To renew your ITIL 4 certification, PeopleCert gives you three options: log 20 continuing professional development (CPD) points per year for three consecutive years through PeopleCert Plus, pass another exam in the ITIL product suite, or retake and pass the same exam. ITIL 4 certification renewal is due every three years from your certification date.
ITIL (originally short for Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is owned by PeopleCert, which acquired AXELOS in 2021. Timing matters more in 2026 than before. PeopleCert launched ITIL (Version 5) in February 2026 and currently plans to sunset all ITIL 4 modules on December 31, 2027. This guide, updated for 2026, covers how each route works, which one fits your situation, and how ITIL (Version 5) changes the decision.
Does ITIL 4 Certification Expire?
ITIL 4 certifications carry a renewal date three years after your most recent exam in the ITIL product suite. The PeopleCert renewal policy applies to ITIL 4 and ITIL (Version 5), along with PRINCE2, PRINCE2 Agile, MSP, and DevOps Institute certifications. Older ITIL v3 certifications are not covered by the renewal requirement.
Missing the date does not erase your certification. You stay on PeopleCert's Successful Candidates Register, but a note is added to your record stating that the certification needs to be renewed to align with current certification requirements. Anyone checking your credential can see that status, which is the main practical reason to renew on time.
Why Should You Renew Your ITIL Certification?
Renewal keeps your credential marked as current, and it keeps your knowledge in step with how the framework is used today. The main benefits are:
- A current, verifiable credential that employers and clients can check with PeopleCert
- Up-to-date knowledge of IT service management (ITSM) practices and terminology
- Proof of continuous learning, which many organizations expect for compliance and quality assurance
- A natural path to higher-level ITIL modules, since one new exam both renews and upgrades you
- Readiness for the move to ITIL (Version 5) before ITIL 4 modules are retired
If you are still weighing whether the credential pays off at all, our breakdown of ITIL 4 Foundation benefits covers the career case in detail.
3 Ways to Renew Your ITIL 4 Foundation Certification
PeopleCert accepts three renewal routes, and any one of them resets your renewal date. The CPD route avoids exams entirely, the higher-level route adds a new credential, and the retake route is a single exam. The table below compares them side by side.
| Renewal route | What you do | Time commitment | Extra benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPD points via PeopleCert Plus | Log 20 CPD points per year for three consecutive years (60 in total) | Ongoing, spread across three years | No exam required |
| Pass another ITIL exam | Pass any exam in the ITIL product suite before your renewal date | One course and one exam | New credential; renews every certification in the suite |
| Retake the same exam | Pass the same ITIL 4 exam again before your renewal date | Exam preparation and one sitting | Refreshes core knowledge |
1. Collect and Log CPD Points with PeopleCert Plus
PeopleCert Plus is PeopleCert's paid membership program, and it replaced the older MyAxelos platform. Members renew by logging 20 CPD points per year over three consecutive years, earned through everyday professional activities such as training, webinars, industry reading, and applying ITIL practices at work.
Because the requirement is set per year, you cannot bank all 60 points in the final months. Log activities as you complete them and keep evidence of each one. This route suits ITSM practitioners who learn on the job continuously and would rather not sit another exam.
2. Pass a Higher-Level ITIL Certification
Passing any new exam within the ITIL product suite before your renewal date renews every ITIL certification you hold, including ITIL 4 Foundation. For ITIL 4 holders, that includes the ITIL 4 Specialist, Strategist, and Leader modules that lead to the Managing Professional and Strategic Leader designations. PeopleCert also confirms that earning any ITIL (Version 5) certification renews ITIL 4 certificates.
This is the most efficient route if you already planned to progress, because one exam delivers both a renewal and a new credential. To map out which module comes next, see our guide to the ITIL career path.
3. Retake the ITIL 4 Foundation Exam
You can also renew by passing the same exam again before your current certification reaches its renewal date. According to the PeopleCert ITIL 4 Foundation page, the exam has 40 multiple-choice questions, runs 60 minutes, is closed book, and requires a minimum score of 65% (26 of 40) to pass. It is available online proctored or at a test center, in 12 languages.
A retake works best when your renewal date is close and you have not logged CPD points. Structured ITIL 4 Foundation training helps you refresh the guiding principles, service value system, and practices quickly. Keep in mind that ITIL 4 exams are scheduled to retire with the 2027 sunset, so check availability before you book.
