CEH Certification Cost

The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification remains one of the top choices for cybersecurity professionals in 2025. EC-Council’s CEH certification shows that a person is trained to think like a hacker and use the same techniques to test computer systems, identify security flaws, and fix them before real hackers can exploit them. With the growing interest in ethical hacking, the cost of getting the CEH certification depends on factors like exam fees, training costs, study materials, and retake charges if you don’t pass the exam the first time. So, it’s important to carefully check all these costs before going for the CEH certification. This article summarizes all the key aspects to consider regarding the costs of obtaining the CEH certification in 2025

Table of Contents:

• What is CEH Certification?
• Levels of CEH Certification
• CEH Certification Requirements
• Cost of CEH Certification
• CEH Exam Retake Policy and Cost
• Scholarships and Financial Aid
• Average Salary of a Certified Ethical Hacker
• Benefits of CEH Certification
• Challenges and Common Mistakes in CEH Preparation
• Difference between CEH and other courses
• Job Opportunities for CEH-Certified Professionals
• Conclusion

What is CEH Certification?

The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Certification is a professional certification conferred by the EC-Council that affirms a candidate’s knowledge of ethical hacking and cybersecurity foundations. The main idea behind the CEH certification is to train you to think and act like a hacker so you can find and fix weaknesses in systems and networks. It proves that you know how to use the same tools and techniques as hackers, but in a legal and ethical way to help organizations strengthen their security. It’s also one of the most well-known certifications in the cybersecurity field and is highly valued for jobs like penetration tester, security analyst, and cybersecurity consultant.

 Levels of CEH Certification

1. CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker):
2. This is an entry-level certification that tests your basic understanding of ethical hacking, including the tools and techniques used. The exam is multiple-choice and checks how well you know how to find and use system weaknesses in a legal and ethical way. 
3. CEH Practical: It tests your hands-on skills by giving you real hacking tasks in a safe, lab-based environment. It shows that you can use what you’ve learned to solve real-world cybersecurity problems.
4. CEH Master: This is not a certification but a designation offered by EC Council when the candidate passes both the CEH theoretical exam and the CEH Practical exam. Designated as a CEH Master signifies you have reached an advanced level of ethical hacking and penetration testing that combines both knowledge and practical skills.

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CEH Certification Requirements

In order to be eligible for the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification, candidates must meet one of the eligibility requirements established by the EC-Council: 

1. Complete Official CEH Training: The candidate has to complete the official CEH training through EC-Council or an authorized training partner. No prior experience is needed if you complete this official training.

2. Self-study (without official training): Applicants must submit proof of at least 2 years of experience in an information security-related role. A non-refundable eligibility application fee of ₹8,300 to ₹8,500 must be paid. Approval from EC-Council is required before registering for the exam.

3. Educational background (alternative): A degree in a cybersecurity-related field may be accepted as experience if approved by the EC-Council.

Cost of CEH Certification

These are approximate costs for the certification may differ depending on the training institute or year. This is the estimated cost for the year 2025. 

• CEH Theory Exam (Knowledge Exam): ₹79000
• CEH Practical Exam: ₹46000
• Combined CEH Master Package (theory + practical): ₹99,000
• Application Fee (for self-study candidates): ₹8300
• Official training (self-paced or instructor-led): ₹1,00,000-₹3,50,000
• Annual Membership Fee (for lifetime certification): ₹6600 a year or ₹19,800 for 3 years.

CEH Exam Retake Policy and Cost

If you do not pass the CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) exam on your first attempt, you may retake the exam under certain conditions and cost.

Retake Policy

1. First Attempt: Included with your exam voucher (if purchased). 

2. Failed First Attempt: 

• You will have to purchase a new exam voucher to retake the exam.
• There is no cooling-off period between the two attempts.

3. Subsequent Attempts: If you fail a second time or more, there is a mandatory 14-day cooling-off period between each attempt.

