In response to massive demand, the British Computer
Society has introduced onlineIT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) version 3examinations.
Though the ITIL standard has existed for 25 years, V3 is a
relatively new addition, after 10 years of standardisation on V2.
This has created a backlog of experts needing ITIL V3
accreditation, with an estimated 4,000 people now wanting to sit
their exams in this discipline.
On 31 March, the BCS Information Systems Examination Board made
it possible to sit the exam online. The new facility allows
students to sit their exam and receive their results on the same
day.
The popularity of ITIL, which is regarded as the world standard
in
IT service management best practice, has expanded from a UK
government philosophy to becoming a widely adopted global framework
for service management. Around 35% of organisations in many
northern European countries have adopted part of the ITIL
philosophy, according to estimates by users' forum the IT Service
Management Forum (itSMF).
Another exam body, EXIN, is also thought to be setting up online
certification testing in response.
"It's one of the most important qualifications in the IT arena
and it's important to have it to gain visibility," said BCS
examinations spokeswoman Carol Hulm.
"There are many people out there with practitioner level skills
that need to get the foundation level qualification, so they don't
need to wait to do a training course."
Almost 450,000 people have taken ITIL examinations since the
early 1990s. They range from people starting their career or
acquiring new knowledge through to senior staff who want to keep
their skills up to date in line with their professional
development.
Businesses 'confused' over what ITIL V3 can offer >>