The comprehensive ITIL Version 5 (the new ITIL) FAQ with all the answers

ITIL Version 5 is the latest development of the globally established ITIL framework. It builds on the proven concepts of previous ITIL versions, but consistently expands them to meet the requirements of modern digital organizations. The focus is no longer exclusively on IT services, but on the holistic management of digital products and services throughout their entire lifecycle. ITIL Version 5 is intended as a practical orientation framework for organizations that want to systematically combine value creation, collaboration, governance, experience, and continuous improvement—even in complex, AI-supported environments.

The digital landscape has changed fundamentally in recent years. Organizations are increasingly product-oriented, have to respond more quickly to change, and face new challenges from automation, artificial intelligence, and rising expectations from customers and employees. ITIL Version 5 was developed to address these realities. It helps organizations manage digital products and services in an integrated manner, make decisions with confidence, and enable sustainable value creation—without abandoning proven ITIL principles.

In the official spelling of the training courses, the new version is listed as version 5 in parentheses at the end, for example, ITIL Foundation (Version 5). In PeopleCert's communications (advertising, posts), the term "The new ITIL" is often used initially, which is then supplemented by the spelling with the version number. In everyday language, however, the terms ITIL 5 or ITIL Version 5 have already become established, particularly in social media posts by experts, consultants, and training providers. The term "The new ITIL" is particularly suitable for the introductory phase, but loses its distinctiveness as the new version becomes more widespread.

Within the next twelve months at the latest, version number 5 is expected to become the key distinguishing feature compared to earlier ITIL versions – not as a devaluation of older versions, but as a clear orientation in the market. It remains to be seen whether the spelling ITIL 5, ITIL Version 5, or the form preferred by PeopleCert (Version 5) will prevail. Ultimately, it is not the exact spelling that is decisive, but rather that it is always clear to customers which ITIL version they are dealing with.

ITIL Version 5 introduces a unified Digital Product & Service Lifecycle for the first time, which considers products and services together rather than separately. The focus on customer experience and employee experience has been significantly strengthened and is firmly anchored in the models. Another new feature is the AI-native approach: ITIL Version 5 is explicitly designed for complex, AI-supported environments and provides guidance on dealing with automation, data-driven decisions, and responsibility. At the same time, roles, responsibilities, and expected outcomes have been more clearly defined to facilitate practical application.

No. ITIL Version 5 goes well beyond traditional IT service management. The approach is aimed at all areas involved in the development, provision, and further development of digital products and services. In addition to IT organizations, this also includes product management, digital departments, experience teams, governance functions, and management.

ITIL Version 5 views product and service management as interrelated disciplines and provides a common language for IT, business, and management. This makes ITIL Version 5 particularly well suited for organizations that want to break down silos and collaborate across departments.

No. ITIL Version 5 is an evolution, not a revolution. Proven concepts from ITIL 4 and earlier versions remain, including the value system, guiding principles, the concept of value streams, and the focus on continuous improvement. ITIL Version 5 further develops these concepts and reorganizes them to better adapt them to modern working methods, product thinking, and digital organizational models.

ITIL Version 5 is aimed at anyone who plans, develops, operates, or manages digital products and services. This includes beginners as well as experienced specialists and managers, employees from IT, service management, product management, digital departments, and decision-makers with strategic responsibility. Consultants and external service providers also benefit from the common language and clear orientation framework of ITIL Version 5.

Two bridge training courses are available for the transition to ITIL Version 5: ITIL Version 5 Transition and ITIL Version 5 Foundation Bridge. Both have been developed to enable an efficient, recognized, and targeted transition from ITIL 4 to ITIL Version 5—tailored to the respective qualification level.

The ITIL Version 5 Transition training course is aimed at participants with ITIL v3 Expert or ITIL 4 Managing Professional qualifications. It has been specifically designed to enable the transition to ITIL Version 5 Managing Professional Designation. The transition is designed as a five-day intensive training course and brings together all the key new features of ITIL Version 5 in a compact, practical format.

