Key Points
- STNA stands for State Tested Nurse Aide, Ohio's common title for the role the state registry lists as a certified nurse aide (CNA).
- Training runs at least 75 hours, including 16 hours of supervised clinical work in a skilled nursing facility.
- You pass a two-part state exam: a 79-question written test (70% to pass) and a hands-on test of five nursing skills (80% on each), run by D&S Diversified Technologies.
- You must be listed on the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry to work, and the listing stays active as long as you do paid nursing work within each 24-month window.
- STNAs in Ohio earn a median of about $39,010 a year ($18.75 an hour), and training is often free when a nursing facility sponsors it.
What an STNA Does in Ohio
An STNA handles the hands-on, daily care that keeps patients comfortable and safe. Working under an [LPN] or RN, you help residents bathe, dress, eat, move around, and use the bathroom. You also take and record vital signs, watch for changes in a resident's condition, and report them to the nursing staff.
Because Ohio uses the STNA title, you will see the same role posted as both STNA and CNA. They are the same job, only the name differs. STNAs in Ohio work in:
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes and long-term care facilities
- Assisted living and memory care communities
- Rehabilitation centers
- Home health agencies
How to Become an STNA in Ohio
Becoming an STNA in Ohio takes five steps, and most people move through them in about four to eight weeks.
Step 1: Meet the Ohio Requirements
Before you start, you generally need to:
- Be at least 16 years old
- Have a high school diploma or GED (most programs ask for one, though it is not a state mandate, and some accept students still in high school)
- Pass a fingerprint background check through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the FBI
- Be in good physical and mental health, with current immunizations and a TB screening
Step 2: Complete a 75-Hour ODH-Approved Program
Ohio requires you to finish a Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) approved by the Ohio Department of Health. The program runs at least 75 hours, including 16 hours of supervised clinical experience in a skilled nursing facility. Federal rules require the first 16 hours of training to be finished before you have any direct contact with residents, and the rest is classroom and skills-lab instruction covering infection control, basic nursing skills, residents' rights, communication, and daily-living care. Some programs run online or hybrid, with the clinical hours in person.
Here is the part worth knowing: STNA training can be free. Under federal rules, a nursing facility that employs you, or has offered you a job, when you begin a program cannot charge you for it. If a facility hires you within 12 months of finishing, the state arranges reimbursement on a pro-rated basis for what you paid. Your county Department of Job and Family Services office can also point you toward tuition assistance.
Dreambound lists STNA classes across Ohio, including Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, and Akron, so you can compare programs near you.
Step 3: Pass the State Competency Exam
After training, you take the state competency exam, run by D&S Diversified Technologies. It has two parts:
- Written test: 79 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes. You need 70% to pass, and an oral version is available if reading is a barrier.
- Skills test: five randomly chosen nursing skills, drawn from a list of 25, performed in 35 minutes for an evaluator. You need at least 80% on each skill.
You get three attempts at each part within 24 months of finishing your program. Miss either part three times and you retake the program before testing again.
Step 4: Get Listed on the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry
Once you pass both parts, your name goes on the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry, and that listing is what makes you legally able to work as an STNA in the state. Employers check the registry before they hire, so confirm your status shows active before you start applying. Most candidates appear on the registry within a few weeks of passing.
Step 5: Start Working as an STNA in Ohio
With an active registry listing, you can apply across hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living and memory care, rehabilitation centers, and home health agencies. For many people, the STNA is a first step, with a clear path toward LPN or RN down the road, which is part of why it is such a common entry point into healthcare.
STNA Salary in Ohio
STNAs in Ohio earn a median of about $39,010 a year, or $18.75 an hour, based on May 2025 wage data. That runs roughly $3,250 below the national median of $42,260 for nursing assistants. Pay varies across the state, with metros like Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati and hospital or government settings generally toward the higher end.
Nationally, nursing assistant jobs are projected to grow 2% from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all jobs. An aging population, the steady need for long-term care, and growth in home health keep Ohio openings coming.
If those numbers work for you, compare STNA classes in your Ohio metro on Dreambound to see what fits your schedule.
Keeping Your Ohio STNA Certification Active
Your STNA certification does not expire on a fixed date, but you do have to keep it active. Ohio keeps you on the registry as long as you perform paid nursing or nursing-related work, at least 7.5 consecutive hours or 8 hours within a 48-hour period, during each 24-month period. Volunteer hours do not count; the work has to be paid and supervised.
If you work in a long-term care facility, you also complete 12 hours of in-service education each year, usually provided by your employer.
There is no state fee to keep an active certification. If your listing lapses, though, you have to retake and pass the competency exam to get back on the registry. You can check your status anytime through the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry, and if you are moving to Ohio from another state, the registry handles reciprocity, so you may not need to retest.
