ITIL® 4 in 2026 – Still Valid, With a Clear Path Forward
ITIL® 4 remains an active and fully valid certification framework.
ITIL® (Version 5) has been officially introduced as the next evolution of ITIL® and will run in parallel with ITIL® 4 for a minimum of 12 months.
✔ Existing ITIL® 4 certifications remain valid
✔ ITIL® 4 Foundation remains a valid prerequisite
✔ Clear transition pathways are available for ITIL® 4 professionals
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Your journey to ITIL® mastery starts here.
The ITIL® 4 framework offers a flexible, modular learning path designed to help professionals at every level build practical IT service management capabilities — from foundational knowledge to strategic leadership and real-world application.
Whether you are just starting your ITIL journey or planning your next certification step, this guide explains the full ITIL® 4 certification pathway, how each designation fits together, and how to progress toward ITIL® Master.
This guide is for IT professionals, service managers, product owners, and leaders who want a clear, practical understanding of how ITIL® 4 certifications fit together and how to plan their learning journey with confidence.
ITIL® 4 Certification Pathway Overview
The ITIL® 4 certification scheme is built around four core designations and a set of optional extension modules, allowing professionals to tailor their learning journey based on their role, experience, and career goals.
ITIL® 4 Foundation introduces the key concepts, principles, and terminology of ITIL®. It explains how modern IT service management supports value creation in digital and fast-changing environments.
You will learn:
• The ITIL® Service Value System (SVS)
• The ITIL® guiding principles
• Core service management concepts
• How organizations co-create value with customers and partners
ITIL® 4 Foundation is a prerequisite for all other ITIL® certifications and is suitable not only for IT support professionals, but also for product owners, delivery leads, managers, and anyone involved in digital services.
Learn more about our ITIL® 4 Foundation and start your ITIL® journey with a strong foundation.
2. ITIL® 4 Practice Manager (PM)
Build practical, hands-on ITIL skills.
The ITIL® 4 Practice Manager designation focuses on applying ITIL practices in real-life scenarios. It is designed for professionals who want to strengthen operational capabilities and improve cross-practice collaboration across service value streams.
Practice Manager learning is delivered through practice-based modules, available as:
To earn the ITIL® 4 Practice Manager designation, candidates must complete either:
• Five individual practice-based certifications plus ITIL® 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver & Support (CDS), or
• One of the three bundled practice courses plus ITIL® 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver & Support (CDS)
This designation is ideal for professionals who want to validate specific ITIL skills or strengthen collaboration across multiple practices.
3. ITIL® 4 Managing Professional (MP)
For professionals managing IT-enabled services end to end.
The ITIL® 4 Managing Professional designation is designed for IT practitioners responsible for managing services, teams, and workflows. It validates both practical and technical knowledge needed to deliver reliable and high-value digital services.
The Managing Professional stream includes four modules:
The ITIL® 4 Strategic Leader designation focuses on how IT and digital services contribute to long-term business success and organizational transformation.
This stream is designed for senior leaders and decision-makers and includes:
ITIL® 4 extension modules allow professionals to deepen expertise in specific or emerging areas without committing to a full designation.
Available extension modules include:
• Business Relationship Management (BRM) – Build trusted partnerships between IT and the business
• Acquiring & Managing Cloud Services – Master procurement and governance of cloud-based services
• Sustainability in Digital & IT – Integrate sustainable practices into digital service management
• IT Asset Management (ITAM) – Optimize value, risk, and compliance across IT assets
6. ITIL® 4 Master
The pinnacle of ITIL® certification.
ITIL® 4 Master is awarded to professionals who have achieved all three core designations:
• ITIL® 4 Practice Manager (PM)
• ITIL® 4 Managing Professional (MP)
• ITIL® 4 Strategic Leader (SL)
This designation demonstrates a deep understanding of ITIL® principles and the ability to apply them in complex, real-world environments.
Build Your ITIL® Journey with AGILEPM HUB
Whether you’re starting with ITIL® 4 Foundation or advancing toward ITIL® Master, AGILEPM HUB offers accredited ITIL® programs at every stage of your journey.
We help professionals and organizations build:
• Practical skills
• Recognized certifications
• Confidence to apply ITIL® in modern digital environments
Already ITIL® 4 certified?
ITIL® (Version 5) builds on ITIL® 4 and introduces new role-based pathways, including clear transition options for experienced professionals.