The ITIL Version 5 Foundation Bridge is aimed at anyone who already has ITIL 4 Foundation and wants to switch to ITIL Version 5 Foundation. This bridge training course is deliberately kept compact, lasts one training day, and concludes with a shortened exam. It specifically teaches the relevant changes and new features of ITIL Version 5 without unnecessarily repeating familiar content.

Important:
The transition is not relevant for holders of the ITIL 4 Practice Manager or ITIL 4 Strategic Leader designations. In these cases, only the ITIL Transformation module needs to be successfully completed in order to obtain the corresponding ITIL Version 5 designation.

If you already have ITIL 4 Foundation certification, you do not need to "update" or replace it. Your ITIL 4 Foundation remains fully recognized and continues to be a formal prerequisite for all advanced modules in the ITIL Version 5 qualification scheme. In concrete terms, this means that you can move directly into the advanced ITIL Version 5 qualifications, such as the learning paths to ITIL Practice Manager, ITIL Managing Professional, or ITIL Strategic Leader. A new Foundation exam is not mandatory for this. At the same time, we recommend that many participants with an ITIL 4 background make conscious use of the ITIL Version 5 Foundation training as a content update. ITIL Version 5 expands ITIL 4 with significant new perspectives, including the unified Digital Product & Service Lifecycle, a much stronger focus on customer and employee experience, and the AI-native approach. The Foundation helps to classify these innovations in a structured way and develop a common understanding of the new mindset.

The transition to ITIL Version 5 is clearly regulated and specifically takes existing ITIL qualifications into account. A three-day ITIL Transition training course (Bridge) is offered for this transition, which bundles the relevant new features of ITIL Version 5 and enables the formal changeover. If you are already an ITIL v3 Expert, you can complete the ITIL Transition training course. Upon successful completion, you will receive the ITIL Version 5 Managing Professional Designation. Your v3 qualification will thus be specifically transferred to the new qualification scheme. Even if you are already an ITIL 4 Managing Professional, the ITIL Transition training course is the recommended route. After completing the bridge training, you will also achieve the ITIL Version 5 Managing Professional Designation. In this case, the transition serves to complement the new focal points of ITIL Version 5 in a structured manner, in particular the integrated Digital Product & Service Lifecycle, the experience focus, and the AI-native orientation.  If you are already an ITIL 4 Master and are aiming for the ITIL Version 5 Master qualification, the ITIL Transition training course is also required. It ensures that all relevant new features of ITIL Version 5 are fully covered at the Master level. In summary, this means that the ITIL Transition training course is the central bridge course for the transition to ITIL Version 5 if you are coming from ITIL v3 or the strategic ITIL 4 designations. It protects existing investments, provides clarity in the new qualification scheme, and enables a clean, recognized transition to ITIL Version 5.

If you are an ITIL 4 Practice Manager or ITIL 4 Strategic Leader and would like to obtain the corresponding designation for ITIL Version 5, you must successfully complete the ITIL Version Transformation training (not to be confused with Transition) and pass the corresponding exam. You will then be an ITIL Version 5 Practice Manager or ITIL Version 5 Strategic Leader.

The qualification scheme begins with ITIL Version 5 Foundation and then leads to professional designations via three learning paths. These learning paths are ITIL Practice Manager, ITIL Managing Professional, and ITIL Strategic Leader. Those who successfully complete all three designations achieve the highest qualification level with ITIL Master. A central element of all learning paths is the ITIL Transformation module, which only needs to be completed once and counts towards all designations.

ITIL Version 5 training courses are offered in three different formats, allowing you to choose the learning model that best suits your daily routine and learning habits.

The classroom training takes place on site and offers direct personal interaction with trainers and other participants. It is particularly suitable for anyone who values a shared learning space, discussions, and networking, and who wants to experience ITIL Version 5 intensively in direct dialogue.

