You can see it againUnder pressure people bring back shapes and positions long after the wording has gone.
Picture superiority · Shepard 1967, Standing 1973
PEOPLECERTITIL 4 Foundation
The ITIL 4 Foundation certification introduces the core concepts of IT service management, from the Service Value System and the four dimensions of service management to the seven guiding principles and key ITIL practices. It is designed for professionals at any career stage who want to build practical capability in managing digital products and services. Earning this credential demonstrates a solid understanding of how ITIL 4 enables value creation and continuous improvement, making you a preferred candidate for roles in IT service management and support.
Exam formatMultiple choice, closed book
Duration60 minutes
DeliveryPeopleCert
Passing score65%
Free questions277
Content last reviewed 30 July 2026 · Up to date
The certification
What ITIL-4-FOUNDATION proves, and what it asks of you
What this certification covers, who it is written for, and what the exam itself looks like on the day.
7domains
12objectives
83concepts
US $690.00exam fee
What it is
What this certification is
What it validates, who it is written for, and the experience it assumes.
About this certification
ITIL 4 Foundation is the entry-level certification in the ITIL 4 framework, the global best practice for IT service management. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the service management concepts, the Service Value System, and the four dimensions that are essential for effective service delivery. The certification is suitable for anyone seeking to understand how ITIL 4 can help organizations create value through optimized processes and practices.
The certification validates your knowledge of the ITIL 4 framework, including the Service Value Chain, the seven guiding principles, and key practices such as continual improvement, service level management, and problem management. By earning this credential, you demonstrate that you can speak the language of ITIL and contribute to service management initiatives in your organization. It is a globally recognized qualification that opens doors to further ITIL certifications and career advancement in IT service management.
Who it’s for
The ITIL 4 Foundation certification is designed for professionals at any career stage who are involved in IT service management, whether they are just starting out or have years of experience. It is ideal for IT managers, service desk staff, developers, and business professionals who want to understand how ITIL 4 can improve service delivery and align IT with business goals. This certification is also valuable for those who work with ITIL practices in their daily roles, such as service desk technicians, IT operations staff, and project managers, as it provides a common language and framework for managing services effectively. No prior ITIL knowledge is required, making it an accessible starting point for anyone looking to build a career in IT service management.
Recommended experience
No formal prerequisites are required, but a basic understanding of IT service management concepts and familiarity with IT services in a business context is beneficial. Familiarity with IT service management concepts and terminology; Basic understanding of how IT services support business outcomes; Experience working in an IT service management role or related field is helpful but not required
The syllabus
What you’ll learn
Every domain and objective PeopleCert measures, with the weight they carry on the exam.
The official PeopleCert exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
Understand the key concepts of service management
- 1.1 Recall the definition of: a) Service b) Utility c) Warranty d) Customer e) User f) Service management g) Sponsor
- 1.2 Describe the key concepts of creating value with services
- 1.3 Describe the key concepts of service relationships
Understand how the ITIL guiding principles can help an organization adopt and adapt service management
- 2.1 Describe the nature, use and interaction of the guiding principles
- 2.2 Explain the use of the guiding principles
Understand the four dimensions of service management
- 3.1 Describe the four dimensions of service management
Understand the purpose and components of the ITIL service value system
- 4.1 Describe the ITIL service value system
Understand the activities of the service value chain, and how they interconnect
- 5.1 Describe the interconnected nature of the service value chain and how this supports value streams
- 5.2 Describe the purpose of each value chain activity
Know the purpose and key terms of 15 ITIL practices
- 6.1 Recall the purpose of the following ITIL practices
- 6.2 Recall definitions of the following ITIL terms
Understand 7 ITIL practices
- 7.1 Explain the following ITIL practices in detail, excluding how they fit within the service value chain
On the day
The exam itself
Everything PeopleCert publishes about sitting it, and nothing we inferred.
Prerequisites
No mandatory prerequisites — this certification has no required predecessor exam or credential.
Exam codeITIL-4-FOUNDATION
CertificationITIL 4 Foundation
Exam formatMultiple choice, closed book
Duration60 minutes
Questions40 questions
Passing score65%
DeliveryPeopleCert
LanguagesEnglish, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Thai
PricingUS $690.00
After you pass
Where this credential goes next
The path PeopleCert lays out, how the credential is kept, and where to book.
