PeopleCert's CPD & Certification Renewal Guide

Last Updated: July 2026 • Reflecting ITIL® v3, ITIL® 4, and the new ITIL® version 5

In line with PeopleCert's unified best practices guidelines, all professional certifications are subject to a three-year renewal cycle. Keeping your certification portfolio current ensures your competencies align with modern, AI-enabled digital product structures and service lifecycles.

Why Maintain Your CPD & Upskill?

Competitive Edge: Apply active, relevant industry methodologies and workflows in your daily work environment.

Professional Advancement: Boost your personal brand, enhance your CV, and secure better career opportunities.

Employer Trust: Demonstrate a proactive commitment to continuous digital upskilling.

Operational Efficiency: Improve output delivery, reduce errors, and foster agile transformation.

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CRITICAL POLICY REQUIREMENT: Starting January 2023, all Axelos/PeopleCert certifications are issued with a three-year validity window. Candidates must select a renewal pathway before their specific "renew-by" deadline to avoid their certifications being marked with an "outdated" status on the Successful Candidates Register.

01 The Three Approved Renewal Routes

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Retake the Same Exam

Re-sit and pass your current highest certification exam prior to your deadline date to reset your compliance timeline.

Fast Track

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Attend a New Course

Passing any new exam in the same suite (like moving from ITIL 4 to ITIL v5) automatically extends your entire portfolio for three years.

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Log 20 CPD Points

Log 20 points per year for three consecutive years (60 total) via a PeopleCert Plus membership across approved categories.

02 Available Course Suite Portfolios

Select a framework tab below to view our direct training portfolio. Passing any course listed below automatically renews your certifications within that suite:

★ ITIL® (version 5) Foundation Bridge Fast Track • ITIL® (version 5) Foundation • ITIL® (version 5) Product • ITIL® (version 5) Service • ITIL® (version 5) Experience • ITIL® (version 5) Transformation • ITIL® (version 5) Strategy • ITIL® (version 5) Managing Professional Transition

• PRINCE2® 7 Foundation • PRINCE2® 7 Practitioner • PRINCE2® 7 Foundation & Practitioner Combo

03 The CPD Point Categories

If you renew your certifications by logging points on the PeopleCert Plus portal, you must complete a minimum of 20 points per year according to the following category rules:

CPD Category

Logging Rules & Limits

Activity Examples

Professional Experience

Minimum of 5 points per year required.

Applying ITSM best practices in your daily work, coaching colleagues, mentoring teams, or work-shadowing.

Professional Education

Maximum of 15 points per year allowed.

Completing accredited training (such as our ITIL or PRINCE2 suites), e-learning courses, or attending webinars and podcasts.

Community Contribution

Maximum of 15 points per year allowed.

Writing white papers, publishing case studies, organising industry discussion forums, or volunteering.

04 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which certifications have a renew-by date?

All Global Best Practice certifications (including ITIL® 4 and PRINCE2® 7) are issued with a 3-year renew-by date. Candidates who choose not to renew remain on the Successful Candidates Register (SCR), but their records will show that they are not in compliance with current certification requirements.

Will candidates certified before June 30, 2020 need to renew?

Yes, all historical certificate holders have option limits based on their award milestones:

Certified before June 30, 2020: Had a hard deadline of July 1, 2023, to complete their first renewal.
Certified after June 30, 2020: Must complete their first renewal exactly three years from their initial award date.

Will ITIL® v3 credentials be subject to the 3-year re-certification?

No. ITIL® v3 qualifications (such as OSA, MALC, and ITIL Expert) are valid for life and are not subject to the 3-year renewal requirement.

Does a candidate with multiple ITIL® 4 certs need to renew each individually?

No. Taking any exam within the same product suite (such as ITIL) automatically resets the 3-year renewal timer for all certifications you hold within that suite. Your portfolio renewal date will align to 3 years from your most recently passed exam.

Do PeopleCert credentials automatically renew across different suites?

No. Certifications must be within the same suite to trigger automatic renewal. For example, sitting a PRINCE2® exam cannot renew your ITIL® portfolio, and vice versa.

Need Help Planning Your Renewal?

Whether you're managing your personal CPD tracker or auditing the credentials of a large corporate team, our consultants can assist.

Drop Us An Enquiry Contact Support Desk

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