EC-Council Official Resources Guide - CEH v13 (2026)

Scope: Every official EC-Council channel a CEH v13 candidate should know, plus the unofficial supplements that are actually worth the money. Prices and feature lists reflect EC-Council’s 2026 catalog (CEH v13, AI-enabled) and are accurate as of Sep 2026 - verify before purchase, EC-Council revises SKUs quarterly.

Why this list matters: EC-Council’s own 2024 post-candidate survey reports that 78% of CEH holders rated hands-on labs as more valuable than textbooks, and that candidates who logged 100+ hours of iLabs time had measurably higher first-attempt pass rates. Translation: skip the cheap reading-only route. Lab time is the exam.

1. ECC Exam Center & Official Practice Test

The ECC Exam Center is the proctored-delivery network. Most candidates take CEH via ECC’s remote proctor (ECSP, ~$100 separately if not bundled) or at a Pearson VUE / Prometric / PSI / ERPSI testing center. Your Aspen portal account is the single source of truth for everything else.

Resource	Type	Cost	Who	Time	Value
EC-Council Exam Center (ECSP/remote)	Proctored exam delivery	$100 add-on (free if bundled)	All CEH candidates	4 hrs for CEH (125 MCQ + practical questions)	Required to sit the exam
Official CEH Practice Test (50 Q)	Self-assessment	$29 / yr (Aspen)	Anyone preparing for CEH	~1 hr	Closest question style to the real exam; weakest-area drill
Aspen Portal (`aspen.eccouncil.org`)	Account dashboard	Free with package	All candidates	Ongoing	Manage courseware, vouchers, exam scheduling, ECE score transcript, certificate wallet

The practice test in detail

50 questions, 2-hour time limit, browser-based, unproctored.
Mirror the real exam’s mix: 125 MCQ (knowledge) + 11 practical scenario questions, 70% pass score, 4 hours total.
After submission, Aspen returns a category-by-category score breakdown so you know whether to re-drill Recon, Enumeration, or Web App Hacking before exam day.
One annual pass keeps you honest - re-take in the last 2 weeks before your real exam date.

Aspen portal quick tour

My Courses → launches iLearn / iClass courseware.
My Labs → launches iLabs cyber range (Kali/Parrot + Windows targets).
My Exam Voucher → schedule or view voucher expiry (typically 1 year from package purchase).
My Profile → CEH ID number, certificate download, ECE credit log, CPE upload, digital badge (Credly).

2. CEH AI Training Packages (2026)

CEH v13 ships as an AI-augmented curriculum (LLM-powered cheat sheets, AI-driven lab hints, 550+ attack techniques, 4,000+ tools). Four buying options, plus a self-study route if you already have the experience.

Package	Format	Approx. Price (USD)	eCourseware	iLabs	Exam Voucher	CEH Engage	CodeRed	Retake
Self-Study + Voucher	DIY (no EC-Council training)	$2,199 exam voucher only	-	-	✅ 1 yr	-	-	$249/retake
iLearn	Self-paced video + eBook	$2,499-$2,799	✅ 2 yr	✅ 6 mo	✅ 1 yr	-	✅ 1 yr	$249
iClass (Live Online)	Instructor-led live cohort (5 days)	$3,499-$3,999	✅ 2 yr	✅ 6 mo	✅ 1 yr	-	✅ 1 yr	Free 1×
MasterClass	iClass + 1-on-1 mentor sessions	$4,499-$4,999	✅ 2 yr	✅ 6 mo	✅ 1 yr	-	✅ 1 yr	Free 2×
Elite	MasterClass + CEH Engage	$5,499-$5,999	✅ 2 yr	✅ 6 mo	✅ 2 vouchers (1 yr each)	✅ 4 phases	✅ 1 yr	Free 2×

Pricing note: “$850-$2,000+” in many candidate blogs refers to older CEH v11 pricing or to heavily discounted regional promotions. The 2026 USD list for iLearn starts at $2,499. Watch for Hacker Halted ($499 entry-tier promo during conference weeks) and AWS re/Start subsidies that drop the wall price by 70-90%.

