The ITIL 3 Capability is an intermediate level as the ITIL Lifecycle for ITIL V3 so if you are coursing the ITIL 4, this path is not the good one. It is made up of 4 modules:

• ITIL Operational Support and Analysis - ITILOSA
• ITIL Release, Control and Validation - ITILRCV
• ITIL Planning, Protection and Optimization - ITILPPO
• ITIL Service Offerings and Agreements - ITILSOA

Each one of them gives you 4 points when you get certified. In total, if you complete the full set, you get 16 points + 2 points from ITIL Foundation Certification = 18 points, 1 point more than what is required to have access to the ITIL 4 Managing Professional Transition Module to get the ITIL 4 Managing Professional Certification, it is the equivalent of the ITIL V3 Expert.

To be eligible, you need to have first your ITIL Foundation Certification and to be accredited to a certified training center meaning that you can’t study by yourself. Of course, you don’t have to pass all the modules to get your 15 missing points, you can mix ITIL Lifecycle modules with ITIL Capability modules.

For instance, you can take the ITIL Service Operation (3 points) + ITIL Release, Control and Validation (4 points) + ITIL Service Offerings and Agreements (4 points) + ITIL Operational Support and Analysis (4 points) = 15 points.

So what is the difference between ITIL Capability and ITIL Lifecycle ? In one word, I will say that Capability is “practical” and Lifecycle is “theorical”:

• Capability is more focused on executing and improving existing related processes, particularly in inputs, metrics, concepts, activities and outputs. It is more for people who want to improve ITIL in his daily work.
• Lifecycle is more focused on strategy about stage and process relationships, roles, responsibilities and implementation. It is more for people who want to know and to understand ITIL in his organization.

The certification price for each module is around 274 euros + the cost of a certified training center. Normally, most of centers include in their price the certification so you only pay a full package (course + certification). In my case, ITIL is my daily function so I chose this one. Conditions and price are the same except:

• Each module of ITIL Lifecycle gives 3 points (there are only 5 so 15 points in total)
• The exam is different. Capability is based on different stages/processes and Lifecycle is based only in 1 stage/process.

If you prefer to go to the ITIL Lifecycle, read ITIL Service Lifecycle Certification. If you opt for the ITIL Capability like me, read:

• ITIL Capability Operational Support and Analysis - ITILOSA
• ITIL Capability Release, Control and Validation - ITILRCV
• ITIL Capability Planning, Protection and Optimization - ITILPPO
• ITIL Capability Service Offerings and Agreements - ITILSOA

If you already get those 4 certifications, wait for the ITIL 4 Managing Professional Transition Module because if you keep going on and you will get your ITIL V3 Expert, to be updated to the market, you will have to get the ITIL 4 Managing Professional Certification. Anyway, if you still want to get the ITIL Expert, read my topic ITIL Expert Certification.

The ITIL Service Capability is only available for the ITIL V3 so if you are coursing for the ITIL 4, this certification path doesn’t exist and it is replaced by the ITIL 4 Managing Professional (ITILMP), so why get certified ? For that, check my other topic ITIL 4, the new ITIL for 2019.