ITIL 2011 Intermediate Module - Release Control and Validation (RCV)

The module focuses on the practical application of RCV practices in order to enable the successful planning, testing and implementation of new services that meet the organization’s or users’ needs.

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The RCV course is designed to develop organizations’ or individuals’ understanding of the ITIL Service Transition processes. It can ensure transitional changes are effectively managed, new services are validated and tested and that release and deployment fulfil organizational requirements. RCV also provides guidance on evaluating change and managing knowledge to improve decision-making processes.

The Concept


The ITIL Intermediate Qualification: Release, Control and Validation (RCV) Certificate is a free-standing qualification, but is also part of the ITIL Intermediate Capability stream, and one of the modules that leads to the ITIL Expert Certificate in IT Service Management. The purpose of this training module and the associated exam and certificate is, respectively, to impart, test, and validate the knowledge on industry practices in service management as documented in the ITIL Service Lifecycle core publications. The ITIL Certificate in Release, Control and Validation is intended to enable the holders of the certificate to apply the practices during the service management lifecycle and specifically in the following key ITIL process, role and function areas:

  • Change management
  • Service asset and configuration management
  • Service validation and testing
  • Release and deployment management
  • Request fulfilment
  • Change evaluation
  • Knowledge management

Target Candidate


The target group of the ITIL Intermediate Qualification: Release, Control and Validation Certificate includes, but is not restricted to:

  • IT professionals
  • Business managers
  • Business process owners
  • Individuals who require a deep understanding of the ITIL Certificate in the Release, Control and Validation processes and of how it may be used to enhance the quality of IT service support within an organization.
  • IT professionals that are working within an organization that has adopted and adapted ITIL, and who need to be informed about, and thereafter contribute to, an ongoing service improvement programme
  • Operational staff involved in change management, release and deployment management, service validation and testing, service asset and configuration management, request fulfilment, change evaluation and knowledge management, and who wish to enhance their role-based capabilities
  • Individuals who have attained the ITIL Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management and wish to advance to higher level ITIL certifications
  • Individuals seeking the ITIL Expert Certificate in IT Service Management for which this qualification can be one of the prerequisite modules
  • Individuals seeking progress toward the ITIL Master Certificate in IT Service Management for which the ITIL Expert is a prerequisite.

Qualification Learning Objectives


Candidates can expect to gain competencies in the following areas upon successful completion of the education and examination components related to this certification:

  • The importance of service management as a practice concept and service transition principles, purpose and objective
  • The importance of ITIL release, control and validation while providing service
  • How all processes in ITIL release, control and validation interact with other service lifecycle processes
  • What are the processes, activities, methods and functions used in each of the ITIL release, control and validation processes
  • How to use the ITIL release, control and validation processes, activities and functions to achieve operational excellence
  • How to measure ITIL release, control and validation
  • The importance of IT security and its contributions to ITIL release, control and validation
  • The technology and implementation considerations surrounding ITIL release, control and validation
  • Change management as a capability to realize successful service transition
  • Service validation and testing as a capability to ensure the integrity and the quality of service transition
  • Service asset and configuration management as a capability to monitor the state of service transition
  • Knowledge management as part of enhancing the on-going management decision support and service delivery capability
  • Request fulfilment and change evaluation to ensure meeting committed service level performance
  • Release, control and validation process roles and responsibilities
  • Technology and implementation considerations
  • Challenges, critical success factors and risks associated with ITIL release, control and validation

In addition, the training for this qualification will include examination preparation, including an opportunity for a mock examination.