Information Security and Ethical Hacking Overview
6% of the published blueprint
Independent training guide · issuer sources checked October 11, 2026
CEH: training, costs, requirements and related work
Understand CEH versus CEH Practical, check your eligibility route and separate exam fees from training before choosing preparation.
312-50 · 125 questions · four hoursExam-only budget: USD 1,050–1,299Training or approved experience routeTraining and maintenance priced separately
See exam and training costs · Compare preparation options
Research and detailed planning are optional. A short request asks for your need, name, email and permission to reply.
Who it fits
CEH organizes broad ethical-hacking knowledge. Consider it when the named credential meets a work or employer requirement and you want structured security-testing preparation.
It is not a from-zero IT foundation. If you need to build networking or operating-system confidence, do that before an accelerated class. If your goal is a particular practical testing capability, compare the actual practice and feedback rather than buying the label alone.
Compare CHFI for evidence and investigation work · Compare Security+ foundations · Browse other certifications
Requirements & experience
Exam access: official training provides an eligibility route. Without it, EC-Council requires two years of applicable information-security experience, an application and approval. See the CEH application section before buying a voucher.
Recommended preparation from Learnerside: working TCP/IP, Windows and Linux knowledge, basic security administration and experience in a lawful practice lab. These are learning recommendations, separate from the issuer’s entry rules.
For a team, compare starting skills and job tasks individually. Eligibility or course completion alone does not show that a learner can benefit from a fast review class.
Exams & specializations
312-50 · 125 questions · four hours. The certification-body exam page identifies the assessment. Confirm delivery and accommodations before booking.
The 312-50 knowledge exam earns CEH. The optional CEH Practical is a separate six-hour, 20-challenge assessment. Holding both earns the CEH Master designation; do not mistake a knowledge-exam voucher for both assessments. Check the issuer’s exam comparison.
Course branding and exam blueprints serve different purposes. Require an outline mapped to the linked blueprint; a familiar course title does not establish coverage.
Skills measured
CEH blueprint v5.0, pages 2–5 lists the following knowledge domains. These are exam-scope weights, not evidence of performed work or a complete course syllabus.
Reconnaissance Techniques
17% of the published blueprint
System Hacking Phases and Attack Techniques
15% of the published blueprint
Network and Perimeter Hacking
24% of the published blueprint
Web Application Hacking
14% of the published blueprint
Wireless Network Hacking
5% of the published blueprint
Mobile Platform, IoT, and OT Hacking
10% of the published blueprint
Cloud Computing
5% of the published blueprint
Cryptography
5% of the published blueprint
The issuer’s rounded domain percentages total 101%. They are reproduced as published, not silently normalized. Training-module counts and “AI” course branding should not be substituted for these blueprint weights.
Original practice idea: in an isolated authorized lab, examine a fictional vulnerability report, separate verified findings from assumptions, recommend a fix and explain how you would retest it. Ask for feedback on the reasoning and report. This is a learning exercise, not an exam question or pass predictor.
Costs
CEH exam-only budget: USD 1,050 for ECC online proctoring or USD 1,299 for VUE, including the USD 100 application. These are published-route arithmetic for an approved applicant without official training, observed October 11, 2026—not an all-in training quote. Check the applicable fee table.
After official training, inspect the bundle before adding another voucher. CEH Practical is separate unless explicitly included. Tuition, taxes, retakes, licensed labs, access expiry and study time must be priced separately. Regional and seller terms may change the total.
Include annual maintenance and continuing education. Use confirmed charges, estimates and unknowns as separate lines in an employer budget.
Training options
Free scope review and internal learning
Read the public blueprint and compare it with actual work. Use existing approved training or synthetic practice to identify gaps. A free outline is not a complete course or an eligibility waiver.
Open the exam blueprintOfficial self-paced preparation
Useful when you need flexible study time. Confirm eligibility evidence, course edition, lab access, feedback, voucher identity and the access term.
