencies, Cloud-Init/Sysprep, and Day-2 Scale Out / Restart actions
2Practice authoring at least one Runbook and one X-Play playbook so you recognize trigger types, endpoints, and action flow
3Walk through Marketplace publishing end to end: Publish, Approve, Project entitlement, and consumer launch
4Read task logs from a successful and a failed application to see how macros render and how exit codes drive Decision flow
5Try Calm DSL: compile a blueprint locally, push via API, and version it in Git to internalize the IaC workflow

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCP-MCA exam format?

The NCP-MCA is a 75-question, 120-minute proctored exam delivered through Pearson VUE. Items are multiple-choice and multiple-response. The passing score is 3000 on a 1000-6000 scaled range.

What does NCP-MCA cover?

The blueprint has three sections: automation concepts and principles, Self-Service (formerly Calm) deployment and configuration, and validation of blueprints, runbooks, and playbooks. Topics include providers, projects, marketplace, X-Play, runbooks, Calm DSL, and Day-2 actions.

How much does the NCP-MCA exam cost?

The NCP-MCA exam fee is approximately $199-$200 per attempt through Pearson VUE. Retake fees are the same as the initial fee. The Nutanix University account itself is free.

What experience is recommended before sitting NCP-MCA?

Nutanix recommends 3-6 months of hands-on experience automating infrastructure and applications with Self-Service, runbooks, and X-Play. The Nutanix Multicloud Automation Administration (NMCAA) course is recommended but not required.

Is the NCP-MCA the same as the old Calm certification?

Yes - Calm has been rebranded to Self-Service inside Nutanix Cloud Manager (NCM). The NCP-MCA still measures blueprint authoring, runbooks, marketplace, and X-Play, but UI labels and documentation now use the Self-Service name.

How long is the NCP-MCA certification valid?

NCP-MCA is valid for two years. Renewal is achieved by passing a current NCP-MCA version, an equivalent automation exam, or a Master-level (NCM) exam before expiration.