How to Get the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) ANSI Certification

Are you interested in learning how to get the CEH ANSI certification? You’re in the right place. In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive step-by-step guide to obtaining the CEH ANSI certification.

We cover everything from understanding what the certification is, CEH exam domains, the requirements, and the pricing. We will also discuss, in detail, how you can register and prepare for the exam, along with some important tips and frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Without further ado, let’s dig deep into understanding how to get CEH certification.

What Is the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Certification?

Let’s talk about CEH ANSI in more detail.

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) is an ANSI-accredited entry-level or foundational-level security certification offered by EC-Council and is designed for professionals who aspire to become ethical hackers, penetration testers, and IT security professionals. The CEH exam also earned College Credit Recommendations from the American Council on Education (ACE).

International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council) is an international body that provides certifications for cyber security professionals. It is responsible for certifying professionals in various areas of cyber security, such as ethical hacking, computer forensics, incident handling, and threat intelligence. The certifications awarded by the EC-Council are recognized and respected worldwide.

CEH certification covers nine specific domain areas in cyber security. Here are the domain areas and the corresponding skills you can learn by pursuing CEH certification:

CEH also provides hands-on knowledge on a wide range of security tools and techniques that are typically used in ethical hacking and IT security.

Establishes systems of good habits to achieve goals

• Information Security and Ethical Hacking Overview
• Introduction to Ethical Hacking
• Reconnaissance Techniques
• Footprinting and Reconnaissance
• Scanning Networks
• Enumeration
• System Hacking Phases and Attack Techniques
• Vulnerability Analysis
• System Hacking
• Malware Threats
• Network and Perimeter Hacking
• Sniffing
• Social Engineering
• Denial-of-Service
• Session Hijacking
• Evading IDS, Firewalls, and Honeypots
• Web Application Hacking
• Hacking Web Servers
• Hacking Web Applications
• SQL Injection
• Wireless Network Hacking
• Mobile Platform, IoT and OT Hacking
• Hacking Mobile Platforms
• IoT and OT Hacking
• Cloud Computing
• Cryptography

Are There Any Requirements?

Before attempting to pursue CEH ANSI examination, it is essential for the applicant to meet the eligibility criteria set by the EC-Council.

CEH ANSI exam eligibility criteria include:

1. Having at least two years of professional experience in the information security domain and demonstrating a sound understanding of security-related topics, (or)
2. Undergoing CEH training offered by EC-Council or by its Authorized Training Centers (ATC).

CEH Exam Price

If you wish to skip CEH training, then the following price may be applicable to attempt a CEH exam.

CEH Exam Price (without CEH Training)

• ECC exam at Pearson VUE Center voucher — $1199 USD
• ECC exam voucher — $950 USD

It is worth noting that all the applicants must apply for eligibility before purchasing an exam voucher. The voucher purchase link will be sent upon application approval. Note that all applicants must pay a $100 USD application fee, and if the application is not approved, it will not be refunded.

CEH Training Options

The other recommended option is to pursue CEH training courses.

CEH training includes 50% lecture and 50% hands-on labs that help improve your critical thinking and applied knowledge.

Training can be achieved either through iClass website (EC-Council’s official eLearning platform) or through the Authorized Training Centers (ATC) recognized by the EC-Council.

EC-Council offers CEH training through different options, which include Online Self-paced training, Online Live and instructor-led training (referred to as MasterClass), and On-demand (referred to as iLearn) training.

CEH course kits offered by EC-Council include the CEH Elite kit (Learn, Certify, Engage and Compete), the CEH Pro kit (Learn, Certify and Engage), and the regular CEH kit (Learn and Certify).

CEH Official Training Price

CEH Training and Self-Study Courseware Price

• CEH Courses: Varies from $2199 USD to $3499 USD based on the training method (this includes on-demand/in-person training cost, exam voucher, and exam retakes)
• CEH Printed Courseware: The self-paced study includes printed study material and lab manual — $2199 USD (does not include exam voucher)
• CEH eCourseware: The self-paced online study includes study material (digital courseware and digital lab manual) — $850 USD (does not include exam voucher)

How Do I Register?

Once you prove your eligibility, you can visit the EC-Council website and submit the form to register for the CEH exam and get certified. If you have completed the training through an authorized channel, they must provide a certificate of attendance (COA) before taking the exam.

If you have a COA, you can send it to [email protected]. Following application approval, you must purchase an exam voucher directly from EC-Council at store.eccouncil.org. You are encouraged to refer to the exam blueprint before registering for an exam.

Before the Exam

Once the application is approved, have three months to take the CEH examination either in-person in any Pearson VUE center or online remotely through the proctored method as per the chosen exam voucher.

The exam voucher will be invalid after the three-month time window. However, if you want to extend the validity of the exam voucher, you can write to [email protected] before the exam voucher expires and seek an extension of the validity of the CEH exam voucher.

It is important to understand that as CEH is an ANSI 12074 accredited exam, it undergoes rigorous external validation to establish and maintain its credibility and fairness. According to reviews from different entry-level and experienced IT security professionals, CEH is rated as a moderately difficult exam.

