ITIL 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver and Support course

The only formal prerequisite for the ITIL 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver and Support (CDS) course is a current ITIL 4 Foundation certificate. You must hold this qualification before you can sit the ITIL 4 Specialist CDS exam, which is included with the course.

There is no requirement for a set number of years of IT experience, although the course content is most relevant to people who are already working in IT service management or related roles. Typical attendees include:

• IT service managers, team leaders, and process owners
• Service desk, operations, and DevOps professionals
• ITIL 4 Foundation-qualified practitioners looking to progress toward a higher-level qualification
• Anyone directly involved in creating, delivering, or supporting IT services

If you do not yet hold the ITIL 4 Foundation certificate, you will need to complete and pass that qualification first. The Foundation course is available through Knowledge Train in both instructor-led and self-paced formats.

The ITIL 4 Specialist CDS exam is accredited by PeopleCert, which sets and enforces the prerequisite rules. PeopleCert verifies that candidates hold the required Foundation certificate before exam results are released, so the prerequisite is a firm requirement rather than a recommendation.

The ITIL 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver and Support (CDS) exam is taken online through PeopleCert, the accreditation body that owns and administers all ITIL certifications.

When you book the ITIL 4 Specialist CDS course with Knowledge Train, the exam is included in the course fee. Here is what to expect:

• Format: 40 multiple-choice questions, closed book
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Pass mark: 70% (28 out of 40 correct answers)
• Access: Online via your PeopleCert account
• Results: Returned the same day
• Prerequisite: You must hold a valid ITIL 4 Foundation certificate before sitting the CDS exam

To sit the exam, you need a free PeopleCert membership account. This is where you register for the exam, view your result, download your certificate, and access your digital badge once you pass.

The course at Knowledge Train also includes a free exam resit, so if you do not pass at the first attempt you have a second opportunity without additional cost. The instructor-led training includes official study materials and mock exams to help you prepare.

The ITIL 4 Specialist CDS certification is valid for three years from the date you pass, after which renewal is required through PeopleCert.

ITIL 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver and Support (CDS) exam results are available on the same day as the exam, and your certificate and digital badge are issued through your PeopleCert account once results are confirmed.

Because the CDS exam is taken online, PeopleCert can process and release results quickly. Here is what to expect after sitting the exam:

• Same-day results – your pass or fail outcome is confirmed on the day you sit the exam.
• Certificate and digital badge – both are issued via your PeopleCert membership account once the result is confirmed. You can download your certificate and share your digital badge from there.
• Verification – your result is recorded on PeopleCert’s Successful Candidates Register, which allows employers or clients to verify your ITIL 4 Specialist CDS certification independently.

To receive your results and certificate, you must have a PeopleCert account. A free Essential membership is sufficient for this purpose. Note that the ITIL 4 Specialist CDS certification is valid for three years from the date of award, after which renewal is required to keep the certification current in your PeopleCert account.

The CDS exam is a prerequisite-bound qualification – you must hold ITIL 4 Foundation before sitting the CDS exam, and PeopleCert verifies this before releasing results.

The ITIL 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver and Support (CDS) exam is moderately challenging but very passable with focused preparation, particularly for candidates who already work in IT service management or operations.

The exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, with a pass mark of 70% (28 out of 40), completed in 90 minutes under closed-book conditions. It tests applied understanding rather than simple recall, so candidates need to be comfortable applying ITIL 4 CDS concepts to realistic service scenarios – not just memorising definitions.

Several factors affect how difficult candidates find it:

• Prior experience: Professionals already working in service desk, operations, DevOps, or IT support roles typically find the content familiar and practical.
• Foundation knowledge: A solid grasp of ITIL 4 Foundation is a formal prerequisite, and gaps at that level will make CDS harder to absorb.
• Preparation quality: Candidates who use official study materials, mock exams, and structured training report higher confidence on exam day.

Knowledge Train’s ITIL 4 CDS course includes the official manual, mock exams, and exam-focused guidance from accredited trainers, and Knowledge Train reports a 99% pass rate across its learners – well above typical averages. The exam is also included with a free resit, which reduces the pressure of a single attempt.

A free exam resit is included when you book the ITIL 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver and Support (CDS) course with Knowledge Train, so you will not automatically face an additional cost if you fail your first attempt.

The resit is provided through PeopleCert’s Take2 scheme, which gives candidates one additional attempt at the same exam if the first attempt is unsuccessful. Key things to know about Take2:

• The resit is tied to the specific exam it was granted for – you cannot use it for a different qualification.
• The resit must be used within six months of your original exam date.
• PeopleCert Plus members receive Take2 as part of their membership. PeopleCert Essential (free) members can purchase Take2 separately if a free resit is not included in their course booking.

Because a free resit is included in the Knowledge Train ITIL 4 CDS course, most candidates are covered without needing to arrange or pay for Take2 separately.

The ITIL 4 Specialist CDS exam itself consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, requires a pass mark of 70% (28 out of 40), and runs for 90 minutes as a closed-book online test. Knowledge Train also provides official mock exams and exam-focused guidance as part of the course to help candidates pass at the first attempt.