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What are ITIL Certifications?

Are you from an IT background and want to upskill your knowledge with the power of a certification? If so, then you're at the right place because this blog is going to give you in-depth knowledge about ITIL certifications.

ITIL stands for Information Technology Infrastructure Library. The framework is designed for IT professionals who want to edify themselves with the latest skills and knowledge on the subject.

ITIL certification

A certificate in ITIL validates the ability to deliver high-quality IT services and the expertise that goes with it. The certifications cover a wide range of topics, from ITIL Foundation to ITIL Managing Professional, and are globally recognised.

Obtaining ITIL certification training can assist individuals in becoming experts in service management and demonstrating their proficiency worldwide.

By doing so, one can increase their earning potential and improve their chances of landing better jobs.

What is ITIL?

IT Infrastructure Library, or ITIL, is a highly regarded framework for IT service management delivery at an international level. The framework is designed to recommend best practices and business strategies for IT service management (ITSM) to promote standardisation across various stages and processes within the IT lifecycle.

What is ITIL?

Initially developed in the 1980s by the British government's CCTA department (Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency), ITIL aimed to establish uniform guidelines for IT administrators by mitigating inconsistencies that had arisen due to the growing diversity of IT architectures.

The earliest version was known as Government Information Technology Infrastructure Management (GITIM), with a focus on technical support and delivery.

Over the past four decades, ITIL has undergone a series of revisions and updates to align with newer approaches to IT management, managing cloud services, and the requirements of IT specialists.

Benefits of ITIL certification

Benefits of ITIL certification

The main benefits of ITIL certifications are outlined below:

  • Increased career opportunities:

    An ITIL certification ranks in the top 15 most in-demand IT certifications in the market. Holding an ITIL certification can enhance your CV and open up new career opportunities in IT service management and related fields like information security management, and software engineering.

  • Improved IT service quality:

    By using ITIL, IT services are managed in a systematic manner, ensuring that quality requirements are met. Organisations can increase customer satisfaction by hiring certified professionals who can provide consistent and reliable services.

  • Better risk and problem management techniques:

    ITIL training courses emphasise the importance of customer satisfaction. They provide guidelines for handling a situation in a structured manner. It can help professionals in an organisation resolve issues more effectively, minimising the impact on business operations.

  • Helps you build an agile IT environment:

    ITIL methodologies can help companies to create a flexible and adaptable IT environment. It teaches you the best practices for managing IT services efficiently, aligning them with business needs.

Besides promoting interdepartmental collaboration and communication, ITIL 4 Foundation includes Agile and DevOps methodologies in addition to process automation to improve results.

ITIL certification levels

The Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) offers three levels of certification for professionals interested in pursuing the full ITIL certification journey.

  • Foundation Level
  • Certification Streams
  • Master Level
ITIL certification levels

Each level builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in the previous level. The entry-level ITIL 4 Foundation certification covers the basics of ITIL principles, while the ITIL 4 practitioner level equips professionals with the tools to implement ITIL concepts in their organisations.

Those who hold ITIL master and strategic leader certifications are highly sought after by organisations for their ability to lead IT service management initiatives.

Certification Streams

ITIL 4 Practice Manager (PM):

An organisation uses management practices to achieve its goals and complete its tasks. A management practice is like a set of guidelines and resources to help an organisation achieve their goals.

As a Practice Manager for ITIL 4, the key responsibility is to ensure that the practices are running effectively and efficiently. The ITIL framework serves as the foundation for all the processes, and it is crucial to uphold its principles to gain optimal results.

Additionally, a Practice Manager should work closely with teams to identify areas that need improvement and create operational plans for implementation.

There are currently 10 practices available, which are:

These 5 individual practices are required to obtain the ITIL 4 Practice Manager certification: the ITIL Specialist: Create, Deliver, and Support module, or the three-day bundled or combined module.

ITIL 4 Managing Professional (MP):

If you're an IT practitioner working within technology and digital teams across your organisation, you may consider studying for the ITIL 4 Managing Professionals certification, as the benefits will greatly support your current workload, and aid with your future career development. This certification focuses on the practical applications of the ITIL 4 framework for co-creating value with IT-enabled services.

There are four modules in this stream that must be completed:

ITIL 4 Strategic Leader (SL):

You will learn how to guide your company's IT and digital strategies through the ITIL strategic leader stream. The ITIL SL framework recognises that ITIL is valuable for all digitally enabled services, not just IT operations. Your knowledge of how IT influences and directs business strategy makes you a competent ITIL 4 Strategic Leader.