With live online training, you participate in real time via a virtual learning platform. The training is conducted live by experienced trainers and is interactive. You can ask questions, discuss, and work together—almost as if you were sitting together in a seminar room, but with maximum spatial flexibility.

The e-learning format allows you to learn entirely at your own pace. You can access the official learning content anytime, anywhere, and set your own learning pace. This format is particularly suitable for participants who need maximum flexibility or want to work through the content over a longer period of time.

All three formats cover the same technical content and prepare you for the respective ITIL Version 5 certification. The choice of format depends solely on how you learn best and how the training can be integrated into your everyday working life.

ITIL Version 5 Foundation is the official entry point into the qualification scheme. It teaches the common language, key concepts, and fundamental models of ITIL Version 5. Participants learn how digital products and services are managed holistically, how value is created, and how collaboration, governance, and continuous improvement interact. The Foundation is a prerequisite for all advanced ITIL Version 5 qualifications.

The ITIL Version 5 Foundation training course lasts two days. During these two training days, all key ITIL Version 5 content is taught in a compact, practical, and structured manner, enabling participants to build a solid understanding of modern digital product and service management according to ITIL Version 5.

The ITIL Version 5 Transformation training course is a central core element of the entire qualification scheme. It is a mandatory component for the ITIL Practice Manager, ITIL Managing Professional, and ITIL Strategic Leader designations. However, the training course only needs to be completed once and is then credited for all three learning paths. It thus forms the connecting link between operational implementation, holistic control, and strategic leadership.

The ITIL Version 5 Transformation training course aims to enable participants not only to understand ITIL, but also to implement it effectively and sustainably within their organization. The focus is on how improvements, changes, and transformations can be systematically planned, managed, and permanently embedded. The training course teaches organizations how to make the transition from isolated initiatives to a structured, value-oriented transformation approach.

If you already hold the ITIL 4 Practice Manager or ITIL 4 Strategic Leader designation and wish to switch to ITIL Version 5, you must successfully complete the ITIL Transformation module.

ITIL Transformation is the central bridge from ITIL 4 to ITIL Version 5.
Upon completion of this module, you will receive the corresponding ITIL Version 5 designation (Practice Manager or Strategic Leader).

Important to know:

• ITIL transformation is mandatory, but only needs to be completed once.
• The module counts toward all ITIL Version 5 learning paths.
• No further ITIL 4 modules or exams are required.

This ensures that the transition from ITIL 4 to ITIL Version 5 is clearly structured, efficient, and future-proof—with a consistent understanding of transformation, governance, and sustainable change.

The ITIL Version 5 Practice Manager training course is a standalone learning path within the qualification scheme. After completing ITIL Version 5 Foundation, participants choose one of three practice specializations (Monitor, Support & Fulfil or Plan, Implement & Control (PIC) or Collaborate, Assure & Improve (CAI)), each of which consists of five clearly defined ITIL practices. Upon successful completion of this specialization, they achieve the ITIL Version 5 Practice Manager Designation. To achieve the ITIL Version 5 Practice Manager Designation, the ITIL Version 5 Transformation training and certification is also mandatory. Only the combination of practice specialization and transformation ensures that operational excellence and sustainable implementation are brought together. The Practice Manager learning path thus forms the operational pillar of ITIL Version 5 and, as with ITIL Managing Professional, is closely linked to the Transformation module.

The ITIL Version 5 Practice Manager training course aims to enable participants to effectively implement ITIL in their day-to-day operations. The focus is on the concrete application of ITIL practices with clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and results. The training teaches how to make operational processes stable, efficient, and traceable, and how to systematically integrate continuous improvement into everyday work. The goal is not to understand ITIL in abstract terms, but to use it as a practical management tool for daily operations.

