ITIL Foundation Version 5 (exam code ITILFND V5) is PeopleCert’s entry-level certification for the ITIL Version 5 framework, launched February 12, 2026, covering digital product and service management across seven syllabus categories in a 40-question, 60-minute, closed-book exam with a 65% passing score. It is the mandatory prerequisite for every advanced ITIL Version 5 module and the single most important ITSM credential to understand for any IT professional planning their 2026 certification path.
Quick Facts Table
| Detail | Specification |
| Exam code | ITILFND V5 |
| Certification name | ITIL Foundation (Version 5) |
| Issued by | PeopleCert |
| Launched | February 12, 2026 |
| Questions | 40 multiple choice |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Format | Closed book (no reference material allowed) |
| Passing score | 65% (26 out of 40 correct) |
| Scoring | Pass/fail, results displayed immediately |
| Cost (standalone) | $690 USD |
| Cost (Foundation Bridge, for ITIL 4 holders) | $263 USD |
| Validity | 3 years from pass date |
| Renewal | PeopleCert Plus subscription ($133/year) or pass any ITIL V5 exam |
| Prerequisites | None (ITIL 4 Foundation recognized as equivalent prerequisite for advanced modules) |
| Delivery | Online proctored (PeopleCert platform) or authorized test center |
Why This Exam Matters in 2026
ITIL has been the global standard for IT service management for over three decades. Version 5 is the most significant update since ITIL 4 launched in 2019, driven by three forces that fundamentally changed how organizations deliver value: the rapid adoption of AI across every IT function, the shift from service-only thinking to integrated digital product and service management, and the need for governance frameworks that reflect how modern IT teams actually work.
ITIL Foundation V5 is not a minor refresh. PeopleCert’s own documentation confirms that only 40% of the content is retained unchanged from ITIL 4. The remaining 60% is either entirely new (36%) or meaningfully modified (24%). Anyone using ITIL 4 study materials to prepare for the ITIL V5 Foundation exam will be underprepared for the majority of the content.
What ITIL V5 Foundation Tests: The 7 Syllabus Categories
PeopleCert organizes the ITIL V5 Foundation exam across seven syllabus categories. Understanding the weight and focus of each is essential for efficient preparation.
| Category | Approx. Weight | What it covers |
| 1. Key Concepts and Terminology | 30% | New V5 vocabulary: digital product, digital service, XLA, value co-creation, agentic AI, PSLM |
| 2. The ITIL Value System | 40% | How all framework elements connect — governance, guiding principles, PSLM, practices, continual improvement |
| 3. The Four Dimensions | Part of categories 1-2 | Organizations and People, Information and Technology, Partners and Suppliers, Value Streams and Processes |
| 4. Guiding Principles | Part of category 2 | All 7 guiding principles unchanged from ITIL 4, applied to V5 scenarios |
| 5. Management Practices | Integrated throughout | 34 practices organized into two groups, purpose-level understanding only |
| 6. AI and Digital Concepts | ~2.5% discrete, broader integration | Generative AI, agentic AI, AI governance, ITIL AI Capability Model (6C model) |
| 7. Continual Improvement | Integrated throughout | How improvement is embedded across the entire Product and Service Lifecycle |
The most important number to remember: practice workflow details, which made up 42.5% of the ITIL 4 Foundation exam, are completely absent from ITIL V5 Foundation. The exam does not ask you how incident management works step by step. It asks whether you understand what the incident management practice is for and how it contributes to value. That is a fundamentally different cognitive task.
The New Core Model: Product and Service Lifecycle Model (PSLM)
The PSLM replaces ITIL 4’s Service Value Chain as the central operational model of the framework. Understanding it is essential because it underpins approximately 40% of the Foundation exam.
| PSLM Activity | What it represents |
| Discover | Understanding what products and services are needed |
| Design | Creating the blueprint for the product or service |
| Acquire | Obtaining resources, components, and capabilities |
| Build | Constructing or configuring the product or service |
| Transition | Moving the product or service into live operation |
| Operate | Running the product or service in production |
| Deliver | Making the product or service available to users |
| Support | Resolving issues and enabling continued use |
The critical conceptual shift: the PSLM is iterative, not linear. A team does not move through these 8 activities in sequence and then stop. Data from Support feeds back into Discover and Design. Real products and services are improved continuously rather than built once. This mirrors how software and digital services actually work in 2026.
