I looked around for a training provider for my ITIL v3 Managers Bridge – it was difficult – especially considering the training and exam have only been live since March 2008.

I called several providers who were claiming to offer training; when I probed on the name of the instructor, references, success rates – there was very little or in several cases no evidential data the course would deliver.

My aims for training seemed quite simple – to learn; to network; to pass the exam.

In the end I selected The Art of Service  - based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Why? Three reasons:

- they proudly show their passrate on the front page:

- recommendation

- awareness and reputation from The Art of Service “Service Management Podcasts”

So how is the course so far? Simply excellent.

Ivanka Menken is the trainer – she is a co-owner of the company and has been at the ‘coalface’ of Service Management delivery since ITIL v1 days. Good knowledge, personable, real world experience – and a good mix of training styles.

I’m hoping this all adds up to a ‘pass’ – the exam is Friday; results a few weeks later.

One day left- then the exam.

I must say – the workload and effort for this course is a lot more than for the ITIL v2 Managers cert; there is a lot more reading, homework, mock-exam question taking and general research needed. Also piling on is the ‘body of knowledge’ that is assumed from the v2 Manager exam.