As of January 1, 2023 PeopleCert instituted a Certification Renewal program which applies to all PeopleCert certifications, all students and all trainers.  All certifications will need to be renewed after three (3) years.

• If you certified before 30 June 2020: you will have until 1 July 2023 to renew your certification, regardless of when you were awarded the certification.
• If certified after June 2020: you will have to renew your certification(s) within 3 years of the original award date.

Recertification Paths

From 15 January 2023 to 28 February 2023 there are two renewal paths are available:

• Retake the same exam: You can pay and re-take the original exam before the renewal date.
• Take further courses and certifications: You can renew certification by attending another course and taking an exam within the same product suite before the renewal date.

From March 1, 2023, a third renewal path will be available to candidates:

• Collect and log CPD points: You can collect and log 20 CPD points by accruing Professional Development Points (CDP’s) on the MyAxelos membership program.  More details on this path will follow in sometime this month.

Successful Candidate Register

When you receive certification, your name will be included in the Successful Candidates Register (SCR) and the Candidate Verification Service.  If you elect not to recertify, a note will be added to their record to indicate that their certification needs to be renewed to align with current certification requirements.

ITIL Exam Background

As of January 1, 2018, AXELOS made PeopleCert the only ITIL Exam Institute in the world.  Prior to this date there were several including PeopleCert, EXIN and APMG.  So, this means that you can only take your ITIL Exams from PeopleCert.

PeopleCert in turn accredits training organizations and exam providers who in turn are allowed to sell ITIL exam vouchers.  So, when it comes to purchasing ITIL exams you can purchase them from PeopleCert directly or you can purchase them from an accredited training organization (ATO) or an accredited exam organization (AEO).  Each operates under the rules and regulations of PeopleCert and are able to sell ITIL exams under the guidelines set for them by PeopleCert.

Step 1: When you are ready to buy your ITIL exam voucher, look for ITIL ATO or AEO as they almost always will offer you a lower price than the Exam Institute.  Exam institutes typically have resellers that offer their exams, so you will find that the resellers usually offer better prices.

Step 2: To find an exam reseller do a Google search. If the deals you see are too good to be true, like get certified for $29, then it is too good to be true. There are no ITIL exams anywhere in the world that you can purchase for $29.

For example, here is the 2018 List Price for ITIL Exams:

• ITIL Foundation – $349
• ITIL Intermediate Track Courses & MALC – $399
• ITIL Practitioner – $469

Step 3: Make sure that the organization selling you the exam is authorized to do so. That means they need to be an ITIL ATO or an AEO.

Remember – ITIL Exam Vouchers are valid for use for 1 year from the date of purchase. So, if you know you are taking your exam within 365 days, you can buy your exam voucher now and know that you have 365 days to use it. And, PeopleCert will let you extend the voucher for 6 months for a small fee as long as you contact them before the 1 year from date of purchase is up.

To check out GogoTraining’s current ITIL Foundation Exam Deal, Click Here. To get prices on ITIL Practitioner, Intermediate or MALC exams, Contact US.

Good News!  AXELOS and PeopleCert have just announced that your current ITIL certifications will remain valid following the ITIL 4 Update.  Other than that bit of news, there is nothing more to report.  Throughout the rest of the year AXELOS will be sharing what they are doing and getting feedback.  A major announcement is expected from AXELOS in August 2018.  The bottom line:

• If you hold current ITIL Certifications – your certificates will remain valid
• If you are needing to get trained – go ahead as all certificates will remain valid

We will update you as more news is released.

If you have specific questions, send them to customerservice@gogotraining.com or call us at 877.546.4446.

Is ITIL Online Training For You?

It used to be that when you were ready to get your ITIL Certifications you signed up for a live instructor-ed, classroom-delivered course.  When you did that, you had to get approval to take off from work and the budget to take the class.  Live ITIL classroom courses can cost anywhere from $1,200 to $3,500 depending on the course, the length of the course and whether or not the certification exam was included in the cost of the training.  With training budgets being the first to be hit when budgets are tightened, many individuals and organizations are turning to online self-paced ITIL courses.

Online self-paced ITIL training has many benefits:

• You can train on your timeframe
• You can train from any location
• Courses are available 24/7
• You can repeat and rewind in order to master the materials
• Pricing is at 50 to 75% lower than classroom training
  • Contact Us for course and exam pricing

The Downside to Online Self-Paced ITIL Training

The biggest downside is time.  Whenever you are assigned or decide to take a class you MUST allocate the time to take the class.  We have found that the most successful students setup a schedule and, if assigned by their company, get approval to take the time to take the class from their manager.  This ensures that there is a timetable and approval to take the class.  Almost like getting approval to take a live class.   When you treat an online class like a live class you will have a much better chance of completing the class and sitting for the certification exam.

