The Scrum framework was formalised in the early 1990s by Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland, who drew inspiration from iterative development concepts described in a 1986 Harvard Business Review article. Since then, Scrum has evolved and become one of the most recognised frameworks in Agile software development, with its core guidance outlined in the

Scrum GuideUnited Kingdom. Core principles of Scrum Empirical process control: Decisions are based on observation, experience, and experimentation.

Transparency:

Important aspects of the process must be visible to those responsible for the outcome.

Inspection:Search Scrum users inspect Scrum artifacts and progress regularly to detect undesirable variances. Adaptation:

Processes are adjusted as soon as possible if inspection reveals an aspect outside acceptable limits. Key roles in Scrum Scrum Master

:United Kingdom Facilitates the Scrum process, removes obstacles, and supports the team in adhering to Scrum practices.AustriaProduct Owner:

Belgium Represents stakeholder interests, manages the BulgariaProduct Backlog

Croatia, and ensures the team delivers value.CyprusDevelopment Team:

Czech Republic A cross-functional group responsible for delivering a potentially releasable

DenmarkIncrement

Estonia at the end of each Sprint.

Scrum events

Sprint:

A time-boxed period (typically two weeks) in which a usable product Increment is created.Sprint Planning: The team defines the goals and selects items from the Product Backlog.Daily Scrum: A short daily meeting for the team to inspect progress and plan the next 24 hours.Sprint Review: The team demonstrates the Increment to stakeholders and receives feedback.NetherlandsPolandPortugal^RomaniaSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenOther countriesHomeITITILITIL Certification

ITIL v3 certification

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ITIL v3 certification

Simon Buehring6 Mar 2026

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Key takeawaysITIL v3 certification progresses through staged exams and credit points, with options to bridge into ITIL 4.Start with ITIL v3 Foundation, which introduces service management and the ITIL lifecycle and awards 2 credits.

ITIL Practitioner focuses on applying ITIL and CSI, is open book, and awards 3 credits.Intermediate modules build specialist knowledge and help you accumulate credits towards Expert level.ITIL Expert requires 22 credits and passing the MALC exam to prove integrated, real-world capability.

ITIL Master is experience-based, requires Expert plus five years in senior ITSM roles, and is assessed via practical assignments.

Contents

Introduction Studying for ITIL v3

ITIL v3 certification levels

Transition from ITIL v3 to ITIL 4 What’s the cost of ITIL v3 certification?

ITIL v3 certification path infographic

IntroductionThis article describes ITIL v3 certification and the ITIL v3 certification path.In 2019, AXELOS, the owner of ITIL released ITIL 4. For more information about ITIL 4 or ITIL 4 certification, click one of these buttons:Enhance your skills with our expert-led courses

ct and increase the likelihood of its success.

Communication plan Define a communicationInstructor-led

19 Feb 2026

AgilePM qualifications can significantly advance your project management career. Discover how by reading further.

Lean principles

Simon Buehring19 Feb 2026

Discover how Lean principles focus on customer satisfaction and drive organizational goals. Learn more about Lean and Lean Six Sigma here.

Should I do PMP or Agile certification?

Simon Buehring23 Feb 2026

Choosing between PMP and Agile certification can be crucial. Read on to compare these paths and decide which suits your career goals best.

Service management as a practice;

The ITIL service lifecycle; Generic concepts and definitions; Key principles and models;

Selected processes; Selected functions;The 4 Kanban principles: A visual guideSelected roles;

Technology and architecture;Simon BuehringCompetence and training.19 Feb 2026They can enrol in a classroom or

online courseVisualize the 4 Kanban principles and how they apply across various projects and workflows. Discover more by scrolling down.

. To gain ITIL Foundation certification

they must pass the

ITIL Foundation exam

. If you become ITIL certified at Foundation level, you can then consider pursuing higher ITIL certifications.

