Lead Ethical Hacker
Learn the methods ethical hackers use, from reconnaissance to reporting.
Lead Ethical Hacker: what it is and why it matters
The PECB Certified Lead Ethical Hacker programme teaches the concepts, methods and techniques ethical hackers use to run penetration tests, from reconnaissance through exploitation and post-exploitation to reporting, and how these relate to regulatory frameworks and standards.
It is hands-on by design, so it suits learners comfortable with operating systems and networks.
Built for the people who carry the work
- Security analysts and penetration testers
- System and network administrators moving into security
- Red team and blue team members who want offensive perspective
- Auditors who review technical testing
What you will be able to do
- Gather information and model threats
- Identify and prioritise vulnerabilities
- Exploit weaknesses within agreed rules
- Escalate privileges and pivot
- Document and report findings
Subject outline
- 01
Information gathering tools and techniques
- 02
Threat modelling and vulnerability identification
- 03
Exploitation techniques
- 04
Privilege escalation
- 05
Pivoting and file transfers
- 06
Reporting
How it supports real work
Building a repeatable test methodology
Writing a report that engineers can act on
Staying inside legal and contractual limits
Training, examination and certification are different steps
Training and certification are separate steps, and PECB sources describe some requirements differently, so we confirm details with you.
- PECB publishes the course as 5 days: 4 days of training and 1 day for the exam.
- Its course page describes a practical exam in which the candidate compromises at least two target machines, plus report writing, with a 6 hour duration.
- PECB lists knowledge of information security and advanced operating system skills as prerequisites.
- PECB documents differ on credential experience requirements, so check the current candidate information.
Certification bodies set and can change their own exam, eligibility and renewal rules. The details below are what the body publishes; we confirm the current position with you before you enrol.
Sources checked, October 2026: pecb.com
What is confirmed, and what people ask
Delivery information
Delivery details for this course have not been confirmed for publication, so none are listed here. Course length, schedule, language, delivery format and fees are confirmed per enquiry. Certification bodies set their own exam and eligibility rules, and we confirm the route to any certificate before you enrol.
Enquire About This CourseFrequently asked questions
Is the exam practical?
PECB’s course page and brochure describe a practical exam with report writing. Its handbook wording differs, so we confirm the current format.
Is it legal to practise these skills?
Only with authorisation. Techniques must be used within written scope and the law.
Is this the same as the Penetration Testing course?
They overlap. This programme is built around hands-on exploitation and reporting, while the Penetration Testing page describes the broader discipline.
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Request course information
Tell us who the training is for and what you want to achieve. We reply with confirmed details only, including what is currently available for Lead Ethical Hacker.
- Individual and team training enquiries welcome
- No fees, dates or formats are published until confirmed
- We confirm the certification route before you enrol