CEH Exam Logistics & Current Version
CEH Exam Logistics & Current Version
Section titled “CEH Exam Logistics & Current Version”Date checked: 28 August 2026. All pricing in USD; verify on eccouncil.org before committing.
Version Status
Section titled “Version Status”CEH v13 is the current production version as of August 2026, launched by EC-Council on 23 September 2024 under Exam Blueprint v5.0 (effective April 2024). v12 is no longer sold; EC-Council retired v12 voucher sales in 2025 once v13 became the active version. v15 sits on the roadmap but has not launched. Existing v12 holders keep their credential valid through its original 3-year cycle and renew via ECE - they are not required to re-sit. The current exam code is 312-50 (v13); the Practical is 312-50 (Practical).
Source: https://www.eccouncil.org/cybersecurity-exchange/ethical-hacking/a-new-era-in-cybersecurity-announcing-ceh-v13/ Source: https://www.eccouncil.org/train-certify/certified-ethical-hacker-ceh/ Source: https://bilisimacademy.com/documents/CEHv13%20Version%20Change%20Document.pdf
Exam Format
Section titled “Exam Format”The CEH knowledge exam (312-50) is a 4-hour, 125-question multiple-choice-only proctored test. There are no scenario drag-and-drops, no labs, no essay items - only click-to-select on a single best answer. EC-Council runs multiple exam forms; each is psychometrically calibrated to its own cut score, so the passing percentage fluctuates between ~60% and ~85% depending on which form you draw. Treat 85% as the only safe target. The exam is ANAB ISO/IEC 17024 accredited and listed under US DoD 8140.
Delivery channels: Pearson VUE test centres, EC-Council Test Centers (ECC), and Remote Proctoring Services (RPS). Format and time are identical across channels. All candidates must agree to EC-Council’s NDA and Candidate Certification Agreement before launching.
Source: https://www.eccouncil.org/train-certify/certified-ethical-hacker-ceh/ Source: https://cert.eccouncil.org/images/doc/CEH-Handbook-v7.1.pdf Source: https://www.examcert.app/blog/ceh-passing-score/ Source: https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/eccouncil.html
Eligibility & Cost
Section titled “Eligibility & Cost”Two paths to eligibility (you pick one):
- Official training path - Complete an EC-Council ATC course (iLearn self-paced, iClass live online, or in-person). The exam voucher is included in the bundle; no work experience, no application fee, no background check.
- Self-study / experience path - Prove 2 years of information-security work experience, submit the Eligibility Application Form with resume and verifier contact, and pay a non-refundable $100 USD application fee to store.eccouncil.org. Approval takes 5-10 business days and is not guaranteed.
2026 pricing (USD, EC-Council Store):
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| CEH exam voucher - ECC Exam Center | $950 |
| CEH exam voucher - Pearson VUE | $1,199 |
| CEH exam voucher - RPS (remote) | $950 |
| Eligibility application fee (self-study only) | $100 |
| Retake voucher (after first fail) | $499 |
| Voucher extension (3 months / 12 months) | $49 / $99 |
| Voucher upgrade between channels (e.g. ECC→RPS, VUE→RPS) | $100 |
| iLearn (on-demand, single course) | from $1,699 |
| iClass (live online) | from $2,499 |
| iLearn Unlimited (all EC-Council courses) | from $3,999 |
| iLabs (standalone 6-month cyber range) | ~$199 |
| CEH Practical voucher | $550 ($275 discounted for CEH holders) |
Vouchers are valid 1 year from issue, non-refundable, non-transferable.
Source: https://store.eccouncil.org/product/ceh-vue-exam-voucher/ Source: https://store.eccouncil.org/product/ceh-ecc-exam-center-voucher/ Source: https://store.eccouncil.org/product/ceh-practical-exam/ Source: https://cert.eccouncil.org/images/doc/CEH-Handbook-v7.1.pdf Source: https://www.simplilearn.com/ceh-certification-cost-article
Registration
Section titled “Registration”You cannot book the exam until you hold an EC-Council eligibility number (sent with voucher code on approval). With that number, schedule at Pearson VUE (pearsonvue.com) for the test centre or RPS channel, or directly via the ECC Exam Portal for ECC centres / RPS. Appointments can be made in advance or on the day, subject to seat availability. RPS requires booking at least 3 days ahead; the Practical requires the same lead time. Bring government-issued photo ID matching your registration name.
Reschedule / cancel: Rescheduling and cancellation are handled through the channel you booked (Pearson VUE or EC-Council). Pearson VUE charges no fee if you reschedule ≥ 48 hours before the appointment; inside 48 hours the exam is forfeited. EC-Council vouchers themselves cannot be refunded once purchased - they can only be extended ($49 / $99) while still valid.
Retake policy: No waiting period for the 1st retake. A 14-day cooling-off applies for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th retake. Maximum 5 attempts per 12-month period; a 12-month lockout triggers on the 6th. A retake voucher costs $499. EC-Council recommends formal training after a 2nd consecutive fail.
