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ITIL® Certifications
What is ITIL®?
ITIL® stands for IT Infrastructure Library and is part of AXELOS. AXELOS develops and promotes best practice frameworks and methods for IT professionals in the IT service management (ITSM), project, and portfolio management spaces. AXELOS acquired ITIL® in 2013 and has continued to make the framework an important part of IT service management. ITIL contains a framework of best practices surrounding IT service management. ITSM and ITIL® aren't mutually exclusive—IT service management is a larger practice across the information technology field, and ITIL® is a set process that can be used to deliver ITSM.
This systemic approach to IT service management can help organizations in many ways as they manage risk, strengthen relationships with customers, operate in a cost-effective way, and build a more stable environment. Growth, scale, and change are all core elements of the ITIL frameworks. Service design is a crucial part of professional IT organizations, and these ITIL® training courses help set standards for best practices in service design and management.
ITIL® has a direct focus on service management, which is critical in helping an organization deliver to customers in the best possible way. ITIL certification demonstrates to your employer that you are well-versed when it comes to IT services and understand best practices.
ITIL® is a registered trademark of AXELOS Limited, used under permission of AXELOS Limited. The Swirl logo™ is a trademark of AXELOS Limited, used under permission of AXELOS Limited. All rights reserved.
Learn About IT Degrees
Interested in earning ITIL® certification? Learn about the degrees that offer this cert.
ITIL® Levels
There are multiple ITIL® certification levels you can pursue as part of your IT career. The levels for ITIL v3 have recently transferred to ITIL 4, and those with the ITIL® v3 certification are able to move into ITIL 4. WGU currently allows students to take the ITIL 4 Foundation examination as part of their degree. All of the ITIL v3 and ITIL 4 levels require exams in order to show proficiency and earn certification.
The four ITIL® 4 levels that are part of the ITIL framework include:
- Foundation
- ITIL® 4 Managing Professional (MP)
- ITIL® 4 Strategic Leader (SL)
- ITIL® 4 Master - coming soon
The previous ITIL® v3 levels included:
- ITIL® Foundation Level
- ITIL® Practitioner Level
- ITIL® Intermediate Level
- ITIL® Expert Level
- ITIL® Master Level
While ITIL® v3 is transitioning to ITIL® 4, it is still extremely valuable, and those certifications will still be considered relevant for IT professionals who have them. The exams are still valuable, and certification for previous ITIL® levels is still valid.
ITIL® Foundation
The ITIL® Foundation certification is a fantastic place to start your understanding of service management, and demonstrates that you have a working knowledge of the ITIL® framework. Whether or not your organization uses ITIL® service management, this Foundation certification can ensure you're prepared for service management tasks.
With the ITIL® Foundation certification you will demonstrate your knowledge of:
- Guiding ITIL® principles
- A holistic approach to the facilitation of co-creation of value with customers and other stakeholders in the form of products and services
- The four dimensions of service management
- Key concepts from Lean, Agile, DevOps, and why these are important to deliver business value
ITIL® Foundation Exam
The Foundation exam is held in the following format:
- Multiple choice examination questions
- 40 questions
- 26 marks are required to pass (out of 40 available) - 65%
- 60 minutes in length
- Closed book
WGU students earning one of the connected degrees will gain knowledge and skills that will prepare them for the Foundation exam. They will receive a voucher that enables them to take the Foundation certification test as part of the cost of their degree program.
What does the ITIL® Foundation exam cost? Typically the exam ranges from $150-$500, not including training and practice. For WGU students, training materials and exam costs are included as part of their WGU program.
ITIL® Certification
After passing the ITIL® Foundation exam, you have earned your Foundation certificate! Congratulations! This means you can add the Foundation certificate to your résumé and utilize it to boost your career. Your proficiency in this training course will demonstrate to your employer you are prepared for ITSM work moving forward.
ITIL® Foundation and other certifications do not expire and are good for the rest of your career, however it is good to keep up with continuing education. so you're aware of any updates to the ITIL framework or process.
Many people study for up to six months to prepare for the ITIL® certification, and WGU helps you prepare for the exam as part of your coursework, but you may need additional study time on your own as well.
There are additional ITIL® certifications you can earn beyond the Foundations level, but WGU doesn't offer any additional ITIL® certification at this time.
Learn About WGU IT Certs
Discover how WGU offers IT certifications with most of our IT degree programs.
Frequently Asked Questions about ITIL® Certification
- What is ITIL®?
- How much does the ITIL® Foundation exam cost?
- How long does the ITIL® certification take?
- Can I prepare for the ITIL® Foundation certification online?
- How long does ITIL® certification last?
- Why is the ITIL® Foundation certification valuable?
ITIL stands for IT Infrastructure Library. ITIL contains a framework of best practices when it comes to delivering IT services. This systemic approach to IT service management can help organizations in many ways as they manage risk, strengthen relationships with customers, operate in a cost-effective way, and build a more stable environment. Growth, scale, and change are all core elements of the ITIL frameworks.
ITIL has a direct focus on service management, which is critical in helping an organization deliver to customers in the best possible way. ITIL certification demonstrates to your employer that you are well-versed when it comes to IT services and understand best practices.
The ITIL Foundation certification exam alone can cost anywhere from $150 to $500. But often there are additional charges for training materials that can cost up to $1,000. At WGU, study materials and your exam costs are part of your tuition, making this certification free for students.
Some students study for the Foundation exam for up to six months, but some students will study for more or less time. The Foundation test itself is a 60-minute examination.
Yes! The ITIL Foundation certification study materials and practices can be accessed online. WGU students will get information about accessing their study materials as part of their coursework.
ITIL certifications never expire, so you can utilize this credential throughout your career. However, as new versions of ITIL come out, it may be wise to update your certification to the most recent version. You can also move upward in ITIL and gain more certifications as your career requires it.
The Foundation certificate from ITIL is a valuable certification to demonstrate to employers that you understand ITSM basics, and have background in best practices when it comes to providing services to customers. It's a great way to add a credential to your résumé that can help you show your ability to provide insights and develop better systems in your organization. If your organization utilizes ITIL, they may require you to have this certification to show you are ready to join the team.
WGU IT Certifications
Each WGU IT degree comes with top industry certifications at no extra cost.