4. Maximum Attempts: You may take the exam a maximum of 5 times in a year. 

5. Mandatory Training (After 5 Failed Attempts): If you fail all 5 attempts, you will be required to take official EC-Council training before being allowed to attempt the exam again. 

Costs to Retake the Exam 

• Retake Exam Voucher Cost: Approximately ₹79,000 per attempt (same cost as the initial exam fee). 
• No discounts for retakes will normally be given, unless they are part of a training package.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

In 2025, EC-Council awarded around ₹8.3 crore in CEH Practical scholarship funds to over 2,000 cybersecurity professionals worldwide, with a major portion given in India. The scholarship includes funding for the CEH Practical exam fee, which is a case study exam that is 6 hours long and uses real-world scenarios.

1. C|CT (Certified Cybersecurity Technician) Scholarship 

• This scholarship provides financial support for EC-Council’s entry-level cybersecurity program.
• The scholarship includes tuition, course material, textbook, and coursework, but the scholarship requires paying a small fee (approximately ₹16,500) for the exam proctoring and technology. 

2. Women’s Cybersecurity Scholarship 

• EC-Council University also provides scholarships up to $2,000 (~ 1.65 lakh rupees) to high-performing women graduating in EC-Council-supported cybersecurity competitions. 
• The scholarships are allocated according to the number of credits taken in a term and paid incrementally. 

3. EC-Council Hero Scholarship 

For veterans, active military personnel, and first responders, the EC-Council provides a scholarship to help them secure cybersecurity credentials. 

4. Discounts and Promotions 

EC-Council often offers promotions and discounts, especially during Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October, with lower prices on training bundles and exam vouchers.

5. Academic Partnerships

Students and faculty affiliated with EC-Council’s academic partners will have access to discounted exam vouchers and training materials.

6. Employer Sponsorship

Many organizations cover certification costs for employees, especially when the certification is relevant to their job roles.

Average Salary of a Certified Ethical Hacker

Across the Globe: Average CEH Salaries

In India: Average CEH Salaries

• Entry Level (0–2 years): ₹3.5 lakh to ₹6 lakh annually
• Mid Level (3–5 years): ₹6 lakh to ₹12 lakh annually
• Senior Level (5+ years):₹12 lakh to₹25 lakh or more annually

Salaries are influenced by location, experience, job role, industry, and other certifications.

Difference between CEH and other courses

Benefits of CEH Certification

1. Compliance Benefit: CEH is valuable for government and defense jobs because it meets important standards like DoD 8570.

2. Worldwide Acknowledgement: CEH is a well-known and respected cybersecurity certification accepted by many industries around the world.

3. Expanded Career Options: It creates more opportunities for positions like ethical hacker, penetration tester, security analyst, etc. 

4. Hands-on Learning: The CEH program teaches practical skills and tools used in real-world ethical hacking.

5. Higher Salary Potential: CeH professionals tend to earn more based on their validated skill set and credibility. 

Good Foundation for Advanced Roles: CEH provides a strong base to pursue higher-level certifications like OSCP or CISSP. 

Challenges and Common Mistakes in CEH Preparation

There are certain challenges that are faced by the practitioner. Here are the challenges and common mistakes they make. 

Challenges in CEH Preparation

1. Dependence on Theory: Mostly, candidates focus on only memorising concepts and not understanding them in a practical sense, as to how they apply to the real world.

2. Lack of Practical Opportunities: The CEH exam tests practical knowledge; therefore, skipping labs and simulations can leave you with no practical experience to draw from when answering practical questions.

3. Using Out-of-Date Study Materials: Using out-of-date study materials or unofficial study materials can incur the risk of not covering the most recent CEH exam version and objectives.

4. Time Management Problems: Finding time to prepare for the exam while also working and/or going to school is not easy. Therefore, this may lead to inconsistent study patterns or difficulty managing time when studying.

5. Not Following the Exam Blueprint: Not aligning your study plan against EC-Council’s official exam domains and objectives will lead to missing topics altogether.