Source: https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/eccouncil.html Source: https://aspen.eccouncil.org/Docs/UserGuides/Instructions-Eval,COA,Voucher.pdf Source: https://cert.eccouncil.org/images/doc/CEH-Handbook-v7.1.pdf
Recertification
Section titled “Recertification”CEH follows a rolling 3-year cycle governed by the EC-Council Continuing Education (ECE) scheme.
- 120 ECE credits every 3 years (~40/year, soft floor 20/year)
- $80 USD annual membership fee paid through the Aspen portal - this is what unlocks ECE submission
- Approved credit activities: training, conferences, webinars, whitepapers, books, teaching, related certifications, CTFs, relevant work
- Submit via the Aspen portal (aspen.eccouncil.org); EC-Council audits a share of members
- Miss the 3-year credit target → suspension (60-day grace); fix within 12 months or it becomes revocation requiring a full re-sit
- Skipping the $80 fee blocks you from submitting credits, so even perfect credit accumulation is inert without an active membership
- Alternative path: re-pass the current CEH exam (retake rules above) and your cycle resets
The renewal cost over a 3-year cycle is $240 in membership fees on top of any paid credit activities.
Source: https://eccouncil.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/206971906-What-is-EC-Council-Continuing-Education-Fees Source: https://www.examcert.app/blog/how-to-renew-ceh/ Source: https://practicetestgeeks.com/ceh/ceh-certification-renewal
Practical & Master
Section titled “Practical & Master”CEH Practical is a separate, 6-hour, 100% hands-on exam inside the EC-Council iLabs cyber range, delivered online via RPS. You face 20 real-world scenarios (network scanning, OS detection, vulnerability analysis, system/web/SQL/crypto attacks, steganography, sniffers, enumeration, cover tracks). No multiple choice. You pass by completing at least 14 of 20 challenges (70%). The voucher is $550; CEH-certified members get a $275 discounted voucher. The Aspen dashboard code is valid 1 year; book at least 3 days ahead.
CEH Master is the combined designation: pass both the 312-50 knowledge exam and the CEH Practical. There is no separate “Master” fee - it is conferred automatically once both credentials are on file. Master is the credential employers and DoD 8140 listings weight most heavily because it proves applied skill, not just MCQ recall.
Source: https://www.eccouncil.org/train-certify/certified-ethical-hacker-ceh-practical/ Source: https://www.eccouncil.org/train-certify/ceh-master/ Source: https://store.eccouncil.org/product/ceh-practical-exam/
Exam Day
Section titled “Exam Day”- Arrive 30 minutes early (test centre) or log in 30 minutes early (RPS) for ID + system check
- Bring government-issued photo ID matching your registration name exactly
- No personal items in the testing room: no phones, watches, bags, notes, food
- Beverages in any closed container are allowed; food is prohibited unless pre-approved as an accommodation
- Breaks: only if granted by the proctor - assume a 4-hour sitting
- You must click through and accept the EC-Council NDA + Candidate Certification Agreement before the first question
- Interaction is mouse-only click-and-drag; a 15-inch or larger monitor at 1024×768 minimum is required
- Automatic-fail triggers: photographing the exam, looking at another screen, talking/mumbling after warning, leaving the testing area unapproved, violating the NDA
- Item-challenge window: 3 calendar days after the exam via the Exam Feedback Form to certmanager@eccouncil.org - the exam is not re-scored, but flawed items are investigated
Accommodations: EC-Council grants special accommodations (extra time, screen magnifier, separate room) on written request with documentation. Apply through EC-Council Support before booking.
Source: https://cert.eccouncil.org/images/doc/CEH-Handbook-v7.1.pdf Source: https://www.infosecinstitute.com/resources/ceh/the-ceh-exam-application-process-rules-and-eligibility/
Geographic Availability & Regional Notes
Section titled “Geographic Availability & Regional Notes”CEH is delivered in 194+ countries through EC-Council’s ATC and Pearson VUE networks. It remains on the US DoD 8140 Cyber Workforce Qualification Program, which is why it stays a hiring checkbox for federal and cleared-contractor roles. Regional specifics:
- United States - Pearson VUE centres in every state plus military bases; DoD 8140 baseline. Standard $1,199 voucher.
- Singapore - Multiple Pearson VUE centres; Temasek Polytechnic runs an in-house CEH exam centre for SkillsFuture-funded cohorts. RPS available. Vouchers use ECC pricing.
- Malaysia - Pearson VUE centres in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor Bahru; RPS widely available. Vouchers standard USD.
- India, Middle East, SAARC, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Egypt (ASC) - All official bundles ship RPS (remote) vouchers only. Retake vouchers in these regions are also RPS-only. Upgrading an RPS retake to test-centre format costs an extra $100.
- Japan - Pearson VUE centres; CEH and CND offered in English and Japanese.