ITIL Service Training is a central module in the ITIL Managing Professional learning path. It builds on ITIL Foundation and deepens understanding of how services are managed throughout their entire lifecycle. The module complements the perspectives of ITIL Product, ITIL Experience, and ITIL Transformation, thereby contributing significantly to holistic qualification.

The ITIL Service Training course teaches how services are holistically planned, managed, and continuously improved in accordance with ITIL Version 5. The aim is to view services not in isolation, but as part of an integrated digital product and service lifecycle. Participants learn how services deliver reliable value, how stability and adaptability work together, and how services are consistently aligned with business and customer expectations.

ITIL Product training and certification is one of the core modules in the ITIL Managing Professional learning path. It builds on ITIL Foundation and supplements the service perspective with a structured, lifecycle-oriented understanding of products. Together with ITIL Service, ITIL Experience, and ITIL Transformation, it forms the basis for holistic management of digital value creation.

The ITIL Product training course teaches how digital products are planned, developed, and managed within the framework of ITIL Version 5. The aim is to systematically combine product thinking with service management and to understand products not in isolation, but as part of an integrated value creation system. Participants learn how products generate value throughout their entire life cycle and how they interact with services.

ITIL Experience is a central module in the ITIL Managing Professional learning path. It complements the product and service perspective with a consistent view of the people who work with or use digital products and services. The module thus makes a decisive contribution to making value creation not only technical, but also tangible.

The ITIL Experience training course consistently focuses on the experience of customers and employees. The aim is to treat experience not as a soft factor, but as a controllable, measurable component of value creation. Participants learn how experience can be systematically designed, evaluated, and improved—across products, services, and organizational boundaries.

ITIL Strategy is a central module in the ITIL Strategic Leader learning path. It builds on ITIL Foundation and adds a strategic perspective to the qualification scheme. Together with the ITIL Transformation module, it forms the basis for the ITIL Strategic Leader designation. The training ensures that ITIL Version 5 is not only understood at the operational level, but can also be effectively applied at the strategic level.

The ITIL Version 5 Strategy training course teaches how ITIL is used as a strategic orientation framework for modern organizations. The aim of the training is to combine digital strategy, governance, investment decisions, and operational implementation. Participants learn how to clearly define and prioritize strategic goals and translate them into effective initiatives along the digital product and service lifecycle.

The focus is on the question of how organizations can create long-term value without losing flexibility, innovative capacity, or operational stability.

No. An existing ITIL 4 Foundation certification remains fully recognized and is a prerequisite for all advanced ITIL Version 5 modules. However, participating in the ITIL Version 5 Foundation training course may still be useful in order to better understand the new concepts, the extended lifecycle, and the stronger focus on product management, experience, and AI.

Participants with ITIL v3 Foundation certification who wish to enter the ITIL Version 5 qualification scheme must start again with ITIL Version 5 Foundation.

The ITIL Version 5 Foundation and Practice modules are conducted as closed-book multiple-choice exams. The Product, Service, Experience, Strategy, and Transformation modules are designed as open-book exams. The focus here is less on memorization and more on understanding, application, and informed decision-making.

ITIL Version 5 certificates are valid for three years. They can be renewed through continuous professional development, further ITIL certifications, or by retaking the exam. This ensures that knowledge remains up to date and compatible with new developments.

ITIL AI Governance is an extension module within ITIL Version 5. It deals with the responsible use of artificial intelligence, automation, and data-driven technologies. The module is aimed at specialists and managers in all roles and complements the qualification scheme in a meaningful way without being a mandatory component.

ITIL 4 and ITIL Version 5 will be offered in parallel for an extended transition period. A specific end date for ITIL 4 has not yet been set. This parallel phase allows organizations and individuals to make an orderly transition without time pressure.

ITIL Version 5 provides a clear, future-proof framework for digital product and service management. Those who get started today will lay a solid foundation for current challenges and future developments. The Foundation is the ideal starting point for understanding ITIL Version 5, classifying it, and planning further qualifications in a targeted manner.

