---
title: ITIL Certification (en)
description: "ITIL is the world's most widely adopted IT Service Management (ITSM) framework, certified exclusively by PeopleCert. This article covers certification levels, paths, and key considerations."
url: "https://aaronchan.com/kb/itil-certification/"
updated: "2026-09-26"
category: "PM-ITIL (en)"
---

# ITIL Certification (en)

I have obtained the ITIL Foundation qualification

> 📅 Date compiled: 2026-09-26
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> ⚠️ Version information may change over time; refer to the PeopleCert website for the latest

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## Part 1: What is ITIL Certification?

| Item | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Full Name** | ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) |
| **Positioning** | The most widely adopted IT Service Management (ITSM) framework in the world |
| **Current Version** | ITIL 4 (in 2026, **ITIL Version 5** is launching, moving toward AI-native and greater flexibility) |
| **Certifying Body** | PeopleCert (sole authorized examination institute) |
| **Adoption Rate** | Adopted by over 90% of Fortune 500 companies worldwide |

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## Certifying Body

| Item | Details |
| --- | --- |
| 🏢 **Certifying Body** | **PeopleCert** (PeopleCert Group) |
| 🌍 **Headquarters Country** | **United Kingdom** — 192 Sloane Street, London |
| 🇬🇷 **Main Operations / Employee Base** | **Greece** — 3 Korai Square, Athens |
| 📍 **Other Locations** | Belgium, Cyprus, Ireland, Egypt, etc. |
| 🏛️ **ITIL IP Owner** | **AXELOS** (formerly a UK body; acquired by PeopleCert from Capita PLC in 2021 for £389 million) |
| 🔗 **Official Website** | [https://www.peoplecert.org](https://www.peoplecert.org) |

> 💡 PeopleCert is registered in the UK, with employees mainly based in Athens, Greece. The ITIL brand's original owner, AXELOS, is also a UK body; after the 2021 acquisition it came under PeopleCert. ITIL certification and exam administration are therefore handled by this Anglo-Greek organization.

**Key Trends (2026):**

- 🆕 ITIL Version 5 is launching, moving from rigid processes toward **AI-native** approaches that handle complexity and align more closely with Lean / Agile / DevOps ways of working
- 🤖 A new **ITIL AI Governance** module teaches you to govern AI responsibly across products, services, and operations
- 🌉 Existing ITIL 4 holders can upgrade quickly via the **Foundation Bridge** exam, which only tests new content

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## Part 2: Certification Levels & Paths

| Level | Target Audience | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 🟢 **Foundation** | New IT professionals, Service Desk staff | Entry level; covers core ITIL concepts, terminology, and the product/service lifecycle |
| 🔵 **Managing Professional** | IT managers, process owners, senior IT staff | Advanced; includes 4 modules (Product / Service / Experience / Transformation) |
| 🟣 **Strategic Leader** | CIOs, IT strategy leaders | Focuses on aligning IT strategy with business goals |
| 🟠 **Practice Manager** | Specialists in specific practices | Dives deep into specific ITIL practices |
| 🔴 **Master** | Senior ITSM experts | Highest level; requires completing the MP + SL + PM tracks |

**Advancement Path Rules:**

- Pass Foundation first → then choose Managing Professional, Strategic Leader, or Practice Manager
- Complete all three professional tracks (MP + SL + PM) → to earn **Master**

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## ⚠️ Notes

| Note | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Certifying Body** | PeopleCert is the only official ITIL examination institute; choose a PeopleCert-accredited training organization (ATO) |
| **Version Differences** | ITIL Version 5 is rolling out gradually from 2026; confirm whether you are sitting ITIL 4 or Version 5 before registering |
| **Clarify Positioning** | ITIL is an operations/service management framework, not a pure project methodology; it works best alongside PMP / PRINCE2 |
| **Recertification** | Don't ignore the 3-year renewal, otherwise the certification lapses and you must retake the exam |
| **No Prerequisites** | Foundation has no prerequisites; suitable for beginners and career changers |

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## 🔗 References

| Source | Link |
| --- | --- |
| PeopleCert official certification page | [https://www.peoplecert.org/browse-certifications/it-governance-and-service-management/ITIL-1](https://www.peoplecert.org/browse-certifications/it-governance-and-service-management/ITIL-1) |
| PeopleCert — ITIL 4 Foundation | [https://www.peoplecert.org/browse-certifications/it-governance-and-service-management/ITIL-1/itil-4-foundation-2565](https://www.peoplecert.org/browse-certifications/it-governance-and-service-management/ITIL-1/itil-4-foundation-2565) |
| [ITIL.com](http://ITIL.com) official certification framework | [https://www.itil.com/certifications](https://www.itil.com/certifications) |
| Invensis Learning — Foundation course outline | [https://www.invensislearning.com/itil-4-foundation-certification-training/](https://www.invensislearning.com/itil-4-foundation-certification-training/) |
| [ITIL.org.uk](http://ITIL.org.uk) — ITIL project management guide | [https://www.itil.org.uk/blog/itil-project-management](https://www.itil.org.uk/blog/itil-project-management) |
| [ITSM.tools](http://ITSM.tools) — ITIL 4 explained | [https://itsm.tools/itil-4-explained/](https://itsm.tools/itil-4-explained/) |

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*Sources: PeopleCert website, [ITIL.com](http://ITIL.com), Invensis Learning, [ITIL.org.uk](http://ITIL.org.uk), and other public information (September 2026)*