Where do I start with ITIL (Version 5)? Does my ITIL 4 certification still count? Which class will help me the most? Which course leads to the designation I want? These are practical questions, and the answers depend on where you are today and what you want to do next. That is why we keep expanding ITSM Academy’s All Things ITIL  resources - to help professionals and training planners find clear information and make confident decisions. The collection brings together ITIL (Version 5) guidance, certification FAQs, course information, and focused breakdowns of topics such as the Managing Professional, Strategic Leader, and Master pathways.  New: Explore the Qualification Scheme for Yourself Our latest addition is our unique, interactive ITIL (Version 5) Qualification Scheme . A qualification diagram shows how the pieces connect. Our tool lets you go much further. Select a course or designation to see what it covers, where it sits in the scheme, its prerequisites,...

When PeopleCert first announced the ITIL (Version 5) Managing Professional Transition (MPT) course, we did what we have done since 2004: scheduled an early beta class for North America. At that point, the course was still taking shape. Based on the previous ITIL v3 and ITIL 4 capstone transition courses - each of which concluded with one exam - we initially planned MPT as one consolidated class leading to one exam. As we approached our launch date and additional details were released, PeopleCert established that MPT would include two distinct areas of study and two certification exams: Product, Service and Experience (PSE): 120 minutes, 40 case-based questions Transformation: 90 minutes, 40 case-based questions Both exams are open book , with a passing score of 70%. Depending on learners' prior certifications, those who pass both earn either their ITIL (Version 5) Managing Professional or ITIL (Version 5) Master designation. As of August 2026, prerequisite ...

If you already hold an ITIL 4 certification, you can now take a shorter route to ITIL (Version 5) Foundation. The exam may be streamlined. Your learning experience shouldn’t be. ITIL (Version 5) builds on concepts ITIL 4 professionals already know while expanding the framework for today’s digital product and service environment. That creates an interesting question for certified ITIL 4 learners: What does it really take to make the move from ITIL 4 to ITIL (Version 5)? A Foundation Bridge course can provide an abbreviated transition. It focuses on what has changed and gives eligible ITIL 4 certificate holders a shorter path to the new certification. For some learners, that may sound like all they need. At ITSM Academy, we see the opportunity differently. If you are going to update your certification, why not also give yourself the time, context, and instructor guidance to understand the new framework in depth? Go Beyond the Bridge For a limited time, learners with a valid ITIL 4 certif...

Back in May, I wrote about the arrival of the new ITIL (Version 5) Advanced Certifications and what they mean for service management professionals looking to stay ahead of the curve.   Read  What Open Book Exams Really Mean for Learners . At the time, one of the biggest questions we received was: "When will the official books be available?" The wait is over. ITSM Academy now has the official ITIL (Version 5) hardcopy publications available for purchase and immediate shipment. Why These Books Matter The transition from ITIL 4 to ITIL (Version 5) is more than a simple update. While many of the foundational concepts remain intact, the framework expands significantly to address how modern organizations create value through products, services, experiences, strategy, and transformation. These publications provide the detailed guidance behind the certifications and offer valuable reference material for practitioners, leaders, consultants, trainers, and organization...

"We’re Not Ready for ITIL (Version 5). We’re Too Immature." It is a common reaction. When organizations hear about ITIL (Version 5), especially in the context of digital product and service management, AI governance, experience, and transformation, they may assume it is intended only for those with a mature ITSM program already in place. They think: We are still trying to get incident management under control. Our request process is inconsistent. We have too many silos. We are not ready for something more advanced. But that conclusion misses the point. You do not need to be mature to benefit from ITIL (Version 5). In many ways, less mature organizations may have the most to gain. ITIL Is Not a Reward for Maturity ITIL has never been something organizations earn the right to use once they have everything figured out. It is guidance that helps organizations improve how they create, deliver, and support value. That matters at every stage of maturity. For o...

What We’ve Seen Go Wrong (After the Class Ends) After two decades of delivering ITSM training, we’ve had a front-row seat to what happens after the exam is over. And here’s the truth that many providers don’t talk about: passing the exam is not the hard part. What goes wrong usually happens when learners return to work, and good intentions collide with real organizations, real constraints, and real habits. Here are the most common patterns we’ve seen. 1. The credential becomes the finish line Too often, certification is treated as the outcome instead of a milestone. Learners celebrate (as they should), but there’s no next step defined for application. No time carved out to try something new. No expectation that behavior will change. Without intent, learning quietly fades back into routine. 2. “We took the class.” replaces “We changed how we work.” Organizations sometimes check the training box without addressing the environm...

What Actually Sticks After Class (And Why) After two decades of delivering ITSM training, we’ve had a front-row seat to what happens after the exam is over. What makes training stick isn’t memorizing a definition perfectly; it’s understanding the thinking behind it. It sticks because something shifted . Over the years, we’ve noticed a consistent pattern in what learners carry forward long after class ends. 1. Mental models, not mechanics The most durable takeaway isn’t a process diagram; it’s a new way of seeing. When learners grasp why practices exist and how value is co-created, they begin making better decisions, even in situations not covered in class. That mindset travels with them. 2. Shared language When teams learn together - or at least align around the same concepts - conversations change. Suddenly, people can say: “What outcome are we optimizing for?” “Who actually experiences this?” “Is this adding value, or just acti...

I got asked the question, "How do you see the job market valuing ITIL certifications today - particularly Foundation vs higher-level?" That got me thinking, and I had many thoughts, so I wanted to get them all down "on paper".  When we talk about ITIL certifications today, the first thing we have to acknowledge is that the job market has changed. Twenty years ago, only cutting-edge teams were adding ITIL certifications to their job requirements, as they understood it was a competitive differentiator.  Ten years ago, ITIL Foundation was often a checkbox. It signaled that someone understood incident, change, problem - the basics. It was credibility currency. Today, Foundation still matters - but it plays a different role. Foundation demonstrates literacy. It tells an employer: You understand value. You understand service relationships. You understand structured operating models. You speak the language. In a market f...

ITIL evolves. Your expertise remains valuable. A confident step forward for the ITIL community The new ITIL builds on everything professionals already value in ITIL, evolving the framework to reflect today’s digital, product-centric, and AI-enabled reality. Existing knowledge, experience, and certifications remain fully relevant as part of this evolution. If you are already certified or familiar with ITIL, this is not a reset. It is a natural next step that allows you to move forward with confidence, when and how it makes sense for you. The key innovations in New ITIL The new ITIL evolves to match today’s AI-driven, fast-changing environment. It provides practical, role-relevant guidance in digital product and service management that helps professionals and organizations deliver measurable value with consistency. Modern, integrated, and comprehensive ITIL (Version 5) provides guidance that works across the entire organization, from leadership and strategy to day-t...