Best Ethical Hacking Certifications to Start With | A Beginner’s Guide to Kickstart Your Cybersecurity Career

Ethical hacking is one of the most in-demand career fields in cybersecurity, and obtaining the right certification can significantly improve job prospects. This blog explores the best ethical hacking certifications for beginners, covering Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), CompTIA Security+, OSCP, eJPT, and GPEN. It provides details on exam formats, costs, skill levels, and career benefits. Whether you’re new to cybersecurity or looking to switch careers, this guide will help you choose the best certification to start your ethical hacking journey.

Feb 15, 2025 - 11:01

Updated: 1 month ago

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Best Ethical Hacking Certifications to Start With | A Beginner’s Guide to Kickstart Your Cybersecurity Career

Quick answer: Good starting certifications for ethical hacking are EC-Council CEH, CompTIA Security+ and entry-level credentials like CCT. They give industry recognition, hands-on lab practice and a route to roles such as security analyst or penetration tester. Choose the one that matches your experience, and add a practical exam like CEH Practical later.

Key takeaways

CEH, Security+ and entry-level credentials like CCT suit different starting points, so match the exam to your current skill.
A certification opens interviews but does not replace practice on labs.
Ignore any course that guarantees a job after certification.

Introduction
Why Get Certified in Ethical Hacking
Which Are the Best Ethical Hacking Certifications for Beginners?
Conclusion

Introduction

Ethical hacking is a fast-growing field in cybersecurity, and earning a certification can boost your credibility and job prospects. Whether you are a beginner or an IT professional looking to transition into ethical hacking, choosing the right certification matters.

This guide covers the best ethical hacking certifications for beginners, their exam details, costs, career benefits, and how to prepare for them.

Why Get Certified in Ethical Hacking?

1. Industry Recognition

Certifications validate your skills and knowledge, making you a strong candidate for ethical hacking roles.

2. Career Advancement

A certification can help you land jobs as an Ethical Hacker, Security Analyst, or Penetration Tester.

3. Hands-on Skills

Most ethical hacking certifications include practical labs, helping you gain real-world experience.

4. Higher Salary

Certified ethical hackers earn higher salaries than non-certified professionals.

5. Compliance & Standards

Many organizations require cybersecurity professionals to hold industry-recognized certifications to meet compliance standards.

Which Are the Best Ethical Hacking Certifications for Beginners?

Certification	Offered By	Exam Format	Cost	Skill Level
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)	EC-Council	125 MCQs (4 hours)	₹80,000-₹1,20,000 ($1,000-$1,500)	Beginner: Intermediate
CompTIA Security+	CompTIA	90 MCQs (90 minutes)	₹35,000-₹40,000 ($370-$420)	Beginner
Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)	Offensive Security	24-hour hands-on test	₹1,10,000-₹1,50,000 ($1,200-$1,500)	Advanced
eLearnSecurity Junior Penetration Tester (eJPT)	eLearnSecurity	100% practical exam	₹25,000-₹30,000 ($200-$300)	Beginner
GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN)	SANS Institute	115 MCQs (3 hours)	₹1,00,000+ ($1,500+)	Intermediate

1. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification by EC-Council is one of the most popular beginner-friendly ethical hacking certifications.

Key Features

Covers penetration testing, malware threats, and hacking methodologies
Multiple-choice exam (125 questions in 4 hours)
Recognized by government and private organizations

Who Should Take CEH?

IT professionals looking to specialize in ethical hacking
Beginners with basic networking and security knowledge

How to Prepare?

Enroll in CEH training courses (WebAsha, EC-Council, Simplilearn, Udemy)
Practice on TryHackMe and Hack The Box
Study official EC-Council materials

2. CompTIA Security+

CompTIA Security+ is an entry-level cybersecurity certification that covers basic security concepts, risk management, and cryptography.

Key Features

90 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes
Widely recognized for entry-level cybersecurity jobs
Covers network security, threats, and vulnerabilities

Who Should Take Security+?

Beginners who want to learn cybersecurity fundamentals
Those looking for a strong foundation before CEH

How to Prepare?

Study CompTIA Security+ books and courses
Use platforms like Cybrary and Professor Messer's videos
Take Security+ practice exams

3. Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)

The OSCP is one of the most respected hands-on penetration testing certifications.

Key Features

100% practical exam (24 hours to hack a simulated network)
Teaches real-world hacking techniques
Requires strong Linux and scripting knowledge

Who Should Take OSCP?

Security professionals looking for advanced penetration testing skills
Those who have experience with CEH or other entry-level certifications

How to Prepare?

