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
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Choose your learning style
APMG is not a training provider. Please contact accredited training organization's listed on our website for prices 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
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Buy a training course and exam through one of our Training Organizations below.
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
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.
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.
The OpenSM Foundation exam is only available in Italian.
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)
No additional materials are permitted during the exam.
The qualification is not valid for a defined period and will not expire.
- Provisional results: After completing the Foundation examination, candidates may receive provisional results either orally from the invigilator or on-screen at the end of an online exam.
- Official results: Once processed, official results, including a PDF breakdown of marks by syllabus area, are available in the APMG Candidate Portal. Results are issued as the total number of marks achieved.
- Processing time: Exam papers are usually marked immediately after the exam. APMG formally processes and confirms results via the Candidate Portal within 2 working days of receiving completed papers.
- Outstanding payments: In exceptional cases, results may be withheld until full payment has been received.
Once you’ve been notified that you’ve passed your exam, you will have the option to create a digital badge in APMG's Candidate Portal.
Visit APMG's Candidate Portal, view your exam results and select 'Create Badge'.
This takes you to the Credly website where the digital badges are hosted. You will be guided through the Credly account creation process.
Once you have created an account with Credly, log into the account and accept your pending badge.
Candidates will be able to claim their digital badge and electronic certificate from the APMG Candidate Portal within two business days of their exam result being issued.