CEH Certification in India: Cost, Eligibility and Career Value

Last updated: 8 October 2026 · By the Asuraa Team

Quick answer: CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) is EC-Council's ethical hacking certification. The 312-50 exam has 125 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours, with a cut score between 60% and 85% depending on the exam form. You are eligible through official EC-Council training or with two years of verified security experience plus a USD 100 application fee. As of October 2026, renewal needs 120 credits every three years.

Key takeaways

• The CEH knowledge exam (312-50) has 125 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours, with a cut score between 60% and 85% depending on the exam form.
• You are eligible for CEH through official EC-Council training, or with two years of verifiable information security experience and a non-refundable USD 100 application fee.
• The optional CEH Practical has 20 challenges over 6 hours, and passing both exams earns CEH (Master).
• EC-Council certifications are valid for three years, and CEH needs 120 continuing education credits in that period plus an annual fee, listed at USD 80 as of October 2026.
• A candidate can attempt the CEH exam at most five times in 12 months, with a 14-day wait from the second retake onwards.

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) from EC-Council is the ethical hacking certification Indian employers name most often, especially in listings for VAPT, SOC and security consulting roles. It is also expensive and draws plenty of criticism. This guide explains the two ways to become eligible, what the exam involves, what it costs to get and to keep, and when it is worth the money for an Indian job seeker.

What is the CEH certification?

CEH is EC-Council's certification in ethical hacking. It tests whether you understand the tools and techniques attackers use, and how to use them legally to find and fix weaknesses. The current version is CEH v13. EC-Council says it has 20 modules covering more than 550 attack techniques, and it adds AI throughout, from AI-assisted reconnaissance to attacks on AI systems (EC-Council).

CEH has two exams:

• CEH (knowledge exam, code 312-50): the multiple-choice exam that earns you the CEH certification.
• CEH Practical: an optional hands-on exam. If you pass both, you earn CEH (Master).

What is the CEH exam pattern?

The CEH knowledge exam has 125 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours. The pass mark is not fixed: depending on which exam form you get, the cut score falls between 60% and 85%.

Sources: EC-Council CEH page, CEH exam information.

EC-Council sets a separate cut score for each exam form, based on how hard its questions are rated. That is why it gives a range rather than one pass mark. Remote proctored sessions must be booked at least three days in advance, and you need a working system, a photo ID and a valid voucher.

Who is eligible for CEH in India?

You are eligible for CEH if you complete official EC-Council training, have at least two years of verifiable information security work experience, or already hold an active CEH from versions 1 to 7. These rules apply worldwide, including in India (EC-Council eligibility).

How the experience route works:

1. Submit the eligibility application and pay the USD 100 fee.
2. EC-Council contacts the verifiers you name. It usually decides within 5 to 10 working days after they respond.
3. Once approved, you have 90 days to buy the exam voucher.
4. You then have 12 months from purchase to schedule and take the exam.

Most Indian freshers do not have two years of security experience, so for them the practical choice is official training from an ATC. That is the main reason CEH costs freshers much more than certifications such as Security+.

How much does CEH cost in India?

CEH is usually bought as a training package that includes the exam. EC-Council's global list prices for v13 training start at USD 1,699 for single on-demand access and USD 2,499 for live online training (EC-Council). EC-Council says prices vary by region and format, so ask an EC-Council advisor or an Indian ATC for a written rupee quote before you pay.

Costs to plan for:

• Training and exam package: the largest cost. Check whether retakes are included, because EC-Council says some packages include free retakes.
• Eligibility application: USD 100 if you use the experience route instead of training.
• Retakes: your first retake has no waiting period. Each one after that needs a 14-day gap, and you can attempt the exam at most five times in 12 months (retake policy).
• Keeping it active: an annual continuing education fee, covered in the next section.

How do you renew CEH?

CEH is valid for three years. To renew it, you earn 120 EC-Council Continuing Education (ECE) credits within that period and pay an annual fee. As of October 2026, EC-Council's ECE policy lists the annual fee as USD 80 for members holding at least one certification under the scheme.

If you miss the credit requirement, your certification is suspended. You then have 12 months to catch up and pay. If you don't, the certification is revoked and you must pass the exam again. Over three years, the annual fees add up to a real cost, so include them when comparing CEH with other certifications.

Is CEH worth it for cybersecurity jobs in India?

