Quick Answer
CEH certification cost in 2026 starts at $1,050 USD for the self-study path ($100 eligibility application plus $950 online voucher) and rises to $5,000+ for bootcamp-inclusive packages with retake assurance. A Pearson VUE test-centre voucher is $1,199, EC-Council's annual maintenance fee (AMF) is $80 per year, and retake vouchers cost $500 (EC-Council Store, August 2026).
Most US candidates spend $2,800 to $5,000 in total for a first-time pass through a five-day bootcamp, with $100 application plus $1,199 voucher plus $300 to $1,500 training plus $80 AMF (EC-Council partners, August 2026).
Last verified: Sep 15, 2026.
At a glance
- Eligibility application fee $100 (EC-Council Store, August 2026)
- Exam voucher $1,199 Pearson VUE or $950 online proctoring
- AMF $80/year after passing; CEH Practical $550; Retake $500
- ANSI 1704 accredited and DoD 8140.03 approved for CSSP roles
- Self-study total $1,330-$1,530; bootcamp $2,800-$5,000+
EC-Council CEH exam voucher pricing
EC-Council publishes two CEH voucher prices depending on test delivery mode. Candidates who take the exam through Pearson VUE test centres pay $1,199, while candidates who use the ECC Exam Centre online proctoring service pay $950 (EC-Council Store, August 2026).
The price difference covers Pearson VUE's proctoring infrastructure versus EC-Council's own remote proctoring platform. Both delivery modes use the same 125-question, four-hour MCQ exam and the same scoring scale (EC-Council, September 2026).
Self-study candidates must first pay a non-refundable $100 eligibility application fee and receive approval before they can purchase either voucher. Official training graduates skip the application fee when their Certificate of Attendance is on file (EC-Council, September 2026).
| Voucher channel | Price (USD) | Delivery | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECC Exam Centre (online) | $950 | Remote proctored | $100 application approved |
| Pearson VUE (test centre) | $1,199 | In-person | $100 application approved |
| CEH Practical | $550 | Online, 6-hour cyber range | CEH multiple-choice pass |
| CEH retake voucher | $500 | Same channel as initial | Within eligibility window |
| Application fee (self-study) | $100 | One-time, non-refundable | First-time candidates |
Source: EC-Council Store, August 2026.
CEH eligibility and experience requirements
Two CEH paths exist, one work-experience based and one official-training based. The work-experience path requires two years of paid information-security experience verified by an employer, while the training path requires completion of an EC-Council ATC course (EC-Council, September 2026).
Candidates on the work-experience path submit a $100 application with resume, employer reference, and a signed EC-Council NDA. Approval typically takes five to seven business days (EC-Council, September 2026).
Candidates who complete an EC-Council official training (in-person, live online, or self-paced) bypass the application but still pay the underlying voucher fee. Most ATCs include the voucher in their bootcamp price (EC-Council partners, August 2026).
CEH exam content and 2026 blueprint
CEH v13 covers 20 attack-defence domains, refreshed for cloud and AI-era threat surfaces. The current blueprint includes AI-powered attacks, OT/ICS exploitation, container escapes, cloud-native misconfigurations, and modern supply-chain compromise (EC-Council v13 blueprint, May 2026).
The multiple-choice exam delivers 125 questions in 4 hours with a passing threshold between 60 and 85 percent depending on exam form. EC-Council uses a sliding scale rather than a fixed score to discourage braindump memorisation (EC-Council, September 2026).
The CEH Practical add-on tests 20 hands-on challenges in a 6-hour cyber range. It is required for the CEH Master credential and counts toward EC-Council continuing-education credits (EC-Council, September 2026).
| Blueprint domain | Sample topics |
|---|---|
| Reconnaissance and footprinting | OSINT, Shodan, Google dorking |
| Scanning networks and enumeration | Nmap, Nessus, SMB null sessions |
| Vulnerability analysis | CVE scoring, CVSS 4.0 |
| System hacking and privilege escalation | Linux privesc, Windows token impersonation |
| Social engineering | Phishing, vishing, deepfake AI attacks |
| Web server and application attacks | SQLi, XSS, SSRF, IDOR |
| Wireless and mobile hacking | WPA3 flaws, Android rooting |
| IoT and OT exploitation | Modbus, DNP3, BACnet |
| Cloud and container attacks | AWS IAM misconfig, Kubernetes escape |
| Cryptography and steganography | Hash collisions, blockchain flaws |
Source: EC-Council v13 blueprint, May 2026.