Step-by-step path to ITIL 4 Foundation
Credential earnedITIL 4 Foundation Certification Renewal and maintenance
ITIL 4 Foundation certification must be renewed every three years. PeopleCert Plus membership allows you to keep your certification current by logging Continuous Professional Development (CPD) points. Stay current with the latest technologies and maintain your certification.
Learn more about renewal requirements Lifecycle status
This certification is currently active and available. PeopleCert maintains this certification to validate current skills and industry relevance.
Exam status: ActiveMaintained by PeopleCert
Exam registration
Register for the exam through PeopleCert, PeopleCert’s authorized testing partner.
Schedule your examVisit the official PeopleCert certification page for exam policies and requirements.
View the official pageYour coach
And when you are serious, your coach Pip takes over
Your coach in the app reads what you have answered with the book closed and tells you one thing to do tonight. It will not count an answer you gave with the page open, and it will tell you when you are not ready.
See how the coach worksBefore you book
Questions people ask
How does ITIL 4 Foundation relate to the previous ITIL v3 Foundation certification?
ITIL 4 Foundation is the evolution of the ITIL v3 Foundation certification, updated to reflect modern practices and the Service Value System. If you hold an ITIL v3 Foundation certification, you may be eligible for a transition path to ITIL 4.
Is there a higher-level ITIL certification that requires ITIL 4 Foundation as a prerequisite?
Yes, ITIL 4 Foundation is the entry-level certification and is a prerequisite for higher-level ITIL 4 certifications such as ITIL 4 Managing Professional and ITIL 4 Strategic Leader.
Can I reschedule or cancel my ITIL 4 Foundation exam booking?
Yes, you can reschedule or cancel your exam booking through your PeopleCert account, subject to the terms and conditions of your booking.
What are the online proctoring requirements for the ITIL 4 Foundation exam?
For online proctored exams, you must have a stable internet connection, a webcam, and a quiet, private room. You will be monitored by a proctor via webcam and microphone throughout the exam.
What is the retake policy for the ITIL 4 Foundation exam?
If you do not pass the exam on your first attempt, you can retake it after a waiting period. PeopleCert also offers a Take2 Re-Sit option, which provides a second chance at a discounted rate.
Are there any hands-on labs or practical components in the ITIL 4 Foundation exam?
No, the ITIL 4 Foundation exam is a multiple-choice exam with no hands-on labs or practical components.
How soon will I receive my ITIL 4 Foundation exam results?
You will receive your exam results immediately after completing the exam, and your certificate will be available in your PeopleCert account shortly thereafter.
What job roles does the ITIL 4 Foundation certification map to?
The ITIL 4 Foundation certification is relevant for roles such as IT Service Manager, IT Operations Specialist, IT Development Manager, IT Team Leader, and Digital Product Manager, among others.
Can I recertify by passing a different, higher-level ITIL exam?
Yes, earning a higher-level ITIL 4 certification, such as ITIL 4 Managing Professional or ITIL 4 Strategic Leader, will automatically renew your ITIL 4 Foundation certification.
Is the ITIL 4 Foundation exam available in my country?
The ITIL 4 Foundation exam is available globally through PeopleCert's network of test centers and online proctoring, subject to regional availability.
Information freshness · Content last reviewed on 2026-07-30 Up to date
Practice free questions 277 questions, free, no account needed.
The curriculum
The whole exam, mapped and written
Every domain, every objective, and every concept PeopleCert measures — each one written out.
7domains
12objectives
83concepts
60free pages
The domains, and what sits inside them
Every objective below is a page you can open and practise now, without an account.
The official PeopleCert exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
1Understand the key concepts of service management80 questions
1.1 Recall the definition of: a) Service b) Utility c) Warranty d) Customer e) User f) Service management g) Sponsor7 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →1.2 Describe the key concepts of creating value with services6 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →1.3 Describe the key concepts of service relationships9 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →
2Understand how the ITIL guiding principles can help an organization adopt and adapt service management26 questions
3Understand the four dimensions of service management24 questions
4Understand the purpose and components of the ITIL service value system21 questions
5Understand the activities of the service value chain, and how they interconnect37 questions
6Know the purpose and key terms of 15 ITIL practices54 questions
7Understand 7 ITIL practices35 questions
Not a table of contents
Every line on this map already opens
In front of every objective the practice pages are already there, free and without an account. This is one objective, opened.
