The Official Guide to Getting your PeopleCert ITIL 4 Managing Professional Certification

Wednesday, 27 September, 2023

The ITIL 4 Managing Professional certification path is focused on how to run successful IT enabled services, teams and workflows.  It was created to help IT Practitioners who work in technology and support digital teams across the business.  The path consists of 4 courses, and we are often asked the best order to take the courses so here is some great input by course author Dr. Suzanne Van Hove.  We hope you find this helpful and look forward to hearing from you.


  1. ITIL 4 Strategist:  Direct, Plan and Improve (DPI) – DPI is a great starting point because it starts you, as the provider, on the strategic thinking/governance piece.
  2. ITIL 4 Strategist:  Drive Stakeholder Value (DSV) – DSV then focusses on the customer journey – understanding what the customer wants/needs and addressing those requirements.
  3. ITIL 4 Strategist:  Create, Deliver & Support (CDS) – CDS then looks at the processes to create, deliver and support the service.
  4. ITIL 4 Strategist:  High Velocity IT (HVIT) – HVIT focusses on how disrupting technologies can be exploited/included in your design.

In my mind, HVIT should be taken last if only due to the heavy focus on technology.  When designing a service, the focus should be on meeting the needs of the consumer and provider. If you already have a great customer focus, then you can jump into HVIT.  Just remember it is the hardest and most intense of the four Managing Professional courses with much memorization of tables included.

~Dr. Suzanne Van Hove

 

Become An ITIL 4 Master

Monday, 12 June, 2023

Offer Rules:  This offer may not be combined with other offers.  The Monitor, Support & Fulfil course will be placed in your account no later than August 2023.  This offer is valid June 2023.  Pricing for this course is offered as a Pre-Release Sale.  Want more details on the courses?  Click on the links below:

 

ITIL 4 Recertification – An Easy Step to ITIL Master

Monday, 12 June, 2023

Attention all ITIL 4 Managing Professionals

There is a clear and easy path for you to achieve the ITIL 4 Master Designation and recertify.  PeopleCert has initiated a Recertification program.  The program requires students to recertify every 3-years.  There is a lot of information we need to share with you so please read to the end where we will share a very special offer with you.

Key Points

  1. Recertification is only required for ITIL 4 Certifications.
  2. If you received your last ITIL 4 Certification before June 2020, then your certifications must be renewed by July1, 2023 to keep them active.
  3. If you received your ITIL 4 Certification after June 2020, then you have 3-years from the date of your last certification to renew.
  4. If you do not renew before your certification expires, then it becomes inactive, and your certifications will renew for 3 more years when you take of the actions below.

How to Recertify

There are 3 ways to recertify.  We will discuss them all here and give you the pro’s and con’s.

  1. You can pay for and take the same exam again.
    • We think this is the worst way to recertify.  It is expensive and you really get nothing in return, but renewal.
  2. You can pay $122/year for 3-years for a MyAxelos subscription and record 60 hours a year of study on the MyAxelos site .
    • This is the most expensive way to recertify when you consider what your time is valued at.
  3. You can take a new course, gain a new certification and recertify everything – This is a really good option, and we are not saying this because that is our business.

How Taking A New Course Gets You Recertified

Taking a new course is a great option because PeopleCert has just released the New Practice Manager Certifications and they have  2 GREAT Features:

  • It offers 1-day Practice Courses with Certification exams – Very, Very Economical.
  • It offers a 3-day Practice Manager course and exam that is required to become an ITIL Master.

The New Practice Manager Certification Gets you the ITIL Master Designation

Ok, for those of you that read to this point – thank you.  Here is the scoop.  ITIL 4 Master requires you to hold the ITIL 4 Managing Professional, Strategic Leader and Practice Manager Designations and you automatically become an ITIL Master.

  • For those of you who hold the Managing Professional designation, then you only need to take 2 courses to become an ITIL Master (Digital & IT Strategy and the new ITIL Practice Manager course, Monitor, Support & Fulfil).
  • If you hold the Managing Professional and Strategic Leader Certifications, then you only need 1 course to achieve ITIL 4 Master – the new ITIL 4 Practice Manager course, Monitor, Support & Fulfil).

