Intermediate GitHub Actions experience
RecommendedHands-on experience creating workflows, automating tasks and managing CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions.
GitHub Actions (GH-200) Exam Guide
Validates knowledge of authoring and troubleshooting workflows, building custom actions, managing Actions across an enterprise and securing pipelines.
GH-200 tests practical knowledge of GitHub Actions: workflow syntax and triggers, debugging failed runs, writing your own actions, governing runners and secrets across an organization, and securing pipelines. Build real workflows as you study, read the Actions documentation alongside the official learning path, and use the free practice assessment to find gaps.
Understand the exam
Syllabus
Author and manage workflows20–25%
- Configure workflow triggers and events
- Design and implement workflow structure
- Manage workflow execution and outputs
Example scenario: A test job should run on Linux, Windows and macOS with two Node versions each, but only on pull requests to main. How would you set up the trigger and the matrix?
Consume and troubleshoot workflows15–20%
- Interpret workflow behavior and results
- Access workflow artifacts and logs
- Use and manage workflow templates
Example scenario: A matrix build passes on Linux but fails on Windows at a shell step. What would you check in the logs, and how would you rerun only the failing job?
Author and maintain actions15–20%
- Create and troubleshoot custom actions
- Define action structure and metadata
- Distribute and maintain actions
Manage GitHub Actions for the enterprise20–25%
- Distribute and govern actions and workflows
- Manage runners at scale
- Manage encrypted secrets and variables
Example scenario: Only the payments team's repositories may deploy from a self-hosted runner inside the company network. How would you restrict that runner?
Secure and optimize automation10–15%
- Implement security best practices
- Optimize workflow performance and cost
Example scenario: A deploy workflow stores a long-lived cloud access key as a repository secret. How would you replace it?
Official GH-200 study guide · Skills measured as of January 2026
Format
- Duration
- 100 min
- Passing score
- 700 / 1000
- Delivery
- Test centre or online
- Languages
- English, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Japanese
Question types
Choose one answer, or select every correct option when the question says how many to pick.
CertUp example
A workflow should start only when a pull request targets the main branch. Which trigger does this?
Show answer
B. The pull_request event with a branches filter runs only for pull requests into main. A push trigger ignores pull requests.
Move items into the right places on screen, such as matching terms to their meaning.
CertUp example
Match each workflow keyword to what it controls.
Show answer
runs-on → the runner that executes the job; needs → which jobs must finish first; permissions → what the GITHUB_TOKEN may do; concurrency → how many runs in a group can happen at once.
Eligibility and booking
Sign in to Microsoft Learn with a personal Microsoft account, then schedule through Pearson VUE. Exams booked with a work or school account are lost if you leave that organization.
Make a study plan
Take the free practice assessment to see where you stand, then work through the domains while building workflows in your own repository.
Most candidates spend 20–40 hours. Plan for the low end if you already write Actions workflows; add time if you are new to Actions or have not worked with reusable workflows, custom actions or enterprise governance.
- 1Understand the examRead the syllabus and format, check you’re eligible and pick a target date.2 h
- 3Learn the core conceptsWork through one main course or book, topic by topic.17 h
- 4Practice with mock examsTake timed practice tests and review every mistake.9 h
- 5Prepare for exam dayBook the exam and check the ID and delivery rules.2 h
Learn the core concepts
The official learning path covers every domain. Read the GitHub Actions documentation alongside it, because candidates say the docs fill gaps on syntax and Docker actions.
Best official starting pointAutomate your workflow with GitHub Actions Part 1 of 2Best official follow-upAutomate your workflow with GitHub Actions Part 2 of 2
Best hands-on labsGitHub Actions CertificationPractise at organization level A free GitHub organization lets you try runner groups, organization secrets and Actions policies, which make up a large share of the exam.
Practice with mock exams
Take the free official assessment first and last. Add a paid set if you want full-length timed exams with explanations.
GH-200 Practice Assessment
GitHub Actions Practice Test (GH-200)
GitHub Actions Certification (GH-200) - Practice ExamsAre you ready?
- You score comfortably above the pass mark on the official practice assessment
- You can explain when to use a reusable workflow, a composite action and a JavaScript action
- You can set up OIDC, environment protection and least-privilege token permissions without looking them up
Prepare for exam day
Use the checklist for your delivery route.
Before testing from home
Before travelling to the test centre
- Run the Pearson VUE system test on the same computer and network you will use
- Check in between 30 minutes before and 15 minutes after your start time
- Use a closed, private room with a clear desk and no second monitor
- Have a government ID whose name exactly matches your certification profile
- Bring a government ID whose name exactly matches your certification profile
- Arrive early to complete check-in
- The exam lasts 100 minutes. Breaks are allowed but the clock keeps running, and you cannot return to earlier questions after a break.
- You see a pass or fail result at the end of the exam.
- If you fail, you can retake after 24 hours, then after 14 days, up to 5 attempts in 12 months.
Advice from exam takers
Do not skip enterprise topics
A candidate who scored 904 found the workflow questions easy but struggled with GitHub Enterprise questions, having no enterprise experience. Practise organization and runner settings if your job does not cover them.
Read the docs, not only the learning path
Passers say the Microsoft Learn modules alone were not enough and recommend reading the GitHub Actions docs section by section, especially Docker actions and workflow syntax details.
Answer everything and use the flag
Wrong answers are not penalized, so answer every question and flag uncertain ones for review. Candidates found multi-select questions, where every correct option is needed, the hardest to be sure of.