PeopleCert's current plan is to retire every ITIL 4 module on 31 December 2027. For most people booking a Foundation exam today, that settles it: take ITIL Foundation (Version 5) instead. PeopleCert sells the two exams at the same price, with the same number of questions, the same time limit and the same pass mark. Picking ITIL 4 now buys you a qualification with a published end date and nothing in return.
There are a few exceptions, and if you already hold ITIL 4 the retirement changes less than the Reddit threads suggest. This article covers what PeopleCert has actually confirmed, who should still book ITIL 4, and what the sunset means for a certificate you already have.
What PeopleCert Has Confirmed About ITIL 4 Retirement
The source is PeopleCert's own ITIL FAQ, which says: "The current plan is to sunset all ITIL 4 modules on 31 December 2027." Note the word plan. PeopleCert has published a date but has not yet published the detail, and the same FAQ says ITIL 4 exam voucher validity dates "will be announced in due course".
| Item | What PeopleCert says | Status |
|---|---|---|
| ITIL 4 modules sunset | 31 December 2027 | Current plan |
| ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) final retirement | 31 December 2027 | Scheduled |
| ITIL 4 exam voucher validity | To be announced | Not yet published |
| ITIL 4 and Version 5 overlap | Run in parallel "for a period" | Confirmed, no end date beyond the sunset |
| ITIL 4 as prerequisite for Version 5 modules | Fully recognised for all higher-level Version 5 certifications | Confirmed |
ITIL Foundation (Version 5) launched in February 2026, and PeopleCert is releasing the higher modules in phases. Its Version 5 explainer says ITIL 4 "remains available for those who wish to continue their current certification journey". So ITIL 4 is not closing early. It is on a fixed run-out.
Exam Tip: The ITIL 4 retirement date applies to the exams and modules. PeopleCert has not said that existing ITIL 4 certificates become invalid on that date, and its FAQ treats them as valid prerequisites for Version 5.
ITIL 4 Foundation vs ITIL Foundation (Version 5): Same Exam, Same Price
This is what settles the decision for most candidates. Here are PeopleCert's own product pages side by side:
| ITIL 4 Foundation | ITIL Foundation (Version 5) | |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 40 multiple choice | 40 multiple choice |
| Duration | 60 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Pass mark | 65% | 65% |
| Book policy | Closed book | Closed book |
| Exam bundle (PeopleCert UK store, incl. VAT) | £541 | £541 |
| Languages | 12 | 9 |
| Exams available until | Planned sunset 31 December 2027 | No retirement announced |
Prices are from PeopleCert's UK store and vary by region and by training provider. The comparison holds either way: PeopleCert does not discount ITIL 4 to clear it.
The difference is the syllabus. Version 5 moves from IT service management to digital product and service management, replaces the ITIL 4 value chain with eight activities, and builds AI governance into the core. The ITIL 5 vs ITIL 4 breakdown walks through each change. For this decision, the relevant point is that Version 5 is where every new module, courseware update and employer job advert will point from 2028 onwards.
Should You Still Take ITIL 4 Foundation in 2026?
For a first Foundation exam, choose Version 5 unless one of these applies to you.
You already hold an ITIL 4 voucher
Use it before it expires. PeopleCert has not yet announced ITIL 4 voucher validity dates, so check the expiry on your own voucher rather than assuming it runs to the end of 2027. A paid voucher is £541 you have already spent, and the certificate you earn will still count as a prerequisite for Version 5 modules.
Your employer or a contract names ITIL 4 specifically
Some tenders, frameworks and HR job grades were written with "ITIL 4 Foundation" in them. Ask whether ITIL Foundation (Version 5) is accepted before you book. Most will accept it, because it is the current version, but a requirement in a contract is worth checking in writing.
You are one module away from an ITIL 4 designation
If you are part-way through ITIL 4 Managing Professional or Strategic Leader and need one more module, finishing before the sunset is reasonable. The designation keeps its value, and ITIL 4 qualifications carry forward as prerequisites for Version 5.
