CEH v13 Certification: Cost, Syllabus, Exam & Training Guide

CEH v13 certification is EC-Council’s ethical hacking credential for professionals who assess systems lawfully, identify vulnerabilities, and recommend defenses. The knowledge exam contains 125 multiple-choice questions and lasts four hours. Candidates who pass it earn the CEH certification; the optional six-hour practical exam has 20 challenges and leads to CEH Master when both exams are passed. Eligibility is available through official training or an approved self-study application based on information-security experience. Costs vary by voucher type, location, taxes, and training provider.

What Is a CEH Certification?

The Certified Ethical Hacker certification is awarded by EC-Council. It validates knowledge of ethical hacking, vulnerability assessment, attack methods, security testing, and defensive controls.

Ethical hackers use controlled techniques to find weaknesses in networks, systems, applications, cloud platforms, and devices. Testing must always be performed with written authorization.

The latest program is widely known as CEH v13. EC-Council also presents it as CEH AI because the updated curriculum includes artificial intelligence skills, modern attack techniques, and AI-supported ethical hacking activities.

CEH v13 Certification Overview

Feature

Details

Certification provider

EC-Council

Certification

Certified Ethical Hacker

Current version

CEH v13 / CEH AI

Knowledge exam

125 multiple-choice questions

Exam duration

4 hours

Exam code

312-50

Passing score

60% to 85%, depending on the exam form

Practical exam

20 hands-on challenges

Practical duration

6 hours

Practical delivery

Aspen/iLabs cyber range

CEH Master

Requires both exams

The knowledge exam awards the standard CEH certification. The practical exam is optional. Candidates who pass both exams may earn the CEH Master designation.

What Does CEH v13 Cover?

The CEH v13 syllabus contains 20 modules:

1. Introduction to Ethical Hacking

2. Footprinting and Reconnaissance

3. Scanning Networks

4. Enumeration

5. Vulnerability Analysis

6. System Hacking

7. Malware Threats

8. Sniffing

9. Social Engineering

10. Denial-of-Service

11. Session Hijacking

12. Evading IDS, Firewalls, and Honeypots

13. Hacking Web Servers

14. Hacking Web Applications

15. SQL Injection

16. Hacking Wireless Networks

17. Hacking Mobile Platforms

18. IoT and OT Hacking

19. Cloud Computing

20. Cryptography

Important Syllabus Areas

The first modules teach information gathering, network scanning, enumeration, and vulnerability identification.

The system-hacking modules cover password attacks, Metasploit, privilege escalation, buffer overflows, persistence, malware, and post-exploitation.

The web-security section includes web servers, web applications, APIs, OWASP risks, access-control weaknesses, fuzzing, and SQL injection.

The final modules address wireless security, mobile devices, IoT, operational technology, cloud platforms, containers, Kubernetes, IAM, encryption, PKI, digital signatures, and cryptanalysis.

EC-Council describes the current program as covering 20 modules, 221 hands-on labs, and more than 550 attack techniques.

CEH v13 Exam Format

Knowledge Exam

The knowledge exam is the main certified ethical hacker test. It checks your understanding of:

• Information-security threats

• Attack vectors

• Detection techniques

• Prevention methods

• Ethical hacking procedures

• Security-testing methodologies

The exam contains 125 multiple-choice questions and lasts four hours. It is available through ECC Exam and Pearson VUE.

EC-Council publishes a passing-score range of 60% to 85%. The exact passing score depends on the exam form, so candidates should not rely on an outdated fixed percentage.

CEH Practical Exam

The CEH Practical is a separate six-hour assessment delivered through the Aspen/iLabs cyber range.

It includes 20 practical challenges involving areas such as:

• Port scanning

• Vulnerability detection

• Web-server attacks

• Web-application testing

• SQL injection

• Wireless attacks

• Malware analysis

• Cryptography

• Network protocols

• Log analysis

The CEH Practical is not required for the standard CEH certification. Passing both the knowledge exam and practical exam leads to the CEH Master designation.

CEH v13 Exam Cost

The CEH v13 exam cost depends on the exam delivery method and the package you choose.

The official EC-Council Store listed the following prices when checked in September 2026:

Exam option

Listed price

CEH Pearson VUE exam voucher

$1,199

CEH RPS exam voucher

$950

CEH Practical exam

$550

ECC Exam plus CEH Practical

$1,250

Pearson VUE plus CEH Practical

$1,499

These prices may change. Your total ethical hacker certification cost may also include:

• Training fees

• Courseware

• Lab access

• Exam retakes

• Taxes

• Currency conversion

• Testing-center charges

• Self-study eligibility fees

Candidates should confirm the current price and voucher conditions before making a purchase.

CEH v13 Eligibility Requirements

Candidates usually qualify through one of two routes.

Official Training Route

Candidates who complete approved EC-Council training may attempt the exam without applying through the self-study route.

Previous cybersecurity experience is not mandatory for candidates who complete the required official training. Depending on the delivery method, candidates may need to provide a Certificate of Attendance before purchasing a voucher.

