I have obtained the ITIL Foundation qualification
📅 Date compiled: 2026-09-26
⚠️ Version information may change over time; refer to the PeopleCert website for the latest
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 |
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 |
💡 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
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
⚠️ 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 |
🔗 References #
| Source | Link |
|---|---|
| PeopleCert official certification page | 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 |
| ITIL.com official certification framework | https://www.itil.com/certifications |
| Invensis Learning — Foundation course outline | https://www.invensislearning.com/itil-4-foundation-certification-training/ |
| ITIL.org.uk — ITIL project management guide | https://www.itil.org.uk/blog/itil-project-management |
| ITSM.tools — ITIL 4 explained | https://itsm.tools/itil-4-explained/ |
Sources: PeopleCert website, ITIL.com, Invensis Learning, ITIL.org.uk, and other public information (September 2026)