ITIL®4 Certification Path: Career Guide and Salary Insights

IT isn’t just support anymore; it is the driving force behind business success. To keep up with today’s fast-paced digital market, companies need IT services that are reliable, efficient, and perfectly aligned with business goals.

That’s where ITIL steps in as the world’s leading framework for IT Service Management (ITSM). Through its certifications, professionals gain the skills to manage, improve, and lead IT services effectively, opening doors to better roles, higher pay, and global opportunities. Eager to explore the ITIL Certification Paths and find the right path to advance your IT career? Read on!

Table of Contents

1) What is ITIL?

2) Overview of ITIL®4 Certification Path

3) What are the Benefits of Getting ITIL®4 Certification in 2025?

4) Different Job Roles in ITIL®4

5) Salaries and Career Path After ITIL®4

6) Conclusion

What is ITIL?

ITIL, short for Information Technology Infrastructure Library, is a framework that helps businesses manage their IT services in the most efficient and cost-effective way. It provides a set of best practices for delivering high-quality IT services that align with business needs.

Originally developed by the UK government, ITIL has evolved over time. Its latest version is ITIL 4, released in 2019. ITIL 4 embraces modern technology trends, including Agile, DevOps, and Cloud Computing, making it more relevant for today’s digital businesses.

Overview of ITIL®4 Certification Path 

ITIL® 4 provides a structured certification path centred on key designations that showcase specialised expertise and strategic capabilities. Let’s take a closer look at each of these designations.

1) ITIL®4 Foundation

The ITIL® 4 Foundation is the entry point for anyone new to ITIL or IT Service Management. It introduces the core principles, concepts, and terminology used in ITSM, helping professionals understand how ITIL practices can improve service delivery.

1) Who It’s for: Beginners, IT professionals, service desk staff, and Business Managers.

2) Skills Learned: Understanding the ITIL service value system, guiding principles, and the four dimensions of Service Management. 

2) ITIL®4 Managing Professional

The Managing Professional (MP) designation is for those working directly in IT service delivery, operations, and projects. It focuses on the practical and technical aspects of running IT services effectively. 

Requirement: Complete all four modules:

1) ITIL®4 Specialist: Create, Deliver and Support:

Covers the end-to-end process of creating, delivering, and supporting IT-enabled services.

Topics include: Designing service offerings, managing work, optimising workflows, and embedding continual improvement.

Ideal For: IT practitioners, service managers, and team leaders overseeing service creation, delivery, and operational performance.

2) ITIL®4 Specialist: Drive Stakeholder Value:

Focuses on customer and stakeholder engagement.

Topics include: Customer Experience (CX), co-creation of value, relationship management, and managing user journeys.

Ideal For: Professionals working closely with customers, partners, and other stakeholders to build strong relationships and deliver value.

3) ITIL®4 Specialist: High-velocity IT:

Designed for environments with rapid technology change and high levels of automation.

Topics include: Integrating Agile, Lean, and DevOps principles with ITIL practices.

Ideal For: IT managers, digital transformation leaders, and teams operating in fast-paced, technology-driven or automated environments.

Discover the core Service Management activities and key concepts with our ITIL® 4 Specialist: High Velocity IT Training – Register today!

4) ITIL®4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve:

Combines strategic planning with a focus on continual improvement.

Topics include: Governance principles, performance measurement, and risk management.

Ideal For: Managers and leaders responsible for aligning ITSM activities with business strategy, implementing governance, and driving continuous improvement.

3) ITIL®4 Strategic Leader

The Strategic Leader (SL) designation recognises professionals who use IT as a driver for business strategy. It’s aimed at senior managers and leaders responsible for aligning IT services with organisational goals. 

Requirement: Complete two modules:

1) ITIL® 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve (DPI): shared with MP.

2) ITIL® 4 Leader: Digital and IT Strategy (DITS): focuses on developing and executing digital strategies, managing organisational change, and preparing for emerging technologies.

Ideal For:

a) IT Directors

b) Department heads

c) Senior managers involved in digital transformation

Explore leadership, governance, and digital transformation to drive long-term value with our ITIL® 4 Leader: Digital and IT Strategy Certification – Join soon!

4) ITIL® 4 Practice Manager (PM)

The ITIL® 4 Practice Manager designation is for professionals who want to deepen their expertise in specific ITIL practices. It demonstrates practical, applied skills across multiple ITSM areas.

To achieve PM, you must complete:

a) ITIL® 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver and Support (CDS)
 plus

b) Either five individual Practitioner certifications or one combined practice bundle.