Self-Study Route

Candidates who do not complete official training generally need:

1. At least two years of information-security experience

2. A completed eligibility application

3. Supporting evidence of experience

4. A non-refundable $100 eligibility fee

5. Approval from EC-Council

Relevant experience may include network security, system administration, vulnerability assessment, security operations, cloud security, or penetration testing.

Always check the latest candidate handbook because application rules may change.

Certified Ethical Hacker Training Course Options

A strong certified ethical hacker training course should include lessons, practical labs, practice questions, mock exams, and instructor support.

Self-Paced Training

Self-paced training is suitable for learners who prefer flexible study hours. It allows you to repeat complex lessons and review weak topics.

The main challenge is consistency. Create a weekly schedule and reserve time for lab practice instead of watching lessons only.

CEH Training Online

CEH training online allows candidates to study through live classes, recorded lessons, guided labs, mock tests, and remote instructor support.

This format is useful if you need:

• A fixed study schedule

• Instructor explanations

• Practical demonstrations

• Lab guidance

• Exam-focused revision

• Support with difficult topics

CEH Bootcamp

A CEH bootcamp compresses the core curriculum into an intensive schedule. EC-Council describes its official course as a five-day, 40-hour program, although training providers may use different schedules.

A bootcamp can help experienced IT professionals review the syllabus quickly. Beginners may need additional weeks for practice and revision.

How to Prepare for the CEH v13 Exam

Build Your Technical Foundation

Before intensive preparation, review:

• TCP/IP networking

• Common ports and protocols

• Linux and Windows basics

• Web applications

• Databases

• Authentication

• Access control

• Basic scripting

Follow the Syllabus in Order

The modules are connected. Reconnaissance supports scanning. Scanning supports enumeration. Enumeration supports vulnerability analysis and system testing.

Combine Theory With Labs

For each topic:

1. Learn the concept.

2. Practise it in an authorized lab.

3. Identify the evidence created by the activity.

4. Study the relevant defense.

5. Complete practice questions.

6. Review every incorrect answer.

Use an Eight-Week Study Plan

Study period

Main focus

Weeks 1–2

Reconnaissance, scanning, enumeration, and vulnerability analysis

Weeks 3–4

System hacking, malware, sniffing, social engineering, DoS, and session hijacking

Weeks 5–6

Web servers, web applications, SQL injection, and wireless security

Week 7

Mobile, IoT, OT, cloud computing, and cryptography

Week 8

Mock exams, weak areas, and final revision

Use only legal labs, sandboxes, and systems that you own or have permission to test.

Is CEH v13 Certification Worth It?

CEH v13 may be useful for beginners, network professionals, system administrators, SOC analysts, and cybersecurity professionals moving toward ethical hacking.

It can support preparation for roles such as:

• Security analyst

• SOC analyst

• Vulnerability assessment analyst

• Network security engineer

• Junior penetration tester

• Cybersecurity consultant

• Ethical hacker

However, certification alone does not guarantee employment. Employers may also look for practical experience, reporting skills, scripting ability, cloud knowledge, and communication skills.

Build your profile with:

• Authorized lab reports

• Vulnerability findings

• Remediation recommendations

• Network-security diagrams

• Security-testing documentation

• Small scripting projects

CEH Certification Validity

The CEH credential generally follows a three-year certification cycle. Candidates must earn the required EC-Council Continuing Education credits to maintain the certification.

The EC-Council handbook states that candidates must earn 120 ECE credits within three years. Review the latest ECE policy for current renewal requirements and fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a CEH certification?

CEH certification is an ethical hacking credential awarded by EC-Council. It validates knowledge of reconnaissance, scanning, vulnerability analysis, system hacking, web security, wireless security, cloud security, mobile security, IoT, OT, and cryptography.

Is CEH v13 suitable for beginners?

Yes. Beginners can prepare for CEH v13, but basic networking, operating-system, and cybersecurity knowledge will make the course easier to understand.

What is the CEH v13 exam cost?

The official-store price varies by delivery method. The listed knowledge-exam prices include $950 for RPS delivery and $1,199 for Pearson VUE. Training and taxes may cost extra.

Is the CEH Practical exam mandatory?

No. The knowledge exam earns the standard CEH certification. The practical exam is required for the CEH Master designation.

What is included in the CEH syllabus?

The syllabus includes 20 modules covering reconnaissance, scanning, enumeration, vulnerability analysis, system hacking, malware, web security, SQL injection, wireless, mobile, IoT, OT, cloud computing, and cryptography.

Does CEH v13 require previous experience?

Official training does not require previous cybersecurity experience. The self-study route generally requires two years of information-security experience and EC-Council approval.

Begin Your CEH v13 Preparation

Prepare for the CEH v13 certification with updated study materials, guided online training, practical lessons, practice questions, mock exams, and instructor support.

Visit PassYourCert’s CEH v13 training page to review the available preparation options and start your ethical hacking certification journey.