Certified Ethical Hacker v13: the experience route, official training and what you pay
EC-Council lists the CEH exam voucher at $950 for the online proctored exam and $1,199 for the VUE option, as of November 2026. Candidates who skip official training also pay a non-refundable $100 eligibility application. A first attempt costs $1,050 on the experience route and up to $4,445 if ONLC's five-day class does not include a voucher; its page does not say. With two years of security work behind you, plan on 6 to 10 weeks of study (our estimate).
Key facts
- The current version is CEH v13; EC-Council says new CEH versions arrive every 12 to 18 months. (EC-Council, checked November 5, 2026)
- The CEH knowledge exam has 125 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours, online through the ECC exam portal, with a passing score that EC-Council gives as 60% to 85%. (EC-Council, checked November 5, 2026)
- Without official training, you need two years of work in an information security role and a non-refundable $100 application; approvals are valid for 90 days. (EC-Council, checked November 5, 2026)
- The exam voucher costs $950 for the online proctored exam or $1,199 for VUE, and you have 12 months after buying it to take the exam. (EC-Council, checked November 5, 2026)
- EC-Council certifications last three years; CEH holders earn 120 continuing education credits in that time and pay an annual $80 fee. (EC-Council, checked November 5, 2026)
What a CEH tells an employer
EC-Council describes CEH as structured across "20 learning modules covering over 550 attack techniques", and v13 adds AI-driven techniques throughout. The credential shows broad knowledge of how attacks work and how to counter them. The main CEH exam is multiple choice. A separate, optional practical exam (20 challenges in 6 hours) tests hands-on skill, and passing both earns CEH (Master).
A good fit if
- An employer, contract or job description you are aiming at names CEH
- You already have two years in a security role and can self-study for the knowledge exam
- You want a broad survey of attack techniques before you specialize
Think twice if
- You want proof you can break into systems: the main exam is multiple choice, and OSCP tests that hands-on
- You are new to security: a $950 voucher is a lot to spend on a first credential
- You have no security experience and no budget for official training, since that combination leaves no route in
Consider instead: New to security? Start with Security+. For a vendor-neutral penetration testing exam, see PenTest+; for a hands-on 24-hour exam, OSCP.
Two ways to become eligible
EC-Council gates the exam. Training and experience are alternatives, not both required, and neither one is the credential itself; you still pass the exam.
| Route | What you need | Extra fee | Then |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official training | Complete official EC-Council training at an Accredited Training Center, approved online learning or an academic institution | None listed | Direct access to the exam |
| Experience | Two years of work experience in an information security role, with proof | $100 application, non-refundable (EC-Council waives it for holders of an active CEH from versions 1 to 7) | Approval in 5 to 10 working days, valid for 90 days; EC-Council emails voucher purchase options |
Recommended experience is a different matter from the eligibility rule. EC-Council's own page says candidates should have two years of IT security experience or complete official training, and Learning Tree recommends two years of security experience and a working knowledge of TCP/IP before its class.
The knowledge exam and the optional practical
| Exam | Format | Time | Delivery | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEH (knowledge) | 125 multiple-choice questions; EC-Council gives the passing score as 60% to 85% | 4 hours | Online through the ECC exam portal ($950) or VUE ($1,199) | Yes, for CEH |
| CEH (Practical) | 20 real-world challenges | 6 hours | iLabs Cyber Range | No; passing both gives CEH (Master) |
EC-Council shows your cut score and achieved score on the exam transcript. Its CEH page lists the exam topics but not a percentage weight for each, so we do not show a weight table here.
Official training against studying on your own
EC-Council's own courses. EC-Council sells CEH through on-demand and live online packages, from $1,699 for a single on-demand course and $2,499 for a single live online course. Its page does not list what each package includes, though it says students in official training receive free retakes based on the package. Ask for the inclusions in writing.
Five-day classes. New Horizons, Learning Tree and ONLC run five-day CEH v13 classes. These suit people without two years of security work who need the training route, and people whose employer pays. None of the three course pages we read says in plain words that the class counts as official EC-Council training for eligibility, so ask before you pay.
