IRCA ​IT Service Management Systems Certification Scheme

The scheme is based on the key standard ISO/IEC 20000-1: Information Technology – Service Management (current edition). To be certificated, you'll need to demonstrate that you have the skills to audit the proper implementation of ISO/IEC 20000-1 (some alternative standards are also accepted – see below).

Who the scheme is for

• Employees conducting service management system (SMS) audits within their own organisation, i.e. internal audits

• Service management system (SMS) auditors, e.g. those employed by third-party certification bodies/registrars or by purchasing organisations

• Service management practitioners, e.g. Service management consultants and other Service management personnel

Requirements

You are required to demonstrate the following knowledge and competencies (see the 'Sector understanding' and 'Work experience' sections of the application form):

• Knowledge of the role of service providers and their responsibilities

• Knowledge of the importance of control of parties involved in the service lifecycle

• Basic training in service management knowledge (e.g. IRCA will accept the ITIL® Foundation certificate or equivalent training)

• Knowledge of ITIL®. (IRCA will accept the ITIL® Foundation certificate or equivalent training as satisfying this requirement)

• Understanding identification and management via risk analysis applied to service management

• Understanding of service requirements, service management system (SMS), and service management plans and their interaction

• Understanding the importance of service and the importance of prioritizing

• Understanding of release and deployment management and change management

• Understanding Asset management, configuration management and the importance of configuration items (CI)

• Understanding of the service delivery including continuity and availability, incident management and problem management

• Understanding of business relationship management and of the importance of meeting SLAs.

Acceptable alternative standards

We may accept audits to alternative standards not listed on the IRCA certification scheme. To find out more please visit the Acceptable Alternative Standards page.