This stream focuses on two modules:

ITIL 4 Extension Modules:

In addition to the ITIL certification, there are two specialised certifications available that focus on emerging technologies. The Extension Modules offer a pathway for personal and professional growth by providing education on ITIL concepts and guidance. They facilitate an enhanced comprehension of ITIL 4 principles and create opportunities for career advancement.

Certification in business strategy or IT service management can offer individuals with specialised knowledge and skills.

  • ITIL 4 Specialist: Sustainability in Digital & IT.
  • ITIL 4 Specialist: Acquiring & Managing Cloud Services.
  • ITIL 4 Specialist: Business Relationship Management.
  • ITIL 4 Specialist: IT Asset Management.

There are no prerequisites to achieve ITIL certification, which enables you to delve deeper into ITIL principles and broaden your career prospects without any experience to get started.

Master Level

ITIL 4 Master:

The elite level of becoming a fully qualified ITIL professional is to complete the ITIL Master level. ITIL 4 Masters possess a deep understanding of business needs and are capable of crafting strategies and plans that can be executed using practical tools and methods. They lead diverse teams to achieve the organisation's goals and ensure growth and success.

To do this, you must first complete the 3 certifications streams which are:

These certifications are important in showing your expertise in IT management. The higher the certification level you achieve, the more advanced your skills will be.

To acquire an ITIL Master certification, one needs to undergo a rigorous evaluation procedure, ITIL exams, and have a considerable amount of hands-on experience.

Career opportunities with an ITIL certification

Career opportunities with an ITIL certification

Obtaining an ITIL certification can open up various career opportunities in the IT sector. Here are a few to choose from:

  • IT Service Management (ITSM) Analyst

    To qualify for the position of an ITSM analyst, an individual needs to obtain an ITIL certification. As an ITSM analyst, you will be in charge of improving IT service procedures, ensuring that IT services meet business needs and provide the best possible service.

  • IT Service Desk Manager

    The main duty of an IT Service Desk Manager is to oversee a team of IT support professionals. The job is to make sure that all incidents and service requests are handled promptly and proficiently.

    You need to have a firm understanding of ITIL practices to run a well-organised service desk. This can help you achieve maximum efficiency and improve customer satisfaction.

  • Change Management Specialist

    Change Management Specialists are accountable for managing modifications to IT services and infrastructure in a regulated and risk-conscious manner. In simpler words, they make sure that any changes made to the technology service and infrastructure are done safely and carefully. They should also ensure that any changes made follow the best guidelines and do not lead to any issues.

  • IT Project Manager

    When working on IT projects, it's important to make sure they align with the needs of the businesses and the principles of service management. One way to do this is by incorporating ITIL practices into project management methodologies. This will ensure that all important components are included, leading to a successful implementation of the IT project. Individuals can obtain supplementary project management training and certifications to fast-track into this role such as Agile project management and PRINCE2.

  • IT Governance and compliance roles

    Understanding ITIL methodologies is useful for roles relating to IT governance, risk management, and compliance. ITIL certifications allow you to ensure that your organisation's IT infrastructure is not just compliant but also effectively supports your business objectives.

    Accredited training organizations can streamline processes, reduce costs, and improve efficiency more effectively by adopting ITIL best practices, while still maintaining compliance with industry standards at the same time.

Is an ITIL certification worth IT?

Having a reputable certification under your belt in today's job market can be the key to success. IT professionals looking to pursue a qualification to advance their careers often turn to ITIL.

The ITIL 4 Foundation certification is the latest iteration of this renowned certification program, providing IT professionals with practical insights into IT service management.

Achieving the ITIL 4 foundation certification is a way for individuals to showcase their dedication to ongoing learning and professional growth.

So, is the ITIL certification worth it?

Absolutely! It's a valuable investment that will benefit you not only in the short term but for years to come, and is recognised globally!

What is the cost of an ITIL certification?

The cost of ITIL training courses may vary depending on the level you want to achieve and the method of study.

cost of an ITIL certification

e-Careers offers ITIL 4 Foundation in a self-paced online environment or through instructor-led virtual classroom training, and the cost is typically between £500 to £700 (including exam fees). It is also worth noting that e-Careers provide the option to pay for the course through interest-free payment plans.

The benefits of the certification far outweigh the costs and can lead to better job opportunities, promotion prospects, and salary increases.

Conclusion

Becoming ITIL certified is a game-changer for any IT professional looking to elevate their career. ITIL training courses can open doors for new opportunities and career growth.

Our ITIL courses are a great way to make the tech industry more accessible and open to everyone who desires a career in technology.

If you want more information about ITIL certifications, you can contact us at +44 (0) 20 3198 7700 or visit our ITIL certifications

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