ITIL Bridging Courses Explained
ITIL is the most widely adopted approach to IT Service Management. It provides a cohesive set of “best practice” guidance drawn from the public and private sectors across the world. ITIL is a central component both in ensuring efficient service delivery and in meeting IT Governance objectives.
The ITIL framework was re-launched in 2007 (“version 3”) along with new training courses and qualifications which are being introduced progressively through 2008.
Amongst the new qualifications available are Bridging Courses. These allow those with existing ITIL Certifications to upgrade their knowledge and accelerate achievement of the Version 3 qualifications. This article explains who they are appropriate to and how they work.
1. ITIL Version 3 – What’s New?
The latest version of ITIL was published in 2007. It builds on the well established ITIL approaches but interprets them in the context of service lifecycle. It recognises the shift that has occurred as IT/IS operations have become an integral element of all modern organisations - rather than a discrete bolt on function.
Many people familiar with earlier editions of ITIL have come to think of it in the context of a number of key processes. In most cases these remain important knowledge sets within ITIL and are described in detail within one or more of the five Version 3 manuals.
New aspects of ITIL v3 manuals and training:
- Service Strategy as the central driver
- Emphasis on Service rather than Process
- Dynamic Service Portfolio (rather than linear service catalogue)
- Integration (not just alignment) of IT and rest of organisation
- The cycle of Continuous Service Improvement
2. ITIL Qualification Structure
There are four levels within the new scheme:
• Foundation
• Intermediate (Service Lifecycle & Service Capability)
• ITIL Expert
• Advanced Service Management Professional
The new ITIL qualifications scheme recognises the value of existing V2 qualifications and introduces a system that gives credits for both ITIL V2 and V3 courses.
To achieve the ITIL Expert qualification, candidates must achieve at least 22 credits, two of which can be gained at Foundation level. (Full details of the new ITIL Qualification structure can be obtained from the www.focusprojects.co.uk/itsm website.)
For holders of existing ITIL certifications there are Bridging Courses which offer training on the new aspects of ITIL. These courses are the main subject of this paper.
3. ITIL Foundation Bridge
The ITIL Foundation Bridge training and exam is for those who hold an earlier version ITIL Foundation certificate and who wish to obtain V3 certification.
Obtaining the V3 Foundation via this route (or by taking the full Foundation exam again) is mandatory for those seeking the new Intermediate and ITIL Expert qualifications. It is not necessary for those eligible to Bridge via the Practitioner or Manager Bridge routes (see below).
The ITIL Foundation Bridge course provides an intensive overview of the new and modified topics in ITIL V3. The Service Lifecycle is introduced and the contribution of ITIL Service Management processes to each of the 5 elements is explained. The course assumes familiarity of the candidate with basic ITIL concepts and processes; if this is not the case then the 3 day ITIL Foundation course is recommended.
The exam is a 20 question closed book, multiple choice paper taking 30 minutes. The pass mark is 65%. Successful candidates are awarded 0.5 credits under the ITIL qualification scheme bringing their foundation credits to 2.0 (1.5 credits are given for the V1 or V2 certificate).
4. ITIL Manager’s Bridge
The ITIL Manager’s Bridge training and exam is for those who hold an earlier version ITIL Manager’s certificate and who wish to obtain the V3 ITIL Expert certificate.
The ITIL Manager’s Bridge course provides an intensive overview of the new and modified topics in ITIL V3. The new elements are explored under the following categories:
- Service Management as a Practice
- The Service Lifecycle
- Generic Concepts & Definitions
- Key principles and Models
- Processes
- Functions
- Roles & Organisation
- Technology & Architecture
- Implementation Considerations
- Complementary Industry Guidance (other frameworks)
The course duration is either 4 or 5 days with the exam taken on the final day.
The exam is a 20 question closed book, scenario based, complex multiple choice paper taking 90 minutes. The pass mark is 80%.
Successful candidates achieve ITIL Expert certification without the need for further study under the V3 scheme.
It is not necessary to upgrade your Foundation certificate before following this route.
5. ITIL Practitioner Bridge
For those with substantial certification under the ITIL Practitioner certificate level there is a third bridging route. The pre-requisite is that candidates hold a minimum of 12 credits from V1/V2 certificates in non duplicated areas (3.5 credits for “clustered” practitioner certificates and 2 credits for “single” practitioner certificates).
Candidates following this route first complete the Manager’s Bridge course through an accredited training provider THEN successfully complete the new “Managing through the Lifecycle” course.
About the Author: Rex Gibson
Rex Gibson leads the IT Service management group within Focus on Training. Focus is a fast growing training organisation that specialises in project management and IT. Focus works in association with most of the leading accredited providers of ITIL, Microsoft, PRINCE2, APM and PMI training.
Rex has successfully executed major business change and IT projects, and has managed international engineering companies with significant IT dependency.
Version E1.01 Feb 2008
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