Training: GitLab CI/CD Associate Certification Preparation

Ref. GLB-10

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Duration:

jours

Exam:

Certifiant

Level:

Intermédiaire

Funding:

Eligible

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GitLab CI/CD Associate Certification Preparation Training

The GitLab CI/CD Associate certification preparation course is aimed at professionals who want to structure their knowledge of GitLab CI/CD and strengthen their mastery of the essential concepts related to software delivery automation. It allows you to review the foundations needed to evolve confidently in the GitLab environment while adopting a certification-oriented review approach.

Targeted preparation to review key concepts and strengthen your mastery of GitLab CI/CD

This course can be taken after GitLab CI/CD – Fundamentals and/or GitLab CI/CD – Advanced, or as a consolidation module for participants who already have some hands-on GitLab experience. It revisits the essential concepts related to GitLab projects, pipelines, runners, variables, artifacts, validation workflows and best practices for automation in GitLab.

Participant Profiles

Developers
DevOps engineers
Systems and platform administrators
Integrators
Professionals already using GitLab in a project setting
Candidates preparing for the GitLab CI/CD Associate certification

Objectives

Consolidate the fundamental concepts of GitLab CI/CD
Review the organization of a GitLab project in a delivery-oriented mindset
Understand the operation of pipelines, jobs, stages and runners
Structure workflows consistent with GitLab CI/CD practices
Identify common errors and points to watch out for
Adopt an effective review method in a certification mindset

Prerequisites

Having completed GitLab CI/CD – Fundamentals or equivalent level
Knowledge of the basics of Git and working with remote repositories
Understanding the general principles of continuous integration and continuous deployment
Prior hands-on GitLab practice in a real context is a significant advantage

Course Content

Module 1: GitLab fundamentals and CI/CD principles

GitLab’s position in a modern delivery chain
Role of projects, repositories, branches and merge requests
Principles of continuous integration and continuous deployment
General organization of a workflow in GitLab

Module 2: GitLab CI/CD pipelines

Structure of a .gitlab-ci.yml file
Stages, jobs and execution logic
Basic variables and parameters
Simple dependencies and ordering
Analyzing pipeline results

Module 3: Runners, artifacts and execution

Role of GitLab Runners
Types of runners and execution principles
Artifact management
Essential execution parameters
Diagnosing the most common errors

Module 4: Validation workflows and automation

Structuring a simple CI/CD workflow
Automating build and test stages
Validation logic before integration
Best practices for readability and structuring
Points to watch out for in a GitLab pipeline

Module 5: Certification-focused review

Structured review of essential concepts
Clarification of frequently confused concepts
Review exercises and practice questions
Exam-style scenarios
Review tips and time management

Documentation

Digital course materials included

Lab / Exercises

This course includes hands-on exercises designed to reinforce your knowledge and apply your skills in real-world professional scenarios.

Exam

This course prepares for the GitLab Certified CI/CD Associate certification
Exam included in the course price

Complementary Courses

Eligible Funding

ITTA is a partner of a continuing education fund dedicated to temporary workers. This fund can subsidize your training, provided that you are subject to the “Service Provision” collective labor agreement (CCT) and meet certain conditions, including having worked at least 88 hours in the past 12 months.

Additional Information

Why choose GitLab CI/CD for your DevOps pipelines?

GitLab stands out from other CI/CD platforms through its all-in-one approach. Unlike Jenkins, which requires installing and maintaining numerous plugins, or GitHub Actions, which remains limited to the GitHub ecosystem, GitLab offers an integrated solution covering the entire DevOps cycle: from planning to monitoring, including versioning, CI/CD, security, and deployment.

In Switzerland, GitLab adoption is experiencing significant growth, particularly in the banking, pharmaceutical, and industrial sectors. Organizations appreciate the ability to host GitLab on-premise (self-managed), ensuring data sovereignty – an essential criterion for organizations subject to strict regulations.

GitLab CI/CD vs GitHub Actions vs Jenkins: which tool to choose?

The choice between these three solutions depends on your context. Jenkins remains relevant for legacy environments with highly customized pipelines, but its maintenance cost is high. GitHub Actions excels for open-source projects and small teams already on GitHub. GitLab CI/CD emerges as the optimal choice for organizations seeking a complete DevOps platform with full control over their infrastructure.

DevSecOps: integrating security into your pipelines

The DevSecOps approach consists of integrating security controls directly into the CI/CD pipeline, rather than relegating them to the end of the cycle. GitLab natively integrates SAST, DAST, secret detection, and dependency scanning tools. This automation enables detecting vulnerabilities as early as possible, considerably reducing remediation costs.

GitLab certification perspectives

GitLab offers several professional certifications, including the GitLab Certified CI/CD Specialist and the GitLab Certified Security Specialist. These certifications validate your skills to employers and strengthen your DevOps profile. While this training is not certifying, it covers all the knowledge required to prepare for these exams independently.

FAQ

Do I need to know Docker before taking this GitLab CI/CD training?

Basic Docker concepts are helpful but not mandatory. Module 3 introduces the necessary containerization concepts.

Does this training cover GitLab self-managed and GitLab SaaS?

Yes, the concepts and practices taught apply to both deployment modes. The specifics of each environment (Runner administration, network configuration) are covered in the relevant modules.

What is the difference between GitFlow and GitLab Flow?

GitFlow uses dedicated branches (develop, release, hotfix) with a structured workflow, ideal for planned releases. GitLab Flow simplifies this model by relying on merge requests and deployment environments. Module 1 compares both approaches in detail to help you choose the right strategy for your project.

Do the labs require a paid GitLab account?

No, all exercises can be completed with a free GitLab account. Premium and Ultimate features used in enterprise are presented theoretically and demonstrated by the instructor.

Does this training prepare for a GitLab certification?

This training is not certifying, but it covers the fundamental skills required for the GitLab CI/CD Specialist and Security Specialist certifications. You will have a solid foundation to prepare for these exams after the training.