Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Cost
At a glance
- Exam fee
- $1,199
- Issuing body
- EC-Council
- Domain
- IT, cloud & cybersecurity
- Validity
- 3 years (ECE)
Informational only — not financial or career advice. Exam fees and certification requirements change, and the figures here are accurate only as of the listed verification date. Confirm the current fee and rules directly with the certifying body before you register or budget. We report the official-body exam fee for a single attempt; it excludes prep courses, materials and retakes, and is not the total cost of certifying.
The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) examination fee charged by EC-Council is $1,199 for a single attempt as of June 2026. This fee covers the exam administration only and does not include third-party training courses, study materials, practice tests, or retake examinations. Candidates seeking to retake the exam or pursue supplemental preparation resources should budget separately for those expenses. The current fee structure and any changes should be confirmed directly with EC-Council or its authorized testing partner before registration, as certification bodies adjust pricing periodically.
The CEH credential is commonly pursued by professionals in information security roles. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for information security analysts was $124,910. This figure represents the midpoint wage for the occupation and does not reflect guaranteed salary increases, hiring premiums, or individual earnings outcomes tied to certification. Prospective candidates should verify eligibility requirements, exam policies, and renewal obligations through EC-Council's official website.
Related pay (occupation median). The U.S. BLS reports a median annual wage of $124,910 (typically $69,660–$186,420 from the 10th to the 90th percentile) for Information Security Analysts, the occupation this certification most often targets. That is the occupation’s pay, not a guaranteed lift from the certificate — actual pay depends on role, employer, location and experience. Source: BLS OEWS national file.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Certification | Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) |
| Issuing body | EC-Council |
| Base exam fee | $1,199 |
| Fee notes | Pearson VUE $1,199 (or $950 EC-Council +$100 admin); training often required |
| Prerequisites | 2 yrs infosec experience OR official training |
| Validity / renewal | 3 years (ECE) |
What this fee does and doesn’t include
The figure here is the official-body exam fee for a single attempt. It does not include third-party training, prep courses, study materials, or retake fees — those are separate and vary by provider. Membership-tiered bodies may offer a lower member rate (noted above). Confirm the live fee on the issuer’s registration page before budgeting.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) exam?
Does this include a prep course?
Exam fee compiled from issuer’s registration page →, verified June 2026. How we compile this. Confirm the current fee before you pay — bodies re-price periodically.
Prerequisites & how to register → · Prep guide → · Compare IT, cloud & cybersecurity certs →