CEH
Certified Ethical Hacker — offensive security certification covering penetration testing methodologies and hacking tools.
Full guide →AWS Cloud Practitioner
Entry-level AWS certification validating foundational cloud concepts, core services, security, and pricing models.
Full guide →CEH vs AWS Cloud Practitioner
Which certification is right for your career?
Full comparison
| Category | CEH | AWS Cloud Practitioner |
|---|---|---|
| Exam cost | $1199 USD | ✓$100 USD |
| Avg salary uplift | ✓+$15,000/yr | +$8,000/yr |
| Passing score | 70/1000 | 700/1000 |
| Exam duration | 240 min | 90 min |
| Renewal period | Every 3 years | Every 3 years |
| Issued by | EC-Council | Amazon Web Services |
| Difficulty |
CEH
2 years IT security experience or EC-Council official training
AWS Cloud Practitioner
None required
- You have 2–4 years in security and want to specialise your role
- You want a potential +$15,000/yr salary uplift
- You're drawn to offensive security, ethical hacking, or red-team work
- You're new to cloud and want a foundational credential from AWS
- You want a potential +$8,000/yr salary uplift
- Your organisation runs on AWS and you need the recognised entry-level credential
CEH and AWS Cloud Practitioner lead to entirely different careers — cybersecurity vs cloud computing. The right choice depends on which field aligns with your current job or target role. If you want both eventually, start with AWS Cloud Practitioner — it's the quicker win at the beginner level.
Best CEH courses
Best AWS Cloud Practitioner courses
Is CEH harder than AWS Cloud Practitioner?
CEH is harder — rated intermediate vs beginner.
Which pays more — CEH or AWS Cloud Practitioner?
CEH has an average salary uplift of +$15,000/yr, while AWS Cloud Practitioner has +$8,000/yr. CEH has the higher salary impact.
Which should I get first — CEH or AWS Cloud Practitioner?
AWS Cloud Practitioner is the better starting point — it's rated beginner and costs less. Use it as a stepping stone toward CEH.
Can I get both CEH and AWS Cloud Practitioner?
Yes — many professionals hold both. CEH and AWS Cloud Practitioner complement each other, covering cybersecurity and cloud computing respectively. Holding both signals broader expertise and typically commands a higher salary than either cert alone.
Which is worth it in 2026 — CEH or AWS Cloud Practitioner?
Both are worth it in 2026. CEH offers a +$15,000/yr average salary uplift; AWS Cloud Practitioner offers +$8,000/yr. CEH has the higher salary ceiling — making it the stronger ROI if you can only choose one.