ITIL® Certification and Training
The ITIL certification provides a globally recognized foundation for modern service and product management. With ITIL Version 5, the qualification model has been updated to reflect today’s requirements—including governance, compliance, artificial intelligence, and measurable business outcomes.
Book training ITIL Foundation – The Basis of ITIL Certification
The ITIL Foundation is the entry point into the ITIL certification path and serves as the common foundation for all advanced modules. Within two days, participants gain a structured understanding of the core concepts, terminology, and management principles of ITIL Version 5.
In the ITIL Foundation course, you will learn:
The ITIL Foundation is designed for:
- The structure of the ITIL framework
- Core concepts such as value creation, practices, governance, and outcomes
- A shared vocabulary that connects IT, business functions, and leadership
The ITIL Foundation is designed for:
- Professionals new to service and product management
- IT and non-IT practitioners building a shared understanding
- Executives and decision-makers seeking strategic orientation
- ITIL v3 and ITIL 4 professionals updating and expanding their knowledge
Overview: The ITIL Certification Model
The ITIL certification model under ITIL Version 5 provides a structured progression—from the ITIL Foundation as the starting point to specialized certification paths and the extension module.
The Three ITIL Certification Paths
The ITIL certification model is modular and role-based. After completing the ITIL Foundation, professionals can choose among three certification paths aligned with specific responsibilities and career goals.
The ITIL Master designation is achieved once all three paths have been successfully completed:
ITIL Practice Manager, ITIL Managing Professional, and ITIL Strategic Leader.
Not every role requires all three paths. ITIL Version 5 allows professionals to pursue a targeted, role-specific development path.
The ITIL Master designation is achieved once all three paths have been successfully completed:
ITIL Practice Manager, ITIL Managing Professional, and ITIL Strategic Leader.
Not every role requires all three paths. ITIL Version 5 allows professionals to pursue a targeted, role-specific development path.
ITIL Practice Manager
The ITIL Practice Manager certification path focuses on the practical application of ITIL in an operational environment. The focus is on individual ITIL practices and their introduction, application, and continuous improvement in day-to-day business.
ITIL Managing Professional
The path to becoming an ITIL Managing Professional focuses on the controlling and integrating perspective. It teaches how services, products, teams, and value streams are brought together to ensure business value and a positive perception of digital products and services.
ITIL Strategic Leader
The ITIL Strategic Leader certification path addresses the strategic level. The focus here is on using ITIL as a tool for corporate management, governance, and transformation—even beyond traditional IT boundaries.
ITIL Practice Manager
The ITIL Practice Manager path focuses on the practical application of ITIL in operational environments. It develops the ability to manage, monitor, and continually improve ITIL practices with a strong emphasis on governance, quality assurance, and operational control.
To achieve the ITIL Practice Manager designation, the following steps are required:
This path ensures that participants can not only understand ITIL practices but also implement them effectively and sustainably within their organization.
- Completion of the ITIL Foundation
- Completion of one Practice Specialization module aligned with your role and context
- Completion of the ITIL Transformation module
This path ensures that participants can not only understand ITIL practices but also implement them effectively and sustainably within their organization.
How to Become an ITIL Version 5 Practice Manager
Complete one of the following modules plus ITIL Transformation:
ITIL Managing Professional
The ITIL Managing Professional path is designed for professionals and managers responsible for managing services, products, and digital experiences holistically.
The focus is on creating value across the entire lifecycle—integrating products, services, teams, and value streams to deliver measurable business outcomes. Participants learn how to manage product, service, and experience perspectives together—from planning through operations to continual improvement.
To obtain ITIL Managing Professional certification, the following steps are required:
This certification path teaches the skills needed to effectively apply ITIL operationally, tactically, and across departmental boundaries.
To obtain ITIL Managing Professional certification, the following steps are required:
- ITIL Foundation as a common basis
- Successful completion of the ITIL Product, ITIL Service, and ITIL Experience modules
- As well as the ITIL Transformation module, which addresses holistic change across organizations and lifecycles
This certification path teaches the skills needed to effectively apply ITIL operationally, tactically, and across departmental boundaries.
How to Become an ITIL Version 5 Managing Professional
To earn this designation, complete the ITIL Product, Service, Experience, and Transformation certifications. Compact training formats combining two modules are also available to accelerate your progress.
ITIL Strategic Leader
The ITIL Strategic Leader path is designed for executives and senior decision-makers who want to align digital strategy, investment, and leadership with measurable outcomes.
This path focuses on using ITIL as a framework for governance, enterprise leadership, and transformation—especially in an AI-driven economy. Participants learn how to define digital strategy, prioritize initiatives, and align governance with sustainable value creation.
To achieve the ITIL Strategic Leader designation, you must complete:
This certification enables leaders to apply ITIL at a strategic level and steer digital initiatives effectively.
To achieve the ITIL Strategic Leader designation, you must complete:
- ITIL Foundation as a common basis
- Successful completion of the ITIL Strategy module
- The ITIL Transformation module, which addresses strategic change and organization-wide transformation
This certification enables leaders to apply ITIL at a strategic level and steer digital initiatives effectively.
