The world’s leading framework for managing IT service delivery is the Information Technology Infrastructure Library, or ITIL. In order to design, create, deploy, and maintain IT services, a precise set of procedures and activities are required, according to the service lifecycle model defined by ITIL. For the sake of this debate, IT services are any IT operations that provide end users, clients, and other internal or external stakeholders with commercial value. Centralized corporate email and corporate websites built using back-end IT procedures like server and network administration are two examples of IT services. ITIL V3 is the name of the most recent version of ITIL.
Companies may offer services in accordance with a set of standardized, well-defined processes that include best practices and processes by using the ITIL framework, ensuring a predictable quality of service for users. Reduced service development and deployment costs, increased customer satisfaction with service delivery, higher IT staff productivity, higher service quality, better service management metrics, and increased flexibility in adjusting services to shifting business requirements are all advantages of ITIL.
ITIL Certification program overview
Axelos acquired control of ITIL in July 2013. It now oversees the ITIL framework and accredits training and testing centers. There are hundreds of ITIL Accredited Training Organizations (ATOs) available to provide training, and ITIL certification tests may be given by an Examination Institute (EI), many of which collaborate closely with the ATOs, or at the conclusion of a training course.
There are five certification levels available through ITIL:
- Foundation
- Practitioner
- Intermediate (Service Lifecycle and Service Capability categories)
- Expert
- Master
Be aware that the ITIL employs a credit system, with each certification earning a certain amount of credits, for the Foundation through Expert levels. The final tally for credits needed to earn ITIL Expert certification is 22. (You’ll read about the criteria specific to the ITIL Master shortly.) The certification scheme’s structure and associated credits are depicted in the diagram below.
What is ITIL?
It’s crucial to comprehend the structure and features of the ITIL IT service framework before reading on for certification information.
The Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) of the U.K. government created ITIL in the 1980s as a collection of defined best practices for IT services used in government organizations. Since its first, narrowly focused implementation, ITIL has been embraced, updated, and expanded into a complete framework for managing IT service delivery in businesses and organizations of all sizes, in all fields of endeavour, and in all market niches.
ITIL enables businesses to specify and put into action a documented, rehearse-able procedure that helps them stay focused on the major and little elements involved in introducing new IT services and maintaining those services afterward.
The ITIL service lifecycle is divided into five practice areas or stages, with corresponding supporting concepts, rules, and procedures:
Service Strategy:
Defining services as strategic assets, as well as sustaining and putting into practice a planned, cogent strategy, are the major objectives of this phase. Service strategy concepts guarantee that the company is set up for service improvement by addressing business processes, corporate governance and compliance, policies, corporate culture, and decision-making.
Service Design:
In this phase, business management procedures (such as service level, availability, and capacity) are evaluated with a view to creating new service offerings or enhancing those that already exist.
Service Transition:
This phase includes testing and quality control as it transitions from development to production operations.
Service Operation:
The management of services after they are used in production is outlined in this phase. It handles service operating procedures including incident response, application lifecycle management, access management, event management, and help desk assistance.
Continuous Service Improvement:
On the basis of operational input and service levels, this phase establishes new needs for the ITIL stages that came before it. Incorporating operational lessons learned into current and upcoming service improvements helps to ensure that rules and procedures are followed, service level agreements are satisfied, and operational lessons learned are taken into account.
and The ITIL framework provides organizations with the orderliness and organization and organization needed to plan, develop, create, develop, execute, and manage new or enhanced services in a timely, and most crucially, promptly,, effectively plan, develop, execute, delivering,, deliver, and manage new or enhanced services Prior to the implementation of ITIL, a lack of service management discipline and experience caused many IT projects to go over budget, deviate from their original path, or fail completely as a consequence of scope creep, poor management, and a lack of measurable outcomes. These issues are quite well resolved by ITIL. In fact, many people consider ITIL to be the gold standard for IT service management systems.
What is the ITIL Certification?
