ITIL® (IT Infrastructure Library) is the only consistent and comprehensive documentation of best practice for IT Service Management. Used by many hundreds of organisations around the world, a whole ITIL philosophy has grown up around the guidance contained within the ITIL books and the supporting professional qualification scheme. ITIL® consists of a series of books giving guidance on the provision of quality IT services, and on the accommodation and environmental facilities needed to support IT. ITIL has been developed in recognition of organisations' growing dependency on IT and embodies best practices for IT Service Management. The ITIL® Qualification Scheme uses a system that enables an individual to gain credits for each exam they take.

Once candidates have accumulated a sufficient number of credits they can be awarded the ITIL Expert in IT Service Management.
There are four levels within the scheme:Foundation Level Intermediate Level (Lifecycle Stream & Capability Stream) ITIL ExpertAdvanced Service Management Professional Diploma.

Foundation Level

The Foundation Level focuses on knowledge and comprehension to provide a good grounding in the key concept, terminology and processes of ITIL.

Intermediate Level

There are two streams in the intermediate level. Both assess an individual's comprehension and application of the concepts of ITIL. Candidates are able to take units from either of the intermediate streams, which give them credits towards the diploma.

• Intermediate Lifecycle Stream - 5 individual certificates built around the five core OGC books: Service Strategy, Service Design, Service Transition, Service Operation and Continual Service Improvement

• Intermediate Capability Stream - 4 individual certificates loosely based on the current V2 offerings but broader in scope in line with the updated V3 content.

The Service Lifecycle modules focus on concepts relevant to management and control. An understanding of all elements of the Lifecycle stage, processes, activities, technology, organisation, challengers are all included and are to be used within a management and control context, not operational level detail.

Operational level detail is covered in the Capability stream.

ITIL Expert

To achieve the ITIL Expert in IT Service Management, candidates must successfully complete, in addition to the Foundation Level, a number of intermediate units and the Managing Through The Lifecycle capstone course. This course brings together the full essence of a Lifecycle approach to service management, and consolidates the knowledge gained across the qualification scheme.

Advanced Service Management Professional This level of the qualification will assess an individual's ability to apply and analyse the ITIL concepts in new areas. This higher level diploma is currently under development.