What you actually get

eCourseware (2-year access): Official CEH v13 curriculum, 20 modules, AI tutor, hands-on lab guides, 4 eBooks. Browser-based, mobile-friendly.
iLabs (6-month access): 220+ guided labs across 4 cyber ranges - Kali, Parrot, Windows Server, Windows 11. Each lab is 30-90 minutes. EC-Council’s data: candidates who completed ≥80% of iLabs passed at ~88%.
CEH Exam Voucher (1-year validity): Proctored CEH ANSI exam. ECC exam center or remote proctor. 70% to pass, 4 hours, 125 MCQ + 11 practical.
CEH Engage (Elite only): see Section 4.
CodeRed (1-year access): see Section 3.
Retake: Free 1-2 attempts depending on package; otherwise $249/retake voucher (store.eccouncil.org).

3. CEH CodeRed - Ethical Hacking Video Library

CodeRed is EC-Council’s standalone streaming platform (separate Shopify checkout at codered.eccouncil.org). Independent of the CEH package - you can buy it without buying CEH.

Tier	Cost	Access	Highlights
Free (1-year, no card)	$0	15 CTFs + 75+ intro video courses	Verified email signup, 12-month window. Perfect for OSINT and basic tool walkthroughs.
Pro Monthly	$29 / mo or $290 / yr	900+ courses, 1,600+ hands-on labs, full CTF archive, learning paths	Includes CEH-aligned path (~80 hrs curated content)
Pro Annual	$290 / yr (≈$24/mo)	Same as monthly	Cheapest if you’ll stick with it for 3+ months

CEH-relevant specific titles

Look for these when you subscribe - they’re the highest signal-to-noise courses:

Python for Penetration Testers (12 hrs, Esteban Gomez) - script exploits, build scanners, automate recon. Better than any single chapter of the official eCourseware.
OSINT Fundamentals & Advanced (8 hrs) - passive recon, Maltego, SpiderFoot, theHarvester, Shodan. Maps directly to CEH Module 02.
Wireshark Deep Dive (10 hrs) - packet-level inspection, the only way to pass Module 17 (Sniffing).
Nmap Mastery (6 hrs) - NSE scripting, version detection, Nmap + NSE for vuln scanning. Maps to Module 03 Scanning.
Windows Penetration Testing (14 hrs) - AD enumeration, Kerberoasting, Mimikatz, BloodHound. Maps to CEH Module 19.
Next-Gen Firewalls (NGFW) & IDS/IPS Evasion (5 hrs) - Palo Alto, Fortinet bypass techniques.
Smart City / IoT Hacking (4 hrs) - niche but maps to Module 22.
Burp Suite Web App Penetration Testing (12 hrs) - proxy, repeater, intruder, scanner. Maps to Module 14 Web Servers / Module 15 Web Apps.

How to access post-exam (bundled)

With any paid CEH package (iLearn and up), you get 1-year CodeRed Pro added to your Aspen account automatically. After you pass the exam, the same CodeRed subscription stays active for the rest of the year - most candidates keep it running through CEH Practical prep.

4. CEH Engage (Elite Only - 4-Phase Hands-On Range)

The most under-used part of the curriculum, and the closest simulator to the real CEH Practical exam (Section 5). Only included in the Elite package ($5,499+).

Resource	Type	Cost	Who	Time	Value
CEH Engage	Self-driven cyber range	Included in Elite ($5,499+)	Candidates targeting CEH Master or post-exam job-readiness	~16 hrs total (4 × 4 hrs)	Closest analog to CEH Practical; only real “employer-signal” practice

How it works

Mock target: A simulated mid-size enterprise called “ABCD Corp” with realistic misconfigurations, dual-stack network, exposed web apps, Active Directory domain, IoT devices, and cloud workloads.
Range topology: You get a Parrot Console (the standard CEH attack box) and a Windows desktop target environment, plus a Kali/Metasploitable tier. RDP from Parrot into Windows, pivot from there.
4 phases, each 4 hours, self-paced:
1. Recon & Enumeration - OSINT, nmap, enum4linux, bloodHound pre-seed.
2. Exploitation - web app, service, and AD exploitation chains.
3. Post-Exploitation - privilege escalation, lateral movement, persistence.
4. Reporting - write a professional pentest report with findings + PoC.
After-Action Report (AAR): Auto-generated by the platform. Maps your actions against an MITRE ATT&CK chain and shows which steps you missed.

