GitHub Foundations

GitHub Foundations is GitHub’s entry level certification, earned by passing exam GH-900. It confirms that you understand how Git and GitHub work together, from repositories, branches and pull requests to Actions, Copilot, security settings and open source participation. The exam is aimed at developers and at people outside engineering, such as project managers, students and analysts, who work inside GitHub. No prior certification is needed, and the credential does not expire, which makes it a practical first step in the GitHub track.

What the certification validates

GitHub Foundations checks that you can explain and use the platform’s core ideas: why version control matters, how Git differs from GitHub, how teams collaborate through issues, pull requests and discussions, and how accounts, organizations and permissions fit together. It does not test deep engineering skill. The questions focus on knowing what a feature is for and when to use it, so a candidate who has only ever opened pull requests in a browser can reasonably prepare.

GitHub maintains the certification, while Microsoft administers the exam. Because of that, GH-900 sits inside the Microsoft Learn ecosystem for scheduling, scoring and certificate access.

Eligibility requirements

GitHub lists no formal prerequisites for this exam. It does recommend working through the related Microsoft Learn modules first, since they were written with GitHub to cover the exam objectives. Hands on time with a  repository will help more than memorizing feature names.

Exam structure and format

The exam runs for 100 minutes and is proctored. It can be taken at a Pearson VUE testing center or online. A scaled score of 700 on a 1000 point scale is required to pass, which is the standard Microsoft scoring model rather than a simple percentage of correct answers.

GitHub and Microsoft do not publish a fixed question count on the pages we checked, and third party sources report different figures, so confirm the current number with the provider. Microsoft also notes that some exams include interactive components alongside standard questions, and it offers an exam sandbox so you can see the interface beforehand. If the exam is not offered in your preferred language, Microsoft allows you to request an additional 30 minutes.

Domains and weightings

The exam outline was revised significantly in January 2026, with new objectives added, others removed and the rest reworded. The current seven domains are:

• Understand Git and GitHub basics (25 to 30 percent): version control purpose, Git versus GitHub, commits and branches, accounts and organizations, GitHub Flow, Markdown, GitHub Desktop and GitHub Mobile.

• Work with GitHub repositories (10 to 15 percent): repository structure and key files such as README, LICENSE, CONTRIBUTING, CODEOWNERS and SECURITY, templates, insights and maintenance practices.

• Collaborate using GitHub (10 to 15 percent): issues, pull requests, discussions, linking work, notifications, Gists, Wikis and GitHub Pages.

• Apply modern development practices (10 to 15 percent): GitHub Actions, GitHub Copilot including agents and Agent Mode, Copilot plans, Codespaces and dev containers, and 

• Manage projects with GitHub (5 to 10 percent): GitHub Projects, layouts, labels, milestones, saved replies and project insights.

• Understand privacy, security and administration (10 to 15 percent): two factor authentication, passkeys, roles and permissions, Enterprise Managed Users, visibility settings and branch protection rules.

• Explore the GitHub community (5 to 10 percent): open source benefits, GitHub Sponsors, the Marketplace, InnerSource, forks and templates.

The first domain carries the most weight, so a shaky grasp of Git versus GitHub terminology costs more than any other gap.

Registration process

To register, you need a Microsoft Learn account, which then guides you through scheduling with Pearson VUE, the official delivery partner. Microsoft recommends using a personal Microsoft account. The price is set by the country or region where you sit the exam. After you pass, the certificate and badge appear in your Microsoft Learn profile. Certifications earned through the earlier provider, PSI, before July 1, 2025 remain visible in your GitHub Learn profile. For exact steps, current pricing and accommodations, use the official GitHub Learn and Microsoft Learn pages.

What this certification is recognized for

GH-900 is the fundamentals tier of the GitHub track. It shows that you can work confidently in the platform where a large share of open source and team software projects live. For developers early in their careers, it documents platform fluency that a degree or bootcamp may not name. For project managers, technical writers and support staff, it shows that you understand issues, projects and pull request workflows well enough to work alongside engineers.

The January 2026 update also means the credential now reflects Copilot agents, Codespaces and security features, not just basic Git. It is the natural base for GitHub’s specialist exams, including GitHub Actions (GH-200), GitHub Copilot (GH-300) and GitHub Administration (GH-100). Check the GitHub Learn site for the current list of exams and their renewal rules.

Preparing with free practice tests

Reading the official study guide shows you what the exam covers, but practice questions show you how well you can recall it under a clock. The free practice tests on AllExamQuestions.com let you check your weaker domains, such as permissions, Actions or Copilot plans, before you schedule. Use them alongside the Microsoft Learn modules and the exam sandbox, and treat any practice score as a rough guide, not a prediction.