ITIL vs PMP: which certification fits the job you want?
The ITIL vs PMP choice depends on the job you want. The PMP (Project Management Professional) fits project-manager jobs: it appeared in 24% of the ads for US project managers in October 2026, and ITIL, a set of IT-service practices, in 1.2% of the ads (Adzuna, a job-ad search site). For IT-support jobs, ITIL is the one we count.
The entry rules differ too. ITIL Foundation (Version 5) is the current entry level of ITIL. PeopleCert, the company that runs the ITIL exams, says it is "Suitable for any career stage" on its product page. PMI (Project Management Institute) lets you apply for the PMP only after two to five years of leading projects, depending on your education, plus 35 hours of project training.
| ITIL Foundation (Version 5) | PMP | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | PeopleCert | PMI (Project Management Institute) |
| What it covers | How IT teams run and support their services | Leading projects in any industry |
| Entry requirement | None listed | 2 to 5 years leading projects, plus 35 hours of training |
| Exam | 40 multiple-choice questions, 60 minutes, closed book (no notes allowed) | 180 questions, 240 minutes |
| Jobs we count it in | IT support, system administrator, project manager | Project manager, program manager (runs several related projects) |
Show the numbers
| Country | ITIL | PMP |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 7% | 35% |
| India | 2.1% | 24% |
| United States | 1.2% | 24% |
| Italy | 2% | 12% |
| Mexico | 0 of 60 | 12% |
| Spain | 4% | 7% |
| United Kingdom | 40 of 6,205 | 6.9% |
| Poland | 0 of 310 | 6% |
| Germany | 34 of 3,738 | 2.8% |
| France | 1.2% | 1.1% |
ITIL or PMP: which do employers name more?
Instant answer from October 2026 job ads. No email needed.
PMP is named in more job ads in the United States.
Source: Adzuna job ads, October 2026.
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On this page
- Which should you take, ITIL or PMP?
- What do project-manager job ads name, the PMP or ITIL?
- Where does ITIL appear in IT-support and system-administrator ads?
- What does each one require before you can take the exam?
- How do the ITIL Foundation and PMP exams compare?
- ITIL 4 or ITIL (Version 5): which Foundation should you take now?
- What do ITIL and PMP cost over three years?
- How do you keep each certification current?
- PMP vs ITIL: does one count toward the other?
- Should you get both, and in which order?
- What we did not check
- Sources
Which should you take, ITIL or PMP?
For IT support or system administration, ITIL is the one of the two we count in those ads; take the PMP if you lead projects and already have the years PMI asks for.
- No target job yet: spend an evening on a job site. Search IT support, system administrator and project manager in your area, open ten ads for each and write down the certifications they name and the daily tasks they describe. Then read our page for the job that fits best: IT support, system administrator or project manager.
- IT support or a service desk (the team that answers users' IT problems): ITIL Foundation. Our ITIL page covers its study time and value in depth.
- System administrator (the person who keeps a company's servers and accounts running): ITIL is the one of the two we count there; PeopleCert sells the exam on its product page.
- You lead projects and target US, UK, Indian or Brazilian employers: the PMP, once you meet the experience rule. In UK project-manager ads in October 2026, for example, the PMP appeared in 6.9% of the ads and ITIL in 40 of the 6,205 ads (Adzuna).
- Project work, but under PMI's experience bar: start with PMI's CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management); our CAPM page states its entry rule, and CAPM vs PMP explains the order. Meanwhile, lead or co-lead a small project at work or as a volunteer, and record its dates and hours.
- IT project manager: both names fit your work. Start with the PMP once you meet its experience rule, the CAPM before that.
For other project credentials, see PMP vs PRINCE2 and PMI-ACP vs PMP, or our guide to certifications worth getting.
What do project-manager job ads name, the PMP or ITIL?
