Study guide: GitHub Actions certification

Have you heard about the GitHub Actions certification? It's a credential that validates your knowledge and skills in using the tool that allows you to automate workflows on GitHub. 

In this article, we will learn about the main topics covered in the exam, the resources you can use to study, and the tips that will help you perform well. Are you ready to start your journey towards GitHub Actions certification?!

GitHub Actions is a feature of GitHub that allows you to automate tasks and workflows for your software development projects. You can use GitHub Actions to create, test, deploy, and monitor your code from GitHub. GitHub Actions uses YAML files called workflows to define the steps and triggers for your automation. You can run workflows on GitHub-hosted runners or on your own self-hosted runners. GitHub Actions also supports a rich ecosystem of actions, which are reusable units of code that you can use in your workflows or create and share with others.

The exam is tailored for DevOps engineers, software developers, and IT experts who have a mid-level understanding of GitHub Actions, covering workflows, automation, and managing CI/CD pipelines.

The GitHub Actions exam covers 4 domains:

• Domain 1: Author and maintain workflows
• Domain 2: Consume workflows
• Domain 3: Author and maintain actions
• Domain 4: Manage GitHub Actions for the enterprise

GitHub Foundations – your first step

Domains 2, 3, and 4 cover more advanced aspects of using GitHub for project management, developing custom actions, and deploying automated workflows. To achieve these objectives, it is necessary to have a solid understanding of GitHub's basic concepts and work routines.

If you do not yet fully understand the basic concepts or work routines in GitHub, you can consult the learning path for GitHub Foundations certification on Microsoft Learn. There, you will find interactive modules that will help you understand and apply the essential functionalities of GitHub.

A few weeks ago, we hosted a GitHub Foundations series on the Microsoft Reactor YouTube channel. You can now watch the sessions on demand! 

GitHub Actions – Learning path

On Microsoft Learn, we have a learning path for GitHub Actions certification, which includes free learning modules covering:

• Automate development tasks by using GitHub Actions
• Build continuous integration (CI) workflows by using GitHub Actions
• Leverage GitHub Actions to publish to GitHub Packages
• Create and publish custom GitHub actions
• Build and deploy applications to Azure by using GitHub Actions
• Manage GitHub Actions in the enterprise

To prepare for the certification exam, it is beneficial to integrate your studies with the materials available on Microsoft Learn and GitHub Docs.

Below are some useful links to study the four knowledge domains covered by the exam:

Domain 1: Author and maintain workflows

• Workflow syntax for GitHub Actions
• Events that trigger workflows
• Configuring workflows
• Using actions in workflows
• Managing workflow runs
• Workflow commands

Domain 2: Consume workflows

• Interpreting the effects of a workflow
• Viewing workflow run history and details
• Workflow status badges

Domain 3: Author and maintain actions

• Creating actions
• Action metadata syntax

Domain 4: Manage GitHub Actions in the enterprise

• Managing GitHub Actions in your enterprise
• Setting up self-hosted runners
• Managing access to self-hosted runners

I hope this GitHub Actions Certification Exam Study Guide helps you confidently navigate the exam and excel in implementing automated workflows on GitHub. Best of luck in achieving your certification and advancing your skills in DevOps and automation!

To learn more about the GitHub Certifications, please, visit the GitHub Certification Program FAQs and the Candidate Handbook.