The GitHub Certification Guide for Data Professionals

To a seasoned data analyst, scientist, or engineer, having conversations about version control and collaboration really means having conversations about Git and GitHub, which are by far the most popular tools for this purpose. In fact, most of the open-source libraries you use are hosted on GitHub, although you might not know it. 

It's no surprise, then, that GitHub certifications have become one of the best ways to communicate your skills to employers. So, in this article, I will help you understand the different GitHub certifications that are out there, and I will also help you prepare so you can ace the GiHub certification exams.

Now, if you are totally new to GitHub, start with our introductory blog post: Understanding GitHub: What is GitHub and How to Use It. But I also want to give an important call out to our new GitHub Foundations skill track, which teaches you everything you need to know about version control, collaboration, and branching. Do consider enrolling because there's no substitute for a structured learning path, and this skill track is really perfect for those looking to start or advance a career in this space. So, don't forget to take a look.

What are GitHub Certifications?

GitHub certifications are an industry-recognized way of certifying your knowledge of GitHub technologies to impress employers. It validates your ability to use GitHub for various workflows. For now, GitHub offers four certifications:

• GitHub Foundations: This certification tests your knowledge of basics and core GitHub topics. 
• GitHub Actions Certification: This is an intermediate certification that tests your knowledge of workflow automation with GitHub.
• GitHub Advanced Security Certification: This certification certifies your knowledge of implementing security best practices on GitHub.
• GitHub Administration Certification: This certifies your ability to maintain complex repositories and collaborate with others. 

Components of GitHub Certifications

In this section, I will walk you through the components of a GitHub certification, breaking it down into four clear and manageable steps. These steps will ensure you have all the information and preparation needed to earn your results.

Step 1: Find answers to the most common questions

• How can I register? To register, you can go to the GitHub certification website, where you will see registration links for the various certifications offered.
• Are there any prerequisites? There are no required prerequisites, but I recommend you have a practical knowledge of the respective GitHub technology you are getting certified for.
• Do I need to register for all certifications? No, each certification measures various skill sets. You can go for the certification relevant to your career goals. If you need additional training, each certification has study materials you can always find to study more.
• How much do the exams cost? Each certification is the same price: $99.
• Are badges and certifications available? Yes, GitHub is partnered with Credly so you will have a digital badge and certification within 24-48 hours after passing the certification. This badge is also sharable on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. It is currently valid for at least three years, subject to change based on updates to the products covered in the certification.

GitHub certification digital badges. Source: Github Certification Registration 

Step 2: Get ready for the exam

If you have a working knowledge of Git and GitHub, you can sign up and take the exams immediately. But it's important to prepare regardless to ensure that you have a clear grasp of the exam format and the kind of questions asked. Each certification on the website has a “Prepare for the GitHub Foundations exam” section where you will see learning modules to prepare for the certification. Look into our expertly-designed GitHub Foundations Certification, which was actually built in collaboration with GitHub. When you complete the course, you will receive a full 75% discount on the exam fee!

Certification and links to their learning paths. Source: GitHub Resources

These modules cover the skills asked in each certification. Completing them gives you a higher chance of passing. On the certification site, you will also see a concise study guide for each certification. This study guide shows the certification domains/skills and their respective score percentages, ensuring you don’t under-study or over-study some specific domains. 

You can also take free mock exams to reflect on your preparation level and see if you are ready to take the exam. Don’t forget to practice all the concepts you have learned in the modules, as this will aid you in answering practical and case study questions. 

Links to GitHub certification study guides. Source: GitHub Resources

Step 3: Sign up for the exam

You can sign up for the exam on the certification page and schedule to take it online or at a local test center at a convenient date and time. If you are taking your exam online, ensure you have strong and reliable internet access and that your PC meets the required software and hardware specifications. 

If you choose to conduct your exam at a local test center, you will receive a first appointment within the first 24 hours of booking which you can reschedule within a 2-month time frame. If you can’t meet on your scheduled date, ensure you cancel or reschedule 48 hours before your appointment.

Before starting the exam, you must provide a valid government-issued ID with your name, photo, and signature. Valid IDs include an international Passport, Driver’s ID, Visa, or Green Card. Keep in mind the first and last name you used for registration must match your ID.

The duration of the exam is 120 minutes with 60 scored items, and around 10 - 15 pre-tests depending on the certification. The minimum percentage you must get to pass is around 70% and there are no penalties for wrong answers. 

Step 4: Get your results!