In the project-manager ads we counted (October 2026, Adzuna), the PMP's share is higher than ITIL's in the US, UK, Indian and Brazilian rows. This is the only table where the two figures share a base.
| Country | Project-manager ads counted | Naming the PMP | Naming ITIL |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 59,273 | 24% (14,183 ads) | 1.2% (702 ads) |
| United Kingdom | 6,205 | 6.9% (430 ads) | 40 of 6,205 |
| India | 2,413 | 24% (579 ads) | 2.1% (51 ads) |
| Brazil | 281 | 35% (98 ads) | 7% (21 ads) |
| France | 10,557 | 1.1% (113 ads) | 1.2% (128 ads) |
| Germany | 3,738 | 2.8% (106 ads) | 34 of 3,738 |
| Italy | 976 | 12% (116 ads) | 2% (23 ads) |
| Poland | 310 | 6% (19 ads) | 0 of 310 |
Source: Adzuna API, project-manager ads collected in October 2026; an ad counts when it contains the word PMP or ITIL, and one ad can name both. Local titles: gerente de projetos (Brazil), chef de projet (France), Projektmanager (Germany) and kierownik projektu (Poland); Italian ads use project manager. Analysis: CertWorthIt.
For the US, UK, Indian and Brazilian rows: if project management is your goal, plan for the PMP once you meet the experience rule, and the CAPM before that. For France, Germany, Italy and Poland we give the counts without advice; read the two columns for your own country.
ITIL turns up here too: in October 2026, it appeared in 702 of the 59,273 US project-manager ads. Our project-manager role page lists the other certifications and skills those ads name.
Where does ITIL appear in IT-support and system-administrator ads?
ITIL appears in 7.5% of the ads for US IT-support jobs (October 2026, Adzuna).
| Country | IT-support ads counted | Naming ITIL |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2,745 | 7.5% (206 ads) |
| United Kingdom | 1,286 | 7.4% (95 ads) |
| India | 259 | 12% (32 ads) |
| Brazil | 1,764 | 4.0% (71 ads) |
Source: Adzuna API, IT-support ads collected in October 2026 (Brazilian title: suporte técnico). Analysis: CertWorthIt.
For system administrators, ITIL appeared in 7.8% of 6,233 US system-administrator ads and in 16% of 270 Indian ones (Adzuna, October 2026). Our system-administrator page and IT-support page show what else those ads ask for.
What does each one require before you can take the exam?
The PMP requires documented project leadership and training; PeopleCert's product page for ITIL Foundation lists no prerequisite and calls it "Your entry point into ITIL."
PMI's PMP page headline asks for "3+ years of experience leading projects," but its exam content outline sets the exact rule by education. All the experience must fall in the past 10 years.
| Your education (summarized) | Experience PMI asks for (PMI's wording) |
|---|---|
| Secondary school, such as a high school diploma | "Minimum 60 months/5 years of non-overlapping" experience leading projects |
| Associate degree (a two-year college degree) or an advanced vocational program (a post-secondary job-training course) | "Minimum 48 months/4 years of non-overlapping" experience leading projects |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | "Minimum 36 months/3 years of nonoverlapping" experience leading projects |
| Degree from a program accredited by PMI's Global Accreditation Center (GAC); ask your university if yours is one | "Minimum 24 months/2 years of non-overlapping" experience leading projects |
Source: PMI, PMP exam content outline 2026.
On top of the experience, PMI states: "You will need 35 hours of Project Professional training" before you apply. Self-paced courses from any organization count. From December 1, 2026, a live class counts only if a PMI-approved provider or an eligible accredited higher-education program delivers it. PMI adds one shortcut: "An active CAPM certification also fulfills PMP training requirements."
Show the numbers
| Item | ITIL | PMP |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 40 questions | 180 questions |
| Exam time | 60 minutes (1 h) | 240 minutes (4 h) |
| Passing score | 65% | not published by PMI |
| Format | Multiple choice | Multiple choice, drag-and-drop, case studies, hands-on practical |
| Languages | 12 languages | 15 languages |
How do the ITIL Foundation and PMP exams compare?
ITIL Foundation is a one-hour, 40-question test; the PMP is a four-hour, 180-question exam.
| ITIL Foundation (Version 5) | PMP | |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 40, multiple choice | 180 |
| Time | 60 minutes | 240 minutes |
| Passing score | 65% | No percentage published |
| Exam languages | 9 | 15 |
Source: PeopleCert ITIL Foundation (Version 5) page; PMI PMP page, exam content outline and certification handbook.
