CDS · ● Active · Professional · PeopleCert (Axelos)
Exam facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost | $519 USD (PeopleCert direct); $500–$2,500 via Accredited Training Organizations including exam voucher |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Questions | 40 (all scored) |
| Passing | 70% (28 out of 40 questions) |
| Format | Multiple choice, closed-book |
| Delivery | Web proctored by PeopleCert (24/7 availability) |
| Languages | English (regional exam versions available) |
| Valid | Lifetime (no renewal required) |
| Renewal | N/A — certification does not expire |
| Prerequisites | ITIL 4 Foundation certification (required; must provide certificate at registration) |
| Released | 2019 (with ITIL 4 managing professional redesign) |
| Retiring | N/A — currently active in the ITIL 4 pathway |
Vendor source — PeopleCert ITIL 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver and Support ↗
Official exam guide — ITIL 4 Managing Professional CDS Syllabus ↗
Exam objectives — PeopleCert CDS Exam Blueprint ↗
About
The ITIL 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver and Support (CDS) certification validates expertise in designing, building, and operating IT services that align with customer needs and business objectives. Released in 2019 as part of the ITIL 4 managing professional pathway redesign, CDS is one of five specialist modules required to achieve ITIL 4 Managing Professional status. The exam assesses practical knowledge of service design and development, incident/problem management, service desk operations, and the service value chain — essential competencies for service managers, ITSM practitioners, and IT operations leaders responsible for end-to-end service delivery.
Domain context — IT Service Management (ITSM)
IT Service Management encompasses the holistic, lifecycle-based approach to designing, delivering, and managing IT-enabled services. ITSM practitioners integrate business strategy with operational execution using frameworks like ITIL, which shifts focus from IT infrastructure to delivering measurable customer value.
Read full deep dive — IT Service Management (ITSM) → (file not yet created)
Topics covered
The CDS exam blueprint focuses on integrating service design, delivery, and support activities within the ITIL 4 service value chain. Key domains include:
- Service Design and Development — designing services that meet customer and business needs; service architecture; digital experience; service performance management
- Service Desk and Incident Management — first-line customer support; incident triage, logging, and resolution; service request fulfillment
- Problem Management — root-cause analysis; known-error database; proactive problem prevention; incident trend analysis
- Knowledge Management — capturing and sharing organizational knowledge; FAQ databases; training and awareness
- Service Performance and Improvement — SLA definition and monitoring; KPI tracking; continual service improvement (CSI) practices
- Service Value Chain Integration — aligning plan, engage, design, obtain/build, deliver, and support activities; cross-functional collaboration
- Customer Journey and Digital Experience — understanding customer touchpoints; service experience design; omnichannel delivery
Source: PeopleCert CDS Exam Objectives ↗
Common skills at IT Service Management · Professional
Shared competencies for ITSM practitioners at the professional (specialist) level — not exclusive to CDS.
- Service design and architecture aligned to business strategy
- Incident and problem management process ownership
- Service level management and customer SLA negotiation
- Stakeholder management and cross-functional communication
- Knowledge and documentation governance
- Continuous improvement planning and execution
- ITIL 4 practice integration (34 ITIL practices across the service value system)
Recommended courses at IT Service Management · Professional
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Knowledge (Skillsoft) | ITIL 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver and Support (3-day instructor-led) | $1,500–$2,500 | ↗ |
| Learning Tree | ITIL 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver and Support | $1,500–$2,000 | ↗ |
| Good e-Learning | ITIL 4 Specialist CDS Self-Paced e-Learning | $400–$600 | ↗ |
| Pluralsight | ITIL 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver and Support Path | $299/year | ↗ |
| KnowledgeHut | ITIL 4 Specialist CDS Training + Exam Bundled | $800–$1,200 | ↗ |
Course-selection rule: Each course is certified by PeopleCert as an Accredited Training Organization (ATO) provider. Bundled exam vouchers reduce effective exam cost.
