ITIL^® Version 5 Certification and Qualification Scheme at a Glance

Building on the Foundation, ITIL Version 5 introduces three clearly defined learning paths, each leading to an ITIL Version 5 designation. These learning paths are designed to address different roles, responsibilities, and career goals, while at the same time fitting into a common overall framework.

The learning paths enable participants to deepen their understanding of ITIL in a targeted manner, based on their current role or future career development goals. At the same time, the certification program remains flexible enough to allow participants to set their own priorities and tailor their learning paths to their personal goals.

The ITIL Version 5 Foundation is the mandatory first step in the ITIL Version 5 certification program and provides a common foundation for all advanced modules and designations. In the Foundation course, participants learn the fundamental concepts, terminology, and models of ITIL Version 5 and develop a comprehensive understanding of modern digital product and service management.

The focus is on how value is created for customers, users, and organizations, and how digital products and services are managed throughout their entire lifecycle. The Foundation course provides an integrated understanding of the Digital Product & Service Lifecycle, the ITIL Value System, the Guiding Principles, governance structures, and clearly defined role models. ITIL is deliberately not viewed as a rigid set of rules, but rather as a practical framework for decision-making, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

For participants who already hold an ITIL 4 Foundation certification, the ITIL Version 5 Foundation Bridge is an alternative option. This one-day training course focuses specifically on the new features of ITIL Version 5, helps participants organize their existing knowledge, and concludes with a shortened exam. The Bridge enables an efficient transition to ITIL Version 5 without having to retake the entire Foundation course.

Both the ITIL Version 5 Foundation and the ITIL Version 5 Foundation Bridge are prerequisites for all other ITIL Version 5 certifications and provide the solid foundation upon which all specializations and progression steps in the ITIL Version 5 model are built.

The ITIL Version 5 Foundation Bridge is a concise transition course for anyone who already holds an ITIL 4 Foundation certification and wishes to transition to ITIL Version 5. It provides an efficient introduction to the new version without having to retake the full two-day ITIL Version 5 Foundation course.

The Foundation Bridge course focuses on the key changes in ITIL Version 5. Participants learn how the model has evolved from ITIL 4 and how to effectively apply their existing knowledge within the new structure. This includes, in particular, the unified Digital Product & Service Lifecycle, the enhanced ITIL Value System, a stronger focus on customer and employee experience, and more clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and outcomes.

The Bridge deliberately focuses on what is relevant for those transitioning to ITIL Version 5: differences, enhancements, and new areas of emphasis. Familiar concepts are not repeated, but rather developed further in a targeted manner and placed within the new overall context. This fosters a consistent understanding of ITIL Version 5 as an integrated management approach for digital products and services.

The ITIL Version 5 Foundation Bridge course lasts one day and concludes with a shortened official certification exam. Upon successful completion, participants earn the ITIL Version 5 Foundation certification and thereby meet the prerequisite for all advanced ITIL Version 5 training courses and designations.

The Foundation Bridge is therefore the fastest and most targeted way for ITIL 4 Foundation-certified professionals to transition to ITIL Version 5 and keep their certification up to date.

The ITIL Version 5 Transition, also known as the Bridge training, is a targeted transition course for individuals who already hold an ITIL certification from earlier versions and wish to transition to ITIL Version 5. It enables the transition without requiring participants to retake all modules and ensures a structured and consistent expansion of their existing knowledge.

The goal of the transition is to bring existing ITIL knowledge up to date with ITIL Version 5 and to establish a common understanding of the new concepts, structures, and key focus areas. The focus is not on reviewing the basics, but rather on organizing, updating, and linking existing knowledge with the new overall model of ITIL Version 5.

The ITIL Version 5 Transition is specifically designed for experienced ITIL professionals. It is relevant for individuals who have earned the ITIL v3 Expert or ITIL 4 Managing Professional certification and who wish to use the Transition to achieve ITIL Version 5 Managing Professional status. ITIL 4 Masters also complete the Transition to attain ITIL Version 5 Master status.

For holders of the ITIL 4 Practice Manager or ITIL 4 Strategic Leader designation, the ITIL Transformation module is mandatory to obtain the corresponding ITIL Version 5 designation. A bridge course (Transition) is not required in these cases, as the content of the practice modules in ITIL Version 5 has not changed.