A set of best practices for managing information technology services is known as the ITIL certification, or Information Technology Infrastructure Library. It provides a framework for companies to enhance their IT offerings and integrate them with business objectives. Five levels make up the certification: Foundation, Practitioner, Intermediate, Expert, and Master. Each level involves passing a related test and goes further into particular facets of ITIL.
The ideas and procedures involved in developing and administering effective IT service management strategies are understood by those who have earned the ITIL certification, which is a testament to their competence in this area. Additionally, organizations frequently give recruiting preference to those who have ITIL certification since it shows mastery of a widely accepted standard.
ITIL Foundation certification
Most newcomers begin their study for and certification in ITIL with the ITIL Foundation certification, which covers the foundational concepts of ITIL. Anyone with a curiosity for the subject can take the test, and there are no requirements. Preparation for the ITIL Foundation certification test can be done in a classroom setting, online, or by self-study. You are not required to finish a training programmer before taking the Foundations test. The Foundation test has 40 multiple-choice questions that must be answered in 60 minutes. To pass, you must have a score of 65 percent, or 26 right answers.
An IT professional who completes the ITIL Foundation level will probably need to complete the Practitioner or Intermediate certification before being able to qualify for service management positions, even though the certification covers all five practice areas of the ITIL service lifecycle, including how the various lifecycle stages are linked to one another.
ITIL Practitioner
The most recent addition to the ITIL certification programmer is the ITIL Practitioner certification. The first administration of this test took place in February 2016. The ITIL Practitioner certification, as its name suggests, is based on practical understanding of ITIL procedures and how those concepts are applied in the real world. A practitioner of ITIL can describe how to apply the framework’s emphasis on organizational change management, communications, measurement, and metrics to meet business objectives.
After obtaining the ITIL Foundation, the ITIL Practitioner is regarded as the following stage in the ITIL evolution (which is a prerequisite). It places emphasis on an organization’s capacity to accept, modify, and use ITIL ideas. Although obtaining the Practitioner certification grants three credits toward ITIL Expert certification, it is not necessary for higher-level ITIL qualifications. The Practitioner test can be studied for on your own, in a physical classroom, online, or through remote learning. A passing score on the Practitioner test, which consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, is 70%, or 28 right answers.
ITIL Intermediate
Each module for the ITIL Intermediate certification focuses on a distinct area of IT service management. Relevant modules are divided into two categories: service capability and service lifecycle.
The Service Lifecycle modules are:
- Service Strategy (SS)
- Service Design (SD)
- Service Transition (ST)
- Service Operation (SO)
- Continual Service Improvement (CSI)
The Service Capability modules are:
- Operational Support and Analysis (OSA)
- Planning, Protection and Optimization (PPO)
- Release, Control and Validation (RCV)
- Service Offerings and Agreements (SOA)
AXELOS offers AXELOS offers the option to acquire certification in a single category or by selecting modules from both categories or by selecting modules from both categories or by selecting modules from both categories or by selecting modules from both categories or by selecting modules from both You should have at least two years of expertise in IT service management, according to AXELOS. Remember that you cannot self-study and then take the Intermediate test; you must finish your Intermediate exam preparation by completing a training course provided by an approved training organization (ATO).
ITIL Expert
The advanced certification known as ITIL Expert covers all ITIL disciplines including the breadth and depth of ITIL procedures and practices. The ITIL Master certification requires ITIL Expert certification as a prerequisite.
You need to acquire a minimum of 17 credits from the Foundation, Practitioner, and Intermediate modules and pass the Managing Across the Lifecycle (MALC) test to become an ITIL Expert. This gives you a total of 22 credits.
ITIL Master
Application of the ITIL framework in practical settings is demonstrated by the pinnacle ITIL Master certification. All ITIL concepts and procedures covered by the Foundation through Expert certifications are included in the ITIL Master. The following tasks must be completed by an ITIL Master to prove their total knowledge of the ITIL framework:
- Obtain the ITIL Expert designation
- Establish a minimum of five years of ITIL expertise in a management or leadership position.
- Make a suggestion for a service enhancement.
- Send in a work package that exhibits your ability to apply ITIL principles to a genuine business case and shows how doing so has improved a business service.
