Understanding the Costs of ITIL 4 Certification in India

Those who went through our previous blog? ITIL v4 Update- Why and what is the reason ? Then you probably know that ITIL v4 is pretty different than ITIL v3. So, how do you plan to get through the entire course before you opt for a certification examination?

Simple! You take up training in ITIL v4!

ITIL certification cost contains two main components: The training cost and the certification cost. So when you are taking your training and certification from two different organizations, it will cost you a truckload of money in India. If you let the same organization take care of both of them, you are most likely to get a discounted price for them.

Generally, the total cost of ITIL4 Foundation training and certification ranges between ₹29,000 to ₹33,000. By investing approximately Rs. 50,000 in your ITIL 4 certification, you can enjoy long-term returns on your career investment.

Let’s break it down level by level so you know exactly what to expect.

A. Foundation Level

• Who It’s For: Beginners entering the world of ITIL and IT Service Management (ITSM).
   
• Exam Fee: Typically ranges from ₹29,500 to ₹33,000.
   
• Training Duration: Usually 2 days of intensive sessions.
   
• What’s Included:

1. Instructor-led training
    
2. Study materials (slides, mock tests, guides)
    
3. One attempt at the exam

What You Learn: Core concepts like the Service Value System (SVS), guiding principles, and key ITSM practices.

The ITIL Foundation is your gateway. It’s designed to introduce you to the structure and key terminology of ITIL 4. While it’s the most affordable tier, the knowledge it gives you? Invaluable.

B. Intermediate Level

• Who It’s For: Professionals wanting to specialize in specific ITIL modules.
   
• Exam Fee (Per Module): ₹40,000 to ₹45,000
   
• Modules You Can Choose From:

1. Service Strategy
    
2. Service Design
    
3. Service Transition
    
4. Service Operation
    
5. Continual Service Improvement

Total Cost: Depends on how many modules you choose (and how deep you want to go).

Each module at this level allows you to deep-dive into areas that align with your career path. 

Planning to be a change manager? Focus on Service Transition. Going for service design roles? There’s a module for that.

C. Master Level

• Who It’s For: The elite. Professionals with years of hands-on experience looking to demonstrate mastery.
   
• Cost: Varies, depending on the scope of your assignment and your chosen provider.
   
• Requirement: Submit practical assignments, demonstrate real-world application, and conduct clear, in-depth interviews.

The Master's level doesn’t just test your knowledge; it validates your expertise through complex scenarios. This one’s not for the faint-hearted but definitely for those aiming to lead major transformation initiatives.

While the base cost is important, many candidates forget to factor in these extra expenses:

1. Retake Fees

As per the policy of Peoplecert, if you fail the exam, you must re-purchase the exam voucher to retake it.

2. Study Materials

Some training providers may charge extra for e-books, practice exams, or video lessons. These costs can range from ₹5,000 to ₹7,000 depending on the resources.

3. Renewal Fees

Certifications often require renewal every 3 years. While not massive, this recurring cost can sneak up on you. Renewal might cost anywhere from ₹30,000 to ₹40,000, depending on the certifying body.

4. Travel & Accommodation

If you're opting for classroom training in another city, factor in your commute, stay, and meals; these can quickly add up.

Now you might be thinking, why such a big range in costs? Good question. Here’s what affects the final price tag:

1. Training Mode

Online self-paced programs are often cheaper than instructor-led classroom sessions. However, the value of real-time interaction and doubt-clearing shouldn’t be underestimated.

2. Training Provider

You’ll find dozens of training providers, but not all are created equal. Premium providers often offer better resources, mock exams, experienced mentors, and post-course support, which can justify the higher price.

3. Location

Believe it or not, the city you’re in matters. Tier-1 cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, or Delhi might have higher classroom costs than Tier-2 or Tier-3 cities.

4. GST & Taxes

Make sure the fee mentioned includes GST and other applicable taxes. Otherwise, you might face a surprise surcharge at checkout.

Depending on the type of certification, experience level, and industry, ITIL4 certified professionals can earn up to Rs. 2 million annually. With a promising ROI, pursuing an ITIL4 certification can lead to lucrative career opportunities and professional growth.