SPECIAL OFFERS

This offer may not be combined with other offers.  Please note that the Digital & IT Strategy course will go into your account when you make your purchase.  The Monitor, Support & Fulfil course will be available late July  2023 and we will contact you to find out when you would like to activate the course.  Purchasing the package now during the pre-release sale, locks in your savings.

 

Is It Too Late to Become an ITIL Expert?

Thursday, 28 October, 2021

The quick answer is no.  ITIL Expert is available to achieve until December 31, 2021.

Why Now?

For this answer we went to ITIL Expert, Dr. Suzanne Van Hove:  Suzanne shared that if you have achieved 17 ITIL V3 credits, then there are four reasons to take MALC and achieve the ITIL Expert designation:

  • Becoming an ITIL Experts puts you in a very elite group.
  • Taking the MALC gives you a great understanding of the 2011 processes and how they interact; so important to have those thought processes when addressing ITIL 4.
  • Taking MALC gives you a solid understanding of the service lifecycle and where it fits into the ITIL 4 schema, so you have a leg up when you go to adopt and adapt ITIL 4 into your organization.
  • Taking MALC solidifies the concept of ‘process’ to a point where ITIL 4 practices and their application across the enterprise makes sense.

Do you have 17 ITIL V3 credits?  If yes, it’s not too late to become an ITIL EXPERT – but, time is running out.  The last MALC exam will be given on December 31, 2021.  The time to act is now.

SPECIAL OFFER

MALC Course & Exam Offer – $497 (List Price $995)

  • Includes the Accredited Self-Paced Managing Across the Lifecycle Course taught by Dr. Suzanne Van Hove, access to Dr. Van Hove to ask questions, all course materials, 1 PeopleCert Exam Voucher and 1 exam retake if require
  • This offer cannot be combined with other offers and is valid until November 30, 2021.
  • Need help or have questions?  Contact Us.

 

Why ITIL 4 Direct, Plan & Improve is the Place to Start

Wednesday, 14 July, 2021

By Dr. Suzanne Van Hove

 

We all know that Foundation is the first course in the ITIL 4 path, but where should you go from there?  ITIL Direct, Plan & Improve (DPI) was the ITIL 4 Managing Professional class I enjoyed most delivering – it tells a story with a moral of “prepare and plan for great success in the future.”

Why Take DPI First?

DPI is the class that I would take first in order to understand the foundational elements of the Service Value Stream (SVS), and to prepare the environment for service creation and delivery, stakeholder management, and eventually looking at the high-velocity environment.

Focus On The Organization

Looking at the new ITIL® training schema and the importance of service value system, Governance and guiding principles are key to setting up a system that reflects the needs of the organization and consumer.  ITIL 4 Direct, Plan and Improve focuses on those aspects, ensuring the foundational principles are in place so that the approving of new/changed products and services is accurate and beneficial to the organization and consumer.

Factors Critical to Your Success

The principles of governance, risk and compliance (GRC) are the main topics of DPI as well as organizational change management (OCM), continual improvement, and measurement and reporting.  While these topics are may be a bit on the “non-exciting” side, they are crucial and fundamental to good service delivery.

Ready to Get Started?

Get the 90 Day Special Offer Today!

 

How to Get a Free PeopleCert ITIL 4 Managing Professional Exam Voucher

Thursday, 11 March, 2021

In honor of the release of our fully Accredited ITIL 4 Managing Professional courses, GogoTraining is offering 50 Free ITIL 4 Exam Vouchers to the first 50 people who purchase an ITIL 4 Managing Professional Course this month.

Here is how it works:

  • Purchase the course(s) you need using the links below for $495
  • Receive a Free PeopleCert Exam Voucher – Valid for 1 year
  • Receive Lifetime Access to the course
  • Receive full instructor support by Dr. Suzanne Van Hove
  • Save $488 (PeopleCert Exam Voucher Price)

Click on the link below to secure your Free ITIL 4 Managing Professional Exam Voucher:

Have questions or need to upgrade your ITIL v3 status to ITIL 4?  Contact Us

This offer is valid throughout March 2021.

Do You Have What it Takes to Become an ITIL 4 Strategic Leader?

