GitHub’s entire certification program moved onto Pearson VUE proctoring on July 1, 2026, formalizing into 5 numbered exams, GH-900, GH-100, GH-200, GH-300, and GH-500, and because GitHub is owned by Microsoft, every one of these is scheduled through a Microsoft Learn account rather than a separate GitHub-specific portal. Official registration and current exam guides live on Microsoft Learn’s GitHub certifications page.
The direct answer: Start with GH-900, GitHub Foundations, if you’re new to the platform, it has no prerequisites and costs $99. Move to GH-200 (Actions) or GH-300 (Copilot) based on which tool you actually use daily, both also $99, both intermediate-level and assuming real hands-on experience even though neither formally requires GH-900 first. GH-500 (Advanced Security) sits at the more advanced end for DevSecOps-focused roles.
The 5-Exam Structure
| Code | Name | Level | Cost |
| GH-900 | GitHub Foundations | Entry-level | $99 |
| GH-100 | GitHub Administration | Intermediate | $99 |
| GH-200 | GitHub Actions | Intermediate | $99 |
| GH-300 | GitHub Copilot | Intermediate | $99 |
| GH-500 | GitHub Advanced Security | Advanced | $99 |
Important: This 5-exam structure and the Pearson VUE delivery method are both genuinely recent. GitHub’s certifications used to run through a separate, GitHub-specific partner program with different question counts and retake rules. If you’re reading a guide describing that older structure, it predates the July 1, 2026 migration, and the content, format, and even retake policy have changed since.
Format Details, Exam by Exam
| Exam | Duration | Question Format | Prerequisites |
| GH-900 | 100 minutes | Multiple choice | None |
| GH-200 | 100 minutes | Multiple choice | None formally, assumes real Actions and CI/CD experience |
| GH-300 | Approximately 100 minutes | Around 60 scored plus 10-15 unscored pretest items | None formally, assumes regular Copilot usage |
Note: GH-900 offers an additional 30 minutes if English isn’t your primary language, a detail worth knowing if you’re registering from outside a primarily English-speaking market. GH-100 and GH-500’s exact format details are less consistently published across sources at the time of writing, confirm current specifics directly on Microsoft Learn before scheduling either.
What Changed in the 2026 Revision
GH-900’s content was significantly overhauled in 2026, adding Copilot-related material directly into the foundational exam, a signal that GitHub is actively updating its entry-level content to track where the platform is actually heading, not just documenting legacy features. GH-300 saw its own separate revision in January 2026, replacing an older 7-domain structure with a current 6-domain framework. If your study materials still describe the 7-domain version, they predate that January 2026 change specifically.
GH-300 Domain Focus
GH-300 covers responsible AI use, prompt engineering for code completion, plan-level feature differences between Copilot tiers, and data privacy, tested through scenario-based questions rather than pure feature recall.
| What GH-300 Assumes You Already Know | Why It Matters |
| Core Git and GitHub platform fundamentals | GH-300 doesn’t reteach basic Git concepts, they compete for exam time with Copilot-specific material |
| 6 or more months of regular Copilot usage | The features domain won’t surprise you at this point, but the governance material likely will |
Key point: If you’re new to GitHub entirely, sit GH-900 first. GH-300 assumes baseline Git fluency, and candidates without it end up splitting attention between basic platform concepts and the AI-specific content the exam is actually designed to test. For a comparison against a model-vendor’s own AI developer credential rather than a platform-integrated one, see our Claude Certification Path guide, specifically the CCDV-F Developer track.
Validity Periods Are Not Consistent Across Exams
| Exam | Validity | Renewal |
| GH-900 | 3 years | Free online renewal assessment through Microsoft Learn |
| GH-300 | 2 years | Free online renewal assessment through Microsoft Learn |
Important: This inconsistency is easy to miss. GH-900 runs a 3-year cycle while GH-300 runs 2 years, and assuming every GitHub certification follows the same renewal timeline can catch you off guard. Both use the same free, no-retest renewal path through Microsoft Learn, which is a genuine convenience once you know it’s there.
