How to Pass GitHub Foundations Certification Exam: My Own Certification Journey

Earlier this year (2024), GitHub shared some exciting news: certifications that were once only for their employees and partners are now open to everyone worldwide!

These certifications cover different skills and knowledge areas related to GitHub:

• GitHub Foundations
• GitHub Actions
• GitHub Advanced Security
• GitHub Administration

In this blog post, I’ll be sharing my experience with the GitHub Foundations exam, detailing how to schedule, prepare for, and successfully pass it.

About GitHub Foundations Certification

According to GitHub, this exam covers understanding GitHub platform fundamental concepts, products of GitHub, and concepts of collaborating, contributing, and working on GitHub.

It covers the following domains:

• Domain 1: Introduction to Git and GitHub (10%)
• Domain 2: Working with GitHub Repositories (10%)
• Domain 3: Collaboration Features (15%)
• Domain 4: Modern Development (15%)
• Domain 5: Project Management (20%)
• Domain 6: Privacy, Security, and Administration (20%)
• Domain 7: Benefits of the GitHub Community (10%)

For more details, refer to the Study Guide for GitHub Foundations.

Scheduling the Exam

To register and schedule the exam, visit the Official Exam Website and log in with your GitHub account. Then, select the GitHub Foundation Exam.

Follow these registration steps:

1. Choose your test option (Online or On-site).
2. Provide your candidate details.
3. Select your desired date and time for the exam.
4. Complete the payment process. The exam costs $99, but for a limited time, it is an additional 50% off.
5. Review your registration details.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ll receive an email from PSI Online containing your exam date, time, and important instructions. Make sure to read through them carefully.

Preparing for the Exam

Preparation is key for exams and certifications. It includes planning, understanding the exam content, and dedicating focused study time. Remember to Avoid Relying on Exam Dumps, as they don’t guarantee success. Embrace the process of studying and expanding your knowledge.

For effective preparation, leverage resources such as the GitHub Foundations learning path on MS Learn and the official GitHub Docs, along with other learning and training sources.

Additionally, GitHub and Microsoft are launching the new GitHub Foundations livestream series! From March 27th to April 16th, Register Now.

Personally, I found both the MS Learning path and GitHub documentation to be valuable resources for my preparation.

For quick reference, below is a list of exam topics along with the corresponding links to relevant GitHub documentation:

Domain 1: Introduction to Git and GitHub

Git and GitHub Basics

• Describe version control

• Define distributed version control

• Describe Git

• Describe GitHub

• Explain the difference between Git and GitHub

• Describe a GitHub repository

• Describe a commit

• Describe branching

• Define a remote in Git terminology

• Describe the GitHub flow

GitHub Entities

• Describe the different GitHub accounts (personal, organization, enterprise)

• Describe GitHub’s products for personal accounts (free, pro)

• Describe GitHub’s products for organization accounts (free for organizations, teams)

• Describe the different deployment options for GitHub Enterprise

• Describe the features in the user profile

GitHub Markdown

• Identify the text formatting toolbar on issue and pull request comments

• Describe Markdown

• Identify the basic formatting syntax (headings, links, task lists, comments, etc)

• Explain where to find and use slash commands

GitHub Desktop

• Explain the difference between GitHub Desktop and github.com

• Describe the available features with GitHub Desktop

GitHub Mobile

• Describe the available features with GitHub Mobile

• Explain how to manage notifications through the GitHub Mobile app

Domain 2: Working with GitHub Repositories

Understanding GitHub Repositories

• Describe the components of a good README and the recommended repository files

• Licensing a repository

• About code owners

• Explain basic repository navigation

• Explain how to create a new repository

• Describe repository templates

• Describe the different features to maintaining a repository

• Describe how to clone a repository

• Describe how to create a new branch

• Explain how to add files to a repository

• Identify how to view repository insights

• Explain how to save a repository with stars

• Explain feature previews

Domain 3: Collaboration Features

Issues

• Describe how to link a PR to an issue

• Describe how to create an issue

• Describe the difference between an issue, discussion, and pull request

• Explain how to create a branch from an issue

• Identify how to assign issues

• Describe how to search and filter issues

• Describe how to pin an issue

• Explain the difference between issue templates and issue forms

• Explain how to use keywords in issues

Pull requests

• Describe a pull request

• Explain how to create a new pull request

• Describe the base and compare branches in a pull request

• Explain the relationship of commits on a pull request

• Describe draft pull requests

• Identify how to link activity within a pull request

• Explain the different pull request statuses

• Recognize how to comment on a posted link to a line or lines of code from a file