 Goal Setting and Time Allocation

If you are good at managing your time and setting goals, then online self-paced training will be a good vehicle for you to achieve your goals in a timely and cost-effective manner.  The most important thing to do is to set your goals and to allocate the time to achieve them.  The next most important thing is to find a course that is engaging.  There are courses taught by computers and animation and there are courses taught by real instructors.  Everyone has different interests and most companies allow you to sample their courses before you buy them.  Take the time to sample and find the type of course that you find most engaging.

How to Pick A Great Online Self-Paced ITIL Training Class

The most important feature of any online self-paced class is that it is created by an expert instructor and designed and proven to be a successful knowledge transfer course.  For example, there are organizations today that allow anyone to put up a course without checking the author’s credentials.  To be successful you want to make sure that the organization you choose is working with expert instructors.  You want to make sure that the classes are accredited.  In the case of ITIL you want to make sure that the courses are taught by ITIL Experts and that they include sample exams, exercises designed to help you master the materials and you want to be able to ask the instructor questions.  Do not accept a substitute.

Check Box for Success

 Here are a list of questions you will want to ask to help ensure your success:

• Is the class accredited?
• Is it taught by an ITIL Expert?
• Does the course come with exercises?
• Does the course come with sample exams?
• What kind of support comes with the class?
• Do I have access to the instructor to ask questions?
• How long do I have access to the class?
• Can I take the course as many times as I need to in order to master the content?
• Does the course come with exam tips?

 Have Questions?  Need a Price Quote?

The team at GogoTraining is here to help.  Have a question about a certification?  Need help planning your training roadmap?  Looking for a course and exam package?  Call us at 877.546.4446 or email us at customerservice@gogotraining.com

By Guest Author Adrian Bates

Hello, my name is Adrian Bates and I have utilized GogoTraining to acquire three ITIL certifications: ITIL Foundations; ITIL Release Control and Validation Intermediate; and Planning Process and Optimization Intermediate Certification.

Here are a couple of tips and tricks that I use to identify what information is critical to absorb during training. Additionally, I listed a couple of tips that have helped me prepare for an exam.

Tip 1:

Prior to taking the training, I briefly reviewed the “Example Exams” within the module. I tended to focus on the “Question Rationale” portion of the test exam. This explains the reasoning behind how it was determined what the best answer is for each question.  There is an area within the question and rationale titled “Bloom’s Taxonomy Testing Level”. This portion explains what the candidate is expected to understand. This tends to help me during training as key parts of the course tend to stand out as critical pieces of information when reflecting on the example exams.

Tip 2:

Another key piece of information that assists with passing the exams is understanding the functional roles and responsibilities of each process. Each scenario speaks to a specific process and generally asks that you align the process or manager role accordingly.  If you have a fundamental understanding of the Capacity, Availability, Demand, Continuity processes etc…, you will have a higher chance of answering the question correctly.

Tip 3:

The last tip I have is that you thoroughly read the question being asked. Every scenario presents a challenge or obstacle that has to be overcome. Close attention must be paid to what question is being asked. For example, the question may ask something along the lines like; what is the best “approach” to create a successful continuity plan that addresses the issues listed by the Information Security Officer. The answers will vary, some of the answers are known as “distracters”. For example, one of the answers might illustrate a plan. The plan will sound great and may be best way to solve the issue. Keep in mind, you were not asked to solve the problem.  You were asked to assess the best way to approach the problem, and to create a plan that in the end will address the issues.  Again, it is very important that you read the question being asked slowly and to answer it as direct as possible.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my tips and tricks! My goal is to achieve ITIL expert and I have found this technique to be very helpful.  I have passed every exam on the first try and I strongly recommend GogoTraining when preparing for your exams.  Their training material is a great asset. The cost, accessibility to the site, support and training, in my opinion all receive good marks. You will realize this when you take the exam.

Despite innovations, disruptions, and rapid changes, IT is one industry that continues to survive and thrive

Contrary to popular misconceptions, the information technology sector is flourishing and will continue to employ skilled workers in large numbers. Factors like automation and new technologies only open new opportunities for your IT career path.

Technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics, scientific advancements like space exploration and medical procedures, provide tremendous opportunities for IT experts.

For IT professionals in the US who are scared of outsourcing, fear not! Most of the outsourced jobs are mundane, repetitive jobs which will be automated sooner or later.

