CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker
The CEH AI certification validates ethical hacking skills with AI‑enhanced training, a 4‑hour MCQ exam and a 6‑hour practical exam.
- Exam fee
- $1,199
- Duration
- 4 hours (MCQ) + 6 hours (practical)
- Typical salary
- $95K–$130K
CEH AI is worth pursuing for security professionals who want a globally recognised ethical‑hacking credential with AI‑focused content. If you need a quicker, lower‑cost entry‑level cert, consider other options.
What CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker covers
Validates ethical hacking and penetration testing skills. Learn to think like a hacker to defend organizations.
Key topics covered: Reconnaissance techniques, Network scanning, System hacking, Malware threats, Sniffing & social engineering, Session hijacking, Web application attacks, Cryptography.
Best suited for: Security professionals, penetration testers, and defenders who want to understand offensive techniques.
Common career paths: Penetration Tester, Ethical Hacker, Security Analyst, Red Team Engineer, Vulnerability Assessor.
CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker exam details
4‑hour multiple‑choice exam (125 questions) plus 6‑hour practical exam (20 challenges)
Exam domains
- Reconnaissance techniques
- Network scanning
- System hacking
- Malware threats
- Sniffing & social engineering
- Session hijacking
- Web application attacks
- Cryptography
At a glance
- Exam fee
- $1,199
- Duration
- 4 hours (MCQ) + 6 hours (practical)
How to prepare for CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker
| Stage | What to do | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Learn Foundations Complete the 20 learning modules, explore 221 hands‑on labs and familiarize yourself with 550 attack techniques and thousands of tools. | Week 1‑2 |
| 2 | Prepare for Certification Review the MCQ syllabus, take practice tests and schedule the 4‑hour, 125‑question exam. | Week 3 |
| 3 | Hands‑On Validation Attempt the 6‑hour practical exam with 20 real‑world challenges to demonstrate applied hacking skills. | Week 4 |
| 4 | Engage & Compete Participate in mock engagements, the annual CEH AI Challenge CTFs and community events to keep skills sharp. | Ongoing after certification |
Jobs and salary with CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker
People holding this certification commonly report pay around $95K–$130K. Pay depends heavily on role, location and total experience. See the salary breakdown.
Roles this certification supports
CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker questions answered
What is the CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker certification?
The CEH AI certification validates ethical hacking skills with AI‑enhanced training, a 4‑hour MCQ exam and a 6‑hour practical exam. It is issued by EC-Council and sits in the Cybersecurity field.
Is CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker hard?
CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker is rated Intermediate. It assumes some foundational knowledge or entry-level experience.
How much does the CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker exam cost?
The listed exam fee is $1,199. Fees vary by country and change over time, so confirm the current price with EC-Council before you book.
How long is the CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker exam?
The exam runs for 4 hours (MCQ) + 6 hours (practical).
What salary can I expect with CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker?
Professionals with CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker commonly report pay in the $95K–$130K range. Actual pay depends on role, location and total experience.
How should I prepare for CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker?
Start with the official exam outline, build hands-on practice for each domain, then finish with timed practice questions. The study plan on this page breaks this into steps.
Alternatives to CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker
| Certification | Vendor | Level |
|---|---|---|
| CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional | ISC2 | Advanced |
| CompTIA Security+ | CompTIA | Beginner |
| CISM - Certified Information Security Manager | ISACA | Advanced |
| Google Cloud Professional Cloud Security Engineer | Google Cloud | Advanced |
| Microsoft Azure Security Engineer (AZ-500) | Microsoft | Intermediate |