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GitHub Copilot Certification Crash Course

Published by Pearson

Beginner to intermediate content levelBeginner to intermediate

Prepare to Pass Your Certification Exam for AI-Powered Coding

  • Prep to pass the GitHub Copilot certification, with labs designed to cover each domain of the exam.
  • Practice with real-world scenarios and tasks that mimic actual certification questions, ensuring practical, applicable experience.
  • Learn from Microsoft MVP and GitHub expert, Tim Warner as he provides a wealth of techniques for AI-driven development and certification preparation.

GitHub Copilot Certification Crash Course enters the scene at the right time to support developers on this high-value exam covering how to effectively use Copilot to stay competitive and efficient in today’s fast-paced tech environment. The exam frameworks what developers need to succeed, including topics like responsible AI, handling data, prompt crafting and prompt engineering, use cases for AI, and testing. Tim Warner prepares attendees for the GitHub Copilot certification exam through a comprehensive series of hands-on labs and real-world use cases. Each session is designed to cover critical domains of the certification exam, providing attendees with practical skills and actionable knowledge to master AI-assisted development with GitHub Copilot. Participants will work through scenarios that align with exam objectives, ensuring they are well-prepared to pass the certification on the first attempt.

By integrating AI tools like GitHub Copilot into common workflows, from prompt engineering to automating CI/CD pipelines, this course equips developers and IT leaders with the expertise needed to excel in real-world applications of AI-driven coding. This certification-focused approach guarantees that attendees leave with the skills and confidence required to succeed.

What you’ll learn and how you can apply it

  • Integrate GitHub Copilot into your workflow to automate coding tasks and boost productivity, with a focus on what you'll need for the certification.
  • Craft smarter prompts to get better code suggestions and streamline debugging, refactoring, and testing—all geared toward the exam.
  • Set up and use Copilot in CI/CD pipelines, automating key tasks while covering real exam scenarios.
  • Navigate the ins and outs of AI-assisted development, tackling the exact kind of challenges you'll face in the certification.

This live event is for you because...

  • You are a developer looking to gain new expertise and add a new certification to your portfolio.
  • You are a DevOps engineer needing to learn the ins and outs of Copilot for your job.
  • You are an IT professional tasked with implementing AI at work.
  • Whether you're looking to level up your AI-assisted coding skills or you need hands-on practice with real-world scenarios, this course has you covered.

Prerequisites

  • Basic understanding of coding in any language (Python, JavaScript, etc.)
  • Some experience using GitHub, or Visual Studio Code, or Visual Studio
  • Familiarity with version control, debugging, and code refactoring will help, with exposure to DevOps concepts like CI/CD pipelines

Course Set-up

To get the most out of the course and participate in hands-on labs, attendees should have the following set up:

  • Visual Studio Code (or Visual Studio) installed, along with the GitHub Copilot extension.
  • A GitHub account (free or paid).
  • Git installed and configured on your machine.
  • Stable internet access for interacting with GitHub repositories and Copilot features.
  • Optional: PowerShell installed for some DevOps-related examples.
  • All course files and resources will be available in a dedicated GitHub repository: github.com/timothywarner-org/master-copilot.

Recommended Preparation

Before the course, attendees should focus on the foundational knowledge of GitHub Copilot and general AI-driven coding practices. Here are recommended pre-learning resources from Pearson and O’Reilly.

Recommended Follow-up

After completing the course, attendees should continue to build on the knowledge and skills acquired during the session. Here are Pearson and O'Reilly resources for ongoing learning:

Schedule

The time frames are only estimates and may vary according to how the class is progressing.

Course Introduction: The Role of AI in Modern Development (5 minutes)

  • Brief overview of AI’s role in software development
  • Introduction to GitHub Copilot and why certification matters
  • Focus on Certification Domains: How this course prepares you for certification success

Lesson 1: Understanding GitHub Copilot Plans, Features, and Responsible AI (45 minutes)

  • Overview of GitHub Copilot Plans (Individual, Business, Enterprise) and available features
  • Discussion of Copilot Chat, contextual AI suggestions, and data handling
  • Responsible AI: Ethical usage of AI in coding, privacy, and mitigating bias
  • Hands-On Lab: Explore Copilot’s feature set across IDEs (VS Code, PyCharm)
  • Q&A (5 minutes)

Break (5 minutes)

Lesson 2: How GitHub Copilot Works and Handling Data Responsibly (50 minutes)

  • Deep dive into Copilot’s architecture: How it generates code and handles data
  • Understanding data privacy, code exclusions, and contextual data limits
  • Hands-On Lab: Configure privacy settings and exclusion rules in repositories
  • Q&A (5 minutes)

Break (5 minutes)

Lesson 3: Advanced Prompt Engineering and Developer Use Cases (50 minutes)

  • Prompt crafting for advanced code completions and AI-assisted debugging
  • Use cases for Copilot in development workflows (front-end, back-end, DevOps)
  • Hands-On Lab: Apply advanced prompts for real-world scenarios in VS Code
  • Q&A (5 minutes)

Break (5 minutes)

Lesson 4: Automation and CI/CD with GitHub Copilot (50 minutes)

  • Using GitHub Copilot in CI/CD pipelines and DevOps automation
  • Generating configuration files, managing cloud infrastructure, and automating testing
  • Hands-On Lab: Automate deployment pipelines using Copilot
  • Q&A (5 minutes)

Break (10 minutes)

Lesson 5: Testing, Debugging, and Refactoring with GitHub Copilot (50 minutes)

  • Generating tests with Copilot: Unit tests, integration tests, and edge case detection
  • Refactoring legacy code and debugging workflows using Copilot
  • Hands-On Lab: Automate testing and debugging with Copilot
  • Q&A (5 minutes)

Break (5 minutes)

Lesson 6: GitHub Copilot Certification Prep & Study Strategies (40 minutes)

  • Certification Overview: Key domains and how to prepare
  • Tim’s 3+1 Stepping Stool Method: Applying theory, practice, simulation, and AI personalization
  • Hands-On Lab: Review of sample certification exam questions
  • Q&A: Specific certification questions and exam strategies

Wrap-Up & Final Q&A: Next Steps in AI-Powered Development (10 minutes)

  • Recap of key lessons and focus areas for the certification
  • Upcoming trends in AI development and Copilot’s future
  • Final questions and advice for ongoing learning

Your Instructor

  • Tim Warner

    Tim Warner has been a Microsoft MVP in Azure AI and Cloud/Datacenter Management for 6 years and a Microsoft Certified Trainer for more than 25 years. His O'Reilly Live Training classes on generative AI, GitHub, DevOps, data engineering, cloud computing, and Microsoft certification reach hundreds of thousands of students around the world. He's written for Microsoft Press, presented at Microsoft Ignite, and contributed to several Microsoft open-source projects. You can connect with Tim on LinkedIn: timw.info/li.

Skill covered

GitHub Copilot