New Vocabulary You Must Know Before Exam Day
ITIL V5 introduces terms that did not exist in ITIL 4. With terminology now at 30% of the exam, precision matters more than ever. These are the highest-priority new terms.
| Term | Definition |
| Digital product | A product that is delivered, managed, or consumed digitally and that directly creates value for customers and users |
| Digital service | A service that enables value co-creation through digital means, including automation, data, and digital channels |
| Experience Level Agreement (XLA) | An agreement focused on the actual user experience outcome rather than technical SLA metrics |
| ITIL Value System (IVS) | The V5 replacement name for ITIL 4’s Service Value System (SVS) |
| Product and Service Lifecycle Model (PSLM) | The V5 replacement for ITIL 4’s Service Value Chain, with 8 iterative activities |
| Agentic AI | AI that can perform multi-step tasks autonomously, make decisions within defined parameters, and act without constant human instruction |
| ITIL AI Capability Model (6C) | Creation, curation, clarification, cognition, communication, coordination — six dimensions of AI capability in service management |
| Observability | The ability to understand the internal state of a system based on its external outputs |
The 34 Management Practices in ITIL V5
All 34 management practices from ITIL 4 are retained in ITIL V5 by name. Their grouping changed: from three groups (service management, technical management, general management) to two (Product and Service Management with 22 practices, General Management with 12 practices). The Technical Management group was eliminated as a separate category, with those practices redistributed.
The Foundation exam tests practices at purpose level only. You need to know what each practice is for and how it contributes to value delivery. You do not need to know the internal steps of how each practice works. That detail is reserved for the ITIL Practice Manager advanced certifications.
| Group | Number of practices |
| Product and Service Management | 22 |
| General Management | 12 |
| Total | 34 |
The ITIL V5 Certification Path Beyond Foundation
Foundation is the entry point. Every advanced module requires Foundation as its only prerequisite.
| Designation | What it requires |
| ITIL Managing Professional | ITIL Product + ITIL Service + ITIL Experience + ITIL Transformation |
| ITIL Strategic Leader | ITIL Strategy + ITIL Transformation |
| ITIL Practice Manager | Any ONE of MSF, PIC, or CAI + ITIL Transformation |
| ITIL Master | All three of the above designations |
| ITIL AI Governance (extension) | No prerequisite, available standalone |
ITIL Transformation is the shared module required for all three primary designations. Any professional pursuing more than one designation must pass Transformation as part of each path.
Who Should Take ITIL V5 Foundation
ITIL V5 Foundation is relevant to a broad range of IT and technology roles. PeopleCert describes the target audience as anyone who works with digital products and services, which in 2026 encompasses most professional IT functions.
| Role | Why ITIL V5 Foundation is relevant |
| IT service desk and support staff | Shared vocabulary and practice awareness for their daily work |
| IT operations managers | Understanding the framework that governs service delivery |
| Project and program managers | Alignment of IT delivery with the ITIL value framework |
| Product managers | The new product-service integration is directly applicable |
| Business analysts | Service relationships and value co-creation concepts |
| DevOps and platform engineers | PSLM and continual improvement at the delivery layer |
| IT leaders and CIOs | AI governance framework and strategic direction |
| ITIL 4 holders updating their knowledge | Bridge path to V5 credential |
Preparation Strategy
Do not use ITIL 4 study materials. This cannot be overstated. The exam domain weightings have shifted dramatically. ITIL 4 materials cover detailed practice workflows that are worth zero marks on the V5 exam, while neglecting the terminology and Value System content that now makes up 70% of the test. Starting with ITIL 4 materials and hoping the overlap carries you will not work.
