The ITIL certification path in 2026 starts with ITIL Foundation (Version 5), branches into three designations (Practice Manager, Managing Professional, Strategic Leader), and ends at ITIL Master for holders of all three. ITIL Transformation (Version 5) is required for every designation, so it is the most efficient second exam. Foundation rates 2/5 for difficulty (40 questions, 60 minutes, 65% to pass); advanced modules rate 3.5/5 (open book, 70% to pass). PeopleCert publishes no official pass rate.
Last verified against peoplecert.org: October 5, 2026. Prices are PeopleCert’s US store prices, including VAT.
| Question | Answer (October 2026) |
| Entry point | ITIL Foundation (Version 5); any ITIL 4 certification also qualifies |
| Designations | Practice Manager (PM), Managing Professional (MP), Strategic Leader (SL) |
| Module required for all three | ITIL Transformation (Version 5) |
| Shortest advanced route | SL or PM: 3 exams, US$3,366 at official eLearning prices |
| Longest route | ITIL Master: 7 exams, US$8,718 at official eLearning prices |
| Training rule | Mandatory for every module except Foundation and AI Governance |
| Official pass rate | Not published by PeopleCert |
What Are the ITIL Certification Levels in 2026?
ITIL (Version 5) has one entry certification, three designations built from modules, one top-level designation, and one standalone extension module.
Every designation ends with ITIL Transformation, so taking it second keeps all three routes open.
| Level | Modules required | Exams | Typical roles (PeopleCert examples) |
| ITIL Foundation (Version 5) | Foundation | 1 | Anyone entering IT service or product work |
| ITIL Practice Manager (Version 5) | Foundation + one practice module + Transformation | 3 | Incident, problem, change, release, service desk, and service delivery managers |
| ITIL Strategic Leader (Version 5) | Foundation + Strategy + Transformation | 3 | IT directors, strategy analysts, digital transformation leads |
| ITIL Managing Professional (Version 5) | Foundation + Product + Service + Experience + Transformation | 5 | Product managers, service delivery managers, experience managers |
| ITIL Master (Version 5) | All three designations | 7 | Senior practitioners and consultants |
| ITIL AI Governance (Version 5) | Standalone extension | 1 | Anyone governing AI in products and services; no prerequisite |
Role examples come from PeopleCert’s ITIL Practice Manager path page and module pages. Transformation counts once toward all three designations, which is why ITIL Master takes 7 exams rather than 9.
Which ITIL Path Fits Your Role?
Choose by the work you do now, not by prestige. Each designation tests a different job.
| Your current work | Best path | Module to choose |
| Service desk, incident, problem, or monitoring | Practice Manager | Monitor, Support and Fulfil |
| Change, release, or deployment | Practice Manager | Plan, Implement and Control |
| Service levels, suppliers, continual improvement | Practice Manager | Collaborate, Assure and Improve |
| Product ownership, service delivery, customer or employee experience | Managing Professional | Product, Service, Experience |
| IT strategy, portfolio, or executive leadership | Strategic Leader | Strategy |
| Consulting across all of the above | ITIL Master | All |
What Is the Fastest Route to an ITIL Designation?
Strategic Leader and Practice Manager each take 3 exams; Managing Professional takes 5. The order that wastes the least effort:
- ITIL Foundation (Version 5). Skip it if you hold any ITIL 4 certification.
- ITIL Transformation (Version 5). It can be taken straight after Foundation and counts toward every designation, so it is never wasted if you change paths later.
- Your path module or modules. Strategy for SL, one practice module for PM, or Product, Service, and Experience for MP. PeopleCert sets no order after Foundation.
- A second designation (optional). With Transformation already passed, adding SL or PM to MP takes one more exam each.
How Much Does Each ITIL Path Really Cost?
Advanced modules cost at least US$1,338 each for a first attempt, not US$865. PeopleCert marks the US$865 exam bundle for ITIL Transformation (Version 5) as “for exam retake only,” because accredited training or official eLearning is mandatory and exam results are withheld without proof of completion. Many guides still quote US$865 per module.
| Bundle (per advanced module, US) | Price | Valid for a first attempt? |
| Exam bundle | US$865 | No, retakes only |
| eLearning | US$1,338 | Yes |
| eLearning+ (free retake, official mock exam) | US$1,647 | Yes |
Total cost by designation, starting from zero
A first-time Managing Professional costs US$2,676 more than Strategic Leader or Practice Manager at eLearning prices, because it needs two extra advanced modules.
- Totals use the US $690 Foundation exam bundle (self-study is allowed for Foundation) plus each advanced module at the price shown.
- ITIL 4 holders subtract US$690, since any ITIL 4 certification replaces Foundation.