The ITIL Transformation module ensures that even experienced professionals can consistently understand and effectively apply the overarching changes in ITIL Version 5—particularly with regard to governance, management, understanding of roles, and sustainable change.

The ITIL Transformation module is a central component of the entire ITIL Version 5 certification program. It serves as the link between operational implementation, holistic management, and strategic leadership. In this module, participants learn how to systematically plan and implement changes and embed them permanently within organizations.

ITIL Transformation is a mandatory requirement for all three ITIL Version 5 designations—Practice Manager, Managing Professional, and Strategic Leader—but it only needs to be successfully completed once. The qualification earned counts toward all learning paths in full, thereby creating a consistent and efficient development path.

What about the ITIL 4 Practice Manager or Strategic Leader?

Anyone who already holds the ITIL 4 Practice Manager designation and wishes to earn the ITIL Version 5 Practice Manager designation must successfully complete the ITIL Transformation module. The same applies to the ITIL Strategic Leader: Here, too, ITIL Transformation is a mandatory prerequisite for transitioning to the ITIL Version 5 designation.

The module helps organizations and executives not only to initiate improvements but also to ensure they have a lasting impact—across all levels, from day-to-day operations to strategic corporate management.

The ITIL Version 5 Practice Manager learning path is designed for individuals who apply ITIL in an operational environment and are responsible for ensuring effective processes, stable services, and continuous improvement. The focus is on the practical implementation of ITIL practices in day-to-day operations and the ability to make organizations capable, reliable, and efficient.

Participants in this learning path deepen their understanding of how to effectively structure operational work, how to define clear roles and responsibilities, and how to foster successful collaboration across teams. The ITIL Practice Manager enables participants not only to understand ITIL but also to apply it strategically to stabilize, optimize, and further develop services and processes.

This learning path is particularly well-suited for professionals, team leaders, and operational managers who want to use ITIL as a practical tool in their day-to-day work.

The ITIL Version 5 Managing Professional learning path is designed for specialists and executives who want to holistically manage and further develop digital products and services. The focus is on the ability to actively shape value creation throughout the entire lifecycle and to combine operational excellence with product thinking, experience management, and the ability to adapt to change.

Participants in this learning path develop a deep understanding of how products and services are conceived and managed holistically, how the customer and employee experiences can be specifically improved, and how organizations respond to change without compromising their stability. The ITIL Managing Professional certification enhances the ability to grasp complex interrelationships and make informed decisions based on clear models and principles.

This learning path is particularly well-suited for roles with broad-based responsibilities, such as in product management, service management, organizational development, or leadership.

The ITIL Version 5 Strategic Leader learning path is designed for executives and decision-makers who want to apply ITIL at the strategic level. The focus here is not on operational implementation, but rather on how digital strategy, governance, leadership, and transformation are interconnected.

Participants learn how ITIL can be used as a framework for investment decisions, organizational design, and long-term development. The ITIL Strategic Leader certification enables participants to understand and manage digital transformation not as a one-time project, but as a continuous, value-driven development process.

This learning path is particularly relevant for leaders who are responsible for setting the direction, establishing the framework, and ensuring the sustainable development of digital organizations.

The ITIL Master certification represents the highest level in the ITIL Version 5 certification system. It is earned upon successful completion of all three designations—ITIL Practice Manager, ITIL Managing Professional, and ITIL Strategic Leader.

ITIL Master signifies in-depth technical expertise, broad practical experience, and the ability to apply ITIL flexibly, contextually, and with a focus on results in complex, real-world organizational environments. This certification distinguishes professionals who not only master ITIL but can also actively use it to shape and further develop digital organizations.

In addition to the core framework, ITIL AI Governance is an extension module that addresses the responsible use of artificial intelligence, automation, and data-driven technologies. This module reflects the AI-native approach of ITIL Version 5 and helps organizations combine technological innovation with governance, transparency, and accountability.

The ITIL Version 5 certification framework offers a clear, transparent, and long-term development path. It combines operational practice with a strategic perspective, allows for individualized areas of focus, and establishes an internationally recognized foundation for the successful design of digital products and services.

The ITIL Version 5 Foundation is the first step—and the start of a structured path that ranges from the basics of modern service and product management all the way to the highest level of certification.