Think like a hacker to advance your career in offensive security
Earn three badges: one for each step of the program, and one when you complete the certificate.
Equip yourself for a role in offensive security with the Cisco Certificate in Ethical Hacking, a first-of-its-kind program that combines self-study with hands-on practice. Learn to proactively discover and mitigate vulnerabilities, and prove it to employers with a certificate and domain-specific digital badges.
Gain a skill set that’s in-demand, in a growing field
As IT evolves, offensive security knowledge is becoming a standard part of any cybersecurity role. Demonstrating you can tackle the toughest issues in cybersecurity —before they happen — sets you apart from the crowd.
Add an official offensive security certificate to your resume
Your industry-recognized certificate proves you’ve got what it takes to play offense on any cybersecurity team. Enhance your offensive capabilities with a course and practical experience to propel your career in offensive security.
Get hands-on practice with real-world security challenges
Play the role of a pen tester or hacker as you put your skills to the test with every gamified challenge. Get the real-world experience you need to lock in your role as an expert.
Keep your skills sharp and earn badges along the way
Each challenge tests the latest skills employers are looking for. Collect specialized badges for every challenge you complete, and prove you have the practical skills to succeed from day one on any cybersecurity team.
Minimize security risks and maximize your career potential
Pen testing job growth
33%
Penetration tester employment is projected to grow 33% from 2023 to 2033 - much faster than average.
Average salary for offensive security pros
$120,360
Salaries for ethical hacker, penetration tester, and vulnerability assessment positions are approximately $120,360 per year.
Available cybersecurity jobs globally
4 million
An estimated 4 million jobs are unfilled in cybersecurity globally.
Potential job roles
Trending posts in the community
Cisco certificate in Ethical Hacking community
Join a vibrant network of experts and like-minded peers committed to gaining real-world offensive security skills and to earning their Cisco certificate in Ethical Hacking.
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Determine whether ethical hacking is the right path for you with a preview of our free Ethical Hacking course on Cisco Network Academy, including a few of the hands-on labs.
What are some tools and frameworks you rely on for ethical hacking and penetration testing?
Get a glimpse into the best tools for ethical hacking and penetration testing, including why and when to use them.
Frequently asked questions
A certificate is a credential that confirms that you completed a specific course or program of study. Earning a certificate demonstrates that you have the knowledge and skills in a particular subject area.
A certification verifies you have the required skills, knowledge, and abilities specified by the certification exam or exams. Cisco offers the following certification levels: Associate, Professional, and Expert. Each level requires that you pass one or more exams delivered in secure and proctored environments. Certifications usually have an expiration date and must be maintained with more learning, including Continuing Education credits.
Certificates and certifications will help you stand out to employers and elevate your career opportunities.
Your Cisco Certificate in Ethical Hacking is valid for a lifetime.
While Continuing Education credits are not required to maintain the certificate, you’re encouraged to continue learning and collect additional badges by completing more themed Capture the Flag (CTF) challenges as they’re released.
Check to make sure that your Cisco U. email address is the same as your Cisco Networking Academy email. If it’s not, add both email addresses to your Credly account so your Ethical Hacker course completion can be validated.
Each Capture the Flag (CTF) follows the guidelines outlined in Cisco Certificate in Ethical Hacking v1.1 to ensure that one or more of the skills relevant to ethical hacking are included in each challenge. To stay current with the cyber threat landscape, our challenges might test for additional skills that aren’t yet included in this document.
Please allow our systems to process your records, and within 24 hours, you should receive emails referencing your certificate and digital badges.
Join the ethical hacking certificate community to connect with a vibrant network of experts and like-minded peers who are committed to gaining real-world offensive security skills and experience. They can help you with best practices, study resources, and answers to your questions to stay motivated and get unstuck.
Visit the Cisco U. Support page.