We Cover Your All Questions About Do you really need an ITIL Certification? In This Article
The ITIL framework was originally created by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) of the UK Government in the late 1980s. It was introduced as a set of practices to increase the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of IT service management in government organizations. Over the years, the framework has been through several iterations. The most notable ones are the ITIL V3 and the ITIL 4. Since 2014, AXELOS has been responsible for maintaining the ITIL framework. AXELOS is the joint venture company between the Capital PLC and the United Kingdom. It is involved with every aspect that comes with managing the ITIL framework including the following:
- ITIL certification program
- Licensing external organizations for using the ITIL intellectual property
- Updating the ITIL framework
- Providing third providers of ITIL examinations with accreditation
The ITIL Certifications have a series of qualifications covering different areas of the ITIL Service Lifecycle. Individuals who want to get an ITIL certification are required to take the training course and pass the requisite exam. For the ITIL V3 certification, there are 5 levels ranging from foundation to master. In the advanced courses, you will be introduced to a more detailed and deeper approach to ITIL best practices.
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Do you really need an ITIL certification?
Since it was established in the 80s, ITIL has been the leading framework for IT Service Management. Millions of IT professionals have since invested their money and time in these certification programs. A better understanding of how they can use the best IT practices for driving business value enhances their career prospects. Here are the three top benefits of getting ITIL certified:
- Get an understanding of the ITIL framework and processes
The ITIL framework and the involved processes were designed to be the best practices for ITSM. The ITIL 4 has shifted the focus of ITIL from service management to the concept of value co-creation and transforming the demand into value. IT professionals that have the ITIL certification demonstrate deep knowledge of IT practices that can help you do the same. It can be used in enterprise IT environments for driving business excellence.
- Aligning with the global ITSM standards
The ITIL framework has been created to be aligned with several international quality standards like the ISO/IEC 20000 global standard used for IT service management systems. This global reach of ITIL and how easily it aligns with other standards is the reason why ITIL professionals can find employment opportunities in different industries and businesses, even the ones in other countries. There are thousands of organizations across the globe that use the ITIL framework and invest in ITIL software tools for supporting their business.
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- The certification makes you a desirable employee
In a study, it was found that 93% of the employees couldn’t find qualified IT professionals for filling job vacancies. It also assessed if IT certifications were important within the hiring process. The results found that employees who had job-appropriate certifications were more knowledgeable, reliable, and confident. After the initial hire, they were able to be proficient in their jobs quickly and perform the jobs effectively. This makes it clear that ITIL certifications will make you an attractive candidate for IT jobs.
According to the Global Knowledge 2019 Report on IT Skills and Salary, ITIL Foundation is seventh on the list of top-paying IT certifications. On average, an ITIL-certification holder earns an annual income of $120,556. However, you need to understand that just the certification is not enough to get the desired salary. Obtaining an ITIL certification will demonstrate your commitment toward achieving excellence in the field and that you are willing to invest in yourself. However, the certification in itself is not directly correlated to a successful career.
An IT professional with experience in the field and no knowledge of ITIL is still more valuable than an ITIL-certified professional with no experience in the work environment. However, a combination of theoretical knowledge and real-world experience will put an ITIL-certified professional at an advantage in the job market. As an IT professional, you must have the necessary experience and practical skills along with the ITIL certification. This is the best way of enhancing your career. The AXELOS website will recommend the best ITIL certification for you depending on your desired career path.
If you are an ITIL v3-certified IT professional, yourṣ pathway of obtaining the qualifications under ITIL 4 will depend on your level of attainment. If you have only completed the ITIL v3 foundation, it is recommended that you complete the ITIL Foundations course for updating your qualifications. However, if you have taken some modules in the intermediate level of ITIL v3, there are two options for you:
- First, complete the ITIL 4 Foundations course and then work towards getting the ITIL 4 Strategic Leader or ITIL 4 Managing Professional certification.
- Continue with the ITIL v3 intermediate modules until you achieve 17 credits. After this, you can take the ITIL 4 Managing Professional Transition module.
If you have already received the ITIL v3 Intermediate or Practitioner certifications, it is recommended that you continue to collect credits until you have 17. After that, you can finish the transition module. If you have the ITIL v3 Expert certification, you can directly take the ITIL 4 training for Managing Professional Transition. You can also choose to go for the ITIL Strategic Leader designation by finishing the ITIL 4 Leader Digital and IT Strategy module.
The bottom line is that ITIL certifications can help you in getting a job career and driving your career forward. The framework has widespread implementation and has the status of an internationally recognized certification. This means that organizations around the world need and value ITIL-certified professionals who have the right IT experience.
However, it is up to you to maximize the value of your certification program by getting the right experience and skills that are complementing your certification. Without the ability to manage ITSM in real-world IT environments, ITIL certification will not have any worth.