Prioritize the ITIL Value System and new vocabulary. These two areas together represent 70% of the exam. If you understand how governance, the 7 guiding principles, the PSLM, the 34 practices, and continual improvement connect within the ITIL Value System, and if you know the precise definitions of the new V5 terms, you have covered the majority of what the exam tests.
Use V5-aligned official materials. PeopleCert’s official ITIL Foundation V5 study materials and accredited training courses are built specifically for the current exam. Unauthorized training materials built on ITIL 4 frameworks will not reflect the current exam.
Practice with V5-specific question formats. The ITIL V5 Foundation includes four question types: standard, negative, missing word, and list-based. Practicing across all four formats under timed conditions is the most effective way to avoid surprises on exam day. CertEmpire’s ITIL V5 exam questions are built entirely on February 2026 V5 exam content.
| Preparation timeline | Background | Study hours |
| 4-6 weeks | IT professional, familiar with service management | 40-60 hours |
| 6-8 weeks | ITIL 4 holder who wants structured V5 update | 30-50 hours (Foundation Bridge path) |
| 8-10 weeks | No prior ITIL knowledge | 70-90 hours |
FAQs
When did ITIL Foundation Version 5 launch?
February 12, 2026. PeopleCert announced the development of ITIL Version 5 in January 2026 and the Foundation exam became available on the launch date.
Is ITIL V5 Foundation harder than ITIL 4 Foundation?
The exam format is identical: 40 questions, 60 minutes, 65% pass mark. The content is different. V5 requires more precise vocabulary knowledge and greater conceptual understanding of how the framework connects. Candidates who understood ITIL 4 conceptually will find V5 familiar in structure but new in content.
Can I use my ITIL 4 Foundation to skip straight to advanced V5 modules?
Yes. ITIL 4 Foundation is recognized as a valid prerequisite for all advanced ITIL V5 modules. You do not need to retake Foundation or complete the Bridge exam to progress. The Bridge ($263) is only necessary if you want the V5 Foundation credential to appear on your PeopleCert transcript.
What is the ITIL V5 Foundation Bridge?
A 20-question, 30-minute exam costing $263 that covers only the V5-specific updates. It is available to candidates who already hold ITIL 4 Foundation. Passing it earns the ITIL Foundation (Version 5) credential without requiring a full Foundation retake.
What is an Experience Level Agreement in ITIL V5?
An XLA measures service performance based on actual user experience outcomes rather than technical metrics. Where a traditional SLA might measure uptime percentage, an XLA measures whether users felt the service supported their work effectively. XLAs are a testable V5-specific concept at Foundation level.
Are the ITIL 4 guiding principles still relevant in V5?
Yes. All 7 guiding principles are retained unchanged in ITIL V5: focus on value, start where you are, progress iteratively with feedback, collaborate and promote visibility, think and work holistically, keep it simple and practical, and optimize and automate. The principles remain the philosophical foundation of the framework.
What is the ITIL AI Capability Model?
The 6C model covering six dimensions of AI capability in service management: creation, curation, clarification, cognition, communication, and coordination. It provides a structured way for organizations to assess and develop their AI capabilities responsibly. Basic awareness of this model is testable at Foundation level.
Do ITIL V5 certifications expire?
Yes, after 3 years. Renewal options include the PeopleCert Plus subscription ($133/year) for logging CPD credits, or passing any ITIL V5 certification exam, which renews all certifications within the same product suite.
Is the ITIL V5 Foundation exam open book?
No. The ITIL V5 Foundation exam is closed book. No reference materials are permitted during the exam. This is a change in exam conditions awareness that candidates transitioning from any open-book certifications need to factor into their preparation.
Where do I register for ITIL V5 Foundation?
Through PeopleCert’s official website at peoplecert.org. The exam is available as an online proctored session through PeopleCert’s own platform or at an authorized test center.
