CEH vs CompTIA Security+: Which Certification Should You Take First?

CEH and Security+ are the two entry-level security certifications people compare most. They are not the same kind of exam. Security+ is a broad foundation from a vendor-neutral body; CEH is about how attacks work, from EC-Council. We are an EC-Council training center, so weigh our view with that in mind. The facts below come from the two organizations' own pages, read on November 11, 2026, and exam details change, so check both pages before you pay.

The Two Exams Side by Side

• Who runs it. Security+ is from CompTIA. CEH is from EC-Council.
• Focus. Security+ covers general security concepts, threats and mitigations, security architecture, operations and program management. CEH covers the phases and techniques of ethical hacking across 20 modules.
• Exam version. CompTIA's page says the current Security+ exam (version 7) is being retired and that version 8 is expected on or around November 17, 2026. Before you study, find out which version you will sit, because the objectives differ. CEH is at version 13.
• Format. The CEH knowledge exam has 125 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours, with an optional 6-hour practical exam. For Security+, read the question count, length and question types for your version on CompTIA's page; we have not quoted them because the exam is changing.
• Passing score. CEH's pass mark varies by exam form, between 60% and 85%. CompTIA publishes the Security+ passing score for each version.
• Prerequisites. EC-Council sets no fixed prerequisite for CEH and recommends at least two years of IT security experience. CompTIA lists recommended experience for Security+ on its page.
• Renewal. CEH is renewed under EC-Council's continuing education policy. Security+ also has a renewal rule, set by CompTIA.

What Each One Tells an Employer

Security+ is designed as a broad foundation in security, and it is widely used as an early certification. Whether it matters for a given job depends on the employer.

CEH says you have studied how systems are attacked. Recruiters for testing and security analyst roles recognize the name. Neither proves you can do the work: an interviewer will still ask you to run a scan, read the output and explain a finding.

Which Should You Take First?

• New to IT and unsure of your direction: Security+ gives the wider base. EC-Council's own entry-level option is CCT; see CCT or CEH for a fresher.
• Aiming at penetration testing or ethical hacking roles: CEH is the closer match.
• Aiming at SOC work: either helps screening. A defender certification such as CSA is closer to the job.
• Already working in IT: choose by the role you want next, not the one you have.

A Simple Way to Decide for India

Open a job site, search the role and city you want, and count how many adverts name each certification. Ten minutes of this tells you more than any comparison article, including ours. Then check the current fee and exam version on each official site, since both change.

If You Choose CEH

Our CEH v13 page has the exam facts and current fee, the exam format and syllabus guide goes module by module, and the 8-week preparation plan shows how to study. If you want hands-on skill beside the certificate, compare CEH with a practical ethical hacking course. For other comparisons see CEH vs OSCP and CEH vs CND.

Sources and Further Reading

• CompTIA: Security+ certification
• EC-Council: Certified Ethical Hacker