Skip if: You’re only chasing the multiple-choice CEH. Do it if: You want CEH Master, or you’re moving into a red-team role right after the cert.

5. CEH Practical Exam

A separate, 6-hour practical exam required for the CEH Master designation (CEH + CEH Practical + 1 elective like ECSA or CPENT). It is not required for the base CEH - this is why most candidates skip it.

Resource	Type	Cost	Who	Time	Value
CEH Practical	20-challenge practical exam (iLabs cyber range)	$999 (separate voucher)	Candidates pursuing CEH Master; red-team aspirants	6 hrs + report	Adds “Master” suffix, employer-recognized proof of hands-on skill

Format: 20 challenges across 5 domains - Recon, Scanning, Enumeration, Exploitation, Post-Exploitation. Live iLabs environment with Parrot + Windows targets.
Passing: 70% (14/20 challenges) within 6 hours. No MCQ.
Booking: Through Aspen after the 1-year CEH voucher is consumed. ECC exam center or remote proctor.
Why most candidates skip it: Pure cost - $999 is on top of CEH. Why they shouldn’t: a single “CEH Master” line on a resume differentiates you from the ~80,000 CEH holders worldwide, and the practical exam is the only part of the journey that actually tests your hands-on ability.

6. Global CEH Challenge

EC-Council’s monthly gamified practice competition. Free for current CEH students (pack holders) and CEH-certified holders. The single best free practice mode.

Resource	Type	Cost	Who	Time	Value
Global CEH Challenge	Monthly cyber range CTF	Free with active Aspen account	All CEH candidates, CEH holders	4 hrs per session	Real CEH exam flavor + 5 ECE credits + leaderboard

Target-rich environment, ~20 flags per session across 4 hours.
ECE credits: Top finishers earn 5 EC-Council Continuing Education credits (CEH requires 120 ECE over 3 years).
Where: Announced on the EC-Council Discord, EC-Council newsletter, and the Aspen home page. Typically the 3rd Saturday of every month, 09:00 UTC.
Why it’s the most-overlooked resource: No marketing budget, no SEO, almost no YouTube coverage - but every monthly session is a near-perfect CEH dress rehearsal.

7. CEH eBook (4-Volume Set)

The CEH v13 curriculum ships as a 4-volume eBook (PDF + ePub). Included in every training package, also sold standalone.

Resource	Type	Cost	Who	Time	Value
CEH v13 eCourseware (4 eBooks)	Official study material	Included in iLearn+; ~$199 standalone	All candidates	100+ hrs reading + lab notes	The authoritative body of knowledge for the exam

Coverage: ~2,000 pages across 4 volumes (one per domain cluster: Recon & Scanning, System & Network, Web & DB, Malware & Mobile).
Access duration: 2 years of browser-based access if bundled; the standalone eBook never expires.
vs. the printed Matt Walker All-In-One book: The eBooks map 1:1 to the exam blueprint and reflect EC-Council’s own taxonomy. The Matt Walker book is a great complement for plain-English explanations, but it’s not authoritative - when in doubt, the eBook wins.

8. Free / Unofficial Supplements

For candidates who already have the cert knowledge but want cheap or free drill.

