A system, method, and computer program product are provided for automatically certifying a Virtual Network Function (VNF) for use in a Network Function Virtualization based (NFV-based) communication network. In use, an online automated VNF certification system receives information associated with at least one VNF. Further, the online automated VNF certification system performs a first level of certification for the at least one VNF by validating metadata corresponding to the information associated with the at least one VNF. Additionally, the online automated VNF certification system performs a second level of certification for the at least one VNF, including testing deployment based functionality associated with the at least one VNF and validating results of testing the deployment based functionality. Still yet, the online automated VNF certification system performs a third level of certification for the at least one VNF by executing one or more test cases associated with the at least one VNF and validating results of executing the one or more test cases. Moreover, the online automated VNF certification system identifies the at least one VNF as certified as a result of performing the third level of certification for the at least one VNF.