ITIL 4 Strategic Leader certification: modules, exams and what changes with ITIL 5
The ITIL 4 Strategic Leader certification from PeopleCert is earned with two modules: ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve (40 questions, 90 minutes) and ITIL 4 Leader: Digital and IT Strategy (30 questions, 60 minutes). Both are closed book with a 70% pass mark and require accredited training. ITIL 4 is still available, but PeopleCert plans to sunset all ITIL 4 modules on 31 December 2027.
- Certification
- ITIL 4 Strategic Leader (SL) designation, from PeopleCertPeopleCert ITIL Offer FAQs, checked 10 October 2026
- Status
- Available; PeopleCert plans to sunset all ITIL 4 modules on 31 December 2027PeopleCert ITIL FAQ, checked 10 October 2026
- Modules
- ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve + ITIL 4 Leader: Digital and IT StrategyPeopleCert ITIL Offer FAQs, checked 10 October 2026
- DPI exam
- 40 multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes, closed bookPeopleCert DPI page, checked 10 October 2026
- DITS exam
- 30 multiple-choice questions, 60 minutes, closed bookPeopleCert DITS page, checked 10 October 2026
- Passing score
- 70% on each examPeopleCert DPI and DITS pages, checked 10 October 2026
- Prerequisites
- Any ITIL v3 certification, ITIL 4 Foundation or the ITIL 4 Managing Professional certificate, plus accredited training or ITIL Official eLearningPeopleCert DPI and DITS pages, checked 10 October 2026
- Cost (US listing, per module)
- US$1,338 or US$1,647 incl. VAT with eLearning; US$865 exam bundle for retakes onlyPeopleCert DPI and DITS pages, checked 10 October 2026
- Renewal
- Every 3 years, 60 CPD pointsPeopleCert DITS page, checked 10 October 2026
Get notified when the ITIL 4 Strategic Leader question bank launches →
Know if you're ready for ITIL 4 Strategic Leader — before you book.
Certsqill measures your ITIL 4 Strategic Leader readiness across every official exam domain — one 0–100 score from coverage, accuracy and consistency that tells you whether to book, keep studying, or sit.
Why people switch to Certsqill
Everything you need to walk in ready
Know where you stand, understand every mistake, and study in your language — one payment, no subscription.
Your ITIL 4 Strategic Leader Readiness Score, not a guess
One number from three signals — coverage, accuracy, and consistency — tells you whether to book the exam or keep studying.
Understand every ITIL 4 Strategic Leader mistake
When you miss a question, it explains why — using your own answer history to catch the patterns you keep repeating. Included, no subscription.
Explanations in your language, questions stay exam-accurate
Get every explanation in your language while the questions stay in exam-accurate English. Technical terms stay in English — the way the exam writes them.
Everything you need to pass
Why you can trust these ITIL 4 Strategic Leader questions
What is the ITIL 4 Strategic Leader certification?
ITIL 4 Strategic Leader (SL) is one of the two advanced designations in the ITIL 4 scheme run by PeopleCert, alongside ITIL 4 Managing Professional. Strategic Leader is the path aimed at leadership and strategy: PeopleCert addresses its modules to managers, leaders and senior business and IT executives.
PeopleCert lists two modules under the ITIL 4 Strategic Leader certifications. ITIL 4 Leader: Digital and IT Strategy is addressed to IT and business leaders and provides guidance on defining, driving and adjusting an organisation’s digital strategy. ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve is the universal module shared by the Managing Professional and Strategic Leader paths.
That shared module matters: if you already passed Direct, Plan and Improve on the way to Managing Professional, the Leader: Digital and IT Strategy exam is the one module left for Strategic Leader.
Source: PeopleCert — ITIL Offer FAQs for Candidates (PDF). Checked 10 October 2026.
Is the ITIL strategic leader certification still available?
Yes, for now. PeopleCert has released ITIL (Version 5) in a phased rollout, and says that in the meantime ITIL 4 remains available for those who wish to continue their current certification journey. PeopleCert’s ITIL FAQ adds that the current plan is to sunset all ITIL 4 modules on 31 December 2027, with exam voucher validity dates for ITIL 4 to be announced.
There is also an ITIL Strategic Leader (Version 5) designation. PeopleCert says it requires ITIL Foundation plus the ITIL Strategy and ITIL Transformation modules. Holders of the ITIL 4 Strategic Leader designation can upgrade by completing the ITIL Transformation (Version 5) module.
If you hold only one of the two ITIL 4 modules, PeopleCert’s recommended path to the Version 5 designation is to take ITIL Strategy (Version 5) and ITIL Transformation (Version 5). PeopleCert also states that existing ITIL certifications continue to hold their value as ITIL evolves.
Source: PeopleCert — ITIL FAQ. Checked 10 October 2026.
ITIL 4 Strategic Leader exam format
There are two exams, one per module, and both use the same rules: multiple choice, closed book, and a minimum required score of 70%.
ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve has 40 questions in 90 minutes, so you need 28 correct answers. ITIL 4 Leader: Digital and IT Strategy has 30 questions in 60 minutes, so you need 21 correct answers.
Both exams are offered in nine languages: English, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil) and Spanish. On the PeopleCert DPI page, rescheduling is free up to 48 hours before the start time, with fees after that.
- ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve — 40 questions, 90 minutes, 70% to pass
- ITIL 4 Leader: Digital and IT Strategy — 30 questions, 60 minutes, 70% to pass
Source: PeopleCert — ITIL 4 Leader: Digital and IT Strategy. Checked 10 October 2026.
ITIL 4 Strategic Leader certification cost
PeopleCert sells each module as a bundle, and the price shown depends on your region. On PeopleCert’s US listing, both Direct, Plan and Improve and Digital and IT Strategy showed the same three options, all including VAT: an exam voucher with the official eBook, Learning Resource Kit and eLearning for US$1,338; an eLearning+ bundle that adds auto-marked sample papers and a free exam re-take for US$1,647; and an exam-only bundle for US$865 that is for retakes only.
Because Strategic Leader needs two modules, budget for two bundles unless you already hold Direct, Plan and Improve. If you train through an accredited training organisation instead of ITIL Official eLearning, the course price is set by that organisation.
Source: PeopleCert — ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve. Checked 10 October 2026.
ITIL 4 Strategic Leader training and course requirements
Training is mandatory. For both modules PeopleCert requires training through an Accredited Training Organization or ITIL Official eLearning, and states that exam results will not be released without proof of completion. Self-study alone is therefore not enough to get certified, even if you pass the exam.
The entry prerequisite for each module is any ITIL v3 certification, ITIL 4 Foundation, or the ITIL 4 Managing Professional certificate.
The official course material is the eBook and Learning Resource Kit included in PeopleCert’s bundles, together with ITIL Official eLearning.
Source: PeopleCert — ITIL 4 Leader: Digital and IT Strategy. Checked 10 October 2026.
What do the two ITIL 4 Strategic Leader modules cover?
ITIL 4 Leader: Digital and IT Strategy is aimed at senior business and IT executives. PeopleCert describes it as improving your digital leadership skills to align digital strategies with broader business objectives, navigating VUCA environments and responding to disruption, and applying the ITIL continual improvement model to strategic development.
ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve, the module that also sits inside Managing Professional, is addressed to managers and leaders. PeopleCert says it provides guidance on assessment and planning, measurement and reporting, continual improvement, and the management of organisational change.
Source: PeopleCert — ITIL Offer FAQs for Candidates (PDF). Checked 10 October 2026.
How long is ITIL 4 Strategic Leader valid?
PeopleCert lists renewal every 3 years, with 60 CPD points needed for renewal. PeopleCert also allows renewal by passing another exam from the same product suite before your renewal date.
With the ITIL 4 sunset planned for the end of 2027, the upgrade to ITIL Strategic Leader (Version 5) via the ITIL Transformation module is another way to keep the designation current. PeopleCert states that ITIL (Version 5) certificates are issued with a three-year renewal date.
Source: PeopleCert — ITIL 4 Leader: Digital and IT Strategy. Checked 10 October 2026.
ITIL 4 Strategic Leader vs Managing Professional
Both designations share ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve. Managing Professional adds three Specialist modules — Create, Deliver and Support; Drive Stakeholder Value; and High-Velocity IT — while Strategic Leader adds a single module, ITIL 4 Leader: Digital and IT Strategy.
Strategic Leader is the shorter route in module count and the more executive one in focus. If you already hold Managing Professional, Strategic Leader is one further exam away.
Source: PeopleCert — ITIL Offer FAQs for Candidates (PDF). Checked 10 October 2026.
ITIL 4 Strategic Leader salary
PeopleCert does not publish salary data for ITIL 4 Strategic Leader holders, and we do not quote unsourced figures. What the credential does signal is clear from PeopleCert’s own positioning: it targets senior business and IT executives responsible for digital and IT strategy.
If you want a salary benchmark, use pay data for the role you hold or are applying for rather than for the certificate itself.
ITIL 4 Strategic Leader practice questions
PeopleCert’s eLearning+ bundle includes auto-marked sample papers. Certsqill’s practice questions cover both Strategic Leader modules: every question explains each answer option and your readiness score is shown per module, so you can see whether Direct, Plan and Improve or Digital and IT Strategy needs more work.
ITIL 4 Strategic Leader questions people ask
What exams are needed for the ITIL 4 Strategic Leader certification?
ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve and ITIL 4 Leader: Digital and IT Strategy. Source: PeopleCert, checked 10 October 2026.
Is ITIL 4 Strategic Leader being retired?
PeopleCert plans to sunset all ITIL 4 modules on 31 December 2027. Until then ITIL 4 remains available. Source: PeopleCert ITIL FAQ, checked 10 October 2026.
How many questions are on the ITIL 4 Strategic Leader exams?
40 questions in 90 minutes for Direct, Plan and Improve; 30 questions in 60 minutes for Digital and IT Strategy. Source: PeopleCert, checked 10 October 2026.
What is the passing score?
70% on each exam. Source: PeopleCert module pages, checked 10 October 2026.
Do I need to take a course?
Yes. PeopleCert requires training through an accredited training organisation or ITIL Official eLearning and releases results only with proof of completion. Checked 10 October 2026.
What are the prerequisites?
Any ITIL v3 certification, ITIL 4 Foundation or the ITIL 4 Managing Professional certificate. Source: PeopleCert, checked 10 October 2026.
How much does ITIL 4 Strategic Leader cost?
On PeopleCert’s US listing each module bundle with eLearning was US$1,338 or US$1,647 incl. VAT; prices vary by region. Checked 10 October 2026.
Can I upgrade ITIL 4 Strategic Leader to ITIL 5?
Yes. PeopleCert says completing ITIL Transformation (Version 5) upgrades it to ITIL Strategic Leader (Version 5). Checked 10 October 2026.
How do I renew ITIL 4 Strategic Leader?
Every 3 years, with 60 CPD points or by passing another exam from the same product suite. Source: PeopleCert, checked 10 October 2026.
