CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$950-$1199
Provider
EC-Council
Validity
3 years
Available
Global
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
1-3 years of hands-on experience recommended
Specific Requirements
- Route one: attend official EC-Council training through iClass, an Authorized Training Center or an EC-Council Academia Partner. The USD 100 application fee is included in the training price and no separate eligibility application is needed.
- Route two: a minimum of two years of documented work experience in the information security domain, submitted with the eligibility application and a non-refundable USD 100 fee.
- Route three: holding a legacy Certified Ethical Hacker certification from version 1 to version 7, which waives the application fee.
- There is no degree requirement and no mandatory prior certification.
- Minors cannot sit an EC-Council exam without written consent from a parent or legal guardian plus a supporting letter from a nationally accredited institution of learning.
- Practical readiness that EC-Council assumes rather than requires: TCP/IP and subnetting, Windows and Linux command line, basic HTTP and HTML, and comfort running a virtual machine lab.
- An approved eligibility application is valid for 3 months, and an exam voucher is valid for 1 year from release.
Number of Questions
125 multiple-choice questions
Duration
4 hours (240 minutes)
Question Format
Single-best-answer multiple choice, Scenario questions that name a tool and ask for its output or purpose, Methodology-ordering questions that ask which phase comes next, Countermeasure questions that ask for the correct defensive control, Command and flag recognition, for example Nmap scan types and Metasploit module paths
Passing Requirement
Varies by exam form, from 60 percent to 85 percent. EC-Council does not disclose which form you will receive before you sit.
How It Is Delivered
Exam code 312-50, delivered through the ECC Exam Centre portal or at Pearson VUE test centers. EC-Council states all of its exams can also be proctored remotely. A voucher upgrade between ECC Exam, Pearson VUE and remote proctoring costs USD 100 in the EC-Council store.
Languages Offered
EC-Council delivers and documents the 312-50 exam in English. It does not publish a list of additional exam languages for 312-50 on cert.eccouncil.org, so treat any other language claim as unconfirmed until your test center states it in writing.
Visit the official EC-Council certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
Score Scale
Percentage of weighted points earned across 125 questions, compared against a cut score that is set separately for each exam form. The published cut score band is 60 percent to 85 percent.
Score You Need
Varies by exam form, from 60 percent to 85 percent. EC-Council does not disclose which form you will receive before you sit.
How It Is Calculated
Each question carries a difficulty rating assigned during beta testing with a sample group under a committee of subject matter experts. Individual ratings aggregate into a cumulative cut score for that form, which is why forms differ. Scoring is compensatory: the total score decides pass or fail, and you can score poorly in one domain and still pass. There is no negative marking, so a wrong answer costs the same as a blank.
When You Get Results
Pass or fail status is shown within a few minutes of submitting the exam. A printed report gives the overall result plus per-subject-area performance feedback, and the exam transcript showing both your cut score and your achieved score is available immediately. EC-Council does not disclose which individual questions were answered incorrectly.
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)?
Route one: attend official EC-Council training through iClass, an Authorized Training Center or an EC-Council Academia Partner. The USD 100 application fee is included in the training price and no separate eligibility application is needed.. Route two: a minimum of two years of documented work experience in the information security domain, submitted with the eligibility application and a non-refundable USD 100 fee.. Route three: holding a legacy Certified Ethical Hacker certification from version 1 to version 7, which waives the application fee.. There is no degree requirement and no mandatory prior certification.. Minors cannot sit an EC-Council exam without written consent from a parent or legal guardian plus a supporting letter from a nationally accredited institution of learning.. Practical readiness that EC-Council assumes rather than requires: TCP/IP and subnetting, Windows and Linux command line, basic HTTP and HTML, and comfort running a virtual machine lab.. An approved eligibility application is valid for 3 months, and an exam voucher is valid for 1 year from release..
How much does the CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) cost?
The CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) exam costs $950-$1199. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)?
Visit the official EC-Council certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
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