- successfully navigate an ITIL evaluation panel interview
When an EI accepts your initial application, you pay the approximate $4,000 fee of the ITIL Master. Only serious individuals should pursue the ITIL Master because of the high cost and strict prerequisites. Having said that, obtaining this certification signifies that you have excelled to the top level in your area.
ITIL-related jobs and careers
Large organizations that use the ITIL framework as their internal IT standard have long prized IT personnel who hold an ITIL certification. The spread of ITIL is what is starting to alter things. Many small- and medium-sized enterprises now increasingly understand the benefit of individuals with ITIL certificates under their collective belts.
SMBs are beginning to see the largest advantages of keeping ITIL-trained individuals on staff as IT becomes increasingly crucial. Larger businesses are often able to bear the productivity, time, and financial losses that come with a failed IT service project, even though no organization wants to see IT initiatives fail. Financially, SMBs might not be able to afford to let a significant IT project fail due to ineffective management and a lack of protocols. Therefore, for wise businesses that cannot afford IT project failures, the value of an ITIL certification may be larger.
The good thing about ITIL certification is that practically any IT professional, from system administrators to chief information officers, may benefit from having it (CIOs). Numerous sizable businesses have devoted ITIL coaches or mentors who assist in guiding projects through the different phases of the ITIL framework. These ITIL experts have in-depth knowledge of the IT environment and can typically identify problems with a service design document or implementation plan within minutes.
IT project managers, who work daily in the trenches of IT services, find ITIL certification to be an invaluable credential. The development lifecycle process is something that most project managers are already familiar with, thus the ITIL principles are second nature to them. Even a fundamental understanding of the ITIL framework can help in comprehending and supporting the ITIL process. IT managers, architects, and engineers may never become ITIL Masters.
AXELOS offers a Career Paths chart that correlates skill levels with IT service management job positions. For certification applicants who are interested in certain tasks and need to understand how they fit within the ITIL service lifecycle, this chart is helpful.
ITIL training
Links to pertinent study materials and course outlines are available on each ITIL certification portal. Readers interested in earning the ITIL Foundation certification should read the three-part blog series on getting ready for and passing the test. Use the ITIL Intermediate Training Navigator to match desired job positions and abilities with the right modules if you’re considering earning the Intermediate certification.
Formal ITIL training is offered in instructor-led classroom settings, self-paced online courses, and instructor-led distance learning. Anyone interested in learning about ITIL or receiving an ITIL certification has options that suit their preferred learning styles thanks to the range of ITIL training programmers available and the pool of recognized organizations providing ITIL programmers.
Although there are options for non-accredited ITIL training, we highly advise that you should work with an ITIL ATO when pursuing ITIL training. On the Axelos ITIL website, you may find a comprehensive list of these training providers.
ITIL 4
In late 2017, Axelos and the ITIL Development Group, which consists of more than 2,000 ITIL stakeholders globally, started working on an upgrade to ITIL V3. Axelos has announced forthcoming modifications to the ITIL certifications known as ITIL 4, and that development continues throughout 2018. To better reflect the expanding complexity of modern IT, ITIL 4 will bring about significant changes to the ITIL certification programmed. In order to conform to the new ITIL 4 programmer structure, ITIL 4 also modifies a few of the certification programmer names and titles. The updated ITIL 4 programmer summary is shown below:
The ITIL 4 certification programmer includes some new terminology in addition to some traditional ones that you may know. The lowest level of ITIL certification is still ITIL Foundation, and the highest level is still ITIL Master, but there are now two different ways to get from Foundation to Master, giving you the option to select the certification knowledge areas that best suit your interests and professional aspirations.
Additional modifications to certification exams are expected to be issued in the second half of 2019, after the introduction of the redesigned Foundation test in Q1. More information on the mapping of current ITIL V3 certificates to the new programmer structure can be found here: ITIL 4 Program Updates.
Final Words
As you can see, there are several options available to you once you earn your ITIL certification.
You may get the greatest IT certification courses at Orhan Ergun to help you better prepare for the certification.
With our assistance, you will soon be able to understand this crucial framework for process improvement and advance your career.