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As IT service management (ITSM) becomes integral to organizational success, the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) stands as the premier framework worldwide. With over three decades of success and adoption by 82% of Fortune 500 companies, the demand for ITIL-certified professionals continues to grow. Advanced certifications, like the ITIL 4 Managing Professional, are increasingly sought after, enabling organizations to stay ahead of changing demands and propel career growth.
Skillsoft’s annual IT Skills and Salary Report underscores this trend, featuring insights from over 5,700 professionals, including 686 ITIL certification holders. Notably, ITIL and IT service management emerged as the third most widely held non-cybersecurity certification categories and providers for 2023, and seventh among those most actively pursued this year.
Amidst this surging popularity, the Managing Professional certification offers a promising avenue for mastering ITSM organizational structures and policies. Building on ITIL foundational knowledge, it equips candidates with practical and technical competencies to integrate ITIL into organizations and deliver top-tier IT solutions.
Let’s discover how you can become a certified ITIL Managing Professional (MP).
WHAT IS THE MANAGING PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION AND WHY EARN IT?
The Managing Professional certification validates a professional’s strategy and management skills to drive the adoption and expansion of ITIL initiatives.
As a globally recognized credential, this certification demonstrates the ability to develop and run successful IT-enabled services, cross-functional multidisciplinary teams, and workflows. Equipped with critical ITSM skills, professionals are empowered to unlock mid- and senior-level career opportunities and achieve higher salaries. Notably, earning certifications also provides daily benefits such as greater confidence, improved quality and efficiency of work, increased engagement, and more.
HOW MUCH DO ITIL-CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS EARN?
| USA | EMEA | LATAM | APAC |
| $133,869 | $76,618 | $60,248 | $75,617 |
WHO SHOULD GET MANAGING PROFESSIONAL CERTIFIED
This certification is well-suited for those in strategy and management seeking to manage and coordinate ITIL practice areas to drive better business outcomes, reduce costs, improve efficiency, and become credible partners and providers of IT services.
Any IT leaders, practitioners, and support staff who have earned the ITIL 4 Foundation certification will benefit from this designation, with common roles including:
- IT Operations Manager
- Service Desk Manager
- Change and Release Manager
- Incident Manager
- Problem Manager
ARE THERE PREREQUISITE CERTIFICATIONS? HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE SHOULD I HAVE?
To secure the Managing Professional certification, the ITIL 4 Foundation certification is a prerequisite. This requirement introduces the ITIL 4 Framework of best practices for IT service management, providing an end-to-end operating model for creating, delivering, and continually improving products and services. Candidates will learn key elements, concepts, and terminology critical for enhancing IT service management and aligning IT services with business needs. Unlike many other certifications requiring prior credentials or experience, the ITIL 4 Foundation certification is designed as an introductory-level credential for those interested in ITSM.
While not a prerequisite, candidates with a basic understanding of IT terminology may grasp ITIL concepts more efficiently. Additionally, although individuals with IT or ITSM experience may find the concepts more relatable and easier to understand, there is no professional experience requirement for the ITIL Foundation exam.
WHAT’S ON THE MANAGING PROFESSIONAL EXAMS?
The Managing Professional track consists of four modules and exams. These closed-book exams are often included in courses from ITIL Authorized Training Organizations (ATOs), contain 40 multiple-choice questions, and have a 90-minute duration. To pass an exam, candidates must achieve a score of 70%.
Skillsoft Global Knowledge offers live, instructor-led courses that fulfill the requirements for the certification. The focus areas of each exam are as follows:
- ITIL 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver, and Support: Learn how to integrate different value streams and activities to manage IT-enabled products and services, along with relevant practices, methods, and tools. Understand service performance, quality, and improvement methods.
- ITIL 4 Specialist: Drive Stakeholder Value: Discover how to manage the engagement and interaction between a service provider and their customers, users, suppliers, and partners. Focus on converting demand into value through IT-enabled services.
- ITIL 4 Specialist: High-Velocity IT: Explore how digital organizations and operating models function in high-velocity environments, emphasizing rapid delivery of products and services to obtain maximum value. Understand working practices such as Agile and Lean, and technical practices and technologies including Cloud, Automation, and Automatic Testing.
- ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan, and Improve: Gain an understanding of all types of engagement and interactions between a service provider and their customers, users, suppliers, and partners. Develop the practical skills to create a ‘learning and improving’ IT organization, with a strong strategic direction.
To prepare for the exams, candidates can also utilize official ITIL resources, such as the eBook covering key concepts, frameworks, and practices, and the Learning Resource Kit for an in-depth workbook and guide.
YOU’VE EARNED YOUR MANAGING PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION. WHAT’S NEXT?
The first step is to acknowledge your accomplishment. You’ve invested significant time and resources into your career, so make sure to share this achievement with your network. Update your LinkedIn profile and resume to showcase the outcome of your hard work.
But don’t forget – the journey doesn’t end here. After earning your Managing Professional certification, you can further your ITSM career with the ITIL Strategic Leader certification. This credential leads toward the ITIL Master designation, emphasizing the importance of ITIL in guiding business strategy for digitally enabled services. The Strategic Leader certification is comprised of two modules, one of which is completed when earning the Managing Professional certification:
As you continue to collect these qualifications, it’s crucial to maintain them. ITIL certifications require renewal every three years to stay current with industry best practices. With three renewal pathways, you can remain competitive and continuously advance with up-to-date competencies.
To renew your certification, choose between the following options:
- Exam Retake: Retake your original exam before the renewal date. Requires a voucher purchase.
- Earn a New Cert: Attend another course within the same product suite and pass the exam before the renewal date. Requires a course with voucher purchase.
- Log CPD Points: Renew by earning 20 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points each year. An active PeopleCert Plus membership is required.
Learn more about the ITIL 4 Managing Professional designation and kickstart your learning today.