ITIL Version 5 is a response to the reality of modern digital organizations. Today, products and services are no longer developed or operated in isolation, but are created in dynamic, networked, and often AI-supported environments. At the same time, customers, users, and employees have increasingly high expectations in terms of quality, speed, and transparency.

ITIL Version 5 addresses these developments and offers a contemporary framework for organizations that want to manage digital products and services holistically. The focus is not on individual processes, but on value creation across the entire lifecycle. Especially now, ITIL Version 5 provides the clarity needed to make complexity manageable and enable informed decisions.

ITIL Version 5 does not contradict agile methods or DevOps approaches, but rather complements them in a meaningful way. While Agile and DevOps focus primarily on speed, collaboration, and continuous delivery, ITIL Version 5 provides the overarching framework for control, governance, and sustainable value creation.

ITIL Version 5 helps embed agile working methods in a clear organizational context, define responsibilities, and make decisions in a transparent manner. Especially in complex organizations, ITIL Version 5 thus creates the link between operational agility and strategic alignment.

ITIL Version 5 consistently focuses on results and value creation rather than pure activity or process compliance. Digital products and services are considered throughout their entire lifecycle, with a clear definition of the benefits they should deliver to customers, users, and organizations.

Through its structured view of value streams, roles, responsibilities, and continuous improvement, ITIL Version 5 helps organizations create transparency and make progress measurable. Decisions are not made in isolation, but are always considered in the context of value, risk, and long-term impact.

Customer experience and employee experience are central components of ITIL Version 5. The framework recognizes that sustainable value creation can only be achieved when both customers and employees have positive experiences. ITIL Version 5 does not consider experience to be a secondary issue, but rather an integral part of managing digital products and services. Organizations learn how to systematically design, evaluate, and improve experiences in order to ensure long-term acceptance, motivation, and quality.

Yes. ITIL Version 5 is explicitly designed for complex, automated, and AI-supported environments. The so-called AI-native approach means that ITIL Version 5 provides guidance without prescribing technological details. The focus is on responsible control, transparency, governance, and decision-making capabilities in data-driven environments. ITIL Version 5 thus supports organizations in integrating technological innovation into existing structures in a meaningful and sustainable way.

Yes. ITIL Version 5 is designed as a further development and builds on existing ITIL investments. Concepts, ways of thinking, and certifications from ITIL 4 remain relevant and compatible. ITIL Version 5 expands on these fundamentals with new perspectives such as the integrated product and service lifecycle, experience focus, and AI-native control. Existing knowledge is not replaced, but rather meaningfully developed and placed in a modern context.

ITIL Version 5 is not merely a certification update, but a comprehensive orientation framework for modern digital management. The qualifications are structured in such a way that they not only impart knowledge, but also promote ways of thinking, decision-making skills, and the ability to take action. ITIL Version 5 gives participants a long-term perspective for their personal development and for shaping their organization. The certification is proof of this – the real added value lies in its practical applicability and strategic classification.

ITIL Version 5 is designed as a holistic qualification and development path. The Foundation forms the entry point, on which different learning paths and specializations build. Participants can flexibly design their own path and deepen their skills step by step. This results in a sustainable learning process rather than isolated training, which grows with the requirements of the organization and the individual's role. ITIL Version 5 supports continuous development—technically, organizationally, and strategically.

Yes. An existing ITIL 4 Foundation certification entitles you to participate in all advanced training courses in the ITIL Version 5 qualification scheme. Your ITIL 4 Foundation remains fully recognized and continues to be a formal prerequisite for the advanced modules and designations.

The ITIL Version 5 Transition training course is a specially developed bridge qualification that enables experienced ITIL professionals to make a structured and recognized transition to ITIL Version 5. It is specifically aimed at individuals who already have advanced ITIL certifications and want to update their existing knowledge without having to go through the entire qualification scheme again. The Transition Training is designed as a three-day intensive training course. It bundles all the essential new features of ITIL Version 5 and classifies them specifically in the context of existing ITIL knowledge. The focus is not on repeating familiar content, but on understanding the further development of the content and the new way of thinking behind ITIL Version 5.