However, the innovative IT jobs are on the rise. In addition, there are numerous opportunities for someone who is a tech wizard.

If you’re interested in knowing what an IT professional’s career path looks like, keep reading….

It’s difficult but interesting

Working in the IT industry is not a cakewalk. But then, nor is it in any other industry!

If you have an affinity for technology and enjoy working on new complex challenges, the IT industry is for you.

You might have heard numerous stories of IT professionals who work day and night in their offices without even the time to go home just for a few hours.

It’s true. There are times when they have to slog and stretch. However, what most of the people ignore is the fact that a large number of people in this industry are highly passionate about their job. They enjoy their work more than anything else, which is the reason for their sustainability and growth despite the work pressure.

Working in the IT industry lets you apply your analytical mind, logic, and creativity.

If you want to become a successful IT professional, you must have passion, persistence and stamina.  If you do, success will be yours.

Career paths in the IT industry

Information technology is a vast industry with 100s of specialties. Some are discussed here:

Database Administrator

Big Data’s a revolution. Every enterprise generates massive volumes of data through its customer interactions, which is needed for analytics. This is where a DBA plays a key role.

Graphic Design

It’s where the creativity meets technology. If you’re a skilled artist, becoming a graphic designer is the right career for you.

Video Game Developer and Tester

Advancements in technology and graphic designing have made video games more sophisticated than ever. There’s tremendous scope as a games developer or tester.

Animator

Animators get to show their skills to a far greater extent now than ever. From animated movies to live action films, and advertisements and games, animation offers tremendous scope.

IT Security

The advancements in IT have also increased the threats. Viruses and malware are pretty common, and there’s always a requirement for more skilled IT security professionals to deal with the threats.

Programming and Coding

Coding shall never be out of the fashion. Most of the top entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerburg started out as coders. There’s immense scope in this field.

Project Manager

This comes as an advanced career path once you’ve moved up the ladder in the IT industry. As a project manager, you get to manage people and entire projects.

Conclusion

IT industry continues to offer significant scope for those who are willing to work hard and smart. Learn IT courses and programming languages online to move one step ahead towards building an exciting career in the IT industry.  If you’re looking to begin a new career, browse our course catalog and see how easy it is to get started in an IT career.

GogoTraining conducted a webinar on Mar 15, where Dr. Suzanne Van Hove discussed several nuances of ITIL Practitioner. She explained in detail about the ITIL Practitioner course, the concepts of IT Service Management, and why you need the Practitioner. She also answered some frequently asked questions related to ITIL Practitioner.

Key takeaways from the seminar:

1. Students will need to understand the following terms & concepts:
   1. What is Adopt & Adapt
   2. Service Value,
   3. Who is or can be the Customer
   4. What is Effective vs. Efficient,
   5. VOCR (Value, Outcome, Costs, Risks)
2. The importance of Communication, Metrics and Organizational Change Management to the Service Management consultant
3. The need for and use of an improvement framework

A Peek Inside the ITIL Practitioner Exam

Passing the ITIL Practitioner exam is all about applying the concepts. 70-80% of the questions in the ITIL exam are application-based while remaining are based on theories. Thus, you should spend a majority of your preparation time (70-80%) on doing exercises to strengthen your ability to apply theoretical knowledge.

Most of the exercises in ITIL Practitioner training are based on case studies. There will be a fictitious company and a hypothetical situation. You need to apply the ITIL concepts and identify key elements in order to implement the proper solution within the given situational context.   Only through the proper implementation of the concepts can you solve the problems correctly.

The ITIL Practitioner course has several advantages such as helping you gain practical skills, boosting your self-confidence and teaching you about the environment in which Service Management decisions are made within an organization. The course also helps you become an internal or external specialist and utilize the skills learned to provide expert professional advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Are exam questions similar to the exercises in the course?

Answer: No. The exercises are designed to reinforce the principles. Since the exam questions are based on a particular case, you need to have a tremendous understanding of the concepts and their applications to answer them. However, practicing the exercises will help you do better in the final exam.

Question:  When can I take the ITIL Practitioner

Answer:  ITIL Foundation is mandatory for taking ITIL Practitioner exam. Also, it is recommended that you should take at least take one or two intermediate classes before attempting ITIL Practitioner so that you develop the understanding of the context and critical ITSM concepts.

Question:  How difficult would it be for experienced ITSM professionals if they take the Practitioner exam without undergoing a training program?

Answer: It will be difficult as it uses a specific language and you need to write ITIL Practitioner exam in a particular atmosphere. So, you will need to study the course extensively and familiarize yourself with all the core concepts before taking the exam.