Friday, 11 September, 2020

The ITIL 4 Strategic Leader Designation is an exciting Senior, Leader-Level, Certification.  It is designed for professionals across all organizations who are involved in crafting digital vision and shaping IT and business strategy.  When you achieve the Strategic Leader designation you will be a part of an exclusive group of professionals who hold the most valued ITIL 4 Leadership Certification.

 

Strategic Leader Requirements

The ITIL 4 Strategic Leader Certification is a true Leader-Level Certification.  In order to achieve the Strategic Leader Certification candidates must:

  1. Have 3 or more years of Management Experience
  2. Have the required course prerequisites described below
  3. Receive a passing mark on the 4 Digital and IT Strategy Course Assignments
  4. Complete the Accredited Digital and IT Strategy Course.
  5. Take and pass the ITIL 4 Leader:  Digital and IT Strategy Exam given by PeopleCert

 

Strategic Leader Courses

This program consists of 2 courses:

 

Strategic Leader Pathways

There are 3 ways to qualify to take the Digital & IT Strategy course which is required to become an ITIL 4 Strategic Leader.

  1. Shortest Way – 1 Course Required

Everyone who holds the ITIL 4 Managing Professional Transition Certification or who holds the ITIL Strategist Direct, Plan and Control Certification, may go straight to the Strategic Leader Course.

If this is you, then Click Here to take advantage of a Very Special LIFETIME Access Offer – Valid September 2020. 

  1. Next Shortest – 2 Courses Required

If you hold the ITIL 4 Foundation Certification you qualify to take the Direct, Plan and Improve course followed by the ITIL 4 Leader, Digital and IT Strategy.

If this is you, then Click Here to take advantage of a Very Special LIFETIME Access Offer – Valid September 2020.

  1. Need It All – 3 Courses Required

If you hold the ITIL V3 Foundation Certificate or are NEW to ITIL, then you need to start with the ITIL 4 Foundation Course followed by DPI and DITS.

If this is you, then Click Here to take advantage of a Very Special LIFETIME Access Offer – Valid September 2020.

 

Need Help?

Click Here and share your ITIL training and certification experience with us and we will get back to you within 48 hours with a custom training plan.  For everything else, contact us by email at customerservice@gogotraining.com or by phone at 877.546.4446.  We are standing by to help.

 

How to Become an ITIL 4 Strategic Leader

Tuesday, 18 August, 2020

Are you planning on becoming an ITIL 4 Strategic Leader?  If yes, read on…The ITIL 4 Strategic Leader Designation consists of 2 courses, however, depending on your background you may only have to take one of them.  Here is how it works:

There are two courses in the Strategic Leader Path:

Now here is where it gets tricky:

  1. If you took the ITIL 4 Managing Professional Transition course, then you only have to take the Digital and IT Strategy course to become a Strategic Leader.
  2. If you took Direct, Plan and Improve as part of your Managing Professional series of courses, then you only have to take the Digital and IT Strategy course to become a Strategic Leader.
  3. If you are new to ITIL 4, then you need to take the ITIL 4 Foundation course before you can take either DPI or DITS.

Exclusive Pre-Release Offer

GogoTraining is very excited to announce that Dr. Suzanne Van Hove’s ITIL Leader: Digital and IT Strategy course will release late September when PeopleCert launches the course.  In honor of the release we are offering are offering an EXCLUSIVE Pre-Sale Offer that gives you a $400 Discount and reduces the course to $895.

 Do you  Qualify to take the Digital and IT Strategy Course?

 In order to take the course you must have a minimum of 3 years’ experience as a Manager and have taken either the ITIL 4 Foundation course or the ITIL 4 Managing Professional Transition course.

How Does This Course Differ From All Other ITIL Courses?

  • You have to be a manager with a minimum of 3 years experience to take the course
  • You have to complete 4 class assignments with a pass mark to take the exam
  • The exam focuses on the application of the knowledge you have learned

Who Grades your Assignments?

Dr. Van Hove personally grades your assignments and answers your questions.

What is Included in this Great Package?

