CEH or OSCP: Which Ethical Hacking Certification Should You Get?

Did you know that professionals holding the OSCP certification earn an average of $120,000 per year, while CEH certified individuals make around $87,000? This salary gap highlights a crucial career decision in cyber security—choosing the right credential to advance your expertise.

Both certifications are highly respected but serve different purposes. The CEH focuses on theoretical knowledge and compliance, making it ideal for beginners. Meanwhile, the OSCP is hands-on, testing real-world penetration testing skills through rigorous challenges.

Your choice impacts career paths. Offensive security roles favor OSCP, while compliance and auditing positions often require CEH. Understanding exam formats, industry recognition, and salary potential will help you decide. For a deeper dive, check out our detailed comparison.

Key Takeaways

• OSCP holders earn significantly higher salaries than CEH professionals.
• CEH is ANSI-accredited and emphasizes theoretical knowledge.
• OSCP tests practical skills with real-world penetration challenges.
• Job demand varies—CEH appears more frequently in listings.
• Your career goals should guide your certification choice.

Understanding CEH and OSCP Certifications

Cybersecurity credentials shape careers differently—let’s explore two leading options. Both validate expertise but cater to unique skill sets and goals.

What Is CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)?

Launched in 2003 by EC-Council, the certified ethical hacker credential is vendor-neutral. It covers:

• Footprinting and reconnaissance
• Social engineering tactics
• Cryptography fundamentals

Its ANSI accreditation makes it a staple for compliance roles. The exam tests theory via 125 multiple-choice questions.

What Is OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional)?

Developed by Offensive Security (creators of Kali Linux), OSCP emphasizes penetration testing. Candidates must:

• Exploit vulnerabilities in a 24-hour lab
• Write detailed attack reports

This certified professional credential thrives in red-teaming circles. Its “Try Harder” mantra rewards persistence.

While CEH aligns with frameworks like NIST, OSCP simulates real-world breaches. Your choice hinges on career focus—information security theory or hands-on security challenges.

Key Differences Between CEH and OSCP

Pass rates reveal a stark contrast—65% for one, 30% for the other. This gap underscores their divergent approaches to ethical hacking. While both validate expertise, they cater to opposite ends of the skills spectrum.

Focus: Theoretical vs. Hands-On Skills

The CEH builds knowledge through structured modules. It teaches vulnerability identification, perfect for compliance roles. OSCP, however, demands exploitation—24 hours of real-world attacks in a lab.

EC-Council’s 20 domains offer clarity. OffSec’s lab? Unlimited attack vectors. One prepares you for audits; the other for battlefield-like scenarios.

Target Audience: Beginners vs. Experienced Professionals

Career changers often start with CEH. Its ANSI accreditation suits entry-level roles. OSCP, with its 25% pass rate, attracts seasoned IT professionals craving penetration testing challenges.

For a detailed comparison, examine how each aligns with your goals. One opens doors; the other tests your limits.

Exam Structure and Requirements

The testing methods for these credentials couldn’t be more different. One evaluates textbook knowledge, while the other simulates battlefield scenarios. Your preparation depends entirely on which path you choose.

CEH Exam Format: Multiple-Choice vs. Practical Challenges

The certification process for CEH involves 125 questions in four hours. It’s closed-book, focusing on terminology and frameworks like NIST. A separate six-hour Capture the Flag (CTF) tests basic techniques, but theory dominates.

Retakes cost $499, and ANSI accreditation adds weight for compliance roles. Unlike OSCP, you’ll memorize—not hack—your way through.

OSCP Exam: The 24-Hour Lab Test

OffSec’s exam is a marathon: 24 hours to exploit five machines, including an Active Directory set (40% of points). Open-internet policies mimic real-world testing, but you must document privilege escalations in a detailed report.

Fail? A retake burns $1,499. This certification rewards persistence, not just knowledge.

• CEH: Closed-book, multiple-choice, cheaper retakes.
• OSCP: Real-world lab, report-heavy, one-time fee.

Difficulty Level: How Hard Are CEH and OSCP?

One test measures what you know, while the other proves what you can do under pressure. The certified ethical hacker exam prioritizes theory, whereas OSCP’s lab simulates relentless security challenges. Your preparation must align with these opposing demands.

CEH Preparation and Study Resources

EC-Council’s official course covers 20 domains, from footprinting to cryptography. Many candidates supplement with third-party platforms like Simplilearn for extra training. Yet, overemphasis on memorization often trips up test-takers—only 5% earn the Master designation.

Virtual labs (e.g., iLabs) help practice techniques, but real-world application remains limited. For structured learners, this path works. For hands-on pros? It might feel restrictive.

OSCP’s “Try Harder” Philosophy

OffSec’s rigorous lab environment requires exploiting 10–15 systems before attempting the exam. The 24-hour test rewards creativity, with points docked for incomplete documentation.

Beginners should allocate 30+ days in PWK labs. Platforms like HackTheBox build complementary skills. Unlike CEH, OSCP failures often stem from underestimating report writing—proof that technical prowess alone isn’t enough.

Career Opportunities and Job Roles

The right certification can open doors to specific job roles and industries. While both credentials validate security expertise, they cater to different career paths. Recent data shows 4–16% of job postings accept either, but specialization matters.

Jobs Best Suited for CEH Holders

CEH-certified professionals thrive in compliance-driven sectors like healthcare and government. Common roles include:

• Security analyst: Monitors network vulnerabilities.
• Compliance officer: Ensures adherence to frameworks like NIST.
• Incident responder: Mitigates breaches post-discovery.

CISO roles often favor CEH due to its ANSI accreditation. Contract work is less common (25%), reflecting its focus on stable, institutional positions.

