Is the GitLab Certified Git Associate Worth It?

Git is the backbone of any development workflow, enabling developers to manage and track changes to a codebase over time and collaborate across a broad team.

We think of Git as the client, or rather, the software you run on your laptop to clone repos or merge a branch, but a client is only as good as the server you connect it to. While you can run your own git server, most organizations use a hosted service, such as GitHub, BitBucket, or GitLab.

Today, we’ll focus on GitLab and the GitLab Certified Git Associate certification. (Check out our GitLab training for exam tips).

What is the certification? Who should take it? Is it worth your time? And what GitLab Training can help you prepare?  

What is the GitLab Certified Git Associate?

The GitLab certification is fairly broad in what it covers, starting with the basics of version control and how to use GitLab to create and merge code changes. You’ll then learn how to use branches to keep work on different parts of the code base separate from one another. You can expect to learn and practice many commands, subcommands, and switches. 

Next, you’ll dig into CI/CD and how GitLab supports workflows for code builds. It encourages a DevOps philosophy with frequent code merges and testing to reduce the risk of new bugs. These rapid and regular deployments also enable the quick release of fixes and improvements.

You’ll also cover more in-depth topics, such as GitOps for DevOps deployment automation, GitLab Pages for static websites, and integrating GitLab with other development tools, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Azure, Ansible, and Terraform.

How Much Does the GitLab Certified Git Associate Exam Cost?

All GitLab Certification exams are priced at $150 per exam attempt.

What Experience Do You Need for the GitLab Certified Git Associate?

You should be familiar with why Git is used within a development workflow. Knowing that code is checked into a repo so that changes are tracked and others can work with the same codebase is enough to start with.

Apart from that level of context, no other experience is necessary, as the GitLab Certified Git Associate exam will walk you through the process of using Git and GitLab.

Who Should Take the GitLab Certified Git Associate?

GitLab can benefit many different developer roles, but three stand out.

• Junior developers: Junior developers may have worked with Git on their own, but not with a bigger team. The GitLab Certified Git Associate certification could fill some gaps in knowledge, providing best practices for collaborating in GitLab.

• Manager of developers: This role often requires working with more advanced branch and merge functions. Managers also possibly own deployment functionality for organizations without dedicated DevOps staff. The GitLab certification covers those advanced features and more, offering managers insight into GitLab functionality.

• Site reliability engineers (SRE): GitLab is chock-full of built-in automation features, and an SRE could benefit from learning how GitLab works with CI/CD pipelines, integrations with automation tools (i.e., Terraform), and deployments into cloud infrastructure. 

Is the GitLab Certified Git Associate Worth It?

The GitLab Certified Git Associate can be a valuable investment, offering a strong foundation in Git. Additionally, the GitLab certification provides a wide overview of GitLab’s broad set of features and provides hands-on practical exercises so you can strengthen your skills.

Passing the GitLab Certified Git Associate exam also shows that you know your stuff, and can be invaluable for roles where foundational or deeper knowledge is important to contribute to the team. 

Ultimately, the GitLab certification can help you stand out in a crowded job market and offer you a competitive edge. 

Start Prepping for the GitLab Certified Git Associate Exam 

There’s no time like the present to start preparing for the exam, so check out CBT Nugget’s GitLab Certified Git Associate Online Training.

This intermediate GitLab Certified Git Associate IT training prepares you to use GitLab at a professional level, enabling you to shorten development cycle times, increase productivity, and strengthen project security. Start learning now. 

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