Source: https://www.eccouncil.org/train-certify/certified-ethical-hacker-ceh/ Source: https://www.tp.edu.sg/schools-and-courses/adult-learners/all-courses/skillsfuture-series/ec-council-certified-ethical-hacker.html Source: https://www.cybernous.com/apac/offensive-security-training/ Source: https://aspen.eccouncil.org/Docs/UserGuides/Instructions-Eval,COA,Voucher.pdf
v12 vs v13 Delta
Section titled “v12 vs v13 Delta”The exam mechanics are unchanged between v12 and v13: same 125 multiple-choice questions, 4 hours, 60-85% variable cut score, 9-domain blueprint. The deltas sit in content, lab count, and tooling.
| Dimension | CEH v12 | CEH v13 (current) |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2022 | 23 Sep 2024 |
| Exam code | 312-50v12 | 312-50v13 |
| Modules | 20 | 20 (same titles) |
| Blueprint version | v4 | v5.0 (Apr 2024) |
| Hands-on labs | ~200 | 221 live + iLabs cyber range |
| Hacking tools covered | ~3,500 | 4,000+ |
| Attack techniques | ~400 | 550+ |
| AI content | None | Woven through all 20 modules + dedicated AI tools |
| AI-specific add | - | ShellGPT integration, OWASP Top 10 for LLMs, AI malware, deepfake attacks |
| Active Directory exploitation | Limited | Added to Module 6 |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure/GCP + containers) | Basic | Expanded (Module 19) |
| Mobile (Android/iOS analysis) | Survey | Hands-on analysis (Module 17) |
| Web server depth (Apache/IIS/NGINX) | Light | Architecture + vuln + exploitation (Module 13) |
| Cryptography | Classical | Adds blockchain + quantum computing risk (Module 20) |
| Difficulty delta | Baseline | Roughly 10-15% more content; same exam format |
A v12 holder keeps their credential valid through its original 3-year cycle and renews via ECE. Re-sitting v13 only makes sense if the employer explicitly mandates the latest version or you want AI-attack content on the CV.
Source: https://bilisimacademy.com/documents/CEHv13%20Version%20Change%20Document.pdf Source: https://www.infosecinstitute.com/resources/ceh/the-ceh-v10-update-what-you-need-to-know/ Source: https://www.edoxi.com/studyhub-detail/ceh-v12-vs-ceh-v13 Source: https://www.macksofytrainings.com/ceh-v13-vs-ceh-v12-2026/
Sources
Section titled “Sources”- https://www.eccouncil.org/cybersecurity-exchange/ethical-hacking/a-new-era-in-cybersecurity-announcing-ceh-v13/ - EC-Council CEO blog, v13 launch (23 Sep 2024)
- https://www.eccouncil.org/train-certify/certified-ethical-hacker-ceh/ - Official CEH v13 program page
- https://cert.eccouncil.org/images/doc/CEH-Handbook-v7.1.pdf - EC-Council C|EH Candidate Handbook v7.1 (1 Jul 2025)
- https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/eccouncil.html - Pearson VUE EC-Council testing page
- https://store.eccouncil.org/product/ceh-vue-exam-voucher/ - EC-Council Store: Pearson VUE voucher $1,199
- https://store.eccouncil.org/product/ceh-ecc-exam-center-voucher/ - EC-Council Store: ECC Exam Center voucher $950
- https://store.eccouncil.org/product/ceh-practical-exam/ - EC-Council Store: CEH Practical $550
- https://www.eccouncil.org/train-certify/certified-ethical-hacker-ceh-practical/ - Official CEH Practical page
- https://www.eccouncil.org/train-certify/ceh-master/ - Official CEH Master page
- https://aspen.eccouncil.org/Docs/UserGuides/Instructions-Eval,COA,Voucher.pdf - Voucher upgrade, extension, and retake instructions
- https://eccouncil.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/206971906-What-is-EC-Council-Continuing-Education-Fees - EC-Council Continuing Education fees
- https://bilisimacademy.com/documents/CEHv13%20Version%20Change%20Document.pdf - EC-Council v13 version change document
- https://www.examcert.app/blog/ceh-passing-score/ - CEH passing score (60-85% per form)
- https://www.infosecinstitute.com/resources/ceh/the-ceh-v10-update-what-you-need-to-know/ - CEH v12→v13 evolution guide (15 Sep 2025)
- https://www.tp.edu.sg/schools-and-courses/adult-learners/all-courses/skillsfuture-series/ec-council-certified-ethical-hacker.html - Singapore Temasek Polytechnic CEH
- https://www.cybernous.com/apac/offensive-security-training/ - Singapore/Malaysia Pearson VUE/CEH availability (Jun 2026)
- https://www.macksofytrainings.com/ceh-v13-vs-ceh-v12-2026/ - v13 vs v12 comparison 2026
- https://www.simplilearn.com/ceh-certification-cost-article - CEH cost breakdown 2026
- https://www.examcert.app/blog/how-to-renew-ceh/ - CEH renewal step-by-step (Jun 2026)
- https://www.infosecinstitute.com/resources/ceh/the-ceh-exam-application-process-rules-and-eligibility/ - Exam-day rules and accommodations
File: C:\Project\isc2\ceh\research\01-exam-logistics.md
Word count: ~1,790 words
Top 3 sources: EC-Council C|EH Candidate Handbook v7.1 (primary, 1 Jul 2025); EC-Council official CEH v13 program page (eccouncil.org); EC-Council v13 Version Change Document (bilisimacademy.com PDF mirror).