ITIL 4 Foundation has the same format and passing score. PMI allows up to three PMP attempts within a one-year eligibility period after your application is approved. PMI's handbook says the passing score for its exams is set by psychometric analysis (a statistical review of how qualified candidates answer each question) and gives no percentage. PMI updated the PMP exam in July 2026, adding AI, sustainability and stakeholder engagement to its project scenarios.
ITIL 4 or ITIL (Version 5): which Foundation should you take now?
New candidates should take the current ITIL Foundation (Version 5). PeopleCert was still selling ITIL 4 Foundation in July 2026 while it released Version 5 in phases. Its FAQ gives December 31, 2027, as the current plan for retiring all ITIL 4 modules, PeopleCert's name for each course and exam.
PeopleCert's FAQ says holders of ITIL 4 Foundation do not need to retake Foundation to move on to higher-level modules. For anyone who wants the new material, the optional ITIL Foundation Bridge is a short exam covering only the changes.
What do ITIL and PMP cost over three years?
The ITIL Foundation exam bundle costs $690 at PeopleCert's US$ prices (PeopleCert US store archives); renewing through PeopleCert Plus, PeopleCert's paid membership, brings three years to $1,089.
| Item | ITIL Foundation (Version 5) | PMP |
|---|---|---|
| Exam | $690 x 1 (exam bundle) | check PMI's store |
| Yearly membership | $133 x 3 years (PeopleCert Plus, one renewal route) | not priced |
| 35 hours of training | none listed | may cost extra, not priced |
| Three-year total | $1,089 (Plus route) | not calculated |
Source: PeopleCert US store (exam bundle and PeopleCert Plus), archive copies of September 29 and October 4, 2026, listed under Sources.
PeopleCert's $690 exam bundle includes the exam voucher (the code that lets you book the exam) and the official eBook. Prices change with the country you shop from, so check the PeopleCert product page for yours.
On renewal, PMI's renewal handbook says only that "Renewal fees are subject to membership and regional pricing." Check the PMI PMP page before you budget.
Show the numbers
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Join PMI first: Membership, 1 year | $139 |
| Join PMI first: Application fee, new members | $10 |
| Join PMI first: Exam, member price | $405 |
| Join PMI first: Renewal, every 3 years* | $60 |
| Join PMI first: Official prep course (optional) | $699 |
| Join PMI first: One retake (optional) | $275 |
| Without membership: Exam | $655 |
| Without membership: Renewal, every 3 years* | $150 |
| Without membership: Official prep course (optional) | $799 |
| Without membership: One retake (optional) | $375 |
How do you keep each certification current?
ITIL Foundation and the PMP both renew every three years. CPD (continuing professional development) points are credits you log with PeopleCert; PDUs (professional development units) are PMI's version, one per hour of activity such as learning, reading or volunteering.
For ITIL, PeopleCert lists three routes: log 20 CPD points a year for three years in a row through a PeopleCert Plus membership, pass any other ITIL exam, or retake the same exam.
For the PMP, PMI asks for 60 PDUs in each three-year cycle and a renewal fee. Holding both means two separate cycles.
PMP vs ITIL: does one count toward the other?
Not on the pages we read: PMI's PMP pages do not mention ITIL, and PeopleCert's ITIL pages do not mention the PMP or PMI.
PMI's listed routes to the PMP's 35 training hours are a self-paced course, a live class from an approved provider or an active CAPM. The training must be project-professional training, and PMI names no ITIL course among them.
Should you get both, and in which order?
Get both only if your work mixes running IT services with leading projects, as in IT project management. PeopleCert's list of career opportunities for ITIL Foundation includes IT project manager and service owner (the person responsible for one IT service).
The order follows the PMP's entry rule. If you lack the project years and want project-manager jobs, start with the CAPM; take ITIL Foundation first only if your target is IT support or you already work in IT services. If you already qualify for the PMP and project-manager jobs are the goal, take the PMP first.
What we did not check
- Salaries. We found no dated official source that compares pay for ITIL and PMP holders.
- Pass rates. We found none published by PeopleCert or PMI.
- Prices outside PeopleCert's US store. Other countries were not checked.
- Whether one activity can count as both CPD points and PDUs.
- Ads that describe ITIL-style work without the word ITIL, such as IT service management.