Self-study. If you qualify on experience, any study materials will do, because the $100 application, not a course, gets you in. This is the cheapest route by a wide margin.
CEH prices from EC-Council and training companies
Totals add the $950 online voucher unless the provider says its price includes one. Choosing VUE instead adds $249.
| Route | Provider and course | Published price | Exam fee | First attempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-study, experience route | EC-Council, eligibility application for candidates with two years of information security work, non-refundable; approvals last 90 days. Checked November 5, 2026. | $100 | + $950 online exam voucher | $1,050 |
| Official on-demand course | EC-Council, Single On-Demand Certification Course, listed as starting at $1,699; the page does not say whether the voucher is included. Checked November 5, 2026. | $1,699 | + $950 online exam voucher if not included | $2,649 |
| Live online class with voucher | New Horizons, EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) v13, 5 days virtual, exam voucher included. Checked November 5, 2026. | $3,495 | Included | $3,495 |
| Live class with voucher | Learning Tree, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Training (course 2031), 5 days, CEH v13, exam voucher and after-course sandbox included. Checked November 5, 2026. | $3,850 | Included | $3,850 |
| Live online class | ONLC Training Centers, Ethical Hacking and Countermeasures 13 (SCEH13), 5 days; the page does not say whether a voucher is included. Checked November 5, 2026. | $3,495 | + $950 online exam voucher if not included | $4,445 |
Beyond the first attempt. CEH (Practical) is its own sitting, and none of the pages we read priced it. Ask what a second knowledge-exam attempt costs if your package has no free retake. Once certified, budget $80 a year for EC-Council's continuing education fee.
Checking a CEH class before you enroll
- Does it qualify you without the application? Only official EC-Council training gives direct exam access. Ask whether the class is delivered as official training, and get it in writing.
- Which voucher is included? New Horizons and Learning Tree include an exam voucher; ONLC's page does not say. Ask whether it covers the knowledge exam only or the practical too, and whether it is the online or VUE option.
- Is it CEH v13? All three classes in the table name version 13. With EC-Council releasing versions every 12 to 18 months, check the version again if you book well ahead.
- Labs after class. Learning Tree lists an after-course sandbox. Ask other providers how long you keep lab access.
- Will the date run? New Horizons and Learning Tree mark guaranteed-to-run dates.
Staying certified
EC-Council certifications are valid for three years from the certification date. To renew CEH, earn 120 continuing education credits in that three-year period and pay the annual $80 continuing education fee; EC-Council extends the certification each year subject to that fee.
CEH questions
- Can I take CEH without official training?
- Yes, if you have two years of work in an information security role. You submit EC-Council's eligibility application with a non-refundable $100 fee, and approval is valid for 90 days.
- How much is the CEH exam?
- EC-Council lists the voucher at $950 for the online proctored exam and $1,199 for VUE, in November 2026.
- Is the practical exam required?
- No. EC-Council calls it optional; passing it as well as the knowledge exam earns CEH (Master).
- What is the current CEH version?
- Version 13. EC-Council says it releases new versions every 12 to 18 months.
- How long does CEH last?
- Three years, renewed with 120 continuing education credits and an $80 annual fee.
Next step
If you are deciding between the experience route and a class, or between CEH and a hands-on exam, send us your background and deadline.
Ask for help choosing CEH training
Sources
- EC-Council: Certified Ethical Hacker v13 (version, exams, eligibility, packages), checked November 5, 2026
- EC-Council: application process and eligibility (application fee, voucher prices), checked November 5, 2026
- EC-Council: continuing education (ECE) policy, checked November 5, 2026
- New Horizons: EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) v13, checked November 5, 2026
- Learning Tree: Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Training (course 2031), checked November 5, 2026
- ONLC: Ethical Hacking and Countermeasures 13 (SCEH13), checked November 5, 2026
Prices are published list prices we recorded on the dates shown, not quotes. How we research.