CEH vs AWS Cloud Practitioner
Which certification is right for your career? Here's the full breakdown.
EC-Council
CEH
CEH v13
Certified Ethical Hacker — offensive security certification covering penetration testing methodologies and hacking tools.
Full guide →Amazon Web Services
AWS Cloud Practitioner
CLF-C02
Entry-level AWS certification validating foundational cloud concepts, core services, security, and pricing models.
Full guide →Side-by-side comparison
| Category | CEH | AWS Cloud Practitioner |
|---|---|---|
| Exam cost | $1199 USD | ✓$100 USD |
| Avg salary uplift | ✓+$15,000/yr | +$8,000/yr |
| Exam duration | 240 min | 90 min |
| Renewal period | Every 3 years | Every 3 years |
| Issued by | EC-Council | Amazon Web Services |
| Difficulty | Intermediate | Beginner |
CEH — Prerequisites
2 years IT security experience or EC-Council official training
AWS Cloud Practitioner — Prerequisites
None required
Get CEH if…
- •You have 2–3 years of IT experience and want to specialise
- •You want a +$15,000/yr salary boost
- •You prefer credentials from EC-Council
Get AWS Cloud Practitioner if…
- •You're entering cybersecurity and need a recognised entry point
- •You want a +$8,000/yr salary boost
- •You prefer credentials from Amazon Web Services
Best CEH courses
Best AWS Cloud Practitioner courses
Frequently asked questions
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.