ITIL4P-SCM is a certification that verifies your practical skills in managing the entire lifecycle of CI, CMDB, and cross-process collaboration of configuration data.

1. Introduction to the ITIL 4 Practitioner Service Configuration Management (ITIL4P-SCM) certification

ITIL 4 Practitioner Service Configuration Management (ITIL4P-SCM) is an ITIL 4 intermediate practical service management certification launched by AXELOS in the UK. It belongs to the ITIL 4 "Plan, Implement and Control" core practice module group and is the core foundation of the five core qualifications in this module group. It is also a modernized upgraded version of ITIL V3 service configuration management.

ITIL4P-SCM certification breaks the limitations of traditional configuration management, which emphasizes CMDB input over data synchronization and is disconnected from business services. It deeply integrates modern practices such as cloud native configuration management, dynamic configuration item control, automated configuration inspection, and linkage between configuration and service value. The core focus is on the full lifecycle data control and cross process data collaboration of IT service configuration items (CI), rather than simply recording configuration information.

ITIL4P-SCM is an authoritative practical certificate in the ITSM field that verifies how to provide accurate, real-time, and complete configuration data support for all IT service processes through standardized configuration management, ensuring the stability of IT service delivery and operation.

The core positioning of ITIL 4 Practitioner Service Configuration Management is "standardized operational capability verification of IT service full process configuration data support." Different from ITIL 4 Foundation's basic understanding of configuration items and CMDB, and also different from purely technical CMDB tool operation and maintenance, this certification focuses on service value oriented configuration data control throughout the process.

2. Why Earn Your ITIL 4 Practitioner Service Configuration Management Certification? 

The ITIL 4 certification of AXELOS is a universal standard in the global ITSM field. This certification is the only ITIL 4 intermediate certificate that focuses on practical service configuration management. Unlike practitioners who only know how to operate CMDB tools and do not understand process collaboration, it is the core standard for enterprises to screen talents who understand processes, can control, and can collaborate when recruiting for positions such as configuration management and CMDB implementation.

Holders of ITIL4P-SCM certification can apply ITIL 4 standardized configuration management methods to solve the pain points of incomplete CI identification, configuration data errors and omissions, and CMDB becoming data islands in enterprises. This reduces the occurrence rate of failures caused by configuration errors by 40%-60%, providing accurate and real-time configuration data support for all IT service processes, greatly improving process decision-making efficiency and troubleshooting speed.

Configuration management is the "data cornerstone" of the ITSM system, and all core processes rely on accurate configuration data. Certification holders can build a standardized configuration management system, making configuration data the universal database of the enterprise ITSM system, promoting the upgrade of various processes from "independent operation" to "data collaboration," and enhancing the overall maturity of ITSM.

The digital transformation of enterprises has brought about the popularization of cloud native, microservices, and distributed architectures, with configuration items showing dynamic and fragmented characteristics. This certification deeply integrates cloud native configuration management practices, and holders can design a configuration control system that adapts to dynamic architectures, achieving precise control of dynamic CI such as cloud resources, containers, and microservices, and avoiding service failures caused by configuration loss control during the transformation process.

ITIL4P-SCM certification is the foundation of all certifications in the PIC module group and the core requirement for obtaining the PIC Specialist comprehensive certification. Mastering standardized configuration management capabilities enables a better understanding of the core logic of change, release, deployment, and other processes, paving the way for obtaining the ITIL 4 MP advanced certification.

3. Overview of the ITIL4P-SCM Certification

The ITIL 4 Service Configuration Management Practitioner certification is a specialized intermediate certification in the ITIL 4 system that focuses on building and operating the "only reliable source" of IT service configuration data. Its core value lies in transforming dispersed and static configuration information into a dynamic, high-quality strategic data asset that can directly drive IT service process decisions.

The IL4P-SCM certification tests your practical ability to identify configuration items, ensure data quality, and collaborate with core processes such as changes and events in dynamic environments such as cloud native and microservices, with over 75% of scenario analysis questions. The certification content strictly follows AXELOS's official practice guidelines and has built a complete system from data definition to value closure.

The core concepts and value modules of service configuration management clearly define core concepts such as configuration items, CMDB, and their collaborative relationships with asset management, change management, and other practices. The core of certification is the practical module for managing the entire lifecycle of configuration items, which requires you to master the complete closed-loop from CI identification, baseline establishment, change control to retirement archiving, and implement differentiated control strategies.

The operation and data quality control module of the configuration management system is the key to ensuring data availability. In depth examination of the practical methods of data collection, quality verification, and daily operation aims to solve the core pain point of CMDB's "dirty, messy, and poor data."

The collaborative implementation module of service configuration management and ITIL core processes highlights its data base value, examining how to inject high-quality configuration data into processes such as change, release, event and problem management to improve decision-making efficiency and fault recovery speed. Finally, the performance evaluation, compliance, and continuous improvement modules guide you to establish quantitative indicators, make the value of configuration management explicit, and promote the continuous optimization of data governance capabilities.

4. What are the requirements to be an ITIL4P-SCM certification holder?

(1) Qualification prerequisites:

The prerequisite for applying for ITIL4P-SCM is that you must hold a valid ITIL 4 Foundation certification and complete the official training courses of AXELOS authorized ATO institutions. Without an official training certificate, you cannot complete the exam registration.

We recommend that you have 1-2 years of experience in IT operations, configuration management, CMDB operations, and change/release management, and be familiar with enterprise IT resources and ITSM core processes.

Those familiar with cloud native and microservice architecture will have a better understanding of the control scenarios for dynamic configuration items. 

(2) Training and examinations:

ITIL4P-SCM has a total of 20 single-choice question questions, including 14-16 practical situation analysis questions and a few concept matching multiple-choice questions.

The exam duration for native English speakers is 30 minutes; Non native English speaking candidates can apply for an extension of 75 minutes. The maximum score is 20 points, with a passing score of 13 points or above. The score is globally standardized and there is no fixed pass rate. The exam fee is approximately $200-250. 

(3) Qualification maintenance:

The ITIL4P-SCM certificate is valid for 3 years, consistent with all ITIL 4 Practitioner series certifications. The renewal requirement is that you must complete 22 AXELOS accredited CPD credits or take the ITIL 4 Advanced Certification before the certificate expires, which can be automatically renewed.

5. Comparable Certifications to ITIL 4 Practitioner Service Configuration Management Certification

• COBIT 2019 Foundation/Practitioner
• IT4IT Foundation/Professional
• TOGAF 10 Foundation/Certified