Once confident in the knowledge and skills acquired through training and preparation, you should schedule your CEH ANSI certification exam. It is essential to allocate sufficient time for revision and practice leading up to the exam date.

Here are some of the useful resources that can help you prepare for the CEH ANSI Exam:

• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Exam Cheat Sheet 2023
• Hacking Tools Cheat Sheet: The Complete Guide You Need
• The Very Best Books on Ethical Hacking for You in 2023

What Can I Expect on Exam Day?

On the day of the exam, you should arrive well-prepared and confident. The CEH ANSI certification exam is a rigorous test consisting of multiple-choice, scenario-based, and hands-on practical challenges.

CEH is not an open-book exam format, so it is crucial to read each question carefully, apply critical thinking, and determine the answers based on the knowledge gained throughout the preparation process.

CEH (ANSI) Exam Details:

• Exam Title: Certified Ethical Hacker (ANSI)
• Exam Code: 312–50 (ECC EXAM), 312–50 (VUE)
• Number of Questions: 125
• Test Format: Multiple Choice
• Duration: 4 Hours
• Exam Availability: ECC Exam or Pearson VUE
• Option 1: Local proctor for Private and in-person exam.
• Option 2: Live remote proctor for online Exam
• Passing Score: Ranges from 60% to 80%.
• Open Book Format: No

Exams administered by EC-Council are typically proctored. You may choose a proctor when testing through the ECC Exam Portal, or EC-Council may provide one remotely via ProctorU if You prefer.

In addition to helping administer the test, the proctor is also responsible to report any incidents or events that occur during the test session and is authorized by the EC-Council. Every candidate is assured a fair and valid test experience by the proctors, who are governed by the proctor agreement.

Note that you will get the result immediately after the completion of the exam. In addition, you will also receive a summary of your performance in different domain areas specified in CEH exam blueprint.

Exam Tips

Here are some important tips that can help you achieve your goal:

• Understand the exam objectives and exam blueprint
• Create a study plan and utilize official and expert-recommended study materials
• Practice with hands-on labs
• Join CEH study groups and forums
• Review previous exam questions and answers and take multiple mock tests and practice exams before appearing to the main exam
• Stay up-to-date with the latest threats and vulnerabilities
• Improve time management skills and stay relaxed and focused whenever necessary during the exam

What’s Next?

Jobs in the field of cyber security are in high demand, and obtaining the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) ANSI certification can significantly enhance your cyber security career prospects. With a CEH ANSI certification, you can target various job roles in the cyber security industry.

Some of the job opportunities you can explore include:

• Ethical Hacker
• Penetration Tester
• Incident Responder
• Vulnerability Assessment Analyst
• Security Analyst / Cyber Security Analyst / Information Security Analyst
• SOC Analyst
• Security Consultant / Cyber Security Consultant / Information Security Consultant
• Network Engineer
• Security Engineer
• Security Auditor
• Security Administrator

Maintaining the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification requires ongoing effort and dedication. By updating your EC-Council Continuing Education Credits (ECE) at the EC-Council Aspen Portal, you can keep your CEH certification active. In addition, you can seek additional information by writing to [email protected].

Upon passing CEH ANSI certification, you can also pursue other certifications like CEH Master or Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) to excel in your skills and knowledge in Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing. Our recent article CEH vs OSCP 2023: Which One Should You Pursue? can provide you with better insight and a detailed comparison between CEH and OSCP.

EC-Council’s exam policy allows you to retake the exam as soon as you are ready, if you should fail. CEH Elite course kits offer unlimited exam retakes. However, CEH Pro and CEH course kits offer three and one exam retakes, respectively.

According to the EC-Council’s latest courseware policy, every course kit offers at least one exam voucher and one exam retake voucher. In any other case, it is important that you will need to pay the exam fee again when you reapply for the exam. In addition, note that you can only attempt four exams in any year as per EC-Council’s exam policy.

Conclusion

We hope this “How to get CEH ANSI certification” article prepares you for this important cyber security certification. The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification is a globally recognized and respected certification that validates your skills and knowledge in ethical hacking and penetration testing. It demonstrates your proficiency in the wide range of fields in cyber security, making you valuable assets to any organization in the industry.

By following the step-by-step guide outlined in this article, you can effectively understand and prepare for the CEH ANSI certification exam and increase your chances of success. Remember, dedication, thorough preparation, and continuous learning are key to getting CEH certified and advancing in the field of cyber security. Last but not least, if you plan to take the CEH exam soon, we wish you all success.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does CEH certification cost?

A CEH exam voucher for Pearson VUE Center costs $1199 USD, and a CEH exam voucher for EC-Council proctored remote exam costs $950 USD. However, the CEH course price ranges from $2199 USD to $3499 USD based on the training method, not including exam cost.

Is CEH hard to pass?

According to the survey conducted by EC-Council, considering the reviews from different entry-level and experienced IT security professionals, CEH is rated as a moderately difficult exam.

Can I self-study for CEH?

Though you can self-study for CEH, it is always recommended to pursue CEH training courses to achieve structured knowledge and skills to succeed in the examination.

Does CEH require coding?

No, CEH does not require any coding skills.