• Discover the Cost of ITIL V4 Certification!
• Get Pricing Insights & Value Breakdown.
• Plan Your Certification Today!

Of course, a few training sessions are not enough to prepare for an ITIL v4 certification course. You need to buy a study guide if you are self-studying. Afterward, you might need to buy study materials as well. You can do some tricks to save money here as well. But let us go step by step and start from the study guide!

1. ITIL Study Plan: 

While preparing for any exam, the first step is always making a plan. So, in order to tone down your ITIL v4 Certification cost a little bit, you have to plan it with the help of the following steps:

• Plan: This includes one complete round of reading the ITIL life cycle, answering ITIL Foundation exam questions, and taking full-length ITIL practice tests.
• Do: Implement the plan and put the plan into action.
• Check: Review your scores and assess the areas for improvement.
• Act: Here, you just revise, take the test, and review until you get to your target score.

Seems like you have to take care of way too much in order to implement it? Well, you can cut down all of it, along with the cost, by choosing the right ITIL v4 training and certification. They will execute that exactly in a similar way, and that will be included in the existing package!

2. Study Materials:

You can either buy a famous paperback that will cost you almost $30, or you can easily rely on soft copies that will cut down the study material cost. Once you join an ITIL v4 training, they provide you with potential study materials as well as online reading suggestions.

3. Practice Tests:

Some of the professional ITIL Certification exam websites offer their practice tests for about $25-50. But, there are also many free practice tests for the ITIL 4 Foundation exam available online. So you can try taking those online tests to bring down the cost. Or, you can choose a training organization wisely so that they arrange the tests for you.

Now, let’s talk about the type of ITIL v4 certifications you can get.

There are many ITIL 4 certifications available in the market. But we fetched 5 of them that will help you shape your career well and are beneficial for every industry.

1. ITIL 4 Foundation Certification:

The ITIL 4 Foundation Certification includes the basics of ITIL4 and the key concepts of IT Service Management. People who are looking forward to starting a career in IT Service Management, this certification course content is perfect to clear their basics.

2. ITIL 4 Specialist Drive Stakeholder Value Certification:

The ITIL 4 Specialist Drive Stakeholder Value Certification optimizes the value of the journey for all stakeholders, to convert opportunity and demand into value, and to drive stakeholder value. As ITIL Foundation explains, service value is co-created through the involvement of users, customers, sponsors, service providers, or any other stakeholder.

The certification contains a vast range of details about the customer journey, value propositions, fostering relationships, keeping engagement channels open, shaping demand, designing service offerings, aligning and agreeing on expectations, co-creating service experiences, realizing the value, and many more. You are only eligible for this certification once you have an ITIL 4 Foundation certification.

3. ITIL 4 Specialist High-Velocity Certification:

The ITIL 4 Specialist High-Velocity Certifiation mandates you to have an understanding of concepts regarding the high-velocity nature of the digital enterprise including the demand it places on IT, the digital product lifecycle in terms of the ITIL operating model, importance of the ITIL Guiding principles and other fundamental concepts for delivering high velocity IT and knowledge about contributing to achieving value with digital products.

4. ITIL 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver, and Support Certification:

This ITIL 4 Specialist Certification teaches you all about the service value system. Hence, once you go through this certification, you'll know how the relevant ITIL practices contribute to the creation, delivery, and support across the SVS and value streams. Also, you’ll be able to create, deliver, and support services. Wonder what all you need for this certification? Just to take up the ITIL4 Foundation certification beforehand!

5. ITIL 4 Direct Plan and Improve certification:

The ITIL 4 Direct Plan and Improve certification focuses on understanding and knowing how to use the key principles and methods of ITIL and organizational change management for direction, planning, and improvement. The key to achieving this certification is just an ITIL4 Foundation.

6. ITIL 4 Managing Professional Certification:

You are only eligible for the ITIL 4 Managing Professional Certification if you have already achieved 17 credits in ITIL v3 modules or if you are an expert. This certification course is designed to fast-track your way from ITIL v3 to ITIL v4, increase understanding of service management with an updated version of ITIL, and prepare you for the implementation of ITIL 4 in your organization.

