The New ITIL® 4 Certification Structure
In 2018, AXELOS announced that it would update its ITIL® service management framework for the first time since 2011. The widely anticipated new version finally arrives in Q1 of 2019 with the release of the ITIL® 4 Foundation course and exam. The remaining levels are scheduled for release in H2 of 2019. The new certification structure (or scheme) is aligned with ITIL® v3 but has been significantly streamlined to provide clear paths for you to continue your ITIL® journey.
The driving force behind the new iteration of ITIL® is the new technological era many refer to as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It is marked by emerging technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, quantum computing, and IoT. ITIL® 4 is designed to support organizations as they utilize Agile, DevOps and digital transformation to align human, digital and physical resources to integrate these technologies into their IT operations.
ITIL® 4 Certification Scheme
Here is a chart showing the new ITIL® 4 Certification scheme or structure:
The ITIL® 4 Certification Scheme is comprised of the following five levels:
- ITIL® Foundation
- ITIL® Specialist (3 modules)
- ITIL® Strategist
- ITIL® Leader
- ITIL® Master
In an effort to streamline the new certification structure, the three middle levels or modules (Specialist/Strategist/Leader) make up two different designation “streams”. These streams are:
- ITIL® Managing Professional (ITIL® MP)
- ITIL® Strategic Leader (ITIL® SL)
The ITIL® MP and ITIL® SL designations (or streams) are intended to provide you with greater depth of content in key areas of service management and IT strategy to support your learning journey and career progression from Foundation to Master.
ITIL® Foundation
The entry-level into ITIL® 4 is the Foundation level as it has always been. There is no transition course into ITIL® 4 as there previously was from v2 to v3. All learners new to ITIL® or those having only taken ITIL® v3 Foundation must start with the ITIL® 4 Foundation course and exam. The new ITIL® 4 Foundation course is available at both the Kansas City and St. Louis Centriq locations beginning in March 2019. (The ITIL® 4 Foundation exam is available on February 28, 2019).
Click here for the ITIL® 4 Foundation course description and class dates at Centriq Training.
Read more about the new ITIL® 4 Foundation Certification
Learn why people down the line need ITIL® training
For other transition paths from ITIL® v3 to ITIL® 4, see below.
ITIL® Specialist, ITIL® Strategist and ITIL® Leader
Upon obtaining the ITIL® 4 Foundation Certification, you are eligible to achieve the next (or middle) levels: Specialist, Strategist and Leader. These courses and exams form the ITIL® Managing Professional (ITIL® MP) and the ITIL® Strategic Leader (ITIL® SL) streams. To obtain the designation ITIL® Managing Professional or ITIL® Strategic Leader, you must complete all courses and exams in each stream.
ITIL® Managing Professional (ITIL® MP)
ITIL® Managing Professional (ITIL® MP) targets IT practitioners working within technology and digital teams across businesses. ITIL® MP stream provides practical and technical knowledge about how to run successful IT projects, teams and workflows.
To become an ITIL® MP, you must complete the following five courses and exams:
- ITIL® 4 Foundation
- ITIL® Specialist: Create, Deliver & Support
- ITIL® Specialist: Drive Stakeholder Value
- ITIL® Specialist: High Velocity IT
- ITIL® Strategist: Direct, Plan & Improve*
ITIL® Strategic Leader (ITIL® SL)
ITIL® Strategic Leader (ITIL® SL) recognizes the value of ITIL®, not just for IT operations, but for all digitally enabled services. Becoming an ITIL® SL demonstrates that the professional has a clear understanding of how IT influences and directs business strategy.
To become an ITIL® SL, you must complete the following three courses and exams:
- ITIL® 4 Foundation
- ITIL® Strategist: Direct, Plan & Improve*
- ITIL® Leader: Digital & IT Strategy
(* ITIL® Strategist: Direct, Plan & Improve is the same course and exam for both ITIL® designation streams.)
The following courses and exams for the ITIL® Specialist, ITIL® Strategist and ITIL® Leader are not scheduled for release until H2 2019. Centriq Training will offer these courses upon their release:
- ITIL® Specialist: Create, Deliver & Support
- ITIL® Specialist: Drive Stakeholder Value
- ITIL® Specialist: High Velocity IT
- ITIL® Strategist: Direct, Plan & Improve
- ITIL® Leader: Digital & IT Strategy
ITIL® Master
To become an ITIL® Master, you must have both the ITIL® Managing Professional (ITIL® MP) and ITIL® Strategic Leader (ITIL® SL) designations.
Further details about how to become an ITIL® Master will be released at a later time.
Transition from ITIL® v3 into ITIL® 4
Because of the structure of ITIL® 4, there is no transition course from v3 Foundation to ITIL® 4 Foundation as there was between v2 and v3. ITIL® 4 Foundation contains a large amount of new material which requires a single exam to assess your knowledge of the new ITIL® 4 Foundation guidance. The transition to ITIL® 4 for most people will be ITIL® 4 Foundation.
If you are new to ITIL®:
- Take ITIL® 4 Foundation
If you have only taken ITIL® v3 Foundation:
- Take ITIL® 4 Foundation
However, if you are already on the path to higher v3 certifications, you have options.
If you have achieved 3 or 4 ITIL® v3 Intermediate/Practitioner credits:
- Option 1 – Take ITIL® 4 Foundation to start your path
- Option 2 – Continue obtaining 17 credits from ITIL® v3 and take the ITIL® Managing Professional Transition course*
You should compare the path required to reach your 17 credits + the new Transition course against the five courses required to follow the new ITIL® 4 path. Also note that – other than the Foundation course – the release dates of the ITIL® 4 courses have not been announced but are expected in H2 2019.
If you have achieved 6 or more ITIL® v3 Intermediate/Practitioner credits:
- Option 1 – Continue obtaining 17 credits from ITIL® v3 and take the new ITIL® Managing Professional Transition course*
- Option 2 – Take ITIL® 4 Foundation to start your path.
You should compare the path required to reach your 17 credits + the new Transition course against the five courses required to follow the new ITIL® 4 path. Also note that – other than the Foundation course – the release dates of the ITIL® 4 courses have not been released but are expected in H2 2019.
If you are an ITIL® v3 Expert:
- Take the new ITIL® Managing Professional Transition course* to achieve the ITIL® Managing Professional designation
*NOTE: The release date for the new ITIL® Managing Professional Transition course has not been announced but is expected to be in H2 2019. The advantage of taking the new Transition course is that it enables you to fast track past the v3 Managing across the Lifecycle course and exam.
For more information about the new ITIL® 4, please contact our team.
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