How to Become an ITIL Version 5 Strategic Leader
To earn this certification, successfully complete ITIL Strategy and ITIL Transformation. A five-day compact training combining both modules is available.
Extension Module:
ITIL AI Governance
ITIL AI Governance
ITIL AI Governance is the only extension module within the ITIL Version 5 qualification scheme. It provides best practice guidance for the responsible, ethical, and compliant adoption of artificial intelligence.
The module focuses on:
It supports organizations in integrating AI into services and products in a controlled and governable manner.
- AI risk management
- Transparency and accountability in AI-driven decisions
- Regulatory requirements, including GDPR and the EU AI Act
It supports organizations in integrating AI into services and products in a controlled and governable manner.
Transition and Bridge Modules for ITIL v3 and ITIL 4
For professionals holding ITIL v3 or ITIL 4 certifications, ITIL Version 5 offers structured transition and bridge modules. These modules enable a clear progression into the new certification scheme without losing previously acquired knowledge.
They are designed to build on existing qualifications and align them with the requirements of ITIL Version 5 in an efficient and role-oriented way.
ITIL v3 & ITIL 4 – wie geht es mit ITIL Version 5 weiter?
Many professionals already have ITIL v3 or ITIL 4 certifications and are wondering how they can meaningfully apply their existing knowledge to ITIL Version 5. ITIL Version 5 was designed so that existing knowledge is not replaced, but rather further developed in a targeted manner.
The certification paths and modules that make sense depend, among other things, on your role, experience, and objectives. Our team will be happy to help you find the right entry point or transition to ITIL Version 5.
Our team will help you find the right path from ITIL v3 or ITIL 4 to ITIL Version 5. Feel free to contact us directly for an individual assessment and personal consultation:
E-Mail: sales@maxpert.de
Phone: +49 (0) 69 500 65 111
Here you can view the various migration paths:
Our team will help you find the right path from ITIL v3 or ITIL 4 to ITIL Version 5. Feel free to contact us directly for an individual assessment and personal consultation:
E-Mail: sales@maxpert.de
Phone: +49 (0) 69 500 65 111
Here you can view the various migration paths:
Frequently Asked Questions About ITIL Certification
The ITIL certification path often raises questions regarding entry requirements, structure, validity, and progression.
In this FAQ section, you will find answers about certification levels, duration, relevance, and next steps after the ITIL Foundation.
In this FAQ section, you will find answers about certification levels, duration, relevance, and next steps after the ITIL Foundation.
The ITIL Foundation is the entry-level ITIL certification and provides the core principles of ITIL Version 5. It is suitable for beginners, practitioners, and leaders who want to build a shared understanding of service and product management.
From there, advanced certification paths build on the Foundation and address different roles, responsibilities, and career goals.
From there, advanced certification paths build on the Foundation and address different roles, responsibilities, and career goals.
Nach der ITIL Foundation können – abhängig von Rolle und Zielsetzung – aufbauende Module und Zertifizierungswege gewählt werden. Diese vertiefen das Grundlagenwissen, zum Beispiel mit Fokus auf operative Anwendung, Steuerung, Governance oder strategische Fragestellungen. Weitere Module werden schrittweise ergänzt.
ITIL certifications do not have a fixed expiration date. However, since frameworks, technologies, and best practices evolve, it is strongly recommended to update your knowledge regularly—especially when transitioning to ITIL Version 5.
The duration depends on the certification level. The ITIL Foundation can typically be completed within two days, including preparation and exam. For professionals already certified in ITIL 4, the ITIL Version 5 Foundation Bridge allows them to update their knowledge and complete the exam in just one day.
Advanced certifications require additional modules depending on the chosen path.
Advanced certifications require additional modules depending on the chosen path.
ITIL certification is designed for professionals and leaders responsible for services or products.
This includes IT professionals, service and product managers, executives, and employees in non-IT functions such as operations, customer service, and facilities management. ITIL is applied across industries, including highly regulated sectors.
This includes IT professionals, service and product managers, executives, and employees in non-IT functions such as operations, customer service, and facilities management. ITIL is applied across industries, including highly regulated sectors.
For IT managers, the ITIL Foundation provides a widely recognized and essential foundation. In Germany, it is established across industries, including mid-sized companies as well as regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, and the public sector.
Advanced ITIL certifications with a focus on governance, value creation, and strategic oversight further support IT managers in aligning services and digital products with business objectives.
Advanced ITIL certifications with a focus on governance, value creation, and strategic oversight further support IT managers in aligning services and digital products with business objectives.
You can find practice-oriented ITIL training programs at maxpert.de.
The focus is on clear instruction, strong practical relevance, and direct applicability in day-to-day professional environments.
The focus is on clear instruction, strong practical relevance, and direct applicability in day-to-day professional environments.
ITIL helps organizations structure services clearly, define accountability, and implement continual improvement.
By applying ITIL practices and governance principles, organizations can measurably increase service quality, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency.
By applying ITIL practices and governance principles, organizations can measurably increase service quality, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency.