ITIL accreditation and examination body APM Group, has unveiled its new qualification scheme for version 3 of the popular IT service best practice guidelines at a launch event in Central London.

Under the new qualification, candidates will be able to earn credits from ITIL version 2 and version 3 courses and exams, which can go towards earning a new ITIL Diploma in Service Management.

The company said that the aim of the new diploma was to ensure the value of existing version 2 qualifications were recognised, and to make the qualification more accessible by limiting the number of exams candidates had to sit.

"This provides clear structure for an individual to develop their professional understanding and career," said Richard Pharro, managing director at APM Group. "In particular it enables both individuals and companies to establish inspirational personal development programmes within an internationally recognised framework of qualifications."

The diploma scheme will feature four levels – a Foundation level, two Intermediate levels, and a planned Advanced level – and candidates must achieve 22 credits, only two of which can be from the Foundation level, to gain the diploma.

APM Group said that Foundation level courses and exams, which are available this month, would provide candidates with "a good grounding in the key concepts, terminology and processes of ITIL v3".

Meanwhile, the two Intermediate levels will be launched by the end of the year with one covering the service lifecycle principles that underpin version 3 and the other covering ITIL capabilities, such as service portfolio and relationship management; service design and optimisation; service monitoring and control; and service operation and support.

Candidates will gain credits for courses that they take across these three levels and once they have accumulated 22 credits they will receive a diploma without having to sit any further exams.

Individuals with existing ITIL version 2 qualifications can use them to add to their credits as they work towards the new version 3 diploma, while those with the highest Manager qualification for ITIL Version 2 can also gain the new diploma through a new three day "bridging course" that will be introduced in the autumn.

APM Group said that it would also develop an Advanced Level Diploma in the future that "will assess an individual’s ability to apply and analyse the ITIL v3 concepts in new areas".