What This Actually Pays
Reliable, GitHub-certification-specific salary data is genuinely thin right now, and it’s worth saying that directly rather than inventing precision. LinkedIn Salary Insights shows GitHub-adjacent roles, developers, DevOps engineers, IT administrators, earning meaningfully more with recognized certifications on their profile generally, without a figure tied to the certification specifically. One community-sourced estimate puts average compensation for Copilot-related roles around $81,750, though that figure has limited sourcing and should be treated as directional at best. Glassdoor listed over 200 remote GitHub Copilot-related positions in early 2026, a real signal of market demand even without a precise salary number attached.
The honest read: GitHub certifications are priced and positioned as accessible entry and mid-tier credentials, $99 each, rather than high-stakes career-defining exams the way a Professional-level cloud certification might be. Their value shows up more in resume differentiation for entry-level and Copilot-adjacent roles than in a documented salary premium.
Choosing Your Path
| Your Situation | Recommended Exam |
| New to GitHub entirely | GH-900 |
| Managing organization settings, permissions, and repository administration | GH-100 |
| Building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines | GH-200 |
| Using Copilot regularly and want to formalize that skill | GH-300 |
| Working in DevSecOps, focused on secret scanning and code security | GH-500 |
Many developers end up holding both GH-200 and GH-300, since Copilot integrates directly into Actions-based CI/CD workflows and the 2 domains genuinely overlap in daily practice. The order between them doesn’t matter much if you already have hands-on experience with both tools. If your CI/CD work extends into infrastructure as code specifically, see our Terraform Associate vs Professional guide for the natural next credential in that direction.
Common Mistakes When Planning Your GitHub Certification Path
Studying from materials describing the old GitHub-specific partner program. The program moved to Pearson VUE and Microsoft Learn on July 1, 2026, and question counts, retake rules, and scheduling all changed with that migration.
Assuming every GitHub certification shares the same validity period. GH-900 runs 3 years, GH-300 runs 2, and treating them as identical can catch you off guard at renewal time.
Attempting GH-300 without solid Git fundamentals first. The exam assumes baseline platform fluency and doesn’t reteach it, so gaps there compete directly with the Copilot-specific content you’re actually being tested on.
Studying GH-300 from a 7-domain outline. That structure was replaced in January 2026 with a current 6-domain framework, and older guides haven’t all caught up.
Expecting a documented salary premium tied specifically to holding a GitHub certification. The available data supports general career differentiation, especially at entry level, more than a precise, verifiable pay bump.
FAQS
How many GitHub certifications are there?
5, as of the July 1, 2026 program formalization: GH-900 Foundations, GH-100 Administration, GH-200 Actions, GH-300 Copilot, and GH-500 Advanced Security.
How much does a GitHub certification cost?
$99 per exam across the catalog, with pricing displayed at checkout through Pearson VUE and varying somewhat by country or region.
Do I need GH-900 before taking other GitHub exams?
Not formally required for any of them, but GH-900 builds foundational platform knowledge that makes the intermediate-level exams, especially GH-300, faster to prepare for if you’re new to GitHub.
Are GitHub certifications delivered by GitHub or Microsoft?
Both, in practice. The content is maintained by GitHub, but since GitHub is owned by Microsoft, exams are scheduled through a Microsoft Learn account and proctored via Pearson VUE.
How long is a GitHub certification valid?
It varies. GH-900 is valid for 3 years, while GH-300 is valid for 2 years. Both renew through a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn rather than requiring a full retake.
What changed with GitHub certifications in 2026?
The entire program migrated to Pearson VUE proctoring on July 1, 2026, replacing the older GitHub-specific partner program. GH-900’s content was overhauled to include Copilot material, and GH-300’s domain structure was separately revised in January 2026.
Should I take GH-200 or GH-300 first?
Either is reasonable depending on which tool you actually use daily. Many developers eventually hold both, since Copilot and Actions-based CI/CD overlap significantly in real workflows.
Is there good salary data for GitHub certification holders specifically?
Not really, current data is thin and mostly directional. Broader GitHub-adjacent roles show a general pay advantage for certified professionals, but a precise, well-sourced premium tied to the certification itself isn’t well established yet.
What does GH-300 actually test?
Responsible AI use, prompt engineering for code completion, plan-level feature differences between Copilot tiers, and data privacy, using a current 6-domain structure adopted in January 2026.
Can I retake a failed GitHub certification exam right away?
No. GH-200 specifically allows a retake after a 24-hour wait for a first failure, with longer waits after subsequent attempts, so it’s worth sitting the exam only once your practice scores are consistently comfortable.