Review EC-Council trainingInstructor-led or team training
Consider it when live explanation and guided practice address a real gap. Ask for daily hours, time zone, prerequisite check, instructor feedback and cancellation terms.
Review provider authorization evidenceThese are approaches to compare, not a provider ranking or confirmed availability. Current tuition, dates and seats require an exact offer. A team brief can specify the work outcome, baseline, learner count, deadline and required practice without choosing a provider first.
Earlier CEH provider and price observations — checked September 13, 2026
Historical September 13 observations, not current prices or availability. EC-Council’s North America CEH page showed direct on-demand training starting at USD 1,699, live online training starting at USD 2,499 and an unlimited on-demand library starting at USD 3,999. New Horizons showed a USD 3,495 five-day public virtual course. These are different products and “starting at” amounts—not interchangeable total-cost quotes.
| Route | Observed price | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| EC-Council single on-demand | Starting at USD 1,699 | Access length, included exam, practical exam, labs, support and refund terms. |
| EC-Council single live online | Starting at USD 2,499 | Exact dates, daily hours, time zone, recordings, instructor, exam and cancellation terms. |
| EC-Council unlimited on-demand | Starting at USD 3,999 | Course-library scope, per-user term, CEH lab and exam inclusions, renewal and access limits. |
| New Horizons public virtual | USD 3,495 | December seat, ATC identity, seller, delivery, authorized instructor, exact voucher and terms. |
| ONLC SCEH13 live online | USD 3,495 | December seat, exam exclusion or inclusion, ATC identity, labs, seller and delivery relationship. |
| Learning Tree course 2031 | USD 3,850 | Calendar year, voucher identity, sandbox access, commercial eligibility, seat and terms. |
The least expensive headline can cost more if the required exam, practical assessment, lab time, retake protection or schedule fit is missing. Keep each inclusion and unknown visible in the employer proposal.
CEH training: separate credential identity before comparing providers
EC-Council and provider pages checked September 13, 2026. These are dated research observations, not confirmed seats, quotes or a provider ranking.
Compare the CEH credential, practical path and delivered course—not just the badge
CEH v13 is three linked decisions: the 312-50 knowledge exam earns CEH, the separate CEH Practical adds a six-hour performance assessment, and passing both earns CEH Master. Compare the exact credential outcome, eligibility route, learner-performed labs, pace, voucher and seller-versus-delivery identity.
Official baseline
Exam scope: EC-Council identifies the CEH knowledge exam as 312-50 with 125 multiple-choice questions in four hours. CEH Practical is a separate six-hour assessment with 20 challenges. Passing the knowledge exam earns CEH; passing both assessments earns CEH Master. Do not assume an included “exam voucher” covers both.
Training scope: The current CEH v13 / CEH AI program publishes 20 module families spanning reconnaissance, scanning, enumeration, vulnerability analysis, system and web attacks, networks, wireless, mobile, IoT, cloud and cryptography. EC-Council markets extensive cyber-range practice, but a provider outline still must establish what this learner actually performs, for how long and with what post-class access.
How to use it: Official training is one exam-eligibility route; it is not proof of readiness. Without official training, EC-Council requires an eligibility application backed by at least two years of applicable information-security experience. For an intensive week, Learnerside recommends comfortable TCP/IP, networking, Windows and Linux administration, security fundamentals and legal lab boundaries.
EC-Council CEH v13 North America certification page (checked September 13, 2026) · EC-Council exam eligibility application rules (checked September 13, 2026) · EC-Council CEH v13 iClass course page (checked September 13, 2026)
EC-Council iClass: outline fit
Course: Official CEH v13 / 312-50 training sold directly by the certification body
Format and pace: On-demand and live-online packages are advertised; no complete dated calendar is linked in Learnerside’s current collection.
Published coverage:
- 20 official CEH v13 module families
- AI-assisted ethical-hacking techniques
- cyber-range labs and attack-countermeasure practice
- knowledge-exam preparation
Hands-on evidence: EC-Council markets more than 50% hands-on official training and extensive cyber-range labs. Confirm the package-specific lab entitlement, access window, support, resets and whether the work is demonstrated or learner-performed.