OSCP’s Niche in Penetration Testing

OSCP holders dominate offensive security. Their hands-on skills suit high-stakes roles:

• Penetration testers: Exploit systems ethically.
• Red teamers: Simulate real-world attacks.
• Vulnerability researchers: Identify zero-day threats.

Tech and financial services prize OSCP’s practical rigor. Contract work is prevalent (60%), appealing to freelancers.

Your certification shapes not just job titles, but industry reach and earning potential. Choose based on where you see your career growing.

Salary Comparison: CEH vs OSCP

Earning potential varies significantly between these two cybersecurity credentials. Industry data reveals a consistent pay gap, influenced by job roles, location, and experience.

Average Salaries by Job Title

Entry-level professionals with an OSCP certification earn $81k, compared to $67k for CEH holders (1–3 years’ experience). The gap widens with seniority:

• Managers: CEH averages $132k; OSCP leads hit $168k.
• Freelancers: OSCP pentesters charge $150–$300/hour, while CEH roles focus on stable salaries.

Geographic and Experience-Based Variations

Location impacts pay. In NYC, OSCP professionals earn $145k versus $112k for CEH (2024 Dice report). Silicon Valley adds a 32% premium for OSCP, 22% for CEH.

Remote roles favor OSCP certification, paying 18% more. Federal jobs, however, often require CEH for DoD 8570 compliance.

Your certification choice directly affects long-term earnings. A security certified professional with OSCP often sees faster salary growth, especially in tech hubs.

Industry Recognition and Reputation

Industry perceptions shape career trajectories in information security as much as technical skills. While both credentials validate expertise, their acceptance varies across government agencies, tech firms, and research communities.

CEH’s Institutional Credibility

The ANSI accreditation makes this certification a baseline for U.S. government roles. Over 72% of Department of Defense 8570-compliant positions list it as a requirement, particularly for:

• Federal contracting roles requiring NIST framework knowledge
• Healthcare IT positions handling HIPAA compliance
• Financial auditors assessing system vulnerabilities

However, 2023 surveys show 41% of hiring managers criticize reliance on exam dumps. The certification appears in three times more job postings than OSCP, but often as a checkbox requirement rather than a skills indicator.

OSCP’s Elite Standing

At Black Hat USA, 82% of attendees valued OSCP over alternatives for offensive security roles. Its lab-based testing earns respect in:

• Bug bounty platforms like HackerOne (top earners are 5x more likely to hold OSCP)
• Red team engagements requiring real-world exploitation skills
• CREST-recognized penetration testing firms

Unlike CEH, OSCP isn’t ANSI-accredited but dominates technical interviews. 67% of Fortune 500 tech firms prefer it for hands-on roles according to Cybersecurity Ventures.

These differences matter when targeting specific security certified professional roles. Government work favors standardized topics, while tech innovators prioritize demonstrable skills against modern threats.

Cost and Recertification: Breaking Down the Investment

Budgeting for cybersecurity credentials requires understanding both upfront and long-term costs. While both certifications validate expertise, their financial commitments differ sharply—one demands recurring fees, the other rewards a single investment.

CEH Fees, Training, and Renewal Process

The official course for EC-Council’s credential starts at $2,350, including exams and iLab access. Hidden costs add up: monthly lab extensions ($499) and proctoring fees ($150 for test centers).

Renewal is stringent. Every three years, holders must:

• Pay $80 annually
• Earn 120 ECE credits through training or conferences

Corporate discounts (15% off) ease the burden for teams. However, self-formatting exam reports add administrative hassle.

OSCP’s One-Time Cost and Reporting Requirements

OffSec’s $1,499 package covers labs and the exam—no hidden fees. Remote proctoring costs just $25, and the credential never expires.

The application process prioritizes practicality. Candidates receive report templates, streamlining documentation of techniques used to exploit an Active Directory system.

Key takeaway: CEH suits organizations covering costs, while OSCP favors freelancers valuing lifetime validity.

Choosing Between CEH and OSCP: A Decision Guide

Security newcomers and seasoned pros need different certification approaches. Your existing skills and career goals determine which path accelerates growth in this field. We’ll break down the optimal choices for two common scenarios.

For Career Changers: CEH’s Broad Foundation

If you’re transitioning from unrelated industries, the CEH offers structured learning. Its ANSI accreditation helps meet compliance requirements—ideal for government or healthcare roles. CompTIA Security+ graduates often use it as a stepping stone.

The curated labs teach foundational vulnerabilities identification. You’ll typically need just three months of preparation. This makes it perfect for beginners building networking security knowledge before pursuing advanced credentials like CISSP.

For Aspiring Pen Testers: OSCP’s Depth

Those with IT experience should consider OSCP’s hands-on approach. Its proving ground environment mirrors real-world attacks, demanding 6-12 months of practice. The test evaluates creative problem-solving under pressure.

OffSec’s labs are unstructured by design—like actual networking environments. This prepares you for CREST CPSA equivalency. Over 70% of successful candidates had prior tech roles, per 2024 data.

A hybrid path works well: start with CEH for fundamentals, then progress through eJPT before tackling OSCP. This balances structured learning with real-world challenges.

Conclusion

Choosing the right path in cyber security depends on your goals. One credential excels in hands-on skills, while the other opens doors in regulated industries.

For technical roles, the practical certification delivers higher ROI. Its real-world challenges prepare you for elite penetration testing. The difficulty pays off with better salaries and freelance opportunities.

Policy-focused professionals benefit from the ANSI-accredited option. Government and healthcare sectors value its compliance focus. It’s ideal for auditing and risk management.

Align your choice with long-term career plans. Hands-on learners thrive with lab-based testing. Those in governance roles gain more from structured frameworks.