The recent launch of the ITIL® 4 Foundation certification course and ITIL 4 certification scheme – and the retention of ITIL v3 certification courses – have left many folks with questions about which path they should take from here. Should you continue your ITIL v3 certification – or move directly to ITIL 4 certification?
This question is especially important because for the first time ever, the new version of ITIL has not been introduced in its entirety.
We want to reassure you that whatever level of ITIL certification you possess, what you’ve already learned remains valuable. ITIL is the global standard in IT best practices, is used by millions of professionals around the world, and many organizations are using ITIL principles to realize increased business value.
ITIL 4 is a progression from ITIL v3 and, like each updated version of ITIL, has retained the best of each, while also incorporating the innovative enhancements necessary to keep pace with the advancements in information technology. The core fundamentals of both ITIL v3 and ITIL 4 continue to support organizations and individuals in gaining optimal business value. Wondering what the impact is on your ITIL professional development objectives? Not to worry! In almost all cases, your investment in ITIL certification is protected. Here are some frequently asked questions and the corresponding answers:
Q: I don’t currently possess any ITIL certification. Where should I start – ITIL v3 or ITIL 4?
A: If you are beginning your ITIL certification journey, you have the choice to proceed through the existing ITIL v3 certification scheme or to take the first step in the ITIL 4 certification scheme. Note that to attain your ITIL v3 Expert status, you will need to accumulate the necessary credits by mid-2020 – this is the timeframe by which ITIL v3 will be made redundant. The ITIL 4 Foundation certification course is available now and the suite of ITIL 4 intermediate courses are expected to be released in late 2019/early 2020.
One important consideration for which one to choose is related to how much detail you need in the short term about specific processes. Many IT professionals find the intermediate level ITIL v3 courses very useful and the ITIL 4 counterparts are not available until early 2020.
Q. How do I bridge from my ITIL v3 Foundation certification course to the ITIL 4 Foundation course?
A. There is no direct bridging into the ITIL 4 Foundation course. The only bridging course is not yet developed and will be introduced in Q2 2020. To qualify for this course, you must have 17 ITIL v3 credits. Here are some other options/factors to consider:
- If you have less than five ITIL v3 credits: You have the choice to continue to obtain the required 17 ITIL v3 credits, plus the Managing Across the Lifecycle (MALC) course, to obtain your ITIL v3 Expert designation prior to mid-2020 and take the requisite Managing Professional Transition module to achieve the ITIL 4 Managing Professional designation. Or, you can choose to take the ITIL 4 Foundation certification course and continue to pursue the ITIL 4 certification scheme when the ITIL 4 intermediate courses become available in late 2019/early 2020.
- If you have six or more ITIL v3 credits: It is recommended you continue to pursue the required 17 ITIL v3 credits, plus the MALC course, to obtain your ITIL v3 Expert designation prior to mid-2020 and take the Managing Professional Transition module to achieve the ITIL 4 Managing Professional designation.
Q. I’m an ITIL v3 Expert. How can I maintain my status for ITIL 4?
A: ITIL 4 does not have an Expert designation. But as an ITIL v3 Expert, you have a direct path to the ITIL 4 Managing Professional designation by taking the Managing Professional Transition module when it becomes available in Q2 2020.