ITIL Foundation (Version 5) course with online training

No previous experience or formal prerequisites are required to study or sit the ITIL 4 Foundation course and exam. ITIL 4 Foundation is explicitly designed as an entry-level qualification, making it accessible to a wide range of people regardless of their background.

The course is suitable for:

• IT professionals working in support, operations, or service delivery roles
• Service managers and team leaders in IT or digital environments
• Professionals moving into IT service management (ITSM) for the first time
• Anyone who wants to understand the ITIL 4 framework and sit the Foundation exam

While no prior ITIL knowledge is required, a general familiarity with IT services or a workplace IT environment will help you relate to the concepts covered, such as the service value system, guiding principles, and key ITIL 4 practices. The course is structured to build your understanding from the ground up, so no existing ITIL experience is assumed.

If you are planning to progress beyond Foundation level – for example, to ITIL 4 Specialist or ITIL 4 Strategist qualifications – the ITIL 4 Foundation Certificate becomes a formal prerequisite for those programmes. Foundation is therefore both a standalone qualification and the starting point for the full ITIL 4 certification pathway, which is accredited by PeopleCert.

The right format depends on how you learn best and how much flexibility your schedule requires – both options include the same ITIL 4 Foundation exam, a free resit, official digital materials, and a one-year PeopleCert Plus membership.

Use the comparison below to decide which format suits you:

• Instructor-led (3 days, live online): Best if you prefer structured learning, live Q&A with an accredited trainer, and fixed dates that keep you on track. Sessions run as a live virtual classroom, which suits learners who benefit from peer interaction and real-world examples from an experienced ITIL practitioner.
• Self-paced (16 hours, online modules): Best if you need flexibility – you can start at any time and study across 12 months. Interactive e-learning modules replace live sessions, with tutor and technical support available by email and phone. You can revisit any module as often as needed.

Both formats carry the same outcome: preparation for the ITIL 4 Foundation exam, which is 40 multiple-choice questions, 60 minutes, closed book, with a pass mark of 65%.

If you are unsure, consider whether you have studied independently before and whether you have a fixed block of time available. Learners who prefer accountability and interaction tend to find the instructor-led route more effective, while those balancing work commitments often find self-paced study easier to fit around their schedule.

The ITIL 4 Foundation exam is taken online through PeopleCert, the accreditation body that owns and administers all ITIL certifications.

When you book an ITIL 4 Foundation course with Knowledge Train, the exam is included in the course price. Here is what to expect:

• Format: 40 multiple choice questions, closed book, 60 minutes.
• Pass mark: 65% – you need to answer 26 out of 40 questions correctly.
• Prerequisites: None – anyone can sit the ITIL 4 Foundation exam without prior qualifications.
• Access: The exam is sat online via your PeopleCert account. You will need to create a free PeopleCert membership account to register and sit the exam.
• Results: You receive your results on the same day.
• Free resit: Both instructor-led and self-paced options include a free resit (PeopleCert calls this Take2), so if you do not pass first time, you have one additional attempt at no extra cost.

Once you pass, your ITIL 4 Foundation certificate and digital badge are issued through your PeopleCert account. The certification is valid for three years and can be renewed through CPD points (via a PeopleCert Plus membership), by retaking the exam, or by passing another ITIL certification.

ITIL 4 Foundation 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 ITIL 4 Foundation exam is taken online and uses a multiple-choice format, results are processed quickly. You do not need to wait days or weeks for a result.

What you receive after passing

• Exam result – confirmed on the same day as your exam attempt.
• Digital certificate – issued via your PeopleCert membership account once the result is confirmed.
• Digital badge – also issued through your PeopleCert account, which you can share on professional profiles such as LinkedIn.

Your PeopleCert account

Every candidate needs a free PeopleCert membership account to sit the ITIL 4 Foundation exam. This account is where you view your exam records, download your certificate, access your digital badge, and track your certification renewal status going forward. The ITIL 4 Foundation certificate is valid for three years from the date of issue, after which renewal is required.

If you are studying with Knowledge Train, a one-year PeopleCert Plus membership (worth over £120) is included with both the instructor-led and self-paced course options, giving you access to additional study resources and a free exam resit if needed.

The ITIL 4 Foundation exam is considered manageable for most candidates who prepare properly, with a pass mark of 65% (26 out of 40 multiple-choice questions) and a 60-minute time allowance.

The exam is closed book and covers the core concepts of ITIL 4, including the service value system, service value chain, guiding principles, four dimensions of service management, and an overview of key ITIL practices. None of this requires prior IT service management experience, and there are no prerequisites to sit the exam.

Factors that make it accessible:

• Multiple-choice format with 40 questions – no written answers or essays required
• Results are given on the same day
• No prerequisites – the qualification is open to anyone
• A free exam resit (Take2) is included with both instructor-led and self-paced courses from Knowledge Train, giving candidates a safety net if they do not pass first time

Knowledge Train reports a 92% pass rate across its ITIL 4 Foundation courses, which is well above typical averages. Candidates who engage fully with the course material, complete the mock exams included with both learning formats, and allow adequate preparation time are well positioned to pass.

The self-paced option covers the syllabus in approximately 16 hours, while the instructor-led course runs over 3 days – both include official digital materials and mock exams to support exam preparation.

A free resit is included with every ITIL 4 Foundation course at Knowledge Train, so if you fail your first attempt you can retake the exam at no additional cost.

The 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 – you cannot transfer it to a different qualification.
• The resit must be used within six months of your original exam date.
• Take2 covers one additional attempt only. If you fail both attempts, a further resit would need to be purchased separately.

Both the instructor-led (3-day live online) and self-paced (16-hour online) ITIL 4 Foundation courses at Knowledge Train include the ITIL 4 Foundation exam and a free resit in the course price, so there are no hidden costs to be aware of upfront.

In addition, both course options include a one-year PeopleCert Plus membership, which itself provides access to mock exams and practice materials – useful for preparing thoroughly before sitting the exam and reducing the likelihood of needing that resit at all.

The ITIL 4 Foundation exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions with a pass mark of 65% (26 out of 40), completed in 60 minutes under closed-book conditions, with results available on the same day.