What Is ITIL® Foundation (Version 5)?

By IIL Marketing, August 20, 2026

A Practical Guide to Modern Digital Product and Service Management

ITIL Foundation (Version 5) is the entry-level ITIL certification for understanding how organizations co-create value by managing digital products and services across an integrated lifecycle in complex, AI-enabled environments.

ITIL Foundation (Version 5) builds a modern foundation in digital product and service management. It brings together value co-creation, the ITIL Value System, lifecycle thinking, governance, management practices, value streams, and continual improvement so that teams can make better decisions and deliver measurable outcomes.

PeopleCert (the global ITIL governing body) describes Version 5 as an evolution of ITIL rather than a reset. It retains important ITIL 4 concepts while strengthening the framework for product-centric, AI-enabled, fast-changing organizations.

ITIL Foundation (Version 5) at a Glance


Official title	ITIL® Foundation (Version 5)
Exam	40 multiple-choice questions • 60 minutes • closed book
Pass mark	65% (26 correct answers out of 40)
Training	Not mandatory at Foundation level; self-study is permitted
Languages	Exam available in 9 languages as of August 2026
Renewal	Certification renewal every 3 years
For ITIL 4 holders	ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) is an optional fast-track update route

Who Is ITIL Foundation (Version 5) For?

It is relevant to people who help design, build, deliver, support, improve, govern, or manage digital products and services. Typical audiences include:

IT service management and service desk professionals

Digital product managers, product owners, and product teams

IT operations, application development, and engineering professionals

Project, program, transformation, and change management professionals

Customer success, experience, supplier, and relationship managers

Team leaders, architects, process leads, and service owners

Professionals working in agile, DevOps, automation, or AI-enabled environments

What Will You Learn?

The Foundation syllabus is best understood as a connected set of concepts rather than isolated topics. Learners build an understanding of:

Digital product and service management concepts: value creation, continual improvement, and managing products and services across their lifecycle

Value co-creation: how providers, consumers, and other stakeholders collaborate while considering outcomes, costs, risks, experience, and sustainability

The four dimensions of product and service management: Organizations and People; Value Streams and Processes; Information and Technology; Partners and Suppliers

The ITIL Value System: how guiding principles, governance, value chain activities, management practices, and continual improvement work together

The ITIL Guiding Principles: how to use them to make decisions, collaborate, and adapt guidance to context

The product and service lifecycle: the purpose of the lifecycle activities and how they work together to create value

ITIL management practices: how practice guidance supports consistent and effective ways of working

Continual improvement: how to use the continual improvement model to improve products, services, practices, and ways of working

Value stream mapping and management: how to identify, map, and improve end-to-end flow, visibility, and outcomes

Three practical capabilities to emphasize: Lifecycle thinking • Collaborative, value-focused working • A continual improvement mindset. These make the Foundation material easier to connect to day-to-day work.

How Is the ITIL Foundation (Version 5) Exam Structured?

Questions: 40 multiple-choice questions

Duration: 60 minutes

Format: Closed book

Passing score: 65%, which is 26 correct answers out of 40

Training requirement: PeopleCert does not mandate training for Foundation; candidates may self-study

Languages: English, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Spanish

Exam-day note: PeopleCert’s online-proctored exam guidance requires a current government-issued ID that matches the candidate’s registration details. Candidates should verify the current exam and identification rules before test day.

What Is New in Version 5 Compared with ITIL 4?

The strongest message is “evolution, not revolution.” Version 5 retains the ITIL Value System and other familiar concepts, while making the framework more explicit about digital products, AI, complexity, lifecycle management, and integrated value delivery.

Area	ITIL 4	ITIL Foundation (Version 5)
Primary emphasis	Service management with a strong value-system and digital-management orientation	Explicitly unifies digital product and service management across the organization
Lifecycle	Uses the six-activity Service Value Chain	Introduces an eight-stage Product and Service Lifecycle Model: Discover, Design, Acquire, Build, Transition, Operate, Deliver, Support
AI	Not designed as an AI-native framework	AI-native by design, with stronger attention to responsible AI, governance, trust, and informed decision-making
Complexity	Designed to be adaptable across different contexts	Explicitly “complexity-native,” encouraging experimentation and learning in uncertain or VUCA environments
Management practices	34 management practices	34 practices remain, with adjustments and organization into Product and Service Management Practices and General Management Practices
Transition path	Existing ITIL 4 credentials and knowledge remain relevant	Eligible ITIL 4 holders may use the optional Foundation Bridge; ITIL 4 certifications remain recognized prerequisites for higher-level Version 5 modules

Important transition note for ITIL 4 holders: If you already hold ITIL 4 Foundation, you do not have to retake the full Version 5 Foundation module simply to progress to higher-level Version 5 certifications. The Foundation Bridge is optional and is designed for ITIL 4 holders who want the updated Foundation credential and a focused review of what changed.

The Eight-Stage Product and Service Lifecycle Model

Version 5 makes end-to-end lifecycle thinking highly visible. The eight activities are:

Discover

Design

Acquire

Build

Transition

Operate

Deliver

Support

What Value Can the Certification Provide?

Rather than anchor the value of the credential to a single salary statistic, it is more useful to focus on what the certification can demonstrate and enable:

A shared vocabulary for product, service, experience, governance, value, and continual improvement

A globally recognized foundation for digital products and service management

A practical way to connect strategy, lifecycle activities, operations, stakeholder experience, and measurable value

A foundation for progressing into higher-level ITIL (Version 5) learning pathways

Relevant knowledge for AI-enabled and rapidly changing digital environments

Where Can You Go After Foundation?

