ITIL 4 Foundation or ITIL Version 5: which Foundation exam to buy now

By Alexander Shick · Updated November 5, 2026

What ITIL 4 Foundation proves, and who still needs it

PeopleCert pitches ITIL 4 Foundation as a way to "showcase your ability to excel in essential IT service management" and lists it as suitable at any career stage. In practice it shows you know the shared vocabulary and core ideas of IT service management. It is a closed-book concepts exam, not a test of any tool. The open question in late 2026 is the version, because PeopleCert now calls Version 5 "the new ITIL".

ITIL 4, Version 5 and the Bridge side by side

PeopleCert sets no prerequisite for either Foundation exam. Its FAQ says training is not mandatory for ITIL Foundation (Version 5), and its ITIL 4 Foundation page sells a self-study bundle, so a course is optional when you buy directly from PeopleCert. Some providers word this differently: New Horizons says candidates must complete an accredited training program, such as its own course. You can follow PeopleCert's wording.

The end date. PeopleCert's FAQ gives December 31, 2027 as the current plan for retiring all ITIL 4 modules, and the Bridge is scheduled to retire the same day. It also says ITIL 4 voucher validity dates "will be announced in due course", so an ITIL 4 voucher bought today has no published last-use date yet. Certificates you already hold stay useful: PeopleCert says ITIL 4 certifications remain valid prerequisites for Version 5 higher levels.

Buying the exam: direct from PeopleCert or inside a course

There are two ways to get a voucher. You can buy it from PeopleCert, where the cheapest bundle is self-study and the dearer ones add eLearning. Or you buy a class from a training company, which then supplies the PeopleCert voucher with the course; PeopleCert points classroom buyers to its local partners and its list of Accredited Training Organizations (ATOs). The exam is the same either way, and PeopleCert's product page includes a proctor language option at booking.

Who each route suits. The self-study bundle fits people who learn well from the official eBook and want the lowest price. PeopleCert's eLearning adds sample papers, and eLearning+ adds an official mock exam and a free re-take, which is worth having if a failed attempt would cost you a second $690. A live class suits teams, people whose employer pays, and anyone who wants an instructor to work through scenarios.

Published prices for an ITIL 4 Foundation attempt

Every route below already includes the exam voucher, so the first-attempt total equals the listed price. PeopleCert shows its prices in US dollars with tax included.

Costs that come later. Fail once and you buy another voucher, unless your package has a re-take built in (PeopleCert's eLearning+ and Learning Tree's course both list one). The CPD renewal route runs through PeopleCert Plus membership; PeopleCert's renewal page showed no price for it, so get the figure from PeopleCert.

Questions for an ITIL training company

• ITIL 4 or Version 5? Providers are moving. ONLC's Rochester listing shows only an ITIL 5 Foundation course ($1,795; $1,975 for registrations from November 3 for its November 9 class, because of a late registration charge), while New Horizons and Learning Tree still run ITIL 4. Make sure the course matches the exam you need.
• When does the voucher expire? New Horizons says PeopleCert vouchers last 12 months. For ITIL 4, also ask what happens if PeopleCert sets an earlier last-use date before the planned 2027 retirement.
• Is a re-take included? Learning Tree lists a Take2 re-sit and PeopleCert's eLearning+ includes a free re-take; New Horizons' page did not mention one for the exam.
• Is the provider on PeopleCert's ATO list? Neither the New Horizons nor the Learning Tree course page we read states ATO status in plain words, so check the provider on PeopleCert's Accredited Training Organizations page.
• Will the date run? New Horizons and Learning Tree both mark guaranteed-to-run dates; ask any other provider the same.

Renewing ITIL 4 Foundation

PeopleCert renews ITIL certifications every three years from the original certification date. You can log 20 CPD points a year for three years as a PeopleCert Plus member, pass another certification in the ITIL suite before the renewal date, or pass the same exam again. Renewal can also be the upgrade you would make anyway: PeopleCert says passing ITIL Foundation (Version 5) renews all your ITIL 4 certifications. PeopleCert describes the $263 Bridge as a route to ITIL Foundation (Version 5), so it should renew ITIL 4 too; confirm that with PeopleCert before you rely on it.

Training a service desk or operations team

Put a whole team on one version so everyone shares the same terms. For new starters, Version 5 avoids buying into a module PeopleCert plans to retire; for staff who already hold ITIL 4, the Bridge is the cheaper upgrade. Ask providers for a private-class quote that includes vouchers and compare it per person with the $690 self-study bundle.

ITIL Foundation questions

Is ITIL 4 Foundation being retired?

PeopleCert says its current plan is to sunset all ITIL 4 modules on December 31, 2027. Until then ITIL 4 and Version 5 run in parallel, and existing ITIL 4 certificates remain valid prerequisites for Version 5 higher levels.

How much does the ITIL 4 Foundation exam cost?

PeopleCert lists the self-study exam bundle at $690, including the voucher and official eBook. Classes with the voucher included cost $1,995 to $2,515 at the providers we priced.

Can I take ITIL 4 Foundation without a course?

Yes. PeopleCert sells a self-study bundle for it and lists no prerequisite.

Does ITIL 4 Foundation expire?

PeopleCert renews ITIL certifications every three years, through CPD points, another ITIL exam, or retaking the same exam.

I already have ITIL 4 Foundation. Do I need to retake Foundation for Version 5?

No. The $263 Foundation Bridge is a 20-question exam on the Version 5 changes, which PeopleCert describes as an upgrade route to ITIL Foundation (Version 5). Confirm with PeopleCert what certificate and renewal date you receive.

Next step

If you are not sure whether your employer or contract needs ITIL 4 or will accept Version 5, send us the wording and your deadline.

Ask for help choosing ITIL 4 Foundation training