ITIL Foundation Certification
Certification: ITIL ITIL V3 Foundation - ITIL 2011 Foundation
Certification overview
The ITIL qualification scheme is gaining more and more prestige in the information technology industry in the past years. This accreditation validates knowledge and skills in Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL). ITIL sets best practices in information technology, acknowledging that businesses, public entities and other organizations are growing more reliant on IT. The examination for ITIL certification candidates are administered by various accredited Examination Institutes.
The ITIL qualification scheme has several levels. These are:
- Foundation level
- Intermediate level
- Expert level
- Master level
The ITIL v3 Foundation certification is the first degree of qualification for entry-level IT professionals who would like to me trained in the ITIL system. A student must know the ITIL basics in order to get this certification. Fundamental knowledge such as general concepts, problem diagnosis should be mastered by a professional to achieve ITIL foundation certification.
A candidate cannot advance to the Intermediate, Expert, and Master levels without first passing the ITIL Foundations certification. Every ITIL qualification has credit value equivalents that serve as prerequisites for succeeding certifications in the scheme.
The ITIL was developed in recognition of technology's increasing role in attaining corporate needs and goals. To achieve this, a highly efficient IT system must be used and maximized. There is a constant review cycle to maintain ITIL's international standards. The latest edition of ITIL was publicized in July 2011. ITIL is also asligned with the IT Service Management Code of Practice or ISO/IEC 20000.
Who need to do this certification?
Entry-level IT professionals are encouraged to train and take the exam for the ITIL Foundation v3 certification in order to get more credential in the industry. IT practitioners who aspire to achieve Intermediate level, Expert level and Master level in the future must take the ITIL v3 Foundations certification as it is the stepping stone in climbing the hierarchical ladder of the qualification scheme.
Benefits
Having an ITIL Foundation v3 certification under the belt makes an IT professional more marketable among employers. This means that he/she is knowledgeable in ITIL and is therefore an asset to the company or organization. ITIL certifications may it be foundation, intermediate, expert or master, could be used as a basis for promotion in the work place.
Associated exams
There are no required exams for ITIL Foundations v3 certification candidates, because this level is the first degree among ITIL certifications. To prepare for this exam, students may want to avail of ITIL v3 Foundation complete certification kit products available online.
Prerequisites
There is no required number of years of experience for professionals who want to take the ITIL foundation certification exam. There are instructor-led courses available through various platforms to help candidates prepare for the ITIL v3 foundation certification exam.
Examination overview
The ITIL Foundation certification test is multiple choices in format. It tests various aspects of a candidate's skills and knowledge in ITIL. A professional is expected to be knowledgeable in service management, service lifecycle, key principles and models, and fundamental concepts. A candidate must also know the operation of selected processes, roles and functions, and IT architecture.
Bloom's level 1 and 2 Taxonomy is used in the examination for ITIL Foundation certification. There are numerous online resources to prepare a candidate for the ITIL Foundations certification. Various websites offer reading materials, reviewers, and webinars for candidates preparing for the exams.
However, learning does not stop once an IT professional gets his ITIL Foundation qualification. A certification holder may need further guidance before being skilled to implement the service management practices for actual settings. It is also recommended that an ITIL Foundation certified professional further advance his skills and knowledge and aspire to achieve the succeeding certifications.
Validity of certification
ITIL qualifications have no expiration date and is valid for a lifetime. An ITIL certified professional would never have to renew his/her qualification once it is attained.
Expert review
According to Tittel and Follis, ITIL qualifications are well-respected in the IT industry. They claim that practitioners who have this qualification are valued by employers because it gives them the means to make the most out of the system. The prestige of ITIL qualifications is not only appreciated by large-scale organizations, but also by small and medium-scale businesses.
Ed Tittel and Earl Follis
Writers, Tom's IT Pro, NYC, USA
Satar says attaining ITIL qualification gave him technical expertise that was very useful in his job-role as a consultant. He believes that fundamental knowledge in ITIL gives him a deeper knowledge about the process which he did not get from reading books about ITIL.
Ros Satar
Writer, ITSM Review, Landon, UK
