ITIL 4 vs ITIL 5: Which Should You Take in 2026?
ITIL Version 5 landed on 12 February 2026, and if you have been thinking about an ITIL certification you now face a fair question: do you take ITIL 4, which has been the standard for years, or wait and go straight for the newest version? This post gives you a straight answer, then explains the reasoning so you can decide with your own situation in mind. There is no single right choice for everyone, but there is a sensible default, and for most people it is simpler than the launch buzz might suggest.
The short answer
For most people in 2026, start with ITIL 4 Foundation now. It is available today, it is widely recognised by employers, and it bridges directly into the ITIL 5 advanced modules through the official Foundation Bridge. Waiting for ITIL 5 rarely pays off, because ITIL 4 is not going anywhere for at least the next 12 months and remains a valid, respected qualification. If you specifically want the newest version, ITIL 5 is coming soon to Career Smarter, and you can register your interest now.
What ITIL 5 actually changes
ITIL 5 is an evolution of ITIL 4 rather than a clean break. Roughly 40% of the content is retained from ITIL 4, about 36% is new, and around 24% has been changed. In other words, most of what makes ITIL useful is still there, which is exactly why ITIL 4 remains relevant.
The new material reflects how IT service management has moved on. There is a clear emphasis on AI adoption, including a dedicated AI Governance extension module, alongside value-driven delivery and sustainability. The certification structure has been reshaped too: you begin with Foundation, then move through Product, Service, Experience, Strategy and Transformation modules, before progressing to designations such as Managing Professional, Strategic Leader, Practice Manager and, ultimately, Master. PeopleCert is the certification body, as it is for ITIL 4.
The advanced modules are rolling out across 2026, so the full ITIL 5 pathway is not all available on day one. Foundation is here; the higher-level certifications arrive over the course of the year. That staggered rollout is worth keeping in mind if your plan involves going beyond Foundation quickly, because the module you want may not have launched yet.
Why ITIL 4 is not obsolete
This is the part that matters most for your decision. ITIL 4 and ITIL 5 will run in parallel for at least 12 months. ITIL 4 Foundation stays fully valid, it is held by a large number of professionals already, and employers recognise it without hesitation. When someone lists ITIL on a job advert today, they almost always mean ITIL 4.
Just as importantly, ITIL 4 is a recognised prerequisite and bridge into ITIL 5. PeopleCert offers a Foundation Bridge, so the time you spend on ITIL 4 Foundation is not wasted if you later move to version 5. You are building on it, not replacing it. If you want a refresher on what the framework covers before you commit, our guide on ITIL and project management is a good starting point, and the ITIL guiding principles carry through into version 5 largely unchanged.
Who should take which
Take ITIL 4 Foundation now if: you want a recognised qualification you can put on your CV this year, you are applying for roles that ask for ITIL, or you simply want to get started rather than wait. It is available immediately and it sets you up for whatever comes next.
Consider ITIL 5 if: you are not in a hurry, you want the very latest framing around AI governance and sustainability, or your employer has already committed to standardising on version 5. Even then, ITIL 4 Foundation first is a reasonable route, because the bridge exists precisely to let you carry your knowledge forward.
There is very little downside to starting with ITIL 4 and a real cost to waiting: months without a certification while the ITIL 5 advanced modules gradually become available. If your goal is career progress in 2026, the earlier qualification usually wins. A certification you hold now counts for more on an application than one you are planning to sit at some point later in the year.
How the two fit together in practice
Think of ITIL 4 as the foundation you can stand on today and ITIL 5 as the direction the framework is heading. The core practices, from incident and change management through to release management, remain central to both. If you learn them under ITIL 4, that understanding transfers. ITIL 5 adds new context and new modules on top; it does not erase the fundamentals.
For teams, running both versions in parallel is genuinely fine for the time being. There is no need to retrain everyone at once, and no reason to hold off on certifying new starters in ITIL 4 while you plan a longer-term move. A pragmatic approach is to keep certifying people in ITIL 4 now, watch how the ITIL 5 advanced modules land through the year, and bridge across when the modules you actually need are available and your team has the bandwidth.
Does it cost more to wait?
It can, in ways that are easy to overlook. The obvious cost is time: every month spent waiting is a month you are not certified. The less obvious cost is opportunity. If a role you want asks for ITIL and you have nothing to show yet, “I am planning to take ITIL 5 later” is a weaker position than holding ITIL 4 Foundation today. Because ITIL 4 bridges into ITIL 5, choosing it now does not lock you out of the newer version, so waiting mostly buys delay rather than any real advantage.
Our honest recommendation
Start with ITIL Foundation. It is available now, employers recognise it, and it bridges straight into ITIL 5 when you are ready. You can browse the full range on our ITIL courses page. ITIL 5 courses are coming soon to Career Smarter, so if you would rather begin with the newest version, get in touch and we will let you know the moment they are available.
Either way, the worst option is doing nothing while you wait for a decision that, honestly, does not need waiting for. ITIL 4 today, ITIL 5 when it suits you: both are valid, and both keep your options open.