About This Course
The PECB Lead Ethical Hacker programme is a hands-on, offensive-security course that teaches you to think and act like an attacker so you can find and fix weaknesses before real adversaries do. Delivered fully self-paced and online, it walks you through the complete penetration-testing lifecycle — reconnaissance, exploitation, post-exploitation and reporting — using recognised methodologies and real-world techniques.
Rather than isolated tools and tricks, you’ll learn a repeatable, professional testing process: how to gather intelligence on a target, model threats, exploit vulnerabilities, escalate privileges, pivot through a network and then communicate your findings in a report that drives remediation. It is ideal for security professionals who want to move into penetration testing or formalise the skills they already use.
Course Information
What You Will Learn
Course Curriculum
- Ethical hacking concepts, principles and terminology
- Legal, regulatory and ethical considerations
- Penetration-testing methodologies and frameworks
- Planning and scoping an engagement
- Passive and active information gathering
- Footprinting and OSINT
- Network scanning and service enumeration
- Threat modelling and attack surface mapping
- Vulnerability identification and analysis
- Selecting and adapting exploits
- Gaining initial access
- Working with exploitation frameworks
- Privilege escalation techniques
- Pivoting and lateral movement
- File transfers and maintaining access
- Evidence handling and professional report writing
- The six competency domains
- Preparing for the practical exam
- Revision and exam technique
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All You Need to Know
This programme suits professionals who want to plan and carry out penetration tests, including:
- Penetration testers and aspiring ethical hackers
- Information security officers and cybersecurity specialists
- IT professionals strengthening their offensive-security skills
- Managers overseeing ethical-hacking and red-team engagements
A knowledge of information security concepts and principles, and advanced skills in operating systems, are expected. A working understanding of computer networking and basic programming concepts is recommended.
The PECB Certified Lead Ethical Hacker exam is a practical, open-book examination: you must compromise at least two target machines through penetration testing and then document your findings in a detailed report. It assesses six competency domains — information gathering, threat modelling, exploitation, privilege escalation, pivoting and file transfers, and reporting. Completing the training earns 35 CPD credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — it is delivered online and self-paced, covering the same competency domains as PECB’s instructor-led programme so you can practise around your schedule.
No, but you should be comfortable with information security concepts and operating systems. Networking and basic programming knowledge will help you get the most from the practical work.
It is a hands-on, open-book exam: you compromise at least two machines and write a professional report of your findings — closer to real testing work than a multiple-choice test.
After passing the exam and meeting PECB’s requirements you can apply for the PECB Certified Lead Ethical Hacker credential.
Yes — the self-paced kit includes one certification exam and one free exam retake.