CEH Certification Guide 2026: Exam, CEH v13, Cost, Training & Career Path

The CEH Certification, formally the Certified Ethical Hacker credential from EC-Council, validates foundational and applied ethical-hacking knowledge. Current CEH v13, also marketed with AI-focused capabilities, covers 20 learning modules and extensive hands-on labs. The knowledge exam has 125 multiple-choice questions, lasts 4 hours, and uses a variable passing score. Candidates can qualify through official training or, with relevant experience, an eligibility application. CEH suits cybersecurity professionals building offensive-security, vulnerability-assessment, and security-testing skills.

What Is CEH Certification?

CEH Certification stands for Certified Ethical Hacker, a cybersecurity credential issued by EC-Council. The program teaches security professionals to examine systems from an attacker’s perspective while operating within authorized, legal, and ethical boundaries.

Someone researching what is CEH Certification is usually trying to understand whether it is primarily a theoretical exam or a practical penetration-testing qualification. The main CEH credential is earned through the knowledge examination, while candidates seeking additional hands-on validation can take the optional CEH Practical exam and work toward CEH Master status.

The current Certified Ethical Hacker v13 program has expanded beyond traditional hacking methodologies by incorporating AI-related techniques into the learning framework. The training includes 20 modules covering ethical hacking concepts, attack techniques, defensive thinking, cybersecurity tools, practical labs, and emerging technologies.

For beginners, the value of the CEH Certified Ethical Hacker pathway is its breadth. Rather than specializing immediately in web exploitation, cloud penetration testing, malware analysis, or red teaming, candidates first build a broad understanding of how attackers discover and exploit weaknesses.

CEH v13 Exam Details for 2026

The current CEH exam is a knowledge-based examination delivered through EC-Council’s examination environment. Candidates receive 125 multiple-choice questions and have 4 hours to complete them.

The passing requirement can vary depending on the examination form rather than using one universal percentage for every candidate.

CEH Exam Detail

Current Information

Certification

Certified Ethical Hacker

Provider

EC-Council

Current Version

CEH v13 / CEH AI

Knowledge Exam

125 questions

Exam Duration

4 hours

Format

Multiple choice

Passing Score

Variable by exam form

Practical Exam

Optional

Practical Duration

6 hours

Practical Assessment

20 challenges

CEH Master

Knowledge + practical pathway

The optional practical examination gives candidates 20 real-world challenges over six hours in a cyber range environment.

This distinction matters when comparing an ethical hacker CEH certification with heavily lab-driven penetration-testing credentials. CEH provides broad offensive-security coverage, while the optional practical component gives candidates an additional opportunity to demonstrate applied skills.

What Does the Certified Ethical Hacker v13 Course Cover?

The CEH course includes 20 modules covering the major phases and technologies associated with ethical hacking.

Training begins with ethical hacking fundamentals, reconnaissance, network scanning, enumeration, and vulnerability analysis. Candidates then progress into system hacking, malware threats, sniffing, social engineering, denial-of-service concepts, session hijacking, and security-control evasion.

Later modules address web servers, web applications, SQL injection, wireless networks, mobile platforms, IoT and operational technology, cloud computing, and cryptography.

This breadth is one reason the Certified Ethical Hacker course is frequently chosen by professionals who want exposure to multiple cybersecurity domains before specializing.

Why AI Matters in CEH v13

A key feature of CEH v13 is the integration of AI into ethical-hacking workflows.

AI-related concepts are incorporated across different phases of ethical hacking, including reconnaissance, scanning, gaining access, maintaining access, and security analysis.

Candidates may also encounter examples of how AI can support repetitive tasks, data analysis, reporting, threat detection, and security-testing workflows.

However, candidates should not interpret CEH v13 as an AI-only certification. Traditional networking, operating systems, vulnerabilities, web security, malware, wireless security, cloud technologies, cryptography, and security controls remain fundamental.

The practical takeaway is that modern ethical hackers increasingly need to understand both conventional attack techniques and how automation or AI can support security testing.

CEH Certification Requirements and Eligibility

The EC Council CEH pathway has two primary eligibility routes.

Candidates who complete approved EC-Council training can generally become eligible for the certification examination without separately following the experience-based eligibility route.

Candidates who want to attempt the examination without official training may need to demonstrate relevant information-security work experience and complete an eligibility application.

This distinction is important when selecting CEH training.

A professional with substantial cybersecurity experience may prefer an experience-based pathway, while someone new to ethical hacking may benefit more from structured official instruction, guided labs, and practical exercises.

Before registering, candidates should verify the latest eligibility requirements because EC-Council policies can change.

CEH Certification Cost in 2026

The actual CEH price depends on whether you purchase an exam voucher, combine the exam with practical assessment, or enroll in a training package.

The EC Council CEH certification cost should not be viewed as one universal number. Training, lab access, examination vouchers, retakes, taxes, location, delivery method, and optional practical testing may all affect the final amount.

Candidates researching the CEH v13 exam cost should check whether their selected package includes:

• Knowledge exam voucher

• Practical exam voucher

• Official training

• Lab access

• Courseware

• Practice examinations

• Retake options

• Instructor support

Comparing only the advertised exam price can be misleading because one package may include training and labs while another may provide only the examination voucher.

CEH Course and Training Options

A good CEH certification training program should combine conceptual learning with substantial lab practice.

Common learning formats include self-paced training, live online classes, instructor-led programs, and training through authorized partners.

For candidates evaluating CEH classes, the most important question is not simply whether the instructor covers all 20 modules. The course should help candidates understand why techniques work.