Question: How much studying do I need to pass the exam?

Answer: It depends on the individual. There are many concepts which are subtle while others are quite dynamic. You need to read the course text thoroughly and practice the activities given in the book.  If you have done the ITIL CSI intermediate course, it will help you in the Practitioner exam preparation. You may also highlight the key concepts in the book so that you can refer to them quickly during the exam.

Question: Should I take any particular Intermediate Class before attempting the ITIL Practitioner exam?

Answer: It would be good to take one or two intermediate courses before you take ITIL Practitioner.  If you have not taken any we recommend CSI or Service Strategy.

Question: How is ITIL Practitioner different from ITIL Expert?

Answer: ITIL Expert is very different from ITIL Practitioner regarding content as well the context. The Expert doesn’t deal with the soft skills and still requires you to memorize the concepts even though it is more practical than the Intermediates. ITIL Practitioner is more hands-on and based on your application of concepts in different contexts.

Conclusion

You need ITIL Practitioner so that you learn the skills necessary to lead an Adopt & Adapt initiative within your organization. ITIL Practitioner is significantly different from the other ITIL courses as in the Practitioner your focus is not on memorizing new knowledge but, synthesizing what you already have and applying it to real-life situations.  Active participation in course exercises, as well as focused study, will be critical to pass this difficult exam.

If you have any questions to Dr. Van Hove, please send them to customerservice@gogotraining.com.

Average annual compensation for software developers and system engineers in the USA is around $104,500. A career in the IT sector not only offers a handsome salary and tremendous learning opportunities but it also provides a global exposure. The demand for digital tools and services is growing across all industries in the USA which is driving the growth in employment in Information Technology sector.  There is no better time than today to build a sound career in the IT industry!

Here are your 5 Steps to Landing a Job in the IT Industry

1.) Learn a Programming Language

To develop a career in the IT sector, you need to learn a programming language or a particular IT skill. Join an online course and gain mastery over any programming language or related skill set. Check out the applications and specialized software programs that are powered by the language you are learning. Try to work on as many real word projects as possible.  Practice rigorously, and build a robust portfolio. The portfolio will be extremely useful in showing your skills to potential employers.

2.) Get Certified

Not all programming languages have official certification exams. However, for some languages such as Java SE 8 programming, etc. you have the option to get certified by an authorized body. Taking advantage of certifications to advance your career in the IT sector is a smart move. Get certified by the appropriate widely recognized body. While the certification may not be entirely necessary, it will help you gain more credibility in your area of expertise and set you apart from other similarly qualified applicants.

3.) Write a Focused Resume

You need to invest significant time in developing a resume that represents your skills and accomplishments. Don’t copy the buzzwords from the internet. Prepare a short resume (1-2 pages) with all relevant details. It must be tailor-made for the job you are applying. This means it should have only the pertinent information related to the position you are applying for. By creating job customized resumes, you will increase your chances of getting that all important first interview.

4.) Expand your Network

Make an impressive LinkedIn profile and add relevant connections on a regular basis. Use a professional profile photo and complete the employment section with updated information. Use the right keywords that reflect your personality traits and professional skill sets. Engage with industry professionals and develop genuine relationships on the platform. Ask your classmates, current and former colleagues for a recommendation on LinkedIn. Remember that a majority of recruiters go through candidates’ LinkedIn profiles before calling them for the interview. Thus, an excellent LinkedIn profile can contribute significantly to your career’s success.

5.) Prepare for the Interview

An interview may last for 30 minutes or more. However, almost a third of interviewers know within the first 90 seconds whether they are going to hire you or not. That means, your first impression not only counts but impacts the selection process significantly. Thus, work on your personality and do everything that boosts your confidence. Pay close attention to your  outfit and personal hygiene. If the interview is on the phone, be aware of background noise and any speaking habits that hurt your credibility (“uhhh…”, “like…like…like”, speaking too fast, etc.)

Before appearing for the interview, brush-up your knowledge about the company and make sure to have a list of relevant questions pertaining to the job in question. During the interview, maintain a direct eye contact with the interviewer. Crack a smile when you are feeling less confident and speak assertively. Recruiters don’t hire people who are not sure about their expertise. Thus, stay positive and be confident during the entire interview process.

The Bottom Line…

Being prepared for the role you want and the company you’re interviewing for is crucial.   Be ready to work hard and become an expert in your field. Enroll for advanced online IT courses to keep your knowledge updated. Remember that to be successful in the technology industry, you need to learn new things continuously so that you can add value to the business from the start and all the way through your career.