Common Mistakes Candidates Make

1. Not Taking the CEH Practical Exam (optional): Although optional, not taking the CEH Practical Exam reduces your credibility towards hands-on roles when it comes to positions in cybersecurity.

2. Not Taking Practice Tests: Not taking any mock exams reduces your ability to manage your time correctly and, as a result, not know how to approach the way questions are asked in the CEH Exam.

3. Memorising and Not Understanding: Rote learning tools and commands without attempting to understand how they apply to penetration testing scenarios and eventually the real world.

4. Not Considering Soft Skills and Ethics: Not taking the time to understand the legal and ethical responsibilities of ethical hackers is a requirement for the exam.

5. Avoid Last-Minute Study: Last-minute cramming will only put you under stress, low retention, and ultimately lower performance.

Strategies to Avoid the Mistakes

• Make sure you study Ethical hacking from scratch and cover the syllabus for the exam. 
• Use new and official EC-Council materials and lab environments.
• Take plenty of practice exams and review your weak areas carefully.
• Spend equal time studying the theory and practicing in the labs.
• Regularly review your study materials and build confidence by maintaining a consistent study routine and pace.

By avoiding these mistakes, you will be well within your limits of trusting yourself to pass the CEH exam and succeed in your security career. 

What Makes the CEH v13 Ethical Hacking Course by Intellipaat Stand Out

The CEH v13 Ethical Hacking Course by Intellipaat offers a comprehensive and practical learning experience that prepares learners effectively for cybersecurity roles. Key highlights include:

• Suitable for both beginners and professionals aiming for CEH certification and cybersecurity careers.
• Industry-relevant curriculum aligned with the latest CEH v13 standards.
• Emphasis on practical applications with hands-on labs and real-world simulations.
• Expert instructors guide learners through case studies and experiential learning.
• Flexible learning options with career support and access to a strong peer community.

Job Opportunities for CEH-Certified Professionals

1. Ethical Hacker/Penetration Tester: This position simulates cyberattacks to identify and remediate vulnerabilities in systems.

2. Cybersecurity Analyst: Monitors security systems, investigates threats, and responds to incidents.

3. Information Security Analyst: Designs and implements security measures to protect an organisation’s IT infrastructure.

4. Security Consultant: Advises organizations on best practices, policy development, risk assessments, and compliance.

5. Network Security Engineer: Focuses on securing network architecture, firewalls, and access credentials controls.

6. Operations Centre (SOC) Analyst: Works in Security Operations Centre environments, monitoring for cyber threats and responding to incidents in real-time.

7. Analyst/Threat Analyst: Examines malicious software to understand how it works and to develop ways to detect and prevent cyber threats.

8. Auditor/Compliance Analyst: Reviews and audits an organization’s IT infrastructure to ensure systems and software meet security standards, policies, procedures, and relevant compliance regulations.

Industries that Hire CEH professionals

• Information Technology (IT)
• Banking/Finance 
• Government/Defense 
• Healthcare 
• E-Commerce 
• Telecommunications 
• Consulting Firms

Earning a CEH certification not only enhances your resume but also increases your choices for cybersecurity careers in many high-demand areas in many sectors globally. Increasingly frequent and sophisticated cyber threats are creating a demand for skilled ethical hackers across almost every industry.

Conclusion

Earning the CEH certification shows strong skills in ethical hacking and practical cybersecurity techniques that are highly valued worldwide. Although it requires time, effort, and cost, the certification improves job opportunities, builds credibility, and supports career growth in a competitive industry. Focusing on a good balance of theory and real-world practice helps candidates handle today’s cybersecurity challenges effectively. Overall, the CEH certification is an important step for advancing in the fast-changing field of cybersecurity.

To learn more about the certification, check out the Ethical Hacking CEH-v13 Certification, and also prepare for your interview with our Cyber Security Interview Questions prepared by industry experts. 

What is CEH? How Much Does It Cost? – FAQs