Cisco Ethical Hacker course (Networking Academy)
Cisco (Cisco Networking Academy)
Check before you apply: details change often, so confirm on the official page before you apply.
- Who it's for
- Anyone with a free Cisco Networking Academy account. Recommended first: entry-level cybersecurity knowledge (Cisco CCST Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Essentials or the Junior Cybersecurity Analyst career path) and basic programming
Open to: veterans, active duty / transitioning service members, spouses, family or caregivers. - Cost
- Free
- Free with no benefit?
- Yes: no GI Bill, VR&E or VET TEC benefit needed.
- What you get
- Free 70-hour self-paced Cisco Networking Academy course (10 modules, 34 hands-on labs, a final exam and a skills assessment) on scoping, running and reporting penetration tests. Finishing earns a Cisco "Ethical Hacker" digital badge. To also earn the Cisco Certificate in Ethical Hacking, pass one Cisco U. Capture the Flag challenge, which costs $100
- Type
- Course
- Credential strength
- 3/5: Free Cisco course with a digital badge; the optional Cisco Certificate in Ethical Hacking needs one $100 challenge.
- Duration
- About 70 hours, self-paced
- Format
- Online (Online, self-paced)
- Deadline
- None (self-paced)
- Next start
- Rolling
- Jobs it can lead to
- Penetration Tester; SOC Analyst; Security Engineer
- Notes
- The $100 Capture the Flag challenge is paid by credit card on Cisco U., and you have 90 days to finish it. Labs need a computer that can run VirtualBox or UTM (at least 4 GB RAM and 20 GB free disk). The course does not target an outside certification exam (it is not PenTest+ prep). Certificate details: cisco.com/site/us/en/learn/training-certifications/certifications/ethical-hacker/ (Cisco says challenges are refreshed every 90 days; no discount on the $100 fee was announced).
- Official page
- netacad.com/courses/ethical-hacker
- Last checked
- Oct 7, 2026