Everyone else
Book ITIL Foundation (Version 5). Taking ITIL 4 now and bridging later costs more. The ITIL 4 exam bundle (£541) plus the Foundation Bridge bundle (£199) comes to £740, against £541 for going straight to Version 5. The bridge is also scheduled to retire on 31 December 2027, so that route has a deadline too.
If you are starting from scratch, the ITIL 5 Foundation exam guide covers the syllabus and question types, and the four-week ITIL 5 Foundation study plan turns it into a schedule.
Already Hold ITIL 4? What the Retirement Means for You
Your certificate does not disappear on 31 December 2027. What changes is how you keep it current and how you move up.
How long will ITIL 4 be valid?
PeopleCert certificates in the ITIL 4 product suite renew every three years, and all ITIL 4 certificates you hold share one renewal date: three years after your most recent ITIL 4 exam. You can renew in three ways, according to PeopleCert's renewal page:
- Log 20 CPD points a year for three consecutive years through PeopleCert Plus.
- Pass another exam in the same product suite before your renewal date.
- Retake the same exam.
The retirement closes routes two and three for ITIL 4 once the exams are gone. PeopleCert has not yet published how ITIL 4 renewals will work after the sunset, including whether a Version 5 exam counts as renewing an ITIL 4 certificate. The CPD route does not depend on an exam being available, so if your renewal date falls after 2027 and you want to keep the ITIL 4 credential, CPD is the one that PeopleCert's current rules still support.
Do you need to retake Foundation for ITIL 5?
No. PeopleCert's FAQ says ITIL 4 qualifications are "fully recognised as prerequisites for all higher-level ITIL (Version 5) certifications". An ITIL 4 Foundation holder can go straight to a Version 5 module such as ITIL AI Governance without sitting Foundation again.
The ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5): Is It Worth It?
The Foundation Bridge is for ITIL 4 holders who want the Version 5 Foundation badge on their CV without sitting the full exam again.
| Bridge detail | PeopleCert figure |
|---|---|
| Questions | 20 multiple choice |
| Duration | 30 minutes |
| Pass mark | 65% |
| Book policy | Closed book |
| Exam bundle (UK store, incl. VAT) | £199 |
| Prerequisite | Any ITIL 4 certification except the Acquiring and Managing Cloud Services and Sustainability in Digital and IT specialist modules |
| Final retirement | 31 December 2027 |
PeopleCert's FAQ says the bridge leads to ITIL Foundation (Version 5) certification. The product page names the credential "ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5)". If the exact wording on your certificate matters to an employer, confirm it with PeopleCert before you book. The product page also states that exam results will not be released without proof of completion.
It is worth taking if you want Version 5 Foundation on your record and do not plan to take a higher module soon. If you are about to take a Version 5 module anyway, you can skip it, because your ITIL 4 Foundation already meets the prerequisite.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will ITIL 4 be valid?
ITIL 4 exams are planned to end on 31 December 2027. Your certificate itself renews on a three-year cycle from your most recent ITIL 4 exam. PeopleCert has not said existing ITIL 4 certificates will be withdrawn, and it continues to recognise them as prerequisites for Version 5 modules.
Is ITIL 4 outdated?
ITIL 4 is the previous version, not an obsolete one. The guiding principles and most of the practices carry into Version 5. What ITIL 4 lacks is the product-and-service lifecycle model and the built-in AI governance content that Version 5 added in 2026.
Is ITIL still relevant in 2026?
Yes. PeopleCert released a new major version in February 2026 and is adding modules through the year, including AI Governance. Service management roles still list ITIL Foundation as a baseline, and Version 5 is the version those listings will move to.
What does ITIL 4 stand for?
ITIL originally stood for IT Infrastructure Library. The acronym is now used as a name in its own right, and the 4 marks the fourth major version, which ran from 2019 until Version 5 launched in 2026.
Ready to Start Practising?
If you are booking a Foundation exam now, make it Version 5. CertCrush's ITIL 5 Foundation course has a study guide and practice exams built on the Version 5 syllabus, with explanations for every answer. Create a free account and try the practice questions before you book.