After completing the exams, you will receive your results immediately, followed by a detailed email with the results. Within 48 hours, you should see your results and performance on the measured skill areas displayed on your dashboard. 

If you fail an exam, you can retake it after 24 hours and after 14 days for each consecutive retake after the first retake. You only have 5 attempts to retake the exam. Your score report gives you details on specific skills or areas where your exam performance is weak. This can help you prepare for the next retake. 

Are GitHub Certifications Worth it in 2024?

GitHub certifications are valuable depending on your goals and the specific certifications, whether you are looking to get entry into a job, looking to switch careers, or going into management and consulting. Here are some of the reasons to get a GitHub certification.

GitHub skills are essential

GitHub skills make it easy to contribute to your favorite open-source libraries, open issues when you find a bug, and discuss with the open-source community. The knowledge of GitHub is also transferable to other developer platforms, so you don’t have to learn a new tool from scratch since they both perform similar functions, even though they differ in some features. 

GitHub certifications are valuable for employers 

Whether you are an entry-level data professional or seeking another role, your GitHub certifications show potential employers your ability to manage code repositories, track changes, and collaborate with members of your organization on a project. GitHub certifications indicate a commitment to continuous learning and staying updated with industry standards making you stand out from the crowd.

What Jobs Can You Get With GitHub Certification?

GitHub is important for many jobs. Having these certifications will give you a competitive edge in the job market and show potential employers that you are capable of performing your role. 

Summary table

Below is a table that outlines the specific roles you can pursue with a GitHub certification, along with the key responsibilities, the key skills, and the key tools used in each position. As you might notice, GitHub is important for all these roles!

List of All GitHub Certifications

Let's look at each GitHub certifications in turn. 

GitHub Foundations

This certification validates your knowledge of GitHub foundation topics such as collaborating, contributing, and working on GitHub. It also assesses your proficiency in GitHub’s basic features and best practices. 

• What is it?  Validates your knowledge of GitHub core features.

• Skills tested: 

  • Working with GitHub repositories

  • Collaboration features

  • Modern development

  • Project management

  • Privacy and security

• Prerequisites: Solid foundation of Git and GitHub

• Who is it for? Entry-level data professionals with minimal GitHub experience

• Cost: $99

• Exam format: 60 MCQ 

• Validity: Minimum of three years depending on the evolution of the product assessed in the certification.

• Where to get started: 

  • GitHub Foundations skill track (new)

  • GiHub Concepts course

  • GitHub and Git Tutorial for Beginners

GitHub Actions

If your daily tasks involve automating and streamlining workflows, then this certification is for you. The GitHub Actions certification validates your knowledge of workflow creation, automation, and building CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions.

• What is it? Assess your knowledge of creating and automating workflows using GitHub actions.

• Skills tested: 

  • Workflow authorization and maintenance

  • Authorization and maintenance of actions

  • Management of GitHub Actions for the enterprise

• Prerequisites: Solid foundation and basic experience with GitHub Actions.

• Who is it for? 

  • Data Scientists

  • Data Architects

  • Data Engineers

  • Machine Learning Engineers

• Cost: $99

• Exam format: 60 MCQs.

• Validity: Minimum of three years, depending on the evolution of the product assessed in the certification

• Where to get started: 

  • GitHub Actions study guide

  • GitHub Actions documentation

GitHub Advanced Security

This certification assesses your knowledge of identifying vulnerabilities, securing workflows, and implementing security best practices to maintain code integrity.

• What is it? Validates your ability to secure workflows and implement security best practices.

• Skills tested: 

• GHAS security features and functionality

• Configuration and use of dependency management

• Configuration and use of code scanning

• Use of code scanning with CodeQL

• Configuration of GitHub Advanced Security tools in GitHub Enterprise

• Prerequisites: Deep understanding of GitHub and its security features and experience securing software development workflows

• Who is it for? 

• Data Governance Specialists

• Database Administrators

• MLOps Engineers

• Data Engineers

• Data Architects

• Cost: $99

• Exam format: 60 MCQs

• Validity: Minimum of three years, depending on the evolution of the product assessed in the certification.

• Where to get started: 

• GitHub Advanced Security study guide

• GitHub Advanced Security documentation

GitHub Administration

The certification aims to validate the knowledge of GitHub enterprise Administration to maintain a secured GitHub environment that meets organizational and developer needs. 

• What is it? Validates knowledge of GitHub Enterprise Administration.