Earning an ITIL® 4 Certification isn’t just a resume booster—it’s a smart investment in your IT career. Here’s how it pays off:

1. Better Job Opportunities

ITIL® is recognized worldwide and opens doors to roles like IT Service Manager, Change Manager, and Service Delivery Manager across top industries.

2. Higher Salary Potential

Certified professionals in India can earn anywhere from ₹8 LPA to ₹20 LPA, with senior roles offering even more.

3. Faster Career Growth

ITIL® offers a clear certification path, from Foundation to Managing Professional, helping you climb the career ladder faster.

4. Global Recognition

Your certification is valid globally, making it easier to explore opportunities with MNCs or abroad.

5. Improved Skillset

Learn best practices in IT service management that boost your productivity, decision-making, and value to any organization.

6. Greater Professional Credibility

Stand out as a certified expert in your domain, gaining the trust of employers and peers alike.

The High-Conviction, No-Nonsense Truth You Need to Hear

Let’s cut through the noise. You’re not here for generic training. You’re here because you want to invest in a future-proof career move, and you want results, the kind that fast-track promotions, boost your ITSM game, and make hiring managers sit up and take notice.

That’s where NovelVista steps in. We’re not just another training provider; we’re your career partner.

Here’s what makes us unmissable:

• Comprehensive Training Programs: Whether you’re aiming for the Foundation level or eyeing the Expert tier, we’ve got tailored content mapped exactly to the exam format and job market expectations.
   
• Real Trainers, Real Experience: Our mentors are ITIL-certified industry veterans. We don’t do theory-only; we bring battle-tested insights straight from the field to your classroom or laptop screen.
   
• Flexible Learning Modes: You call the shots, online, offline, or hybrid. Your time, your pace, your schedule.
   
• Bonus Support After You Pass: Need help prepping for interviews? Want real project exposure? Looking to optimize your resume for ITSM roles? We don’t ghost you after certification, we power you forward.
   

Bottom line? If you’re serious about getting certified and turning that certificate into career capital, NovelVista is where you need to be. You can keep browsing, or you can get started with the right team by your side.

Your ITIL Journey Starts Here, Make It Count.

Let’s face it: Certifications are an investment, not just in terms of money but also your time, effort, and future trajectory. So if you’re going all in, go in smart.

Here’s the winning formula:

1. Start With the Foundation

Don’t skip steps. Even if you’re experienced, the Foundation course builds your ITIL 4 vocabulary and conceptual clarity. It’s your launchpad.

2. Plan Your Budget with Precision

Calculate everything. Not just the exam fee. Factor in ITIL v4 certification cost elements like training mode, retakes, materials, renewals, everything. Budgeting well is the first sign of a professional mindset.

3. Choose a Provider That Does More Than “Teach”

You need mentorship, structure, and post-certification support. Don’t just buy a course, invest in a career-building ecosystem.

4. Practice the Principles You Learn

ITIL isn’t about memorizing acronyms. It’s about applying service management best practices in real-time. Use mock projects. Build process flows. Create mini-CMDBs. Live it, don’t just learn it.

This is how you don’t just pass. This is how you stand out.

As smooth as it sounds, to crack an ITIL4 certification, you’ll have to study a lot. You’ll always get study materials and free tutorials online. But an expert’s opinion always catalyzes the preparation. Isn’t it? That's where, apart from the ITIL v4 certification cost, too, you have enough reason to go for a combined training and certification package.

Understanding the full scope of the ITIL v4 certification cost in India isn’t just about avoiding financial surprises; it’s about planning a well-informed, strategic career move. From ₹27,999 for the Foundation level to over ₹2,00,000 for Master-level certification, the path you choose depends on your ambitions, your starting point, and your desired destination.

Here’s the golden takeaway: Certifications don’t guarantee success, but smart, well-planned certifications absolutely unlock doors. By budgeting smart, choosing the right training partner, and dedicating yourself to continuous improvement, you’re not just earning a certificate; you’re building a career that’s future-ready, globally recognized, and high-impact.

So, are you ready to stop overthinking and start investing in the ITSM career you deserve?