The ITIL Version 5 Transition is aimed at individuals with higher ITIL qualifications from versions 3 and 4 who wish to obtain an official ITIL Version 5 designation. It is particularly relevant for holders of the ITIL v3 Expert qualification and ITIL 4 Managing Professionals. The transition is also a prerequisite for individuals with ITIL 4 Master qualifications to take the step up to ITIL Version 5 Master qualifications. The transition is not necessary for ITIL 4 Practice Managers, as the content of this learning path has not changed in ITIL Version 5 and continues to be fully recognized.

After successfully completing the ITIL Version 5 Transition training and the associated certification exam, participants receive an official ITIL Version 5 designation, depending on their previous qualifications. Those who are ITIL v3 Experts or ITIL 4 Managing Professionals will achieve the ITIL Version 5 Managing Professional designation after the transition. Those who are ITIL 4 Masters will meet the formal requirements to obtain the ITIL Version 5 Master qualification upon transition. The transition thus serves as a formal and substantive bridge between previous ITIL generations and ITIL Version 5.

The ITIL Version 5 Transformation training course lasts three days. During these three training days, the content is taught in a compact, practical, and structured manner, enabling participants to build a sound understanding of transformation, change management, and the implementation of ITIL Version 5 in modern organizations.

ITIL Version 5 Foundation will be available in German at SERVIEW from March 1, 2026. From this date onwards, all ITIL Version 5 Foundation training courses will be conducted using dedicated German training materials based on the proven SERVIEW Workbook Principle®. The training itself will be held in German and will focus on practical application and clear communication of the content.

The ITIL Version 5 Foundation exam can also be taken in German. The exam is taken online at a later date, allowing for flexible scheduling. This provides participants with a fully German-language learning and exam environment.

Regardless of this, ITIL Version 5 Foundation is already available in English. The English exam can be taken either online or on paper. Of course, SERVIEW also offers all ITIL Version 5 training courses entirely in English—both for international participants and for organizations with English-language training requirements.

Participants are free to choose between German and English courses, depending on their language, organization, and objectives.

ITIL Version 5 training courses can be completed flexibly and independently of location at SERVIEW. Face-to-face training courses take place in 16 major cities in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and offer a personal learning atmosphere with experienced ITIL trainers. In addition, ITIL Version 5 training courses are available throughout Europe as live online training courses. These formats allow participation regardless of location—with a real trainer, interactive learning platform, and full practical relevance, comparable to face-to-face training.

In addition, ITIL Version 5 can be completed worldwide as an e-learning course. This format offers maximum flexibility in terms of time and location and is particularly suitable for international participants or self-directed learning.

This means that ITIL Version 5 training courses are available on-site, online, and globally—tailored to individual requirements, organizations, and learning preferences.

In the previous ITIL environment, around 95% of participants completed only the ITIL Foundation course. With ITIL Version 5, this approach has been deliberately changed. The new qualification scheme makes a clear distinction between understanding and implementation.

ITIL Version 5 Foundation remains the mandatory entry point. It teaches the basic concepts, terms, models, and common reference framework of ITIL Version 5. Without this foundation, it is not possible to meaningfully classify further content.

However, the ITIL Version 5 Transformation certification is new and crucial. It was specifically created to bridge the gap between knowledge and application. This training is no longer about " What is ITIL?" but rather " How do I implement ITIL effectively? "—in other words, planning, controlling, changing, and sustainably embedding ITIL in the organization.

From today's perspective, the following therefore applies:
Foundation and Transformation are the minimum qualifications in the ITIL Version 5 qualification scheme.
Only the combination of both training courses ensures that ITIL is not only understood but also applied effectively.