• Skills tested: 

• GitHub enterprise support for users and key stakeholders

• Management of user identities and GitHub authentication

• Knowledge of GitHub deployment, distribution, and licensing

• GitHub Actions management

• GitHub packages management

• Prerequisites: Solid foundation and basic experience with GitHub Administration

• Who is it for? 

• MLOps Engineer

• Database Administrators

• Cost: $99

• Exam format: 60 MCQs

• Validity: Minimum of three years depending on the evolution of the product assessed in the certification.

• Where to get started: 

• GitHub Administration study guide

• GitHub Enterprise Administration documentation

How to Choose the Right GitHub Certification

Here, I will share some ideas so you can choose the right certification for you. 

Alignment with career goals

Difficulty level

The certification exams vary in terms of difficulty. The GitHub Foundations certification is the easiest since it assesses knowledge of core GitHub concepts, while the other certifications are more advanced because they are specialized and test specific GitHub technologies.

Cost and investment

All the GitHub certifications have the same fee. If you don’t have the finances to take all the certifications relevant to you, you can decide to go for the most important certification in your field and take the others subsequently with time. 

How to Pass the GitHub Certifications?

Here are some things to keep in mind to help you pass:

Understand all the logistics involved

Ensure you read the candidate handbook to guide you on how to successfully conduct the exams. Talk to experts, mentors, or those who have had experience writing the exams to give you tips on how to succeed in the examinations and explain challenging concepts to you. 

If you are going to write at a local test center, ensure you are familiar with the location before the day of the examination. Ensure you also have all the required means of government identification before the examination and you don’t make any mistakes when providing details during registration, unmatching details with your means of identification can disqualify you from taking the exams.

Prepare and study in advance

Ensure you finish all the modules in the certification learning path and concentrate on skills or domains with the highest percentage. Many online platforms offer mock exams, so ensure you conduct these mock exams to judge your level of preparation and know the skills where you are weakest. 

Secure a quiet spot on the day of the certification exam

Ensure where you decide to write the exams is quiet and no one enters the room throughout the examination. If you encounter any problem when writing the exams, ensure you communicate with the proctor through the chat window.

Techniques for mastering practical tasks

Practice, practice, and practice! Don’t just read the theory in the modules without practicing. You might encounter case study questions. Effective practice will ensure you answer these questions correctly. 

Common pitfalls to avoid on exam day

Here are some common things to watch out for on exam day. 

• Ineffective Time Management: Failing to allocate appropriate time to each section of the exam can result in incomplete answers and rushed responses.
• Plagiarism and Cheating: This one goes without saying.  Engaging in dishonest practices violates exam rules and you will forfeit the money you paid. 
• Spending Too Much Time on Complex Questions: Getting stuck on difficult questions can consume valuable time that could be better spent on questions you are more confident about.

Maintaining your Certification

Certification renewal process

Your certification is valid for three years after passing your test. However, as the product evolves, GitHub will release a new exam to cover the updates made to the product. 

Staying updated with GitHub features and updates

The best ways to stay current with GitHub features and updates are to be an active community member, contribute to open-source projects, discuss with community members, and participate in workshops and conferences. This keeps you up to date with what is new and trending.

Beyond GitHub Certifications: Get Certified as a Data Professional

Getting certified by GitHub is not the end but a means to an end. It shows your ability to collaborate and use a version control system. But you need to demonstrate your core skills depending on the career path you are on. There are a variety of professional data certifications on DataCamp to supplement your GitHub certification. These certifications not only prove that you can collaborate with others on GitHub but also deliver on the job as a data professional. Together taken, these certifications tell a compelling story to any prospective employer.

Final Thoughts

Earning a GitHub certification is a huge achievement that will help you in the long run by boosting your career as a data professional.

As the data industry evolves, staying current with tools like GitHub highlights your technical prowess and dedication to continuous learning. Enroll in our GitHub Foundations skill track to become and expert, and also check out these additional DataCamp resources:

• GitHub Actions and MakeFile: A Hands-on Introduction: Explore how to automate workflows and build efficient pipelines using GitHub Actions and MakeFile through practical examples and step-by-step guides.
• Machine Learning & Data Science at GitHub: Discover the powerful features and integrations GitHub offers for machine learning and data science projects, enhancing collaboration and project management.
• A Beginner's Guide to CI/CD for Machine Learning: Learn the fundamentals of continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) for machine learning, including best practices and real-world applications to streamline your development process.

Good luck on your exam!