ITIL 4 to ITIL (Version 5): what changes, and what to do about your certification

ITIL (Version 5) is here, and the first questions are practical ones. Is my ITIL 4 certificate still worth anything? Should my team wait? Which exam do I book?

Many people search for this as "ITIL 5"; PeopleCert's name for it is ITIL (Version 5).

This guide answers those questions using PeopleCert's own published details. Certification schemes change, so check the linked official pages before you book anything.

The short answer

• Your ITIL 4 certificate still counts. PeopleCert states that existing ITIL certifications continue to hold their value.
• ITIL 4 has an end date. PeopleCert's current plan is to sunset all ITIL 4 modules on 31 December 2027.
• New to ITIL? Start with ITIL Foundation (Version 5).
• Already hold ITIL 4? You don't have to start again. There are bridge and transition routes.

How ITIL (Version 5) is structured

Everything starts with ITIL Foundation (Version 5). Above it sit advanced modules that combine into three designations:

The three Practice Manager modules are Monitor, Support & Fulfil, Plan, Implement & Control, and Collaborate, Assure & Improve. Holding all three designations earns ITIL Master (Version 5). There is also a stand-alone ITIL AI Governance extension module with no prerequisites.

Notice that Transformation appears in every designation. That tells you where the framework's emphasis has moved: from running practices well to leading change through them.

The exam facts that matter

ITIL Foundation (Version 5)

• 40 multiple-choice questions
• 60 minutes, closed book
• 65% to pass
• Training is optional: self-study is allowed, and the exam can be taken online

Advanced modules are different in one important way: PeopleCert requires training through an Accredited Training Organization or official eLearning for every module except Foundation and AI Governance. Budget for that when you plan a designation.

Renewal. ITIL (Version 5) certificates carry a three-year renewal date. You can renew through CPD points, by completing another certification, or by retaking the exam.

If you already hold ITIL 4

You hold ITIL 4 Foundation (or another ITIL 4 certificate). You can go straight on to Version 5 modules, or take the optional ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5): a 20-question, 30-minute closed-book exam that upgrades you to ITIL Foundation (Version 5) without repeating the full syllabus. Two ITIL 4 specialist certificates, Acquiring and Managing Cloud Services and Sustainability in Digital and IT, don't qualify for the Bridge.

You hold ITIL 4 Managing Professional or ITIL 4 Master. The ITIL Managing Professional Transition (Version 5) module is designed for you. It has two open-book exams: Transformation (40 questions, 90 minutes) and a combined Product, Service and Experience exam (60 questions, 120 minutes), both with a 70% pass mark. Accredited training is required.

You hold ITIL 4 Strategic Leader or a single ITIL 4 advanced module. Check PeopleCert's current path for your exact certificate before booking. For most people the route runs through the Transformation module, but the details depend on what you already hold.

What IT leaders should do

Don't freeze your team's development waiting for the "right" version. ITIL 4 knowledge carries straight into Version 5, and ITIL 4 modules remain available until the end of 2027. A team that understands service management today is worth more than a team that waited.

Make Version 5 Foundation the default for new starters. Anyone certifying from now on should take the version that will still be current in 2028.

Plan advanced designations around real roles. Practice Manager suits people running operational practices. Managing Professional suits service and product owners. Strategic Leader suits those setting direction. Pick the designation that matches the job, not the one that sounds most senior.

Budget for accredited training. Since advanced modules need it, the real cost of a designation is training plus exams, not exams alone.

Treat AI Governance as its own decision. With no prerequisites, it's a practical first step for leaders who need guardrails for AI in service management now.

Sources

• ITIL FAQ — PeopleCert
• ITIL Foundation (Version 5) — PeopleCert
• ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) — PeopleCert
• ITIL Managing Professional Transition (Version 5) — PeopleCert
• ITIL (Version 5) explained — PeopleCert

Preparing for ITIL Foundation? See ITIL Foundation exam coaching.