If you’ve decided to pursue the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification, you’re likely aware that it’s one of the most respected credentials in the cybersecurity field. The CEH v12 exam covers a wide array of domains—from reconnaissance and malware analysis to web app hacking and cryptography.

But what if you only have 30 days to prepare?

Don’t worry—it’s absolutely possible to pass the CEH exam in one month, if you follow a focused and realistic study plan. This article presents a comprehensive 30-day CEH preparation schedule to help you study efficiently, practice with purpose, and stay on track.

How This 30-Day Plan Works

This plan assumes you can dedicate 2–3 hours per day on weekdays and 4–5 hours on weekends. It includes:

• Structured coverage of all CEH v12 exam domains
• Hands-on practice using virtual labs and tools
• Regular practice tests and revision cycles
• Bonus tips for exam day success

Let’s break it down week by week.

Week 1: Foundation + Reconnaissance

Day 1–2: CEH Fundamentals

• Understand what ethical hacking is and the five phases of hacking: Reconnaissance, Scanning, Gaining Access, Maintaining Access, and Covering Tracks.
• Read: CEH v12 Module 1
• Watch: Intro videos on Cybrary or YouTube
• Set up your lab (TryHackMe, Hack The Box, or EC-Council iLabs)

Day 3–4: Footprinting and Reconnaissance

• Topics: Passive vs Active Recon, OSINT, DNS interrogation
• Tools: Maltego, Recon-ng, Whois, nslookup
• Hands-on: Perform passive recon on a public domain

Day 5–6: Scanning Networks

• Topics: Port scanning, network mapping, banner grabbing
• Tools: Nmap, Zenmap
• Practice: Run different Nmap scans on your lab VMs

Day 7: Weekly Review + Quiz

• Review notes and flashcards
• Take a 30-question practice test
• Reflect on weak areas and reinforce concepts

Week 2: Gaining Access + Malware Threats

Day 8–9: Enumeration Techniques

• Topics: SNMP, SMB, NetBIOS, LDAP enumeration
• Tools: Netcat, Enum4linux
• Practice: Enumerate users and shares on a Windows VM

Day 10–11: System Hacking

• Topics: Password cracking, privilege escalation, maintaining access
• Tools: Metasploit, John the Ripper, Hydra
• Hands-on: Exploit a vulnerable VM with Metasploit

Day 12–13: Malware and Trojans

• Topics: Types of malware, detection techniques
• Tools: VirusTotal, PEStudio
• Practice: Analyze a sample malicious file

Day 14: Weekly Review + Quiz

• Watch recap videos and revisit tools
• Take a 50-question test on Weeks 1–2 content

Week 3: Web, Wireless, and Cloud Security

Day 15–16: Web Application Hacking

• Topics: SQL injection, XSS, CSRF
• Tools: Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, Sqlmap
• Hands-on: Use DVWA or Juice Shop for testing attacks

Day 17: Session Hijacking and Sniffing

• Topics: MITM attacks, packet analysis
• Tools: Wireshark, Ettercap
• Practice: Analyze captured traffic to identify sessions

Day 18–19: Wireless Network Security

• Topics: WPA/WPA2, WEP cracking, rogue APs
• Tools: Aircrack-ng, WiFi Pineapple (optional)
• Lab: Capture handshake and crack Wi-Fi passwords

Day 20–21: Cloud Computing and IoT Security

• Topics: Cloud threats, shared responsibility model, IoT vulnerabilities
• Study: CEH modules and EC-Council blogs
• Quiz: 25 questions from Week 3 topics

Week 4: Vulnerabilities, Cryptography, and Final Prep

Day 22–23: Vulnerability Analysis + IDS/Firewalls

• Topics: Common vulnerabilities, scanning methodologies
• Tools: Nessus, Nikto
• Practice: Perform a vulnerability scan and generate a report

Day 24–25: Cryptography and PKI

• Topics: Encryption types, hashing, certificates
• Tools: OpenSSL
• Practice: Create and validate certificates, hash files

Day 26: Social Engineering and Insider Threats

• Topics: Phishing, pretexting, SET toolkit
• Lab: Simulate a phishing page using the Social-Engineer Toolkit

Day 27: Exam Simulation

• Take a full 125-question mock exam
• Time yourself (4 hours)
• Review incorrect answers

Day 28–29: Final Review

• Go through all weak domains
• Flashcards and cheat sheets
• Revisit hands-on tools

Day 30: Relax + Light Review

• No intense study today
• Read CEH exam guide
• Get a good night’s sleep

Tools to Use During Your 30-Day Plan

Bonus Tips for Success

Join a CEH Study Group: Reddit, Discord, and LinkedIn have active CEH communities.
Use Flashcards: Tools like Anki or Quizlet are great for memorizing terms and ports.
Practice Reporting: Learn how to write professional pen test reports.
Don’t Skip Labs: Practical knowledge is heavily tested in CEH v12.
Simulate Exam Environment: Use a quiet room, disable distractions, and time your tests.

What to Expect on Exam Day

• Number of Questions: 125
• Format: Multiple choice
• Duration: 4 hours
• Passing Score: Varies (around 70%)
• Delivery: Pearson VUE or EC-Council test center

Make sure to bring proper ID, arrive early, and stay calm. Time management is key—don’t spend too long on any single question.

Conclusion

Preparing for the CEH exam in 30 days is totally achievable if you stay organized, stay consistent, and balance theory with hands-on practice. This study schedule gives you a focused plan to master the essential domains, tools, and attack techniques tested in CEH v12.

By following this roadmap and staying disciplined, you can walk into the exam room with confidence—and walk out with your CEH certification in hand.

Next Read: Free CEH Practice Questions with Answers