About OpenSM™
OpenSM™ Overview
Benefits of OpenSM™
For Individuals
- Gain practical understanding of how to manage IT-enabled services sustainably.
- Learn how to combine established ITSM terminology with new methodologies and technologies.
- Build knowledge of IT sustainability practices, including environmental, social, workplace and procurement aspects.
- Gain a certification that enables you to contribute to improved service management outcomes in your organization.
For Organizations
- Adopt a sustainable ITSM framework designed for organizations of all maturity levels.
- Ensure your ITSM approach is aligned with environmental, social, and regulatory sustainability goals.
- Integrate OpenSM with existing ITSM frameworks to strengthen governance and service delivery.
- Provide your teams with the structure and guidance to successfully deliver and evolve IT-enabled services.
Useful links
Useful links
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OpenSM Framework
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OpenSM LinkedIn Community
Success in 1 2 3
Over 2.6 million people in 192 countries have an APMG certification. Our certifications are used by 80% of the FTSE 100 and a third of the Fortune 500 and S&P 500, and are proven to deliver better outcomes.
Select your certification
APMG certifications can advance your career, build your confidence and help you transition into a new field. Browse our careers section for inspiration or visit our certification pages for details of what you’ll learn and how you will benefit from certification.
Choose your learning style
APMG is not a training provider. Please contact accredited training organizations listed on our website for prices, languages and dates. Alternatively, you can self-study for an exam directly through APMG.
Pass the exam & receive a certificate
When you are ready to take your exam, book an online timeslot yourself with APMG, or your training organization may organize this for you. If you pass your exam APMG will issue you with a digital badge for you to share!
OpenSM™ levels
Ready to start your learning journey?
Choose a Training Organization
APMG accredits Training Organizations (ATOs) to make sure they are delivering our products and certifications to high standards.
Buy a training course and exam through one of our Training Organizations below.
Training organizations for OpenSM™
Important information about language
The training services listed on this website have undergone a quality assurance process to ensure they meet high standards. However, please note that while the quality of the training content has been assessed, the language capabilities in which these services are delivered have not been specifically evaluated. We recommend that users verify the language proficiency and suitability of the service for their needs directly with the Training Organisation prior to enrollment or participation.
SFIA

This APMG certification has been informally mapped against the SFIA Framework to indicate the skills that are addressed and referenced by the certification. Although it is not yet possible to claim this digital badge, the indicative skills can be used to plan your professional development through assessing the skills you have and the skills you need for the role you want.
knowledge
OpenSM™ Foundation
Generic attribute Knowledge level 3
Same as above plus Knowledge level 4, Methods and tools level 5, Business process improvement level 5 and Organisational capability development level 5
FAQs
There is no supporting textbook or publication for OpenSM. Candidates must attend an accredited training course and will be provided with all the relevant materials during the course.
OpenSM is a simple framework for adopting and adapting service management into an organization. The OpenSM framework introduces candidates to the management of modern IT-enabled services, taking into account new methodologies and technological advances, and integrates the concept of sustainability. It includes common terminology and key concepts and demonstrates how to adopt and improve service management within your organization.
The qualification is not valid for a defined period and will not expire.
No additional materials are permitted during the exam.
OpenSM Foundation courses are generally delivered over 2 days. However, it is well worth investigating with individual training providers, as some will offer tailored, online or blended learning solutions.
Summaries of the structure of the OpenSM Foundation examination is below:
- 50 multiple choice questions
- 1 hour duration
- Pass mark: 28 marks or more (out of 50)
- Closed book (no reference materials permitted)
The OpenSM Foundation exam is only available in Italian.
Since 2018, we are no longer registered for AXELOS qualifications and are unable to provide the certificates.
If you received your AXELOS qualification before this time, you can contact customer service and upon providing your candidate number, ask if a copy of your certificate still exists in our system.
Alternatively, you can reach out to IT PeopleCert directly with this request quoting your candidate number.
If you do not have your candidate number, we can provide it to you. Additionally, we are happy to provide a letter of verification for any exams sat with us.
Your results will be processed 6 to 12 hours after your exam. You will receive an email confirming your achievement and inviting you to the Candidate Portal where you can see your official result. From there, you can create your account in Credly.com and access your digital badge and certificate.
Your training organization specified that they wish to view candidate results before releasing. If you would like your results sooner, you may contact your ATO directly and request your results that way. After they have released them, you will be able to create/view your Digital Badge and download your Digital Certificate in your Credly account in the Certificates section of your portal.