Readiness evidence: Buying official training satisfies one exam-access route; it does not replace the networking, operating-system and security foundation needed to use a compressed program well.
Likely fit: A learner who wants certification-body delivery and can verify the exact format, dates or access period, included assessment, support and complete price.
Dated schedule: No exact calendar is linked in Learnerside’s retained observations. Ask for every meeting date, time and source time zone.
Verify before approval:
- whether the package includes only 312-50 or also CEH Practical
- access length, labs, support, retake and refund terms
- complete price, tax and any regional eligibility
- live dates, daily hours, time zone, instructor and seat when applicable
EC-Council CEH v13 iClass course (checked September 13, 2026)
New Horizons: outline fit
Course: Provider course 300201523 / 3605460E, EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) v13
Format and pace: Five consecutive virtual instructor-led weekdays; private-group delivery is a separate offer.
Published coverage:
- all 20 CEH v13 agenda families
- AI across ethical-hacking phases
- attack methods and countermeasures
- live demonstrations and virtual labs
Hands-on evidence: The page states virtual labs and real-time participation but does not identify the exact learner-performed exercises, lab platform, access period or reset limits.
Readiness evidence: The public page does not establish a sufficient prerequisite baseline. Treat networking, TCP/IP, Windows, Linux and security administration comfort as safer preparation for the intensive pace.
Likely fit: A prepared learner who needs a dated live week and can verify the legal seller, delivery organization, ATC identity, exact labs and voucher scope.
Archived provider calendar examples: These dates were observed when the source was checked; some have passed. They are not upcoming class cards, open seats, or a current quote. Use the training finder for its time-checked references, then verify dates and availability with the provider.
- 2026-12-07 through 2026-12-11 · USD 3,495 published tuition · America/Chicago. Provider labels this December session Guaranteed to Run; that does not establish an available seat or immutable schedule.
Verify before approval:
- whether the included voucher is only 312-50 and whether CEH Practical is excluded
- current EC-Council ATC and authorized instructor identity
- legal seller, delivery organization and whether the calendar is a syndicated class
- labs, post-class access, seat, final total and cancellation terms
New Horizons CEH v13 course 300201523 (checked September 13, 2026)
ONLC Training Centers: outline fit
Course: Provider course SCEH13, Ethical Hacking and Countermeasures 13
Format and pace: Five consecutive live-online weekdays; center attendance still uses an online instructor.
Published coverage:
- the same 20 CEH v13 agenda families
- AI-assisted ethical-hacking methods
- attack techniques and countermeasures
- course objectives matching the current provider page
Hands-on evidence: ONLC labels the course hands-on but the checked page does not publish a lab platform, exact learner-performed exercises, access period or feedback model.
Readiness evidence: The checked page does not expose a clear prerequisite section. Eligibility through training should not be confused with readiness for a five-day technical course.
Likely fit: A prepared learner who wants the listed live calendar and obtains written answers on voucher, labs, authorization, delivery identity and purchase eligibility.
Archived provider calendar examples: These dates were observed when the source was checked; some have passed. They are not upcoming class cards, open seats, or a current quote. Use the training finder for its time-checked references, then verify dates and availability with the provider.
- 2026-12-07 through 2026-12-11 · USD 3,495 published tuition · America/Chicago. Provider labels this session Ready to Run, says it will not cancel for low enrollment, and displayed a December 2 registration deadline; seat availability still requires rechecking. Published registration deadline: 2026-12-02.
Verify before approval:
- exam-voucher inclusion or exclusion and CEH Practical status
- current EC-Council ATC, courseware and instructor identity
- seller eligibility, delivery organization and whether the identical New Horizons calendar is the same cohort
- labs, seat, final total, late fees and cancellation terms
ONLC course SCEH13 and exact calendar (checked September 13, 2026)
Learning Tree International: outline fit
Course: Course 2031, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Training
Format and pace: Five-day live instructor-led online or in-person course with after-course coaching.