For example, learning an Nmap command is less useful if you cannot interpret the scan results. Running a vulnerability scanner is not enough if you cannot distinguish a meaningful vulnerability from false positives or low-risk findings.

Understanding SQL injection requires more than memorizing example payloads. Candidates should understand how insecure input handling, database queries, and poor validation create the vulnerability.

A strong training plan should combine:

1. Concept study to understand protocols, operating systems, vulnerabilities, and controls.

2. Hands-on labs to apply tools in authorized environments.

3. Scenario practice to improve security decision-making.

4. Exam preparation to become familiar with CEH-style questions.

5. Review sessions focused on weaker knowledge areas.

How to Prepare for the CEH Exam

Start by understanding the complete CEH curriculum rather than immediately answering hundreds of practice questions.

Build strong networking fundamentals first. Ethical hacking becomes much easier when you understand TCP/IP, common ports, DNS, routing, web protocols, authentication, encryption, and network segmentation.

Next, connect every security tool with its purpose.

Candidates often make the mistake of memorizing tool names without understanding when and why they are used. You should understand the difference between reconnaissance, scanning, enumeration, vulnerability analysis, exploitation, persistence, and post-engagement activities.

Hands-on lab practice is especially important.

Candidates should use only systems they own or environments where they have explicit authorization. Ethical hacking training is intended to develop controlled and responsible security-testing skills.

Timed practice exams are also useful. Do not simply record the final percentage. Review each incorrect answer and determine whether the mistake came from missing knowledge, misunderstood terminology, or poor question interpretation.

CEH Certification vs CEH Practical

Candidates sometimes assume that CEH Certification EC-Council automatically means completing a lengthy hands-on penetration test.

The standard CEH certification examination is knowledge-based. The separate CEH Practical assessment provides a stronger hands-on component.

Area

CEH Knowledge Exam

CEH Practical

Format

Multiple choice

Hands-on challenges

Duration

4 hours

6 hours

Assessment

Knowledge and methodology

Practical application

Questions/Challenges

125 questions

20 challenges

Required for Standard CEH

Yes

No

Role in CEH Master

Required

Required

The combination can make sense for professionals who want both theoretical coverage and practical validation.

Is CEH Certification Worth It?

The EC-Council CEH certification can be useful when it supports a broader cybersecurity development plan.

It may be relevant for security analysts, SOC professionals, vulnerability-assessment specialists, network-security professionals, cybersecurity consultants, junior penetration testers, and IT professionals transitioning into cybersecurity.

Its broad curriculum can also help candidates identify what they want to specialize in next.

After completing CEH, someone may choose to develop deeper skills in web application penetration testing, cloud security, malware analysis, red teaming, incident response, digital forensics, or security engineering.

The credential should not be treated as a replacement for practical experience.

A candidate who combines CEH training with labs, networking knowledge, scripting skills, cybersecurity projects, and continued technical practice will generally develop stronger capabilities than someone focused only on passing the exam.

Skills You Should Build Alongside CEH

The Certified Ethical Hacker CEH curriculum introduces many security technologies, but career development becomes stronger when candidates build complementary skills.

Networking knowledge is essential because attacks and security controls frequently depend on understanding how systems communicate.

Linux and Windows administration are also valuable. Ethical hackers need to understand operating systems before they can meaningfully analyze configuration weaknesses.

Basic scripting knowledge in languages such as Python, PowerShell, or Bash can help security professionals automate repetitive tasks and better understand how security tools operate.

Web technologies are another useful area. Understanding HTTP, cookies, sessions, authentication, APIs, databases, HTML, and JavaScript makes web security concepts easier to understand.

Candidates should also develop reporting skills. Security testing has limited value if technical findings cannot be communicated clearly to administrators, managers, developers, or business leaders.

CEH Career Opportunities

The ec council certified ethical hacker ceh credential may support professionals targeting a range of cybersecurity roles.

Possible career paths can include junior penetration tester, cybersecurity analyst, security consultant, vulnerability analyst, SOC analyst, network security specialist, information security analyst, or security administrator.

However, employers usually evaluate more than certification.

Technical labs, practical experience, communication skills, networking knowledge, troubleshooting ability, operating-system familiarity, and understanding of real security environments can significantly influence hiring decisions.

Candidates should therefore treat the CEH cert as one part of a wider professional-development strategy.

Maintaining Your CEH Credential

CEH professionals are expected to continue developing their cybersecurity knowledge after certification.

Cybersecurity changes constantly because vulnerabilities, attack techniques, cloud platforms, operating systems, security controls, and regulatory expectations continue to evolve.

Credential holders may need to complete continuing-education activities during the certification cycle to maintain their status.

Professional development can include cybersecurity training, conferences, research, technical learning, teaching, security projects, and other qualifying educational activities.

Candidates should confirm current continuing-education requirements directly with EC-Council because renewal policies and fees may change over time.

Build a CEH Preparation Plan That Develops Real Skills

The Certified Ethical Hacker CEH pathway provides broad exposure to offensive-security concepts, vulnerabilities, security controls, tools, cloud technologies, web security, wireless security, cryptography, and AI-supported ethical-hacking workflows.

Before enrolling, decide whether you need official CEH certification training or qualify through another eligibility route. Confirm the current EC Council CEH certification cost, choose training that includes meaningful hands-on practice, and work through the curriculum systematically.

Most importantly, use CEH preparation to build transferable security skills.

Learn why vulnerabilities exist, practice only in authorized environments, understand how attacks can be detected and prevented, and develop the ability to communicate technical findings clearly.

That approach prepares you not only for the CEH exam, but also for the security responsibilities that come after earning the CEH Certification.