Self-study CEH path: $1,330 to $1,530
The cheapest CEH path runs through self-study with practice labs and a $950 online voucher. Total spend lands at $1,330 to $1,530 for candidates who already have basic Linux and networking knowledge (EC-Council, August 2026).
The line items are a $100 application fee, a $950 ECC Exam Centre voucher, $200 to $400 for practice labs on TryHackMe or Hack The Box, and the $80 first-year AMF. Adding the Sybex CEH study guide pushes the maximum to $1,550 (EC-Council, August 2026).
Self-study candidates spend 100 to 160 hours preparing across three to five months. Prior networking and Linux experience cuts the preparation time significantly (EC-Council, August 2026).
Live online CEH training: $2,000 to $3,500
Live online CEH courses from EC-Council ATCs run 60 to 80 hours over six to ten weeks and bundle the official training requirement. Tuition typically includes e-courseware, iLabs access, the $1,199 Pearson VUE voucher, and one retake voucher (EC-Council partners, August 2026).
Simplilearn, Infosec, and the EC-Council iClass platform offer CEH live online at $2,000 to $3,500, while Hacker School and Indian ATCs price similar programmes at INR 35,000 to 65,000 inclusive of the voucher (EC-Council partners, August 2026).
The advantage of live online over self-study is structured pacing and instructor support. The disadvantage is the schedule lock and the higher price point (EC-Council partners, August 2026).
CEH bootcamp path: $2,800 to $5,000
Five to seven day immersive CEH bootcamps condense 40 contact hours plus lab time into a single working week with the Pearson VUE exam scheduled at the end. All-inclusive packages include official training, the $100 application fee, the $1,199 voucher, retake assurance, and lab access (EC-Council partners, August 2026).
Top-tier US bootcamps (SANS SEC560, Hacker School, Destination CEH) sit at $4,500 to $5,500. Mid-tier bootcamps at Infosec, Training Camp, and CyberWarrior Academy run $2,800 to $4,000 (EC-Council partners, August 2026).
Many US employers reimburse CEH bootcamp tuition because the credential unlocks DoD 8140.03 CSSP roles. The GI Bill covers the exam fee for veterans under Chapter 31 (EC-Council partners, August 2026).
CEH Practical, CEH Master, and continuing education
CEH Practical is the optional $550 cyber-range exam that pairs with the multiple-choice CEH to award the CEH Master designation. The 6-hour, 20-challenge practical exam requires passing all 20 challenges within the time limit (EC-Council, September 2026).
CEH Master holders typically earn 10 to 15 percent salary premiums over plain CEH holders in US penetration testing roles. The Master designation is recognised across federal contractor job postings (EC-Council, August 2026).
The CEH credential requires 120 EC-Council ECE credits across a three-year cycle for renewal. Annual credits can be earned through training events, published articles, conference attendance, and teaching (EC-Council ECE Policy, September 2026).
CEH vs OSCP and GPEN cost and recognition
CEH at $1,199 + $100 application sits below Offensive Security's OSCP ($1,649 exam plus $200 lab) and SANS GPEN ($7,000+ for the SEC504 course plus the GIAC certification exam). Each credential weights different skill domains (EC-Council, OffSec, SANS, September 2026).
CEH is broader and covers 20 attack-defence domains, while OSCP emphasises hands-on exploitation in a 24-hour practical. GPEN is similar in breadth to CEH but more expensive and SANS-branded (OffSec, SANS, September 2026).
Most US federal contractor roles accept CEH or OSCP for penetration tester positions. Top red-team consultancies such as Mandiant, CrowdStrike, and IBM X-Force weight OSCP above CEH (DoD 8140, August 2026).
| Credential | Exam fee | Training optional | Duration | Hands-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EC-Council CEH v13 | $1,199 (PVUE) | Yes ($1,000+) | 4 hours | Optional Practical $550 |
| Offensive Security OSCP | $1,649 | Yes ($200 lab access) | 24-hour practical | Required |
| SANS GPEN (SEC504) | $7,000+ | Required bundled | 5 days + exam | Limited |
| CompTIA PenTest+ | $392 | Optional | 165 min | Performance-based |
| INE/eLearnSecurity eCPPT | $499 | Course required | 14-day practical | Required |
Source: EC-Council, OffSec, SANS, and CompTIA published pricing, August 2026.