Complete the Penetration Testing with Kali Linux (PWK) course
Practice on Hack The Box and TryHackMe
Learn Python and Bash scripting

4. eLearnSecurity Junior Penetration Tester (eJPT)

The eJPT is a beginner-friendly penetration testing certification that focuses on hands-on skills.

Key Features

Practical exam (hacking into a simulated environment)
Covers network scanning, exploitation, and report writing
More affordable than CEH and OSCP

Who Should Take eJPT?

Beginners in ethical hacking
IT professionals looking for practical penetration testing experience

How to Prepare?

Study INE’s eJPT course
Practice on VulnHub, TryHackMe, and Hack The Box

5. GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN)

The GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN) certification focuses on advanced penetration testing techniques.

Key Features

115 multiple-choice questions (3 hours)
Covers network penetration testing and password attacks
Recognized by government agencies and top cybersecurity firms

Who Should Take GPEN?

Security professionals looking to enhance penetration testing skills
Those who have some ethical hacking experience

How to Prepare?

Study the SANS SEC560 course
Use SANS practice exams

Conclusion

Choosing the right ethical hacking certification depends on your career goals, experience level, and budget.

Beginners should start with CEH, eJPT, or CompTIA Security+
Those aiming for advanced penetration testing can go for OSCP or GPEN

Certifications help validate your ethical hacking skills, boost your job prospects, and open doors to cybersecurity careers. Start your journey today!

To take this further with guided labs and an instructor, see our online CCT training.

Reference

For the authoritative details, see EC-Council CEH.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ethical hacking certifications validate a professional's ability to identify vulnerabilities in systems and protect against cyber threats.

CEH, CompTIA Security+, and eJPT are ideal for beginners entering ethical hacking.

Yes, CEH is widely recognized and provides a strong foundation in ethical hacking concepts.

CEH costs between ₹80,000 - ₹1,20,000 ($1,000 - $1,500), depending on the country and training provider.

OSCP is considered one of the toughest due to its hands-on practical exam.

Yes, CEH can help you secure roles like Security Analyst or Penetration Tester, but additional experience is beneficial.

OSCP and GPEN are excellent for penetration testing professionals.

eJPT is beginner-friendly and focuses on practical ethical hacking concepts.

Some certifications, like OSCP, require coding knowledge, while CEH and Security+ focus more on concepts.

CEH is theory-based with MCQs, while OSCP is hands-on and requires hacking into a live environment.

CEH is recognized by many government agencies worldwide.

Yes, most certifications, including CEH, Security+, and eJPT, offer online training and exams.

Typically, 3 to 6 months, depending on your prior knowledge and study pace.

CompTIA Security+ is an excellent starting point for general cybersecurity knowledge.

No, but having basic networking and security knowledge is recommended.

Enroll in CEH or a similar course, study, practice hacking skills, and pass the exam.

Yes, certifications like OSCP and GPEN can be expensive, but more affordable options like eJPT are available.

OSCP and GPEN-certified professionals often earn higher salaries due to their advanced skill sets.

Yes, most certifications, including CEH, require renewal every 2-3 years.

CEH is a great start, but gaining hands-on experience through labs and bug bounty programs will improve job prospects.

Yes, but certifications make it easier to stand out to employers and validate your skills.

CEH is specialized in hacking techniques, while Security+ is broader, covering general cybersecurity.

OSCP and eJPT focus heavily on practical hacking techniques and simulations.

The passing score for CEH varies between 60% and 85%, depending on the exam difficulty.

Python is better for scripting and automation, while C is useful for understanding vulnerabilities in software.

Yes, but you need at least two years of cybersecurity experience or an approval from EC-Council.

Jobs include Ethical Hacker, Penetration Tester, Security Analyst, and Cybersecurity Consultant.

Some platforms offer free courses, but most recognized certifications require payment.

Yes, but learning networking, operating systems, and cybersecurity basics is recommended before attempting certification.

Most certifications can be taken online or at authorized testing centers like Pearson VUE.

Interested in this course? Get a callback from our experts.

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Vaishnavi

Vaishnavi is a skilled tech professional at the Ethical Hacking Training Institute in Pune, responsible for managing and optimizing the technical infrastructure that supports advanced cybersecurity education. With deep expertise in network security, backend operations, and system performance, she ensures that practical labs, online modules, and assessments run smoothly and securely. Her behind-the-scenes contributions play a vital role in delivering a seamless and secure learning experience for aspiring ethical hackers.