AXELOS introduced the ITIL Practitioner certification in early 2016. While other courses of ITIL mainly focus on “What is ITIL,” the ITIL Practitioner is designed to teach “How to adopt and adapt ITIL.” It is a welcome step as it seeks to address the concern related to “How to get started with ITIL.”

The ITIL Practitioner shows you how to adopt and adapt ITIL best practices into your organization and make ITIL come to life. It helps you get beyond the best practices and see how to use them to streamline your organization and save money.

The ITIL Practitioner course has included several modern concepts, interactive tools, and templates, and most importantly the people aspect of ITSM implementations through key modules such as Organization Change Management (OCM) and Communication.

The ITIL Practitioner exam requires thorough study and understanding.  You will be expected to have read the book and to understand how to adopt and adapt what you learned.  For the first time in the history of ITIL, there is a provision for open book format for the ITIL Practitioner certification exam.  You are allowed to mark up the pages and know where to find information so it may help you during the exam.  While this sounds as though it makes the exam easier, it is actually the opposite.  You really need to know the book inside and out before you take the exam.  You must be able to find what you need quickly and use it to select the correct answer.  This is a very different exam and you will need to plan differently to pass.

Why is the Exam is Open Book?

The ITIL Practitioner course deals mainly with the concepts that support the deployment of ITSM principles. The exam requires the students to adopt, adapt and apply ITIL best practices. The official course material consists of tools and templates such as KPI Balance Checklist, Communication campaign checklist, Business case, etc. which are used for various purposes. You need to have a working knowledge of these tools in order to correctly implement them in real-world situations. Thus, ITIL Practitioner certification exam is designed to assess your ability to apply the ITSM principles. A majority of the questions in the exam are related to different situations where understanding the context is more important than memorizing concepts. Thus, an open book format enables students to focus on contextual applications of the concepts without spending time in remembering the principles.

Here is a quick guide to help you prepare for the exam:

1.) Remember to Prioritize the Concepts

In this type of exam, your interpretation of the concepts is crucial. However, you need to study the concepts thoroughly and memorize some of them so that you don’t need to refer the book to answer every question. You will not have adequate time to do so. Thus, you need to prioritize the concepts that you should memorize. For instance, read and understand the case studies given in the book so that you don’t waste your time reading the cases during the exam.

2.) Form a study group

Study groups work well for any studies. It is particularly helpful in the preparation of ITIL Practitioner certification exam. By discussing ideas and sample questions with others, you will have a better understanding of the applicability of the concepts in different contexts. The study conversations with friends may also help you recall the ideas during the exam. The discussions also assist in making right assumptions while solving some questions.

3.) Use the book in the mock tests

If you are planning to use the book in the exam, then practice the mock tests in the similar fashion. By doing so, you will have a better understanding of how to search for the information in the book quickly and what preparation you need to make to score well in the final exam. In short, it will be of immense help in strategizing your certification exam.

4.) Mark key information in the official book

Bear in mind that only official handbook along with tabulation of its content is allowed in the exam. Since you have 135 minutes to answer 40 questions, you can’t spend significant time in searching for relevant information in the book. Thus, you should mark key ideas and tabulate them neatly so that you can find the relevant concepts quickly.

5.) Learn Time Management

Try to solve those questions first that don’t require any help from the book. Some of the questions might be very confusing and take a lot of time to solve them correctly even with the support of the book. Answer them towards the end of the exam. You must manage your time effectively so that you don’t miss many easy questions in the quest of solving a few tough ones or spending too much time on searching information in the book.

6.) Maintain Examination Temperament

Maintaining exam temperament and handling pressure effectively is the key to success in an open book exam format like this. There could be many questions which are vaguely worded and require you to make assumptions. It may be frustrating at times, to read and reread the questions and make assumptions when you are under pressure. You need to be calm, read the questions objectively and maintain your cool while tackling such issues.

7.) Write The Exam when you are Confident

Unlike traditional classroom programs, GogoTraining offers a self-paced learning environment where you have the flexibility to learn the essential concepts required for ITIL Practitioner certification at a time and place of your choice. Take advantage of the flexibility and write the exam when you are fully understood all the concepts. You will also have access to to the instructor to ask all the questions regarding exam preparation.

 Conclusion

Although ITIL Practitioner certification is not a prerequisite for ITIL Intermediate Level qualifications, it carries three credits towards ITIL Expert certification. Moreover, it is an excellent course because you learn how to adopt and adapt ITIL best practices which will make you a key employee, one that everyone wants to have on their team.  A carefully planned approach, thorough study and some practice you can easily get comfortable with open book format and score well in the exam.