1.1 Recall the definition of: a) Service b) Utility c) Warranty d) Customer e) User f) Service management g) Sponsor6 pagesOpen →
Free in front of it
28 questions on this objective, five to a page. Every range above is a real page, open now, with no account.
Reading the map is not the same as knowing the ground
The curriculum tells you what is on the exam. Proving you know it is a different job — and it is the one the closed-book run does.
Free questions
277 questions. No account, no card.
The whole bank is open. 5 questions to a page, every answer explained, and a discussion thread on each one.
277questions
60pages
12objectives
Freealways
Start anywhere1.1 Recall the definition of: a) Service b) Utility c) Warranty d) Customer e) User f) Service management g) Sponsor 28 questions · 6 pages
Browse by domain
Every objective, and every page range, is a link — so you can pick up exactly where you left off.
1Understand the key concepts of service management80 questions
2Understand how the ITIL guiding principles can help an organization adopt and adapt service management26 questions
3Understand the four dimensions of service management24 questions
4Understand the purpose and components of the ITIL service value system21 questions
5Understand the activities of the service value chain, and how they interconnect37 questions
6Know the purpose and key terms of 15 ITIL practices54 questions
7Understand 7 ITIL practices35 questions
What a practice page gives you
1Five to a page
Short enough to finish, long enough to matter.
2Every answer explained
Not only which one is right — why the others are wrong.
3A discussion on each
Ask, answer, and vote. Every question has its own thread.
A question, and the idea behind it
Every question comes from a concept
These are not trivia. Each one is written against a concept in the book, so when you get one wrong there is somewhere to go and find out why.
The visual book
See it once. Carry it into the exam.
The pages shown here come from our AI-900 book — an example of how each concept is written in plain language and, where the idea needs one, drawn as a full page you can take in at a glance.
83concepts
277free questions
Why a picture, and not another paragraph
Three reasons, and each one is a real finding rather than a slogan.
You can see it againThe whole idea at onceWhere it starts, what happens in the middle, what comes out, and the mistake to avoid.
Multimedia principle · MayerThe look-alikes sit togetherThe pairs the exam tests are drawn side by side, so the difference is seen, not told.
Dual coding · PaivioWhat one page is made of
You are never asked to read a poster here — only to see how one is built. After that, every other page is legible at a glance.
1A numbered strip on top
The idea as a sequence, followed with a finger before a word is read.
2Panels for the parts
What it is, how the machine learns it, when it is the right tool.
3The trap, framed
The distinction the exam tests, given its own box instead of buried in prose.
4One line at the bottom
The sentence to carry into the exam room.
Open book, on purpose
Answer it with the picture beside you
This is the part that teaches. The illustration and the written explanation stay where they are while you work, so a scenario stops being a memory test and becomes something you can simply look at.
It teaches · it does not count
A smartphone uses AI to unlock when the owner looks at the camera. Which AI capability is being used?
AImage classification
BFacial recognition
COptical character recognition
DObject detection
Look at the five steps. Detect finds a face, align straightens it, encode turns it into numbers, search compares it with a stored face, and decide answers one question: is this the same person? Classification would only say “a face”. Detection would only draw a box. Neither decides whose.
Then the page shuts, and it starts counting
The same questions come back with the book closed — that run is the one that counts. After it, your coach picks one thing for tonight, sized to the time you have, and brings pages back before you lose them.
Testing effect · Roediger & Karpicke 2006 · spacing effect · Cepeda et al. 2006
Official resources
Straight from PeopleCert
Where the exam is defined, scheduled and scored.
2official links
83concepts mapped
The source
PeopleCert’s own pages
We link to them rather than repeat them, so nothing here goes stale behind them.
Checked against the source
Every objective on the official PeopleCert outline already has questions here
We build from the official skills outline, not from a summary of it — 12 objectives, 83 concepts written under them, and free questions against every one. When PeopleCert changes the outline, this page changes with it.
12objectives on the outline→83concepts written→277free questions
An official page tells you what will be asked. It cannot tell you what you will get right.
That is the only question worth answering the night before, and no link answers it. You answer it by taking the questions with the book closed, and seeing what comes back.