diff --git a/.github/workflows/run-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/run-tests.yml
index e6033f1b8..54212db20 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/run-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/run-tests.yml
@@ -1,69 +1,84 @@
-# This workflow will install pydm dependencies and run the test suite for all combinations
-# of operating systems and version numbers specified in the matrix
+  # This workflow will install pydm dependencies and run the test suite for all combinations
+  # of operating systems and version numbers specified in the matrix
 
-name: Build Status
+  name: Build Status
 
-on:
-  push:
-    branches: [ "master" ]
-  pull_request:
-    branches: [ "master" ]
+  env:
+    latest_supported_python: 3.13
+    oldest_supported_python: 3.9
 
-permissions:
-  contents: read
+  on:
+    push:
+      branches: [ "master" ]
+    pull_request:
+      branches: [ "master" ]
 
-jobs:
-  build:
-    if: ${{ github.repository == 'slaclab/pydm' }}
-    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
-    strategy:
-      fail-fast: false
-      matrix:
-        os: [ubuntu-latest, windows-latest, macos-latest]
-        python-version: ['3.9', '3.10', '3.13']
-        pyqt-version: [5.12.3, 5.15.9]
-    env:
-      DISPLAY: ':99.0'
-      QT_MAC_WANTS_LAYER: 1  # PyQT gui tests involving qtbot interaction on macOS will fail without this
+  permissions:
+    contents: read
 
-    steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v3
-    - name: Setup conda
-      uses: conda-incubator/setup-miniconda@v2
-      with:
-        python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-        miniforge-variant: Miniforge3
-        miniforge-version: latest
-        activate-environment: pydm-env
+  jobs:
+    build:
+      if: ${{ github.repository == 'slaclab/pydm' }}
+      runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
+      strategy:
+        fail-fast: false
+        matrix:
+        # Test with the latest and oldest actively supported python versions. The reasoning here is that the oldest
+        # would likely have the most diff from the latest, and testing all versions inbetween is probably excessive.
+        # (we could potentially create another .yml file that tests all python versions but only runs on creating release)
 
-    - name: Install pydm with mamba
-      shell: bash -el {0}
-      run: |
-        mamba install -c conda-forge pydm pyqt=${{ matrix.pyqt-version }}
+        # Test with older pyqt (5.12.3) since this is latest pyqt version that can load pydm plugins in designer.
+          include:
+            - { os: ubuntu-latest, python-version: ${{ env.oldest_supported_python }}, pyqt-version: 5.12.3 }
+            - { os: windows-latest, python-version: ${{ env.oldest_supported_python }}, pyqt-version: 5.12.3 }
+            - { os: macos-latest, python-version: ${{ env.oldest_supported_python }}, pyqt-version: 5.12.3 }
 
-    - name: Install additional python dependencies with pip
-      shell: bash -el {0}
-      run: |
-        pip install -r requirements.txt
-        if [ "$RUNNER_OS" == "Windows" ]; then
-          pip install -r windows-dev-requirements.txt
-        else
-          pip install -r dev-requirements.txt
-        fi
+          # But pyqt 5.12.3 is not installable with python 3.11+, so only test latest python with compatible pyqt 5.15.9.
+            - { os: ubuntu-latest, python-version: ${{ env.latest_supported_python }}, pyqt-version: 5.15.9 }
+            - { os: windows-latest, python-version: ${{ env.latest_supported_python }}, pyqt-version: 5.15.9 }
+            - { os: macos-latest, python-version: ${{ env.latest_supported_python }}, pyqt-version: 5.15.9 }
+      env:
+        DISPLAY: ':99.0'
+        QT_MAC_WANTS_LAYER: 1  # PyQT gui tests involving qtbot interaction on macOS will fail without this
 
-    - name: Install packages for testing a pyqt app on Linux
-      shell: bash -el {0}
-      run: |
-        if [ "$RUNNER_OS" == "Linux" ]; then
-          sudo apt update
-          sudo apt install -y xvfb herbstluftwm libxkbcommon-x11-0 libxcb-icccm4 libxcb-image0 libxcb-keysyms1 libxcb-randr0 libxcb-render-util0 libxcb-xinerama0 libxcb-xfixes0 x11-utils
-          sudo /sbin/start-stop-daemon --start --pidfile /tmp/custom_xvfb_99.pid --make-pidfile --background --exec /usr/bin/Xvfb -- :99 -screen 0 1024x768x24 -ac +extension GLX +render -noreset
-          sleep 3
-          sudo /sbin/start-stop-daemon --start --pidfile /tmp/custom_herbstluftwm_99.pid --make-pidfile --background --exec /usr/bin/herbstluftwm
-          sleep 1
-        fi
+      steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - name: Setup conda
+        uses: conda-incubator/setup-miniconda@v2
+        with:
+          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
+          miniforge-variant: Miniforge3
+          miniforge-version: latest
+          activate-environment: pydm-env
 
-    - name: Test with pytest
-      shell: bash -el {0}
-      run: |
-        python run_tests.py
\ No newline at end of file
+      - name: Install pydm with mamba
+        shell: bash -el {0}
+        run: |
+          mamba install -c conda-forge pydm pyqt=${{ matrix.pyqt-version }}
+
+      - name: Install additional python dependencies with pip
+        shell: bash -el {0}
+        run: |
+          pip install -r requirements.txt
+          if [ "$RUNNER_OS" == "Windows" ]; then
+            pip install -r windows-dev-requirements.txt
+          else
+            pip install -r dev-requirements.txt
+          fi
+
+      - name: Install packages for testing a pyqt app on Linux
+        shell: bash -el {0}
+        run: |
+          if [ "$RUNNER_OS" == "Linux" ]; then
+            sudo apt update
+            sudo apt install -y xvfb herbstluftwm libxkbcommon-x11-0 libxcb-icccm4 libxcb-image0 libxcb-keysyms1 libxcb-randr0 libxcb-render-util0 libxcb-xinerama0 libxcb-xfixes0 x11-utils
+            sudo /sbin/start-stop-daemon --start --pidfile /tmp/custom_xvfb_99.pid --make-pidfile --background --exec /usr/bin/Xvfb -- :99 -screen 0 1024x768x24 -ac +extension GLX +render -noreset
+            sleep 3
+            sudo /sbin/start-stop-daemon --start --pidfile /tmp/custom_herbstluftwm_99.pid --make-pidfile --background --exec /usr/bin/herbstluftwm
+            sleep 1
+          fi
+
+      - name: Test with pytest
+        shell: bash -el {0}
+        run: |
+          python run_tests.py
\ No newline at end of file