CEH Renewal – Step-by-Step Guide to Renew CEH Certification

The EC council offers the highly reputable CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) certification in the IT security industry. Earning this credential requires dedicated effort and patience. But the process doesn't end there; you need to renew the CEH certification every three years as per the EC-Council's guidelines. The renewal of CEH certification has few requirements and a procedure that needs to be followed. Let's dive into the crucial aspects - the CEH renewal process and ECE credits.

The Requirements For CEH Renewal

According to the EC-Council's policy to renew CEH certification, you need to earn the necessary ECE credits within three years. This requirement is also applicable to all other certifications under the EC-Council's ECE program, such as CND, ECSA, etc. For the renewal of the CEH credential, there are three primary requirements as per the ECE program as follows:

Three Year ECE Credits

According to the ECE policy, the CEH certification holder needs to earn 120 credits within three years. One can earn 120 credits within the stipulated time in multiple ways. We will discuss it in detail later in the article and gain in-depth knowledge about ECE credits.

Credit Requirement For Each Year

One cannot complete the paramount task of earning 120 credits in a single year. And if one tries, they are more likely to fail. Hence, EC- council requires you to submit 40 credits each year to complete the 120 credit target easily by the end of the tenure.

Annual Membership

To submit the earned credits, a CEH professional needs to be a member of the EC council. This requirement was put in force in 2016, making it easier to track CEH professionals. The annual membership fee is $80. Therefore, it is a mandatory requirement for submitting the credits and renewing your CEH certification.

Ways To Earn ECE Credits For CEH Renewal

There are over ten ways for earning ECE credits acceptable by the EC-Council. Here are a few of them that are convenient and economical to complete 120 credit requirements:

Online IT Training

You can undertake online IT training approved by the EC council for earning ECE credits. However, finding a classroom IT course may be difficult. Moreover, scheduling a class and taking out time from professional engagement can be difficult for many. Hence, opting for online training bundles can be helpful. You can earn at least 60 ECE credits through this method.

Attending Events

The council organizes seminars, events, conferences, and meetings regarding IT security. Attending such events can grant you ECE credits. For instance, going to a two-day IT security conference can give you at least sixteen credits. Nowadays, the council is organizing various webinars as well. Hence, you not only earn the necessary credits but update your knowledge as well.

Giving Back To Fraternity

EC council appreciates professionals who take time out and do something for the CEH community. Hence, if you prepare a presentation on IT security for your fellow CEH professionals, you earn three ECE credits for every hour of the presentation. For example, a four-hour presentation will earn you twelve ECE credits for CEH renewal.

Detecting Vulnerability

As a CEH professional, you will be working with the IT security of an organization. Hence, you may detect any new IT vulnerabilities or threats to your organization in your tenure. Finding vulnerabilities can earn you ten ECE credits for CEH renewal. However, this can be tedious and based on luck.

Reading IT Security Resources

You can gain five ECE credits by reading research material, magazines, blogs, IT security books. The aim is to extend your IT security knowledge. Hence, just by reading, you can earn ECE credits. This is the simplest way to earn credits and get updated with the latest advancements in the IT security field.

Volunteering and Teaching

You can also earn ECE credits by volunteering in an IT security campaign. For every hour of volunteering, you will gain one ECE credit. Similarly, you can teach an IT security course and earn three ECE credits for each hour. For example, if you create one day-long IT course, you end up earning at least 24 ECE credits.

What Happens If One Fails To Earn 120 Credits In Three Years?

If a professional fails to earn 120 credits in the stipulated duration of three years, then their CEH certification gets suspended. However, the EC council allows you to earn 120 credits in a year after license suspension. If one fails to do that as well, then they have to retake the cybersecurity certification exam.

Conclusion

Ethical hacking is a highly credible field in the IT industry. Becoming a Certified Ethical Hacker is not an easy task. And earning 120 credits to maintain the credential requires effort as well. With this CEH renewal guide, you will now be able to easily navigate your way through the ECE credit system.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or the management of EconoTimes