Practice exams
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| MeasureUp | ITIL 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver and Support Practice Test | $99–$149 | ↗ |
| ExamSimul | ITIL 4 CDS Exam Questions and Practice Tests | $50–$79 | ↗ |
| Udemy | ITIL 4 CDS — 6 Practice Exams (240 Questions) | $12–$35 | ↗ |
| PeopleCert Official | CDS Sample Exam Questions (free online) | Free | ↗ |
Books
| Title | Author | Publisher | Year | ISBN | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITIL 4: Create, Deliver and Support | Claire Agutter, Katie Villa | IT Governance Press | 2019 | 978-1787783379 | ↗ |
| ITIL 4 Create Deliver and Support (CDS) Study Guide | AXELOS (Official Publication) | PeopleCert | 2019 | 978-1-9166813-3-1 | ↗ |
Typical job titles at IT Service Management · Professional
Service Manager · ITSM Engineer · ITIL Process Owner · Senior Service Desk Manager · Incident Manager · Problem Manager · Service Delivery Manager · IT Operations Manager · Service Value Chain Coordinator
(Job titles drawn from current job-board postings that list ITIL CDS or equivalent ITSM specialist certification as required or preferred.)
Salary
| Region | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USD | $131,435–$196,555 annually (IT Service Manager / Senior ITSM roles) | Glassdoor 2026 ↗ · Glassdoor ITSM Manager ↗ · Robert Half 2026 Salary Guide ↗ |
| GBP | £39,000–£65,000 annually (estimated Service Manager / ITSM professional roles UK) | No region-specific CDS cert data available — use IT Jobs Watch general ITSM role salary |
| ZAR | R400,000–R700,000 annually (estimated Service Manager roles SA) | No region-specific CDS cert data available — use PayScale ZA general ITSM professional |
| EUR | €45,000–€70,000 annually (estimated DE/FR/NL average) | No region-specific CDS cert data available — use general ITSM professional salary surveys |
| AUD | A$85,000–A$130,000 annually (estimated Service Manager roles AU) | No region-specific CDS cert data available — use LinkedIn ITSM professional salary data |
Salary rule: CDS-specific salary data is limited. Ranges above reflect IT Service Manager, ITSM Engineer, and ITSM Specialist roles that commonly require or prefer ITIL professional-level certification. Actual compensation depends heavily on experience, organization size, industry vertical, and geographic market.
Skills validated
Concrete competencies this exam assesses — not generic ITSM theory.
- Service value chain integration and service value stream design
- Service desk operations and incident first-line triage
- Incident management workflows (log, classify, prioritize, escalate, resolve, close)
- Problem management: root-cause analysis and known-error database maintenance
- Service request management and fulfillment automation
- Knowledge management system design and maintenance
- Service performance measurement (KPI / SLA definition and monitoring)
- Customer journey mapping and digital experience optimization
- Service design aligned to customer and business needs
- Cross-functional service coordination (design, build, deliver, support teams)
- ITIL 4 practice integration: 34 practices across the service value system
- Continual service improvement metrics and CSI planning
Related certifications
- Prerequisite for: ITIL 4 Managing Professional ↗ (requires 5 specialist exams: CDS, DSV, HVIT, DPI, and one additional) — (file not yet created)
- Stacks with: ITIL 4 Specialist: Drive Stakeholder Value (DSV) · ITIL 4 Specialist: High Velocity IT (HVIT) · ITIL 4 Specialist: Direct, Plan and Improve (DPI) · ITIL 4 Specialist: Monitor, Support and Fulfil (MSF)
- Replaces: ITIL 4 Intermediate: Service Design and Service Transition (legacy path; retired 2019 with MP redesign)
- Equivalents at this level: ISO 20000-1 Implementer (vendor-neutral ITSM standard); COBIT 2019 Practitioner (IT governance focus)
- Vendor overview: PeopleCert / AXELOS Vendor Overview ↗ (file not yet created)
Sources
- PeopleCert ITIL 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver and Support Official Page
- Global Knowledge ITIL 4 CDS Course
- Learning Tree ITIL 4 Specialist CDS Training
- Good e-Learning ITIL 4 Specialist CDS
- Pluralsight ITIL 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver and Support Path
- MeasureUp ITIL 4 CDS Practice Test
- ExamSimul ITIL 4 CDS Sample Questions
- Amazon — ITIL 4: Create, Deliver and Support (Agutter, Villa)
- Glassdoor — IT Service Manager Salary 2026
- Glassdoor — ITSM Manager Salary 2026
- Robert Half 2026 Technology Salary Guide
Last verified: 2026-05-01 Parent ecosystem: ITIL 4 Certification Pathway (file not yet created) Parent domain: IT Service Management (ITSM) (file not yet created) Vendor overview: PeopleCert / AXELOS Overview (file not yet created)