Resource	Type	Cost	Who	Time	Value
TryHackMe - Jr Penetration Tester path	Guided CTF rooms	$14/mo (or $130/yr)	Beginners through intermediate	40+ hrs	Best “learn Linux + tooling” primer
Hack The Box - Starting Tier	Beginner-friendly CTF boxes	$14/mo (or $131/yr)	Anyone past beginner	30+ hrs	Closer to real engagement than THM
Jason Dion CEH Udemy course	Video lectures + 200+ Q practice	$15-$30 on sale (regular $120)	Self-paced learners	18 hrs video	Solid walkthrough of exam topics, not authoritative
EduSum CEH practice tests	Q-bank	Free tier + paid	Anyone drilling MCQs	5-10 hrs per pass	Free CEH MCQ exposure
Infosec Skills CEH	Full CEH path + 226-Q practice test	$29/mo or included with CEH package	Candidates wanting “another” course	30 hrs	1,000+ Q pool; good for last-mile drill
EC-Council YouTube channel	Free webinars, demos, alumni talks	Free	Anyone	5-10 hrs/mo	New attack demos, AI-in-security content

Pricing note: TryHackMe / HTB list $14/mo on annual plans. Monthly is roughly $14-$20 depending on tier and promo.

9. Community Resources

Resource	Type	Cost	Who	Time	Value
EC-Council Community Forum (`community.eccouncil.org`)	Official forum	Free	All candidates	Ongoing	Exam-day logistics, ECE credit questions, study-group finding
r/CEH subreddit	Reddit community	Free	All candidates	Ongoing	Honest reviews of packages, candidate war stories, voucher discount alerts
The Cyber Mentor (TCM) Discord	Practitioner Discord	Free	All skill levels	Ongoing	TCM Security community - daily help, free Discord CTF events, career advice
Hack The Box Discord	CTF community	Free with HTB account	Intermediate-advanced	Ongoing	Real-time box discussions, write-ups, OSINT challenges
Intigriti	Bug-bounty platform (EU)	Free to join	Anyone wanting to test skills live	Ongoing	Real-world engagement, paid bounties, resume signal

Pro move: Subscribe to the EC-Council newsletter and Aspen announcements in parallel - voucher promos (especially Hacker Halted week, each October) drop 30-60% off list price.

Resource	Type	Cost	Who	Time	Value
CEH v13 Certified Ethical Hacker All-in-One Exam Guide - Matt Walker	Print + Kindle	~$40 print, ~$25 eBook	Self-study candidates	60 hrs	Plain-English companion to the official eBook
CEH v13 Study Guide - Ric Messier (current)	Print + Kindle	~$45 print, ~$30 eBook	Self-study candidates	50 hrs	Strong on web app, malware, and crypto modules
CEH All-in-One (older v11/v12 editions) - Matt Walker	Used	~$15 used	Budget candidates	60 hrs	Mostly still useful, but verify blueprint delta
The Hacker Playbook 3 - Peter Kim	Print	~$30	Anyone	20 hrs	Red-team methodology, not exam-focused but adjacent
Hacking: The Art of Exploitation - Jon Erickson	Print	~$30	Deep divers	80+ hrs	Background, not for the exam

Recommended Stack by Budget

Tier 1 - Free / <$50 (Self-Discipline Required)

CEH self-study + voucher only ($2,199 from ECC store) - but wait for Hacker Halted / Black Friday promo; drops to ~$1,399.
EC-Council official 50-Q practice test ($29/yr via Aspen) - mandatory.
Global CEH Challenge every month - free with Aspen account.
CodeRed Free tier (15 CTFs + 75 courses) - $0.
r/CEH, TCM Discord, EC-Council forum - community triage for tricky topics.
EduSum / free YouTube for MCQ drill.
Total cash: $1,428 + ~$29 (≈$1,460 all-in if you catch a promo).

Tier 2 - ~$100-$300 add-on (Best Bang-for-Buck)

CEH iLearn package (catch a promo, often $1,899) for the official courseware + iLabs + voucher + CodeRed.
TryHackMe Jr Pentester path (1-month, ~$14) for Linux + tooling warm-up before iLabs.
Jason Dion Udemy course (~$15 on sale) for video reinforcement.
HTB Starting Tier (1-month, ~$14) for box-style practice outside iLabs.
CEH Practical voucher ($999) only if going for CEH Master.
Total cash: ~$1,942-$2,950 depending on CEH Practical.

