Can You Get the CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) Training or Certification for Free?

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Quick Definition: The EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Certification exam isn’t free. However, there are plenty of free study resources, scholarships, discounts, and bundles that can reduce the overall cost of obtaining the certification.  

Like most cybersecurity certifications, earning a CEH is at least partially a “business decision” because candidates are looking to get a return on their investment in the form of jobs, increased salary, or more knowledge. That means breaking down the overall cost of the cert — typically at least $1,050 — against the career benefits — like landing a DoD Cyber Workforce Framework (DCWF) job that recognizes EC-Council certifications — is important. 

This article will explore the costs and benefits of the CEH certification in detail, including some free resources you can use to help control the cost of earning this popular (and difficult) cybersecurity certification. It will focus specifically on the popular CEH ANSI exam, a 125-question multiple-choice exam, not the less popular CEH Practical exam. 

The EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Certification Cost and Benefits

Let’s begin our deep dive into the CEH by breaking down the cost vs. benefit of the certification. 

CEH Certification Cost

Frankly, getting a clear picture of the cost of a CEH exam is a bit tougher than with other certifications. The key variables to consider are:

• Your country 

• Using a Pearson Vue or an EC-Council location

• Whether you do an in-person or remote exam

• Whether your exam is bundled with EC-Council training or not

Here is a breakdown of costs in Q1 2024, using the US as a reference country:

Looking at these numbers, there are a few ways to slice up the costs that would put them under $1,300 without EC-Council training. For example, an EC-Council Exam Center voucher plus the application fee puts us at $1,050. A Pearson Vue voucher plus the application fee adds up to $1,299. 

Clearly, using recommended study materials and resources from the EC-Council drives up dollar costs. So, as you crunch the numbers, you’ll need to balance that against the cost of other training materials (e.g., books with practice exams or other third-party resources). In most cases, ensuring you have access to EC-Council's training materials or those of an authorized training partner is a good idea. 

EC-Council does not make its pass rates public but states they are typically between 60% and 80%. If you’re one of the 20% to 40% who may be in the market for a CEH exam retake and did not take EC-Council training, consider the $499 cost of the CEH Retake Exam Voucher—RPS and CEH Retake Exam Voucher—Pearson VUE, depending on your preferred testing location.

Remember to consider opportunity cost. The time it takes you to study for the CEH is time you could spend elsewhere. Sometimes, a CySA+ or a CCNA certification might be a better way to advance your career. But, if the $1,300 test helps you increase your salary by several thousand dollars, it may be worth the time and cost. 

CEH Certification Benefits

The CEH is a well-known cybersecurity certification that looks good on a resume for roles like security administrator, cybersecurity analyst, and network security engineer.

The EC-Council did an excellent job naming the certification: “Certified Ethical Hacker,” which sounds much cooler than many other IT certifications.  However, the CEH is more than just a cool name. It is ANSI-accredited to fulfill the requirements of ISO/IEC 17024:2012 and recognized as an active-duty qualification for six different Department of Defense (DoD) 8140 job roles. 

Additionally, there is good money in being an ethical hacker. According to Salary.com, the median salary for an ethical hacker in Lynchburg, Virginia, US — which we'll use as a reference since it was labeled the most average city in the US a few years back — is just under six figures at $99,439. 

How to Reduce the Cost of CEH Certification

There are several ways to reduce the cost of obtaining a Certified Ethical Hacker certification that can vary from person to person. Here are some tips to consider if you want to reduce costs:

• Watch out for sales: The EC-Council occasionally runs promotions that reduce the cost of EC-Council training. These may help you get training that comes with an exam at a reduced rate. For example, end-of-the-year and Cyber Security Awareness Month (October) discounts aren’t unheard of.

• Get someone else to pay for it: If school or work will foot the bill and you want to earn a CEH, this is a no-brainer. 

• Get scholarships: If you’re a student, look for scholarships from or related to the EC-Council. If you are a military veteran, check out the EC-Council Hero Scholarship. 

CEH  Certification Requirements  

CEH candidates have two options for fulfilling the CEH certification prerequisites:

1. Take an official training course from the EC-Council

2. Have two or more years of verified “information security experience”

Option one is straightforward but comes with the additional cost of an official training course. Verification for option two typically starts with this EC-Council exam eligibility form. To quote the EC-Council, experience in these nine domains is relevant:

1. Information Security and Ethical Hacking Overview

2. Reconnaissance Techniques

3. System Hacking Phases and Attack Techniques

4. Network and Perimeter Hacking

5. Web Application Hacking

6. Wireless Network Hacking

7. Mobile Platform, IoT, and OT Hacking

8. Cloud Computing

9. Cryptography

Applications are typically processed within ten working days, and approved applications have a three-month window to purchase an exam voucher. 

Unfortunately, this creates a challenge for early-career cybersecurity pros. If you’re later in your career or already have a cybersecurity job, the cost of training isn’t a big hurdle, and your employer may even cover it. But if you're early in your career journey, you’re probably not making as much money, and the additional cost of taking the official courses can be meaningful. 

3 Tips for CEH Exam Preparation 

As you prepare for the CEH exam, keep these tips in mind. 

1. Know the exam blueprint: The CEH exam blueprint outlines exactly what is on the test and the number of questions in each area. Understanding its scope will help you focus your energy efficiently. 

2. Get hands-on where you can: The value of learning by doing is tough to beat. Don’t just watch videos and read materials; get hands-on with ethical hacking tools and exercises as you go. 

3. Learn from others: You might be surprised by what you can learn on sources like GitHub and r/CEH on Reddit. While you'll need training from the EC-Council to pass, learning study tips and strategies from others can be helpful. 

CEH Certification Exam Details

The CEH Exam Blueprint v4.0 provides a good example of the content to expect on the 125-question exam. There are nine domains broken into 20 subdomains, and the blueprint even tells you the number of questions in each domain. Make sure you clearly understand each subdomain and focus your energy on improving in the areas that give you the most trouble.

Knowing the blueprint well will help you manage your time on test day. The exam is four hours long and uses multiple-choice scenario-based questions. The EC-Council website indicates that questions are rotated and carefully weighted.  

There is no one-size-fits-all passing score, but typically, the lowest passing score is between 65% and 80%. Remember, don’t spend too much time on one question on test day. 

Free CEH Certification Study Resources

Like many other certifications, the quality of free resources available to help you study for the CEH exam can vary greatly. Here are a few suggestions to help you get started without breaking the bank: 

• Take the EC-Council CEH Readiness Quiz- The EC-Council provides a free CEH readiness quiz to help you assess where you stand in CEH readiness. 

• Browse YouTube: There is a lot of CEH content on YouTube. What works best for you will depend on your learning style, experience, and approach to the exam. Verify any information or training that isn't coming from an official source.

Conclusion

The CEH can be a great addition to an IT pro's resume, but it isn’t cheap. Weigh the tradeoffs between earning this cert or focusing your energy elsewhere before you commit. Fortunately, if you decide the CEH is right for you, there are free resources that can help you control costs while still prepping for the exam. 

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