ITIL or Information Technology Infrastructure Library is a set of concepts and policies for the purpose of managing Information Technology infrastructure, operation, and developments. It is available in a series of books, each describing a specific IT management topic. In a nutshell, ITIL gives a detailed overview on a variety of information technology practices alongside comprehensive checklists, procedures, and tasks that can be customized to suit the business model of virtually any IT company.



Just as CCNA for network associates, ITIL certification programs confer ITIL Associate, Practitioner, and Service Management certificates to candidates who pass the concerned exams. ITIL certifications are managed by the ITIL Certification Management Board (ICMB), which is comprised of the OGC, IT Service Management Forum International and two examinations institutes ? EXIN ? based at Netherlands - and ISEB (based in UK). The two examination institutes conducts and supervises the certification exams and subsequently award qualifications in Foundation, Practitioner, and Masters/Manager levels in ?ITIL Service Management', 'ITIL Application Management' and 'ICT Infrastructure Management' respectively to the successful group of candidates.

ITIL Foundation Certificate is issued to successful candidates who manage to pass a multiple choice test on topics covered under the Foundation course. The course contains short lectures plus individual and group assignments alongside practical simulation. The ITIL Foundation Certificate is the first step in the run up to practitioner and Masters/full Managers certification. ITIL Practitioner certification is issued to those who successfully pass the test that validates individual process knowledge in the IT management domain. Similarly, ITIL Masters/Managers level exam certifies one as capable of managing ITIL based solutions in a breadth of service management subjects. It is aimed at IT managers, project leaders and members, management advisors in all capacity, and service managers.

In order to appear for the ITIL Masters/Managers level certification exam, one need to have at least two years of work experience, at least two years of managerial experience in IT service delivery, and proven work experience in project oriented work or shared project management or both. Similarly, on the knowledge front, a candidate must have passed the ITIL Foundation exam before attempting the Masters/Managers level exam. In other words, one can't appear for the ITIL Masters/Managers level certification exam without passing the ITIL Foundation course and the ITIL Practitioner exam.

Also, EXIN mandates an in-course assessment of the candidates by its accredited training centers before they are allowed to appear for the ITIL Service Management exam. In order to secure a place amongst the candidates? eligible to appear for the exam, one has to score the minimum cut off in the in-course assessment made by the training institute.

Finally, it should also be noted that ITIL certifications are individual oriented, meaning that organizations or a management system in a company cannot be certified as ITIL complaint. However, a company that has implemented the ITIL guidance principles in its IT Service Management, they may achieve compliance with and seek certification under ISO/IEC 20000. For more information on ITIL, visit the official ITIL website.