Training, exams and certification
Training, exams and certification
ITIL 4 certifications stay valid, ITIL 4 exams are planned to end on 31 December 2027, and an ITIL 4 holder does not have to start again. What changed, what did not, and the right move for each starting point.
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| No ITIL certification yet | Take ITIL Foundation (Version 5) |
|---|---|
| ITIL 4 Foundation | Optional Foundation Bridge, or go straight to a Version 5 module |
| ITIL 4 Managing Professional or Master, ITIL v3 Expert or Master | Managing Professional Transition |
| Halfway through an ITIL 4 path | Finish it before the end of 2027, or move to Version 5 modules |
PeopleCert describes ITIL (Version 5) as AI-native by design. Three shifts matter for a candidate:
From services to digital products and services. The guidance covers the end-to-end lifecycle of digital products and services, not service management alone.
AI throughout. AI-enabled environments are part of the core concepts, and there is a dedicated AI Governance module.
A simpler qualification structure. Version 5 is organised in modules — Product, Service, Experience, Strategy, Transformation and AI Governance — above a single Foundation.
| ITIL 4 certificates | Remain valid and keep their three-year renewal date |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites | Any ITIL 4 certification is accepted for the Version 5 modules; ITIL v3 certificates are not |
| Renewal | Passing any Version 5 exam also renews ITIL 4 certificates |
| Foundation format | 40 questions, 60 minutes, closed book, pass mark 65% |
The dates to know. PeopleCert's current plan is to retire all ITIL 4 modules on 31 December 2027. The Foundation Bridge (Version 5) is planned to close on the same date, so the Bridge is a route for the next two years, not for ever.
| Foundation Bridge (Version 5) | For ITIL 4 certificate holders, except the Specialist titles Acquiring and Managing Cloud Services and Sustainability in Digital and IT · 20 questions · 30 minutes · closed book · pass mark 65% · no training required |
|---|---|
| Managing Professional Transition | For ITIL 4 MP, ITIL 4 Master, ITIL v3 Expert or Master · two open-book exams in English · 70% in each · accredited training mandatory · awards the Version 5 Managing Professional designation |
| Practice Manager (Version 5) | ITIL Foundation (Version 5) · one practice module · Transformation. Until the Version 5 practice modules are released, the ITIL 4 Specialist certificates MSF, PIC or CAI count as the practice module |
The Bridge is optional: an ITIL 4 Foundation holder can enrol in a Version 5 module directly. It is useful for someone who wants the Version 5 Foundation credential without repeating the whole Foundation syllabus.
No. They keep their value and their three-year renewal date, and passing a Version 5 exam renews them.
For a new candidate, Version 5 Foundation is the better choice: ITIL 4 modules are planned to retire at the end of 2027, and Version 5 is where the new modules are.
The format is the same — 40 questions, 60 minutes, closed book, 65% — but the syllabus is new, with digital products and AI throughout.
No. Any ITIL 4 certification is a valid prerequisite for the Version 5 modules.
Sources. Every rule and date on this page is from PeopleCert's own published pages and ITIL FAQ, checked in October 2026.
Foundation for new candidates, the Bridge for ITIL 4 holders, the Transition for Managing Professionals. All packages include the exam voucher.
See the ITIL 5 packages
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