ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve course

The only formal prerequisite for the ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve (DPI) course is a current ITIL 4 Foundation certificate, accredited by PeopleCert.

There is no requirement for a specific number of years of IT experience, though the course is designed for people who are already working in, or closely with, IT and service management roles. It is particularly relevant for:

• Managers responsible for planning, governing, or improving IT services
• Members of transformation, continual improvement, or PMO teams
• Professionals working towards the ITIL 4 Managing Professional or ITIL 4 Strategic Leader designations

If you do not yet hold the ITIL 4 Foundation certificate, you will need to complete that qualification first. The Foundation course is available with no prerequisites of its own, so it is accessible as a starting point regardless of your current level.

In practical terms, learners who come to DPI with some hands-on experience of IT service management – whether in operations, improvement, or governance – tend to find the course material easier to apply, because much of the curriculum focuses on real-world strategy, risk, and continual improvement practices. However, prior experience is not a formal requirement.

The ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve (DPI) exam is taken online and is included as part of the Knowledge Train DPI course, with a free resit if needed.

Here is what to expect from the exam format:

• Format: Multiple choice (objective test)
• Number of questions: 40
• Pass mark: 70% (28 out of 40 correct answers)
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Materials allowed: Closed book – no notes or reference materials permitted
• Access: Online
• Results: Issued on the same day

Prerequisites: You must hold the ITIL Foundation certificate before sitting the DPI exam. PeopleCert, the accreditation body that owns and administers ITIL certifications, verifies that this prerequisite is in place before exam results are released.

The Knowledge Train DPI course is delivered over three days as a live instructor-led virtual classroom. The exam is included in the course fee, along with a free resit (Take2), the official digital manual, and mock exams to support your preparation. Your certificate and digital badge are issued through your PeopleCert account once results are confirmed.

You will receive your ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve (DPI) exam results on the same day you sit the exam, with your certificate and digital badge issued through your PeopleCert account once results are confirmed.

The DPI exam is taken online and uses an objective, multiple-choice format. Because results are processed automatically, you do not need to wait days or weeks for a pass or fail outcome. Once your result is confirmed in your PeopleCert account, PeopleCert issues both a certificate and a digital badge through that same account.

A few practical points to be aware of:

• You need a free PeopleCert membership account to register for the exam and to access your results, certificate, and digital badge.
• Your certificate record is also listed on PeopleCert’s Candidate Verification Service, which employers can use to confirm your qualification.
• The ITIL 4 Strategist DPI certification is valid for three years. After that point, renewal is required – either by accumulating CPD points (available to PeopleCert Plus members), retaking the exam, or passing another ITIL certification within the same PeopleCert ITIL Product Portfolio.
• Knowledge Train includes the DPI exam with a free resit as part of the course, so if you do not pass first time, you have a safety net at no extra cost.

The ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve (DPI) exam is considered moderately challenging, but it is very passable with structured preparation and a good understanding of the core concepts.

The exam format is as follows:

• 40 multiple-choice questions
• 90 minutes to complete
• Pass mark of 70% – you need to answer 28 out of 40 questions correctly
• Closed book – no reference materials permitted during the exam
• Results available on the same day

The DPI syllabus covers a broad range of topics – including governance, risk and compliance, continual improvement models, value stream mapping, measurement frameworks, and organisational change management. The questions are scenario-based, which means rote memorisation alone is unlikely to be sufficient. You need to understand how to apply ITIL 4 concepts in realistic IT service management situations.

Candidates who already hold ITIL 4 Foundation (a prerequisite for the DPI course) and who engage actively with the instructor-led training – including mock exams and trainer-guided practice – are well positioned to pass. Knowledge Train reports a 99% pass rate across its ITIL 4 DPI cohorts, which suggests that thorough course-based preparation makes a significant difference to outcomes.

Exam access is included with the course, along with a free resit should you need one.

When you book the ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve (DPI) course with Knowledge Train, the exam is included along with a free resit, so a single failed attempt does not automatically cost you extra.

The free resit is provided through PeopleCert’s Take2 scheme, which grants one additional exam attempt if the first attempt is unsuccessful. Key conditions to be aware of:

• Take2 is tied to the specific exam it was granted for – it cannot be transferred to a different qualification.
• The resit must be used within six months of the original exam date.
• Take2 covers one resit only. If you were to fail a second time, you would need to purchase a new exam attempt separately.

The ITIL 4 Strategist DPI exam itself consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, lasts 90 minutes, and requires a pass mark of 70% (28 out of 40). It is a closed-book, online exam with results confirmed on the same day.

To sit the DPI exam – whether for the first attempt or a resit – you must hold a valid ITIL 4 Foundation certificate, as this is the stated prerequisite. Knowledge Train also provides exam guidance, practice questions, and trainer support to help you prepare thoroughly before your first attempt.