Intermediate GitHub Actions experience
RecommendedHands-on experience creating workflows, automating tasks and managing CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions.
GitHub Actions (GH-200)
Validates knowledge of authoring and troubleshooting workflows, building custom actions, managing Actions across an enterprise and securing pipelines.
Summary
GitHub Actions (GH-200) is GitHub's intermediate certification for CI/CD automation. The exam tests whether you can write and troubleshoot workflows, build custom actions, run Actions across an organization or enterprise, and secure your pipelines.
Good fit if
- You already write GitHub Actions workflows and want to prove it
- You manage runners, secrets or Actions policies
- You want structured learning on pipeline security, such as OIDC
Look elsewhere if
- You are new to Git and GitHub: GitHub Foundations
- You have never built a workflow: write a few real ones first
- Your pipelines span Azure DevOps: DevOps Engineer Expert
Prerequisites
Cost
What holders say
Most useful if you already work in Actions
Developers holding several GitHub certifications say Actions is the one where they learned something useful for the job. One DevOps candidate credits it with helping an internal move.
Widely seen as the hardest GitHub exam
Candidates who passed all five GitHub exams rank Actions as the hardest, citing workflow details beyond the official material. Low scores most often come from lacking hands-on experience.
Less value if Git and GitHub are already baseline skills
Some developers see GitHub certifications as unnecessary unless an employer pays, especially for experienced engineers. That criticism is aimed more at the fundamentals exams than at GH-200.
Renewal
GitHub Actions is valid for 2 years.
- Validity
- 2 years
- Renewal
- Microsoft renewal process
GitHub is moving its certifications to Microsoft's renewal process, which does not require retaking the full exam. Certifications that expire before that process is available are extended by 6 months. If yours has already expired, email learn@github.com for one voucher toward your first renewal attempt.
GitHub Actions certification page ↗Alternatives
GitHub Foundations$99 required · Entry
GitHub's beginner exam if you are still learning the platform.
GitHub Administration$99 required · Intermediate
The better fit if you manage GitHub Enterprise itself rather than CI/CD pipelines.
AZ-400$330 required · Advanced
Microsoft's broader DevOps credential across Azure DevOps and GitHub.
Terraform Associate$70.50 required · Intermediate
Infrastructure as code, a common companion skill for pipeline work.
FAQ
What is the GH-200 exam?
It is the exam for the GitHub Actions certification. It covers authoring and troubleshooting workflows, building custom actions, managing Actions for an enterprise and securing automation.
How much does the GitHub Actions exam cost?
$99 in the US. Microsoft prices GitHub exams by the country where you test.
Is the GitHub Actions certification hard?
Many candidates call it the hardest GitHub exam. People who build workflows daily often pass after a short review; people without hands-on Actions or GitHub Enterprise experience find the enterprise and syntax questions difficult.
Does the GitHub Actions certification expire?
Yes, after 2 years. GitHub is moving to Microsoft's renewal process, which will not require a full retake.
Is the GitHub Actions certification worth it?
Candidates who use Actions at work often say it is the GitHub exam with the most useful content. It adds less if you rarely touch CI/CD.
Last updated October 2026