1. If I take v3 ITIL® Foundation can I then go on to do ITIL® Manager's Certificate?

Yes, it is now possible to take the v3 Foundation and then progress to the v2 Manager's Certificate. Once you have achieved your v2 Manager's Certificate, you can then take the v3 Manager's Bridge examination in order to achieve your ITIL® v3 Diploma. Alternatively, if you do specifically want to undertake all of your training via v3, you can do this but be advised that you will not be able to progress through to the higher levels until they have been formally introduced later in 2008.

2. When will version 3 elements, other than the Foundation Certificate, be available?

The following timetable has recently been released - these are target dates however, so should be treated with caution:

• Foundation Examinations: Available now
• Manager's Bridging Course: Available November 2007
• Foundation Bridging Course: Available now
• Intermediate Level Qualifications: Q1/2 20088

3. What is going to happen to the Practitioner qualification under version 3?

The v2 Practitioners will continue for quite some time yet - at this stage there is insufficient detail on the Capability Modules to be clear what is covered by which module in v3. The v2 practitioners will continue whilst there is sufficient demand, and under the scheme published (to be approved) they will be award a certain number of credits for the new scheme.

4. A large proportion of my staff have red/green badge in ITIL® v2. Will I still be able to train other staff on v2, or will I have to cut-over to v3 at some point? If so, when would this be?

There has been talk of v2 Foundation being available to the end of 2007, and the Practitioner and Manager levels until mid-2008, however this has not been set in stone, so to speak, and will be subject to demand and the progress made with the new qualifications. Therefore, if there is still a high demand for v2 exams, ISEB would look to support this need. Accredited Training Organisations will be given six months notice of any decision to withdraw v2 qualifications.

5. As ITIL® v3 Manager's Certificate is not currently available, if I take v2 Manager's Certificate now, will I have to do to upgrade my qualification to v3 when it is available?

All ITIL® certifications will be honoured after v3 becomes available. As there is very little change to the terminology and processes between ITIL® v2 and v3, there is no need to retake the qualification to 'upgrade' it. FGI are offering courses that give an overview of the main changes between v2 and v3, which should be more than enough to keep your knowledge current.

6. I want to take an ITIL® Foundation course.  Should I wait until v3 is being offered to make sure I learn about the latest version?

The processes in v2 are the same as those in v3, although they are clearer and the relationships between them more well-defined in v3. FGI's ITIL® v2 Foundation training course covers all the aspects of the ITIL® Service Support and Service Delivery framework that is required to implement IT Service Management successfully.

7. Most staff in my organisation have been trained on v2. If new staff are trained on v3, will we have communication problems and mismatches of understanding?

This will not be a big problem as any changes in terminology and processes are not major. The processes that organisations are using and implementing will not be changed under v3 and the v2 Best Practice still remains valid. However, FGI Ltd has recognised that some organisations/delegates are interested in understanding the differences between ITIL® v2 and v3, and for this reason we are running Overview courses to outline the changes. Please see our website for details of these sessions.

8. Do I have to retake (in v3) any v2 Foundation, Practitioner or Manger's Certificate qualifications that I hold in order for them to remain valid?

It has been confirmed by the OGC (Office of Government Commerce) that no recertification is needed. However, FGI Ltd is providing ITIL® v3 Update courses for delegates who wish to keep their knowledge current with the updates to the ITIL® framework. These sessions will be run from June 2007 - please see our website for further details.

9. We are in the middle of implementing v2 processes. Should we stop and wait for v3 to avoid wasted work?

This will not be necessary and none of your work will be 'wasted' as there has been little significant change to either the processes or terminology from v2 to v3. V3 has a greater emphasis on an organisation's IT strategy and the drive for continuous improvement, so this will probably help you in your implementation.

10. Are there websites available where I can keep updated with the latest developments?

Yes, the following websites may be of interest:

• ITIL® Refresh website (updated bi-weekly)
• OGC ITIL® V3 FAQ
• OGC ITIL® V3 News
• OGC Best Management Practice
• APMG Group website