In this article, we explore how much acquiring an ITIL 4 certification can cost you with solutions ranging from as cheap as possible to the most expensive ones.

What is ITIL 4?

ITIL 4 is the latest release of the globally acknowledged IT Infrastructure Library framework, developed by AXELOS. It provides guidance to businesses and individuals on how to use modern IT Service Management practices combined with an Agile mindset to meet ever-changing business needs and deliver value to its users. ITIL is supported by a comprehensive certification scheme, which spans knowledge from the principles to how the entire framework fits together.

How to gain ITIL 4 Foundation knowledge?

There are 3 main options available for learners of ITIL 4:

Self- study
Training (online or on site)
E-learning

Self-study of ITIL 4 topics is actually possible and is one of the cheapest option. It however can prove to be a difficult one as the free materials on the subject are not numerous (due to copyright infringements) or of dubious quality (non-authorized sources, unqualified speakers…). The main reference for a self study learner should be the ITIL 4 Foundation book and videos of accredited providers found on YouTube such as our very own ITIL 4 playlist (over a million views!). The official ITIL 4 book is generally considered dry by many learners but contains all what is needed to know for the exam.

Training on site or online can be a fantastic experience thanks to the trainer’s presentation skills, his/her ability to put things into context, the possibilities to ask questions, work in a group and discover like minded professionals. The drawbacks of such option are its costs and inflexibility (fixed dates).

E-learning is an affordable option to learn ITIL 4 at your own time and pace. It combines the advantages of online courses with the possibilities to ask questions to a qualified trainer e.g. forum…, seeing the topics being presented in a concise manner with examples and self-study with possibility to learn whenever your time fits. Apps are in general available in this model which even help further to study where and when you want.

How to prepare for the ITIL 4 Foundation exam?

Once you have acquired the knowledge needed, it is time to prepare for the exam. Choices available are:

Free ITIL mock exams
Paid ITIL mock exams
Watching Flash card videos
Using mock exams received during your training (in case you selected that option earlier)
Mock exam simulator and questions from e-learning (in case you selected that option earlier)

Free ITIL mock exams can be found in many places on the Internet – the source should be checked though, as not all of those resources were created by accredited organizations. You can look at our ITIL 4 free mock exam as a good resource to use to prepare.

Paid ITIL mock exams are actually a sensitive subject. Any PeopleCert accredited provider is in principle not allowed to sell ITIL 4 mock exams if it has not sold at the same time an ITIL 4 foundation course. The paid mock exams that you may find are therefore most likely not authorized unless it is People Cert official mock exam which we sell here.

Watching Flash card videos is also a good way to prepare for the exam. Again, watch out for the source as some of those have a dubious quality. You can refer to our Flash card videos as a good source of preparation.

If you went through an ITIL training, it is likely that you will receive at least 2 mock exams or more from your training providers. Working on those and the ITIL 4 materials provided should help you in reaching your goal.

If you went through an e-learning option, it is likely to be even better as not only such models offer generally many mock exams, they also offer a mock exam simulator which prepare you for the best conditions for the exam. As an example, our ITIL 4 e-learning features a mock exam simulator containing more than 300 questions.

Where can I find an ITIL 4 Foundation voucher?

In case you went through the e-learning or training option, you should have received from your provider a voucher to book the ITIL 4 exam. If not, it is likely that you have not purchased the course from an authorized source as every accredited organized is required to sell an ITIL voucher WITH a training course.

If you are in this case or went for the self study option, you can purchase an exam voucher at PeopleCert website directly. Price will depend on your location. As a reference, price at the time of this writing is 470 EUR for Switzerland which makes it barely cheaper than some of the e-learning solutions offered.

How much does an ITIL 4 Foundation certification cost?

The price of acquiring an ITIL 4 certification diverge depending on which learning option you opt, the provider you choose and the location. Here is an overview of the costs’ range for each option expressed in USD:

Criteria	Self study	Training	E-learning
Knowledge	$0-100	$800-2200	$500-800
Exam Preparation	$0-50	Mock exams included	Mock exams + exam simulator
Voucher	$300-470	Included, often with retake	Included, often with retake
Total	$300-620	$800-2000	$500-800

As one can see, the range of price for acquiring an ITIL 4 Foundation certification vary significantly depending the option you choose.

As a general comment, nothing replaces the level of interactions, practical experience and knowledge that you can gain in a live class with an excellent trainer. However, the costs can be prohibitive for many.

The self study option is a valid option for individuals who are costs sensitive e.g. students, entry level professionals… but it can prove difficult due to the rarity of free qualified materials.

The e-learning option offers a sensible balance between costs and accessibility to acquire ITIL 4 knowledge. Quality of the e-learnings may vary between providers and should be checked prior purchase.

Prepare for your ITIL 4 Foundation exam the right way!

Should you feel unsure about the material or should you need more mock exam questions, please have a look at our ITIL 4 Foundation eLearning course.

As an Accredited Training Organization (ATO) and official partner of PeopleCert and AXELOS, we have prepared an interactive eLearning training course for you, containing everything you need to know and spiced it with real-life examples, fun games and an engaging presentation divided into easily digestible, bite-sized videos

130 bite-sized videos explaining the ITIL 4 concepts
Our well-proven exam simulator
1 voucher + 1 FREE retry at the official, online-proctored ITIL 4 Foundation exam
A 1.5h live online consultation with our passionate ITIL 4 Trainer, Alex Schmidt
Retain your knowledge with our Memo Trainer and 300+ mock exam questions
An engaging and fun presentation style, just like a live training
Live discussions throughout the whole course
Our ITIL 4 Trivia Game

What are the costs of ITIL 4 advanced certifications?

Perhaps you already got certified for ITIL 4 Foundation and now you want to upgrade your professional portfolio with the advanced level ITIL 4 certificates.

There you have different options, as described in the official certification scheme.
But below, we have prepared an overview of the current approximate pricing, which is varying a bit depending on your region.

Course	Link	Pricing
Create, deliver & Support (CDS)	LINK	$765
Drive Stakeholder Value (DSV)	LINK	$765
High Velocity IT (HVIT)	LINK	$765
Direct, Plan & Improve (DPI)	LINK	$765
Digital & IT Strategy (DITS)	LINK	$765
Acquiring & Managing Cloud Services (AMCS)	LINK	$765
Sustainability in Digital & IT (SDIT)	LINK	$765