• Explain the different options for providing a code review on a pull request

Discussions

• Describe the difference between discussions and issues

• Explain the options available with discussions (announcements, ideas, polls, Q&A, show and tell)

• Identify how to mark a comment as an answer to a discussion

• Explain how to convert a discussion to an issue

• Recognize how to pin a discussion

Notifications

• Describe how to manage notification subscriptions

• Explain how to subscribe to notification threads

• Identify the notification filtering options

• Explain the different notification configuration options

Gists, Wikis, and GitHub Pages

• Explain how to create a GitHub gist

• Describe how to fork and clone a gist

• Explain GitHub Wiki pages

• Describe how to create, edit, and delete wiki pages

• Explain the visibility of wiki pages

• Describe GitHub Pages

Domain 4: Modern Development

GitHub Actions

• Describe GitHub Actions (basic understanding)

• Explain where you can use GitHub Actions within GitHub (general event types)

• Explain where you can find existing GitHub Actions

GitHub Copilot

• Describe GitHub Copilot

• Describe the difference between GitHub Copilot for Individuals

• Describe the difference between GitHub Copilot for Business

• Explain how to get started using GitHub Copilot

GitHub Codespaces

• Describe GitHub Codespaces

• Identify how do to start a GitHub codespace

• Describe the codespace lifecycle

• Describe the different customizations you can personalize with GitHub Codespaces (Renaming a codespace)

• Describe the different customizations you can personalize with GitHub Codespaces (Changing the shell)

• Describe the different customizations you can personalize with GitHub Codespaces (Changing the machine type)

• Recognize how to add and configure dev containers

• Identify how to share a deep link to a GitHub codespace

• Explain how to use the github.dev editor

• Explain the differences between the github.dev editor and a GitHub Codespace

Domain 5: Project Management

Manage your work with GitHub Projects

• Describe GitHub Projects

• Explain the layout options for projects

• Explain the difference between projects and projects classic

• Explain the use of labels

• Explain the use of milestones

• Explain how to create, edit, and delete saved replies

• Describe the benefits of using a saved reply

• Recognize how to add assignees to issues and pull requests

• Explain how to use project workflows

• Describe project insights

Domain 6: Privacy, Security, and Administration

Authentication and Security

• Explain how to secure your account with 2FA

• Requiring two-factor authentication in your organization

• Describe the different access permissions

• Explain EMUs (Enterprise Managed Users)

GitHub Administration

• Explain how to enable and disable features

• Recognize repository permission levels

• Identify the options for repository visibility

• About protected branches

• Managing a branch protection rule

• Describe the main features and options in the Security tab

• Adding a security policy to your repository

• Define repository insights

• Explain how to manage collaborators

• Explain how to manage organization settings

• Describe roles in a GitHub organization

• Describe teams in a GitHub organization

Domain 7: Benefits of GitHub community

Describe the benefits of the open source community

• Describe open source

• Describe GitHub Sponsors

• Describe how GitHub advances open source projects

• Identify how to follow people (receive notifications, discover projects in their community)

• Explain how to follow organizations (receive notifications about their activity)

• Describe the GitHub Marketplace and its purpose

Describe how to apply the benefits of open source

• Describe InnerSource

• Identify the differences between InnerSource and open source

• Describe forking

• Describe the components of a discoverable repository

• Describe when to use issue templates

• Create an Issue Template

• Describe when to use pull request templates

• Create a Pull Request Template

Taking the Exam (Proctored at Home)

It’s important to sign in up to 15 minutes before your test start time as per the instructions provided when booking your exam. Ensure you adhere to the technical requirements and have a valid, current ID ready. The name on this ID must be in Roman (English) alphabet characters and must match the name used when scheduling the exam.

Make sure to carefully read the instructions sent to you when you booked the exams. {: .prompt-info }

The exam has around 75 questions, and you have 120 minutes to finish it. Once you’re done, you’ll know right away if you passed or failed.

After The Exam

Immediately after completing your exam, you’ll receive an email containing a detailed score report. This report will outline your overall score and the percentage scores for each exam module. It will help you pinpoint areas of strength and areas that may require improvement.

Additionally, you’ll receive a Credly badge that you can share on your social media profiles such as LinkedIn, Twitter, your website, and other platforms. This badge serves as recognition of your achievement and allows you to showcase your skills to others.

Conclusion

Starting the GitHub certification journey has been an enriching experience for me. Going beyond just earning a badge, the preparation process itself enhanced my understanding of GitHub’s tools and workflows.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, getting certified can solidify your skills. With determination and ample resources, passing the GitHub Foundations exam is within reach. Best of luck on your certification journey.