With ITIL Version 5 —also referred to by PeopleCert as "The new ITIL"—the globally established framework continues to evolve and respond to the demands of modern, digital organizations. The focus is on a unified digital product and service lifecycle that takes a holistic view of products, services, value streams, and organizations—from the initial idea to continuous improvement.
There is a particular focus on practical application. ITIL Version 5 is less theoretical, more experience-driven, and clearly geared toward measurable results. At the same time, customer experience and employee experience are becoming much more prominent and are understood as integral components of value creation.
Another new feature is the AI-native approach: ITIL Version 5 takes into account the use of artificial intelligence across all modules and provides guidance for governance, decision-making, and responsible AI use. This is complemented by clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and outcomes that facilitate implementation in everyday life.
The qualification scheme has also been restructured. Building on ITIL Version 5 Foundation, three clear learning paths lead to recognized designations: Practice Manager, Managing Professional, and Strategic Leader. Those who achieve all three will attain the highest qualification level with ITIL Master.
ITIL Version 5 is therefore not a radical break with the past, but rather a logical further development—with the aim of making ITIL even more effective, understandable, and compatible with the digital reality.
What training courses are available for ITIL Version 5?
A clearly structured training and qualification system is available for ITIL Version 5. The starting point is the ITIL Version 5 Foundation, which teaches the basics, terminology, and the new overall model. Building on this, participants can pursue different development paths.
The ITIL Version 5 Practice Manager modules are available for operational implementation, with the following features: Monitor, Support & Fulfil, Plan, Implement & Control, and Collaborate, Assure & Improve. Those who want to manage ITIL Version 5 holistically should choose the ITIL Version 5 Managing Professional path with the modules Product, Service, Experience, and Transformation. The ITIL Version 5 Strategic Leader path, consisting of Strategy and Transformation, is intended for strategic responsibility.
In addition, there are specialized training courses such as ITIL Version 5 AI Governance and ITIL Version 5 Transition (Bridge) for ITIL professionals who are already certified in earlier versions. All paths build logically on each other and enable individual, practical development up to ITIL Master level.
All answers about ITIL Version 5 in our comprehensive FAQ
ITIL Version 5 introduces new concepts, new qualification paths, and many detailed questions. In our extensive ITIL Version 5 FAQ , we have clearly summarized the most important information—from differences to ITIL 4 to the qualification scheme to transition, exam, and training questions.
The FAQ is aimed at both beginners and experienced ITIL professionals and provides support for orientation, planning, and decision-making related to ITIL Version 5. If you want to know which training course is right for you, how existing certifications are credited, or what has changed specifically, you will find all the relevant answers in one place.