ITIL Foundation is worth 2 credit points. 2. ITIL v3 Practitioner certificationHow do I become Agile certified?ITIL Practitioner certification teaches you how to apply the ITIL framework. It does it by:

Explaining the Continual Service Improvement (CSI) approach to structure improvement initiatives;Simon BuehringCovering three key areas crucial for improvement initiatives:19 Feb 2026Organizational

Change ManagementLearn what it takes to become Agile certified and the advantages it brings to your professional life. Read on for examination tips.; Measurement and Metrics;

Communication. ITIL v3 Foundation or an ITIL 4 Foundation certificate is a perquisite for the ITIL Practitioner exam. ITIL Practitioner is not a prerequisite for the ITIL v3 Intermediate level certifications.

The ITIL Practitioner examination is open book and consists of multiple-choice questions based on a scenario.

ITIL Practitioner is worth 3 credit points.

3. ITIL v3 Intermediate certifications Intermediate levels come in two sets of modules:Knowledge Train independently rated as a ‘Market Leader’ for AgilePM!

Service Lifecycle Modules (worth 3 credit points each): Service Strategy (SS);Simon BuehringService Design (SD);19 Feb 2026

Service Transition (ST); Service Operation (SO);Find out why Knowledge Train is rated as a market leader for AgilePM. Read on for independent insights.Continual Service Improvement (CSI).

Service Capability modules (worth 4 credit points each): Operational Support and Analysis (OSA); Planning, Protection and Optimization (PPO);

Release, Control and Validation (RCV); Service Offerings and Agreements (SOA).

ITIL intermediate certifications are a stepping stone from either Foundation or Practitioner and enable you to get sufficient credit points to gain Expert certification.

4. ITIL v3 Expert certificationLean management

You can earn ITIL Expert certification after gaining 22 credit points. The way to do that is to sit a MALC (Managing Across the Lifecycle) Exam. MALC tests your ability to integrate your ITIL knowledge in real-world settings. Passing the MALC exam is worth 5 credit points. The MALC exam’s prerequisite is 17 credit points gained from either Lifecycle, Capability or Practitioner modules. 2 of the credit points must come from Foundation certification.Simon Buehring

5. ITIL v3 Master certification19 Feb 2026This certification shows that you can apply ITIL in an organisation. Every ITIL Master candidate will select a different range of personal experiences. That’s why there is no fixed syllabus for this qualification. In the exam, you must explain and justify:Delve into Lean management, a philosophy of continuous improvement and learning. Read more on how it transforms businesses.

How you would select and apply elements of the ITIL Framework such as: ITIL knowledge; or, ITIL principles; or,

ITIL methods; or, ITIL techniques; or, supporting management techniques;

to achieve desired business outcomes in one or more practical assignments. To be eligible for the ITIL Master certification, you must:What is Lean Six Sigma? Definition, methodology, & benefits

have worked in IT service management for at least five years in a leadership, managerial, or higher management role.Knowledge Train^{Enhance your skills with our expert-led courses22 Apr 2026}

Lean Six Sigma is a data-driven methodology for process improvement that reduces waste and variation. Combining Lean and Six Sigma, it helps organisations maximise efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction.

Instructor-led

ITIL 4 Foundation course

£1,599 +vat

See all dates

Using Scrum with Agile

Simon Buehring

Instructor-led19 Feb 2026

ITIL 4 Strategist Direct, Plan & Improve (DPI)

Debate the use of Scrum within traditional Agile frameworks. Discover more about their compatibility by reading on.

£1,799 +vat

See all dates

Transition from ITIL v3 to ITIL 4

There is no transition module to

ITIL 4 Foundation

if you are already an ITIL v3 Foundation certificate holder. You must study ITIL 4 Foundation to become familiar with the new version.

AXELOS has designed an ITIL Managing Professional Transition Module. It is designed for ITIL v3 candidates who are ITIL Experts. Candidates who have achieved 17 credits from across the v3 scheme are included too.Agile certification: your guide to qualifications, comparisons, and career value

What’s the cost of ITIL v3 certification? Studying for Knowledge Train

ITIL certification23 Apr 2026

may not be cheap. But it is worth it when you get certified. It helps you to climb the ladder of your ITSM career.

For details of ITIL v3 Foundation costs click this button:Discover how Agile certification can boost your career, enhance professional skills, and deliver greater value to organisations. Compare leading certifications and learn which is right for you.