If you are ITIL® V3 qualified, either at Foundation, Intermediate or Expert level, please take care to read the recent notice from AXELOS Global Best Practice regarding the retirement of ITIL® V3. This will be of particular interest to:
• ITIL® V3 Experts or individuals with at least 17 credits (explanation below) who may wish to keep their qualifications 'current'.
• Individuals with a number of ITIL® V3 Intermediate qualification(s) ( less than 17 credits accumulated) , who originally planned to get to ITIL® V3 Expert.
• Individuals who have completed the mandatory training, but not yet taken the relevant exam.
Following the successful full launch of the new and updated ITIL® 4, AXELOS has taken the decision to discontinue the previous version of the world’s leading certification in IT service management, ITIL® V3, by the end of 2021. Over the years, different versions of ITIL® have been released to stay aligned with changing business requirements. ITIL® V3 was first launched in 2007 and updated in 2011. ITIL® 4 Foundation launched in February 2019 and subsequently the higher level qualifications have now all been released.
AXELOS is taking a phased approach to discontinuing ITIL® V3, allowing customers sufficient time to transition to the latest version of the ITIL® framework.
Relevant Dates
• 1st July 2021. ITIL® V3 Foundation courses and exams discontinued.
• 1st January 2022. ITIL® V3 intermediate courses and exams discontinued.
• 1st July 2022. ITIL® 4 Managing Professional Transition (bridge) course and exam discontinued.
The ITIL® 4 Managing Professional Transition course and examination is designed for ITIL® Experts or individuals who have accumulated 17 certification credits under ITIL® V3, who now wish to transition to ITIL® 4. Passing the ITIL® Managing Professional Transition exam, will give you the ITIL® Managing Professional Certificate, which covers five separate ITIL® 4 exams (see ITIL® 4 Certification scheme).
• ITIL® 4 Foundation
• ITIL® 4 Specialist Create, Deliver and Support
• ITIL® 4 Specialist Drive Stakeholder Value
• ITIL® 4 Specialist High-Velocity IT
• ITIL® 4 Strategist Direct, Plan and Improve
The ITIL® Managing Professional Transition exam format is 40 questions multiple choice exam, with a pass mark of 28/40. The scenario-based format has been discontinued.
What does this mean for you?
ITIL® Experts or individuals with 17 Credits under ITIL® V3
If you wish to transition to ITIL® 4, you can take the ITIL® 4 Managing Professional Transition course & examination (available until July 2022).
After July 2022, if you wish to progress your ITIL® certification, you will have to start from ITIL® 4 Foundation again.
You may also want to complete the ITIL® V3 MALC exams and attain the ITIL® Expert qualification. ITIL® qualifications do not expire. 
ITIL® Practitioners who have a number of credits, but not the 17 required to take the ITIL® Managing Professional Transition exam.
Option 1
Before January 2022, take some of the ITIL® V3 Intermediate exams you have not sat previously to build up your credits to 17. Note, if you have already sat the Lifecycle exams, you could take the Capability course & exams, and vice versa.
Before 1st July 2022, take the ITIL® 4 Managing Professional Transition course & examination.
Option 2
Before January 2022, take some of the ITIL® V3 Intermediate exams you have not sat previously to build up your credits to 17. Note, if you have already sat the Lifecycle exams, you could take the Capability course & exams, and vice versa.
Take the ITIL® V3 Managing Across the Lifecycle (MALC) course and exam and be certified as an ITIL® Expert. ITIL® qualifications do not expire.
ITIL® Practitioners with maybe one or two ITIL® V3 Intermediates, or the ITIL® V3 Foundation examination
There is no upgrade to ITIL® 4 path. You will need to start at ITIL® 4 Foundation, and progress from there.
The ITIL® V3 Certification scheme notes the Lifecycle and Capability modules and associated credits. Please be aware that you do not need to stick to one ‘side’ of the framework as you build up your credits.
Be aware that the title ITIL® Expert does not exist under ITIL® 4, and your qualification might not be viewed as ‘current’ or up to date in the future. Once the dates above have passed, and you decide to do want to progress after July 2022, you will have to start at ITIL® 4 Foundation.
It is assumed that the availability of ITIL® V3 Intermediate courses will reduce dramatically over the forthcoming months. Those of us who originally qualified as ITIL® V2 Managers will remember the last-minute rush when ITIL® V2 was retired. Please refer to the AXELOS website for any further details.
AXELOS announces discontinuation of ITIL® v3
ITIL 4 Managing Professional Transition Module (axelos.com)
The latest iteration of ITIL is a natural evolution of the framework, which responds to the fast pace of technological change that organizations are now experiencing. ITIL® 4 allows practitioners to progress their existing expertise in ITIL and capitalise on the opportunities that are arising from technological advances. With mobile devices, artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous vehicles, Internet of Things, 3D printing and much more, IT services are everywhere. ITIL® 4 supports practitioners in carrying out best practice with these services and gives them the tools to take part in this global digital transformation.
Author:
Aidan Walsh
FICS, CITP & Principal Consultant with Quantum Service Management.
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