Foundation is the entry point into the Version 5 qualification scheme. Current higher-level learning includes modules focused on Product, Service, Experience, Strategy, Transformation, and Practice Manager pathways, along with the ITIL AI Governance extension module. Exact prerequisites and designation rules should be checked on PeopleCert because the Version 5 scheme is being released in phases.

Does ITIL Foundation (Version 5) Certification Expire?

It has a three-year renewal date. PeopleCert currently provides three main renewal routes:

Maintain an active PeopleCert Plus membership and log 20 CPD points per year for three consecutive years

Earn another certification from the same product suite before the renewal date

Retake and pass the same certification exam

A note on wording: It is more accurate to say the certification “must be renewed every 3 years” than that it “expires.” If a certification is not renewed, PeopleCert can continue to show it in the verification service while marking it as not aligned with current certification requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

These questions are written to address the issues learners are most likely to ask after reading the guide.

What is the official name: ITIL 5, ITIL v5, or ITIL Foundation (Version 5)?PeopleCert’sofficial title is ITIL® Foundation (Version 5). “ITIL 5” and “ITIL v5” are common shorthand, but “ITIL 4 Foundation v5” should be avoided because it mixes two different version labels.
Is trainingrequiredbefore I take the Foundation exam? No. PeopleCert does not mandate training for ITIL Foundation (Version 5), so self-study is permitted. Accredited training or official eLearning is encouraged, and training becomes mandatory for higher-level Version 5 modules.
What does the Foundation exam look like?It is a closed-book, 40-question multiple-choice exam with a 60-minute duration. The pass mark is 65%, or 26 correct answers.
I already have ITIL 4 Foundation. Do I need to take the full Version 5 Foundation exam?No, not simplyto progress to higher-level Version 5 modules. ITIL 4 qualifications remain recognized as prerequisites for higher-level Version 5 certifications. You may choose the Foundation Bridge if you want a focused update and the Version 5 Foundation credential.
What is the ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5)?It is a focused transition route for eligible ITIL 4 certification holders.PeopleCert describes it as a one-day Bridge course with an assessment that leads to ITIL Foundation (Version 5) certification and a digital badge.
I only have ITIL v3 Foundation. Can I use that as a prerequisite for higher-level Version 5 modules?No.PeopleCert states that ITIL v3 Foundation is not accepted as a prerequisite for Version 5 higher-level certifications. The recommended route is to complete ITIL Foundation (Version 5) and pass the exam.
Does the launch of Version 5 make my ITIL 4 certification invalid?No.PeopleCert states that existing ITIL knowledge and certifications remain relevant. ITIL 4 certificates continue within the same product suite and are recognized in the Version 5 transition rules, subject to the normal certification renewal policy.
How long is an exam voucher valid?PeopleCert’sgeneral exam guidance states that candidates have 12 months to sit an exam after purchase. If a voucher is supplied by a training partner, always use the expiration date shown on the actual voucher as the controlling date.
How do I keep my Version 5 certification current?The certification has a three-year renewal date. Current options include logging 20 CPD points per year for three consecutive years throughPeopleCert Plus, earning another certification in the same product suite, or retaking the same certification exam.
Is Version 5 only for traditional IT service management roles?No. Version 5 explicitly broadens the focusto digital product and service management and is relevant to product, service, experience, transformation, governance, operations, project, and technology roles.
How long will the ITIL 4 and Foundation Bridge routesremainavailable? As of August 2026, PeopleCert plans to sunset all ITIL 4 modules and the ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) on 31 December 2027. Because transition dates can change, confirm the current date on PeopleCert before relying on it.
What steps should I follow to becomeITIL® Foundation (Version 5) certified?A simple recommended path is Learn → Study → Practice → Register → Schedule → Pass → Apply.

Choose how you want to learn. You may self-study or take an accredited instructor-led or official eLearning course. Training is recommended, but it is not mandatory for the ITIL Foundation (Version 5) exam.

Study the ITIL Foundation (Version 5) syllabus and official learning materials. Focus on understanding the key concepts, terminology, ITIL Value System, Four Dimensions, product and service lifecycle, value streams, management practices, continual improvement, AI, and digital product and service management.

Practice with sample or mock exam questions. Use them to identify areas that need additional review and become comfortable with the style of questions you will encounter.

Purchase or obtain an exam voucher. You can purchase an exam option through PeopleCert or receive a voucher as part of an accredited training course.

Create or sign in to your PeopleCert account. Redeem your exam voucher, complete your candidate profile, and schedule your exam.

Take the certification exam. The ITIL Foundation (Version 5) exam contains 40 multiple-choice questions, is 60 minutes, is closed book, and requires a score of 65% (26 correct answers) to pass.

Celebrate your certification—and put the knowledge to work! Once you pass, you have earned the ITIL® Foundation (Version 5) certification and can begin applying ITIL concepts and practices in your organization.

Tip: If you already hold ITIL® 4 Foundation, you may want to consider the ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) rather than taking the full Foundation exam. The Bridge focuses specifically on Version 5 updates and consists of 20 questions in 30 minutes, with a 65% passing score.

Five Key Takeaways to Remember

Version 5 is an evolution of ITIL 4, not a wholesale reset.

The framework now explicitly integrates digital product and service management across an end-to-end lifecycle.

The eight-stage lifecycle and AI-native, complexity-aware orientation are major Version 5 changes.

ITIL 4 holders have transition flexibility; the Foundation Bridge is optional for eligible holders.

For exam and certification rules, use current PeopleCert guidance because prices, transition dates, and policies can change.

Official PeopleCert ITIL Sources

PeopleCert — ITIL Foundation (Version 5)

PeopleCert — Frequently Asked Questions about ITIL

PeopleCert — ITIL Foundation (Version 5): What’s New?

PeopleCert — Keep Your Certifications Current

PeopleCert — General FAQ