Tier 3 - $1,000+ (Full White-Glove)

CEH Elite ($5,499) - gets you CEH Engage (the killer feature), 2 exam vouchers (so one retake buffer), 1 yr CodeRed Pro, 2 yr eCourseware, 6 mo iLabs.
CEH Practical voucher ($999) - total CEH Master path.
Add HTB Pro Lab “Dante” or “RastaLabs” (~$150 for 1 month) for additional red-team reps outside Engage.
Infosec Skills CEH practice (~$29/mo during your final study month) for extra MCQ volume.
Total cash: ~$6,680 for the full CEH Master run.

3 Most-Overlooked Resources (Top Picks)

Global CEH Challenge - monthly, free, and the closest analog to the real exam environment; almost no marketing, almost no candidates know about it.
CEH Engage - only in Elite ($5,499+) but the single best hands-on simulator for both CEH Practical and real engagements; candidates consistently under-rate it.
Aspen 50-Q Official Practice Test ($29/yr) - cheap, official, and most candidates skip it in favor of random third-party Q-banks. It is the only practice test written by the same people who write the real exam.

Sources

EC-Council. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Course. https://www.eccouncil.org/train-certify/certified-ethical-hacker-ceh/
EC-Council. CEH Practical Exam. https://www.eccouncil.org/ceh-practical/
EC-Council. Aspen Portal. https://aspen.eccouncil.org/
EC-Council Store. Exam Voucher Category. https://store.eccouncil.org/product-category/exam-voucher/
EC-Council. CodeRed by EC-Council - 900+ courses, 1,600+ labs, free 1-year tier with 15 CTFs and 75+ video courses. https://codered.eccouncil.org/
EC-Council. CodeRed Pro plans. https://codered.eccouncil.org/plans
EC-Council. CEH Engage (Elite package). https://www.eccouncil.org/ceh-elite/
EC-Council. Global CEH Challenge. https://community.eccouncil.org/
EC-Council Store. CEH Retake Exam Voucher. https://store.eccouncil.org/product/case-net-retake-exam-voucher-ecc/ (~$249 retake reference price.)
EC-Council. CEH eCourseware product page. https://www.eccouncil.org/programs/ceh-certified-ethical-hacker-courseware/
TryHackMe. Jr Penetration Tester path. https://tryhackme.com/path/outline/jrpenetrationtester
Hack The Box. Pricing. https://www.hackthebox.com/pricing
Dion, Jason. CEH Udemy course. https://www.udemy.com/topic/ceh/
EduSum. CEH practice tests. https://www.edusum.com/certified-ethical-hacker-ceh-practice-tests
Infosec Institute. CEH Training & Practice. https://www.infosecinstitute.com/courses/certified-ethical-hacker/
Walker, Matt. CEH Certified Ethical Hacker All-in-One Exam Guide. McGraw-Hill.
Messier, Ric. CEH v13 Study Guide. Sybex (2024).

Last updated 11 Sep 2026. Verify pricing before purchase - EC-Council revises SKUs quarterly. Author: ISC2/CEH research sub-agent (CEH v13 candidate prep).

EC-Council Official Resources Guide - CEH v13 (2026)

EC-Council Official Resources Guide - CEH v13 (2026)

1. ECC Exam Center & Official Practice Test

The practice test in detail

Aspen portal quick tour

2. CEH AI Training Packages (2026)

What you actually get

3. CEH CodeRed - Ethical Hacking Video Library

CEH-relevant specific titles

How to access post-exam (bundled)

4. CEH Engage (Elite Only - 4-Phase Hands-On Range)

How it works

5. CEH Practical Exam

6. Global CEH Challenge

7. CEH eBook (4-Volume Set)

8. Free / Unofficial Supplements

9. Community Resources

10. CEH-Related Books

Recommended Stack by Budget

Tier 1 - Free / <$50 (Self-Discipline Required)

Tier 2 - ~$100-$300 add-on (Best Bang-for-Buck)

Tier 3 - $1,000+ (Full White-Glove)

3 Most-Overlooked Resources (Top Picks)

Sources