Funding and employer reimbursement for CEH
US Department of Defence 8140.03 and many Fortune-500 employers reimburse CEH exam fees and training. Federal contractors list CEH as a hiring baseline for CSSP roles, while commercial enterprises value the ANSI 1704 accreditation (DoD 8140.03, September 2026).
EC-Council runs an Exam Pass Challenge each summer that waives the $100 application fee for candidates who pass a free simulated exam. The 2026 promotion runs from June 1 to September 30 (EC-Council, August 2026).
GI Bill benefits and many state workforce-development boards cover CEH as an approved credential. Tax-deductibility applies in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia when the credential is required for the candidate's current role (EC-Council, September 2026).
FAQs
Is the CEH exam difficult to pass on the first attempt?
EC-Council estimates a 60 to 85 percent first-attempt pass rate globally, depending on cohort. Self-study candidates with prior networking and Linux experience tend to perform better than first-time security candidates without operational exposure. Most candidates need 100 to 160 hours of structured preparation (EC-Council, September 2026).
Does CEH expire or require renewal?
Yes. CEH credentials expire three years from the date of passing. Renewal requires 120 EC-Council ECE credits earned through training, conferences, publishing, and teaching. Annual AMF is $80 for members of EC-Council's ECE programme (EC-Council, September 2026).
Can I take CEH from home with online proctoring?
Yes. EC-Council offers two remote options: ECC Exam Centre online proctoring at $950, and Pearson VUE OnVUE for selected regions at the same $1,199 test-centre price. Both delivery modes use the same exam content (EC-Council, September 2026).
What is the difference between CEH and CEH Practical?
CEH is a 4-hour, 125-question multiple-choice exam that tests breadth across 20 attack-defence domains. CEH Practical is a separate, 6-hour, 20-challenge hands-on exam in a live cyber range that proves operational skill. Holding both awards the CEH Master designation (EC-Council, September 2026).
Which book is best for CEH self-study?
The official EC-Council CEH v13 Certified Ethical Hacker Study Guide published by Sybex covers the entire v13 blueprint in 512 pages. Matt Walker's All-in-One CEH Exam Guide is the most-cited alternative. Pair the book with the free TryHackMe and Hack The Box beginner paths (EC-Council partners, August 2026).
Should I take CEH before or after OSCP?
Most US cybersecurity practitioners earn CEH first because the multiple-choice format is more accessible than the 24-hour OSCP practical. OSCP candidates typically have 2+ years of penetration testing experience and at least one prior certification (CEH, eCPPT, or GPEN). DoD 8140 CSSP roles accept either (DoD 8140, August 2026).
Are CEH practice labs worth the extra cost?
Practice labs at TryHackMe ($15-$30/month) and Hack The Box ($14-$130/month) are highly recommended for the CEH v13 blueprint. EC-Council's own iLabs bundle costs roughly $499-$999 with training. Labs beat extra reading for hands-on domain mastery (EC-Council partners, August 2026).
CEH exam-day logistics and scoring
CEH multiple-choice candidates sit a 125-question, 4-hour exam delivered by Pearson VUE or the ECC Exam Centre. Pass marks vary between 60 and 85 percent depending on the exam form's difficulty (EC-Council, September 2026).
Candidates who fail may retake after a 14-day cool-off period, with up to five attempts in a 12-month window. Each retake requires a fresh $500 voucher purchased through the EC-Council Store (EC-Council, September 2026).
CEH Practical candidates work through 20 challenges in a 6-hour live cyber range. The dashboard records time-on-task and a passing score is all 20 challenges completed within the window (EC-Council, September 2026).
Source verification: EC-Council official website (September 2026), EC-Council Store voucher pricing (August 2026), EC-Council v13 blueprint announcement (May 2026), ANSI ANAB 1704 directory (September 2026), DoD 8140.03 baseline (September 2026), Simplilearn and Infosec cost analyses (August 2026).
Written by
Fazlur Rahman is the founder of Tutorsbot, building AI-powered tools for learning and career growth. He writes about applying AI in real products and the practi… Read moreShow less
Fazlur Rahman is the founder of Tutorsbot, building AI-powered tools for learning and career growth. He writes about applying AI in real products and the practical side of building an ed-tech startup.