Which ITIL 4 Renewal Option Should You Choose?
The right route depends on how close your renewal date is and whether you plan to move up the ITIL scheme. Use these rules of thumb:
- Choose CPD if you work in ITSM daily, have three years of runway, and want to avoid exams.
- Choose a higher-level exam if you intended to progress anyway, since it renews and upgrades in one step.
- Choose a retake if your renewal date is near, you have no CPD logged, and you want the quickest single action.
Worked example: suppose you passed ITIL 4 Foundation in March 2024. Your renewal date is March 2027. Starting CPD logging now leaves too little time for three full years, so your realistic choices are to pass an ITIL (Version 5) exam or a higher ITIL 4 module before March 2027, or to retake ITIL 4 Foundation while exams are still offered. If you lean toward the new edition, review the ITIL v5 differences first.
How ITIL (Version 5) Affects ITIL 4 Renewal in 2026
ITIL Foundation (Version 5) launched on February 12, 2026, followed by ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) on February 26, 2026. Your ITIL 4 certification stays valid. The PeopleCert ITIL FAQ states that "ITIL 4 qualifications are fully recognized as prerequisites for all higher-level ITIL (Version 5) certifications," and that the current plan is to sunset all ITIL 4 modules on December 31, 2027.
For renewal, this means any ITIL (Version 5) certification resets your ITIL 4 renewal date, and the CPD route remains open. The Bridge is optional: it offers a fast way to update Foundation-level knowledge to ITIL (Version 5), and our walkthrough of the ITIL v5 Foundation upgrade explains the steps.
ITIL (Version 5) certificates are also issued with a three-year renewal date, so the same discipline continues after you switch. The rules for the new edition are covered in our guide to ITIL V5 renewal.
Conclusion: Plan Your ITIL 4 Renewal Early
ITIL 4 certification renewal comes down to three routes: 60 CPD points over three years through PeopleCert Plus, a new exam in the ITIL product suite, or a retake of the same exam. With ITIL (Version 5) live since February 2026 and ITIL 4 modules scheduled to sunset at the end of 2027, check your renewal date now and pick the route that fits your timeline.
If your date is more than three years away, start logging CPD points. If it is close, an ITIL (Version 5) exam or a higher-level module is the strongest move, because it renews your existing credential and adds a new one at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much does it cost to renew an ITIL 4 certification?
PeopleCert does not publish a single renewal fee. The cost depends on the route: the CPD route requires a paid PeopleCert Plus membership, while the exam routes require paying for the exam, often bought as a bundle with training. Prices vary by country and package, so check current pricing with PeopleCert or an accredited training organization.
2. What happens if I miss my ITIL 4 renewal date?
Your certification is not deleted. You stay on the PeopleCert Successful Candidates Register, but a note is added to your record stating that the certification needs to be renewed to align with current certification requirements. Passing a new exam in the ITIL product suite sets a new renewal date.
3. Do ITIL v3 certifications need to be renewed?
No. The three-year renewal requirement covers ITIL 4 and ITIL (Version 5) certifications. ITIL v3 certifications are not subject to it, although many ITIL v3 holders move to a current ITIL qualification to keep their skills aligned with the framework in use today.
4. Does renewing one ITIL certification renew all of my ITIL certifications?
Yes. PeopleCert groups certifications into product suites, and passing a new exam within the ITIL product suite renews every certification you hold in that suite. A new ITIL 4 or ITIL (Version 5) exam therefore resets the renewal date for your ITIL 4 Foundation as well.
5. Will my ITIL 4 certification still count after December 31, 2027?
The planned December 31, 2027 sunset applies to ITIL 4 modules, meaning the courses and exams. PeopleCert states that ITIL 4 qualifications are fully recognized as prerequisites for all higher-level ITIL (Version 5) certifications, and ITIL 4 certificates can be renewed by earning any ITIL (Version 5) certification or through the CPD program.
6. How long does it take to renew an ITIL 4 certification?
It depends on the route. The CPD route runs across three consecutive years at 20 points per year. The exam routes take as long as your preparation plus one exam sitting; the ITIL 4 Foundation exam itself lasts 60 minutes.