- Other countries. The project-manager table leaves out Mexico and Spain (small sample, read with care); the IT-support table shows four of the countries where we count ITIL.
- ITIL levels above Foundation.
Sources
All pages below were read October 8, 2026. Archive copies keep their own capture dates.
- PeopleCert: ITIL Foundation (Version 5) (archive, October 4, 2026), ITIL 4 Foundation (archive, July 29, 2026), ITIL FAQ (archive, May 16, 2026), ITIL (Version 5) explained (archive, July 12, 2026), PeopleCert Plus membership (archive, September 29, 2026).
- PMI: PMP page, PMP exam updates, PMP exam content outline 2026 (PDF), certification handbook (PDF), certification renewal handbook (PDF), PMI store data for the PMP exam.
- Job ads: Adzuna API, project-manager, IT-support and system-administrator ads, October 2026. Analysis: CertWorthIt.
Questions people ask
Is ITIL or PMP better?
It depends on the job you want. The PMP (Project Management Professional, from the Project Management Institute) is the one to plan for if you lead projects. In October 2026, it appeared in 24% of the ads for US project managers on Adzuna, a job-ad search site, and ITIL in 1.2% of the ads for the same jobs. ITIL, a framework of recommended practices for running IT services, is the one of the two we count in IT-support ads: it appeared in 7.5% of 2,745 US IT-support ads that month.
Can I take the PMP without project experience?
No. PMI, the Project Management Institute, accepts your PMP application only with documented experience leading projects. With a bachelor's degree, it asks for a minimum of 36 months of non-overlapping experience in the past 10 years, plus 35 hours of project training. With a secondary-school diploma the minimum is 60 months. Without that experience, look at PMI's CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management).
Does ITIL Foundation have a prerequisite?
PeopleCert, the company that runs the exams for ITIL (a framework of recommended practices for running IT services), lists no prerequisite on its ITIL Foundation (Version 5) product page and calls the exam suitable for any career stage. The exam has 40 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, closed book (no notes allowed), and PeopleCert sets the passing score at 65%.
Which is harder, ITIL or PMP?
The PMP (Project Management Professional) is harder to qualify for and has the longer exam. PMI, the Project Management Institute, requires two to five years of documented project leadership, depending on your education, before you can book its exam of 180 questions in 240 minutes, and PMI publishes no passing percentage. ITIL Foundation, the entry exam for the ITIL framework of IT service practices, is a 60-minute, 40-question test.
How much do ITIL and PMP cost?
ITIL Foundation (Version 5) is the entry exam for the ITIL framework of IT service practices. At PeopleCert's US$ prices, the exam bundle costs $690. Renewing through PeopleCert Plus membership at $133 a year, one of three renewal routes, brings three years to $1,089. For the PMP (Project Management Professional), PMI, the Project Management Institute, sets the exam fee by store and membership, so check PMI's store. PMI also sets the renewal fee by membership and region, and the 35 required training hours may cost extra.
Should I take ITIL 4 or ITIL Version 5 Foundation?
If you are starting now, take ITIL Foundation (Version 5), the current entry exam for ITIL, a framework of recommended practices for running IT services. PeopleCert, which runs the ITIL exams, was still selling ITIL 4 Foundation in July 2026, but its current plan is to retire all ITIL 4 modules (its name for each course and exam) on December 31, 2027. If you already hold ITIL 4 Foundation, you do not need to retake Foundation to move on to the higher Version 5 levels.
Is ITIL useful for project managers?
Some project-manager ads name it. In October 2026, ITIL appeared in 1.2% of the ads for US project managers on Adzuna, a job-ad search site; in the same count, the PMP (Project Management Professional) appeared in 24% of the ads. PeopleCert lists IT project manager among the career opportunities for ITIL Foundation (Version 5).
Do ITIL and PMP certifications expire?
Both need renewing every three years. ITIL Foundation (Version 5) from PeopleCert needs 60 CPD (continuing professional development) points, credits for logged learning, a pass in any other ITIL exam, or a retake of the same exam. The PMP needs 60 PDUs (professional development units), each one hour of activity such as learning, reading or volunteering, in each three-year cycle, plus a renewal fee that PMI sets by membership and region.