I just got back from the testing center where I passed my GCIH certification.  I got an A.   I just missed a handful out of the 150 questions. Some of the ones I missed were just stupid on my part (I completely misread them), the others were educated guesses because I could not find the answer in the material.

I basically took the SANS Self Study route.  My study plan was reading and indexing Counter Hack: Reloaded by Ed Skoudis.  It was beneficial because some test questions were lifted directly from the book.  Combined with the SANS SEC504 course material, the Counter Hack index filled in some gaps.  I listened to the Ed Skoudis SANS SEC504 MP3s and read through the SANS SEC504 course ware.  I also had the course CD-ROM, but I did not use it because I had good exposure to the tools when I was doing my C|EH.  I indexed all the slides from the course material as well as putting page markers in the course material and in CH:R.  I also had printed out all the SANS cheat sheets, the wiki on NetCat, and commonly used backdoor ports.  I wish I would have had commonly used port print-out, but I survived without it.

The test itself was exactly like the practice test, but more difficult.  The practice test was more cut and dry, What do you use X for?  While I felt the actual test was more applying the knowledge, ex. if you wanted to do x and y, what would you use?  I felt my test was covered all topics evenly, and that all the tools were well represented, the IH process, and the details of each phase of IH.  The testing center was annoying.  In Florida we just had out first cold front of the fall and they had the HEAT ON!  Luckily, I wore shorts.  I wish I would have had more room to spread out my books, but I managed.  Once I knew I passed, I took a break, went to the bathroom, and re-arranged my work area.

All in all, I enjoyed the experience.  I am looking forward to the live training event in DC for GCIA.  Then.. who knows what else I might go for.  GCFA?  GCFA?  Maybe back to EC-Council for CFHI?  Or should I go for the GOLD?! Or just focus on school until I'm done.

Thank you EH-NET for all your support through my journey!

Congratulations! Always nice to see hardwork rewarded!

Thanks for the detailed info on test and study methods, always interesting to see how others manage with particular routes.

Good luck with whatever you try next

Congratulations!   Now it's time to ask for more money at work

Sounds like you've got everything in place, don't forget us little people when you're at the top

Passed GCIH on Oct 22nd...  For those thinking of taking it but don't want to spend the money on the training or materials, I chose the road of self studying.  I used the practice tests, Counter-Hack Reloaded by Ed Skoudis and some cheat sheets from SANS and packelife.net for the exam.