Published coverage:
- CEH v13 ethical-hacking scope
- system, network and application attack methods
- defensive countermeasures
- certification-exam preparation
Hands-on evidence: The page describes hands-on system hacking and an after-course computing sandbox, but the exact exercises, platform entitlement and access duration need confirmation.
Readiness evidence: Learning Tree labels the course intermediate. Confirm prerequisites against the learner’s actual network, operating-system and security-administration experience.
Likely fit: An employer-sponsored learner who values a stated voucher, sandbox and coaching and can resolve calendar-year, delivery and package details.
Dated schedule: No exact calendar is linked in Learnerside’s retained observations. Ask for every meeting date, time and source time zone.
Verify before approval:
- calendar year for every displayed date and current seat
- whether the voucher is 312-50 only and CEH Practical is excluded
- sandbox and coaching access terms
- commercial buyer price and complete total
- current EC-Council partner, instructor, seller and cancellation terms
Evidence boundary: This comparison paraphrases public outlines; it does not republish a provider syllabus, verify a seat, or prove that every listed topic receives equal live instruction. A provider-issued proposal should identify the exact course version, schedule, delivery organization, inclusions and terms.
“CEH exam included” is not specific enough
The 312-50 knowledge exam earns CEH. CEH Practical is a separate six-hour, 20-challenge assessment; passing both earns CEH Master. Require every quote to name the assessment, voucher delivery and expiry, retake conditions and whether CEH Practical is excluded. Do not price a CEH Master goal from a knowledge-exam voucher alone.
Two seller pages may point to one delivered class
ONLC and New Horizons publish the same December 7–11, 2026 calendar, the same 8:00 AM–4:00 PM Central daily hours and the same USD 3,495 price. Their public pages do not establish whether these are separate cohorts or two seller listings into the same delivered class. Learnerside shows both sources but does not count them as independent availability until the delivery organization, instructor and seat inventory are confirmed.
Official training creates eligibility—not a technical foundation
Without official training, EC-Council’s application route requires at least two years of applicable information-security experience and a USD 100 nonrefundable application fee. With official training, the exam-access path changes, but the learner still needs enough networking, TCP/IP, Windows, Linux, security and legal-lab foundation to benefit from the pace.
Review Learnerside’s EC-Council authorization evidence · check EC-Council’s current eligibility rules.
Jobs & salary context
Security testing and vulnerability work
Compare vulnerability-assessment and junior security-testing tasks: scope an authorized test, validate a finding, explain impact and support remediation.
Security analyst and assurance work
Some learning overlaps with understanding attacks and reviewing controls. A SOC role also needs detection, triage and response practice that a broad ethical-hacking course may not provide.
U.S. salary context: BLS reports a May 2025 median annual wage of USD 129,180 for Information Security Analysts, SOC 15-1212, checked October 11, 2026. Read the occupation data. This broad occupation is context, not a CEH-holder salary, a starting offer or a specific forensic-investigator or penetration-tester statistic. Location, responsibilities and experience affect offers; no credential pay premium is established.
Before buying, compare a real role’s requirements with your current work samples and the course’s practice. Certification, employment eligibility and demonstrated skill are separate.
Renewal
The continuing-education policy includes CEH in the 120-credit, three-year scheme. The fee table lists USD 80 annually / USD 240 over three years, observed October 11, 2026. Credit activities and personal deadlines require their own check; paying the fee alone does not meet the credit requirement.
This is maintenance context, not a complete renewal bill. Confirm your account’s cycle, eligible activities and how multiple credentials affect payment before budgeting.
Sources & next steps
Current issuer observations checked October 11, 2026: assessment details, eligibility and fee tables, CEH blueprint v5.0, pages 2–5, training options, continuing education and maintenance fees. The BLS wage source is linked above. Earlier provider observations keep their September date.
Choose the learning outcome first, then compare preparation and a complete written offer. You can research freely, draft a private employer brief or make an optional short request. Permission to reply does not authorize sharing your details with a provider.