Practice Bundles

1) ITIL® 4 Specialist: Monitor, Support & Fulfil
Ideal For: Service desk, operations, and support teams.
Includes Practices:

a) Service Desk

b) Incident Management

c) Service Request Management

d) Monitoring and Event Management

e) Problem Management

2) ITIL® 4 Specialist: Plan, Implement & Control
Ideal For: Change, release, and asset management professionals.
Includes Practices:

a) Change Enablement

b) Release Management

c) Deployment Management

d) Service Configuration Management

e) IT Asset Management

3) ITIL® 4 Specialist: Collaborate, Assure & Improve
Ideal For: Managers and leaders working on stakeholder relationships, service quality, and continual improvement.
Includes Practices:

a) Relationship Management

b) Supplier Management

c) Service Level Management

d) Information Security Management

e) Continual Improvement

Individual Practitioner Modules (If Taken Separately)

Each ITIL® 4 Practitioner module develops deep, practice-specific expertise:

a) Service Desk

b) Incident Management

c) Problem Management

d) Service Request Management

e) Monitoring and Event Management

f) Change Enablement

g) Release Management

h) Deployment Management

i) Service Configuration Management

j) Information Security Management

k) Service Level Management

l) Relationship Management

m) Supplier Management

n) IT Asset Management

Support the successful delivery and management of IT services with our ITIL® 4 Practitioner: Supplier Management Certification – Sign up now!

5) ITIL®4 Extension Modules

The ITIL® 4 Extension Modules focus on emerging technologies and modern Service Management challenges. They help IT professionals stay updated with industry changes, emerging technologies, and evolving industry themes. It has four modules:

1) ITIL® 4 Specialist: Acquiring and Managing Cloud Services Training

2) ITIL® 4 Specialist: Business Relationship Management Course

3) ITIL® 4 Specialist: Sustainability in Digital and IT Training ITIL® SDIT

4) ITIL® 4 Specialist: IT Asset Management Training

Let's have a brief look at each of these modules:

1) ITIL® 4 Specialist: Acquiring and Managing Cloud Services Training

Focuses on selecting, acquiring, and managing cloud services effectively to meet business needs. Includes governance, Supplier Management, and optimisation of cloud resources.

2) ITIL® 4 Specialist: Sustainability in Digital and IT Training ITIL® SDIT

This explores how to create sustainable digital and IT strategies that reduce environmental impact. Covers practical approaches to balance business growth with social and environmental responsibility.

3) ITIL® 4 Specialist: Business Relationship Management Course

Centres on building and maintaining strong relationships between IT and business stakeholders. Addresses communication, trust-building, and ensuring IT services deliver business value.

4) ITIL® 4 Specialist: IT Asset Management Training

Provides knowledge to manage IT assets throughout their lifecycle for efficiency and cost control. Includes inventory tracking, compliance, and maximising the value of IT investments.

Aim for strategic growth, sustainability, and stakeholder alignment in your service delivery with our ITIL® 4 Specialist: IT Asset Management Training  – Join now!

6) ITIL®4 Master

The ITIL® 4 Master designation is the highest achievement in the ITIL® 4 certification scheme. It recognises professionals with comprehensive expertise across ITIL’s strategic, managerial, and practice-focused areas, proven through effective application in real-world ITSM environments. It requires completing both the Managing Professional (MP) and Strategic Leader (SL) designations first.

Ideal For:

Senior ITSM consultants

IT directors or CIOs

What are the Benefits of Getting ITIL®4 Certification in 2025?

Here are the benefits of acquiring the ITIL 4 Certification in 2025:

1) Better Job Opportunities: High demand for ITIL-certified professionals in cloud, big data, and digital transformation makes you stand out to recruiters.

2) Greater Value to Organisations: Enables modernisation of practices, stronger processes, better resource use, and improved team collaboration.

3) Higher Salaries: Employers usually pay more for certified employees who are demonstrating high talent.

4) Broader Business Perspective: Encourages you to see beyond your role and contribute to overall organisational growth.

5) Improved Skills and Competency: Builds expertise in ITSM concepts, tools, and techniques, with a focus on service quality and customer satisfaction.

6) Business Success: ITIL helps align IT services with overall business strategies. This ensures that IT directly supports organisational goals, driving growth and long-term success.

Different Job Roles in ITIL®4

After getting certified, in the process of the ITIL Certification Path, you can apply for many ITIL-related jobs, such as:

1) IT Service Desk Analyst

2) Service Delivery Manager

3) Incident Manager

4) Change Manager

5) IT Project Manager

6) Problem Manager

7) Configuration Manager

8) IT Director 

Salaries and Career Path After ITIL®4

ITIL-certified professionals are highly valued, and salaries vary based on experience, role, and location. Let's check them:

                                                     Source: Glassdoor

Conclusion

ITIL Certifications remain one of the most trusted and respected qualifications in IT Service Management. Whether you’re just starting out or aiming for senior leadership, the ITIL Certification Path provides a structured pathway to grow your skills, improve service quality, and enhance business value. In 2025, with organisations focusing on digital transformation, agility, and service excellence, ITIL-certified professionals are better placed than ever to lead change and deliver results.

Coordinate workflows and ensure consistent change execution with our ITIL® 4 Specialist: Plan, Implement and Control Training Course -  Be a part of it soon!