CEH Certification Cost in the USA: $1,199 Official vs Discounted Vouchers

The Certified Ethical Hacker certification from EC-Council has been one of the most recognised cybersecurity credentials in corporate and government settings for over two decades. CEH v13, the current version, launched in late 2024 and incorporates AI-assisted attack and defence techniques alongside the traditional ethical hacking domains. The exam price, however, is one of the highest in the certification market — and there is a significant gap between the official retail price and what resellers charge.

Official CEH v13 exam price in the USA

EC-Council sells the CEH v13 exam voucher through their official store at $1,199 USD. This is the standalone exam price with no training included. EC-Council also sells the exam bundled with their official training courseware (EC-Council iLearn) at significantly higher prices — typically $3,000 to $5,000 depending on the delivery format. The exam alone at $1,199 is what most candidates who study independently or through third-party training providers purchase.

Can you buy CEH vouchers at a discount?

Yes. Several authorised resellers purchase CEH exam vouchers in volume from EC-Council and sell them at a discount. Reseller prices for CEH v13 range from $440 to $550 as of mid-2026 — representing savings of 54% to 63% versus the official $1,199 price. The voucher code redeems on the same EC-Council portal and is functionally identical to one purchased at full price. The key qualification is buying from a verifiable business with a guaranteed refund policy for invalid codes.

CEH v13 exam format

CEH v13 is a four-hour, 125-question multiple-choice exam. Questions are drawn from 20 domains covering the full ethical hacking methodology: from footprinting and scanning through exploitation, post-exploitation, and reporting. The pass threshold is 70%, which means you need to answer at least 88 questions correctly. Compared to the eJPT or OSCP, which are practical exams, CEH is knowledge-based — you need to recognise techniques and tools, not necessarily execute them. This makes it more accessible to candidates who have broad theoretical knowledge but less hands-on lab experience.

Is CEH worth $1,199 — or even $440?

CEH is polarising in the security community. In government, defence, and large corporate environments — particularly those with HR departments that screen certifications by name — CEH carries real weight. It appears in job descriptions across US federal agencies, financial institutions, and healthcare organisations. In the penetration testing practitioner community, it is viewed more sceptically: the multiple-choice format does not test whether you can actually exploit a system, and OSCP or eJPT are preferred as evidence of practical skill.

Whether it is worth the cost depends on your career target. For a corporate security analyst or compliance-adjacent role, CEH is recognised and may be required or expected. For a red team or offensive security role, the same budget spent on eJPT and saving toward OSCP is a more direct route to the job. Both views are correct for different hiring contexts.

Alternatives worth considering at a similar price

• CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-003) — $199 at CyberVK, covers the full pentest lifecycle, DoD 8570 approved, practical component included.
• eJPT (INE) — $195 at CyberVK, fully practical 48-hour exam, recognised on the OSCP preparation track.
• eCPPTv2 (INE) — $195 at CyberVK, advanced penetration testing with pivoting, buffer overflows, and Active Directory attacks.
• PNPT (TCM Security) — $399 directly, practical exam with a real pentest report component, strong community respect.