CEH is worth it when the job listings you are targeting ask for it by name, which many Indian VAPT, security consulting and government-linked roles do. It is not a substitute for hands-on skill. Its strengths:

• It is well recognised by recruiters, so it helps your resume get past screening.
• It has formal accreditation. EC-Council says CEH is accredited by ANAB to ISO/IEC 17024 and approved under US DoD Directive 8140 for several cyber roles. That matters for clients and employers who require recognised certifications.
• The structured syllabus covers many attack areas in one programme.

Its weaknesses:

• High cost for freshers, because without two years of experience you need official training.
• The knowledge exam is multiple choice. Employers increasingly test practical ability. The optional CEH Practical, and your own lab work, matter for that.

If you are building from scratch, CompTIA Security+ is a cheaper vendor-neutral foundation, and you can add CEH later for offensive security roles. See the cybersecurity career roadmap for India for how the two fit together.

What do most guides on CEH certification get wrong?

Most guides present CEH as a job guarantee, or treat the exam fee as the full cost. Corrections:

• There is no single pass mark. The cut score depends on the exam form, between 60% and 85%. A guide that quotes one fixed pass mark is oversimplifying.
• Freshers cannot simply book the exam. Without two years of security experience, you need official training, and that drives up the cost.
• CEH is not permanent. It needs 120 ECE credits every three years plus an annual fee, or it is suspended and then revoked.
• CEH and CEH Master are different credentials. Passing only the multiple-choice exam gives you CEH. Master also requires the 6-hour practical exam.

How should you prepare for CEH?

Prepare by doing the attacks, not just reading about them. A practical sequence:

1. Learn networking and Linux first. Our guide to Linux skills for IT jobs covers the basics.
2. Choose your eligibility route. For most freshers, that means comparing official training quotes from Indian ATCs.
3. Do every lab in your course, and repeat the reconnaissance, scanning, web application and SQL injection labs until you can do them without notes.
4. Build a home lab with deliberately vulnerable virtual machines, and only test systems you own or have written permission to test.
5. Take timed practice tests of 125 questions in 4 hours to build exam stamina.
6. Consider the CEH Practical if you are targeting VAPT roles, because it gives interviewers evidence of hands-on skill.

Before interviews, go through our cybersecurity engineer interview questions to practise explaining your lab work.

FAQ

What is the eligibility for CEH in India?

EC-Council's eligibility rules are the same worldwide. You qualify by completing official training from EC-Council or an Accredited Training Centre, or by showing at least two years of verifiable information security experience and paying a non-refundable USD 100 application fee. Holders of an active CEH from versions 1 to 7 can have the fee waived.

How many questions are in the CEH exam?

The CEH knowledge exam, code 312-50, has 125 multiple-choice questions to answer in 4 hours. It is not open book. The optional CEH Practical is separate: 20 hands-on challenges over 6 hours in EC-Council's iLabs Cyber Range. Passing both earns you the CEH (Master) credential, which signals hands-on skill to employers.

What is the passing score for CEH?

CEH has no single fixed pass mark. EC-Council sets a cut score for each exam form based on how difficult its questions are rated, and these range from 60% to 85%. The cut score you need depends on the form you receive, so aim to score comfortably above 85% in practice tests.

How much does CEH cost in India?

EC-Council lists global CEH v13 training starting at USD 1,699 for on-demand access and USD 2,499 for live online training, and says prices vary by region. Get a written rupee quote from EC-Council or an Indian Accredited Training Centre, and check whether the exam voucher and retakes are included before you pay.

How do I renew CEH?

CEH is valid for three years. To renew it, you earn 120 EC-Council Continuing Education credits in that period and pay the annual continuing education fee, listed at USD 80 as of October 2026. If you fall short, the certification is suspended. If you don't catch up within 12 months, it is revoked.

Is CEH good for freshers in India?

It can help if the jobs you are targeting ask for it, especially VAPT and security consulting roles. Without two years of experience, though, freshers need official training, which makes it expensive. Many start with a cheaper foundation such as Security+, build hands-on lab skills, and add CEH later.

Final thoughts

CEH opens doors in India when the roles you want ask for it, but its cost and renewal rules mean you should choose it on purpose. Get a rupee quote, build real lab skills alongside it, then look for VAPT and SOC openings on Asuraa Jobs.