This package sells for $1,295 and is available on this pre-release special offer for only $895:  When you purchase this bundle you receive:

  • The Digital and IT Strategy Video Course
  • 4 Case Studies with instructor review and assessment
  • The Official AXELOS DITS Publication, PDF Version
  • 1 PeopleCert Exam Voucher
  • 1 Free PeopleCert Exam Retake
  • Q&A with Dr. Van Hove

Save $400 on this EXCLUSIVE Pre-Sale Offer Today!

Great Answer from Dr. Van Hove on VeriSM™ & ITIL®

Thursday, 27 February, 2020

VeriSM™ and ITIL®4 are very different. It’s the same story as any other question of how VeriSM differs from ITIL, COBIT®, IT4IT®, ISO/IEC 20000, etc. VeriSM isn’t a standard, methodology, or framework, but rather an operating model. ITIL, 20K, COBIT, etc. all are process (practice) driven standards, methodologies, or frameworks.

VeriSM recognizes that all the various standards, frameworks, methodologies have a different emphasis. What VeriSM points to is that depending on the requirements, the appropriate methodology should be used be it ITIL, COBIT, Agile, Lean, etc. VeriSM expands the service management philosophy across the enterprise.

ITIL still is focused in the technology area even though it’s putting forth practices around workforce and talent management, project management, and business analysis – it’s trying to take the enterprise step but it’s not quite there yet (note: there is still information not yet released and therefore a full judgement can’t be made). ITIL 4 states that it is incorporating Lean, Agile, DevOps into its practices (processes) and operating models. That may well be true, but there is a lot of altering of the methodologies in order to ‘fit’ the ITIL principles.

VeriSM is an operating model; ITIL, et al are all players within that operating model. VeriSM is the only service management philosophy that is truly neutral and non-biased. The operating model clearly states to use whatever framework, methodology, or standard that is most appropriate for the consumer requirements, organizational capabilities, and the mission/goals of the organization. Lastly, as with any of the management practices, ITIL is just one strand of the mesh (key concept in VeriSM) and it is up the organization to populate that mesh with the practices, disruptive technologies, resources and environment that accurately reflect the organization.

To learn more about VeriSM, Click Here.  To learn more about ITIL 4, Click Here.

 

Why Dr. Van Hove is the Best Instructor in the World!

Monday, 18 November, 2019

 

At GogoTraining our students get to ask the instructor’s questions while they train, and we wanted to share a great student question on ITIL 4 Foundation and the caliber of answer students can expect to receive.  Suzanne brings the classroom to life online by going the extra mile and fully and completely answering their questions just as though they were in the classroom.  Kudos, Suzanne!

 The student asked: 

Hello Suzanne, Many thanks your great and easy to follow class. I have a question in ITIL 4 Foundation course module “Start Where You Are”.  You have a great example of the check-out person who took a personal interest in your discussion while she was checking out your items but received a bad score because the system graded her on speed of checking out. Your last bullet states “good measurements shouldn’t influence behavior”. If that is the case, what should it influence? I’ve studied all types of businesses that say you should inspect what you expect. Tying bonuses and commissions to behavior based outcomes is what I’ve been trained to do, so this concept is a very new one for me. Can you please elaborate? Thanks.

Dr. Van Hove Answered:

Thank you for your kind words. You have a great question — good measures should measure the qualities the organization has deemed important, and in the case of this check-out person, she demonstrated “intelligent disobedience” (a new term in the Managing Professional materials). It was appropriate that she ignore the metrics because she improved the customer experience. What annoyed me in this scenario, was that there wasn’t a compensation for that action. The other side of the coin is when workers only work to achieve the metrics (resolve calls in 90 seconds) and they don’t do their job but rather perform to the metric because it is tied to pay/rewards, etc… That is a BAD metric and that is what we are trying to avoid. So, the point is that metrics should reflect the business and consumer requirements, they should be known to the staff as targets to be achieved, but they shouldn’t be written where common sense, customer experience (and for that matter, employee experience) be ignored, frivolously attended to, etc. Bonuses and commissions are directly tied to individual performance to the OVERALL ACHIEVEMENT of the organization and I believe that is a bit different that my example. The bullet, to be clear, means we don’t want the metric to **become the behavior** but rather the metric measures the desired service component. I hope that makes more sense. Thanks for the question — enjoy the rest of the course and good luck on the exam! Cheers! Suzanne