- Transformation and the Monitor, Support and Fulfil practice module were verified on PeopleCert’s store. Independent trackers of that store show the same three prices for Product and Experience; Service and Strategy are assumed to match.
- Instructor-led courses from Accredited Training Organizations (ATOs) usually cost more and include the exam voucher; prices vary by country.
What Are the Exam Formats at Each Level?
| Exam | Questions | Time | Book | Pass mark | Official eLearning | Difficulty (editorial, 1 to 5) |
| ITIL Foundation (Version 5) | 40 | 60 min | Closed | 65% | 9 hours | 2 |
| ITIL Transformation (Version 5) | 40 | 90 min | Open | 70% | 10 to 12 hours | 3.5 |
| ITIL Product, Service, Experience, Strategy (Version 5) | 40 | 90 min | Open | 70% | Per module | 3.5 |
| Practice module (currently ITIL 4 Monitor, Support and Fulfil) | 60 | 90 min | Closed | 65% | 12 hours | 3 |
| MP Transition (Version 5), for ITIL 4 MP holders | 40 + 60 | 90 + 120 min | Open | 70% | Training required | 4 |
Open book means only the official ITIL (Version 5) publications are allowed in the exam. Foundation and the Bridge are offered in nine languages; most advanced Version 5 exams are English only for now.
Why Does the Practice Manager Path Carry a 2027 Risk?
The Practice Manager (Version 5) designation currently depends on ITIL 4 modules. Until the Version 5 practice modules launch, PeopleCert fulfils the practice requirement with one of three ITIL 4 Specialist modules: Monitor, Support and Fulfil; Plan, Implement and Control; or Collaborate, Assure and Improve.
- The ITIL 4 modules are scheduled to sunset on December 31, 2027 under PeopleCert’s current plan.
- The Version 5 practice module exam formats are still being finalized, with open-book exams planned.
- The ITIL 4 practice module is closed book with a 65% pass mark, unlike the open-book Version 5 modules.
- It costs the same as other advanced modules for a first attempt: Monitor, Support and Fulfil lists eLearning at US1,338andeLearning+atUS1,647, and accepts ITIL Foundation of any version.
What to do: if you want Practice Manager in 2026 or 2027, take the ITIL 4 practice module well before voucher deadlines are announced. If you can wait, the Version 5 practice modules will become the route once PeopleCert releases them.
How Do ITIL 4 Holders Join the Version 5 Path?
ITIL 4 certificates stay valid and count as prerequisites, so no ITIL 4 holder restarts at Foundation.
| You hold | Next step |
| ITIL 4 Foundation only | Start at ITIL Transformation (Version 5); the US$263 Foundation Bridge is optional |
| ITIL 4 Managing Professional | ITIL Managing Professional Transition (Version 5) |
| ITIL 4 Strategic Leader or Practice Manager | ITIL Transformation (Version 5) |
| ITIL v3 Foundation or Intermediate | ITIL Foundation (Version 5); v3 is not accepted |
For every credential combination, costs, and the December 31, 2027 retirement deadline, see our [ITIL 4 retirement and ITIL 4 vs ITIL 5 guide] (internal link).
Where Does ITIL AI Governance Fit in the Path?
ITIL AI Governance (Version 5) sits outside the designations. It has no prerequisite, allows self-study, and is listed from US$690 in PeopleCert’s ITIL catalogue. Take it when your role involves approving, risk-managing, or auditing AI use, regardless of which designation you pursue.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is ITIL Master an exam?
No. PeopleCert’s ITIL Master (Version 5) page states that Master is awarded automatically once you hold all three designations: Practice Manager, Managing Professional, and Strategic Leader.
How long does the full ITIL path take?
Official eLearning time alone is about 9 hours for Foundation and 10 to 12 hours per advanced module. At one module per month alongside a full-time job, Strategic Leader or Practice Manager takes about 3 months, Managing Professional about 5, and Master about 7 (our estimate).
Do you need work experience for advanced ITIL modules?
No. PeopleCert’s module requirements list only a qualifying ITIL certification and accredited training or official eLearning. Practical experience still helps on advanced exams, which test applying the guidance to scenarios rather than recalling definitions.
Is the ITIL certification path the same in the US, Europe, Canada, Australia, and India?
Yes. PeopleCert runs one global scheme with online proctored exams. Prices change with the country selected at checkout, and rescheduling fees are set in USD, EUR, GBP, and AUD.
Should I take ITIL 4 Foundation or ITIL Foundation (Version 5) to start the path?
ITIL Foundation (Version 5). Both cost US$690 on PeopleCert’s US store and both qualify you for advanced modules, but ITIL 4 Foundation sunsets in 2027.
