How to become a STNA in Ohio.
Ohio requires at least 75 hours of nurse aide training, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice. Then you pass the state exam through Headmaster and get listed on the nurse aide registry.
- 75
- Min. hours
- 16
- Clinical hours
- $120
- Exam fee
- 403
- Programs
Step by step
Five steps to your Ohio certification
- 1
Meet the entry requirements
Most programs also ask for photo ID, a TB test, and proof of immunizations.
- 2
Finish a state approved training program
Ohio requires at least 75 training hours, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical work. Only programs approved by the state qualify you for the exam. Ohio requires 16 to 25 hours of clinical experience in a long term care facility.
See all 403 approved programs in Ohio - 3
Pass the state competency exam
The exam has a written or oral knowledge test and a hands on skills test, run by Headmaster. The exam fee is $120. Test within 2 years of finishing training; after 2 years you must complete a new ODH-approved program 3 attempts at the knowledge and skill parts within 2 years of finishing training, then retrain
- 4
Get listed on the nurse aide registry
Once you pass, your name goes on the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry. Employers check the registry before they hire you.
Search the OH registry - 5
Keep your certification active
Stay eligible by working for pay doing nursing or nursing-related services; certification lapses after 24 consecutive months without paid work, and then you need new training and competency evaluation. Handbook refers renewals to the registry at (800) 582-5908.
Online classes
Online classroom allowed, with state conditions. Ask each program how its classroom hours are delivered. Skills lab and clinical hours are always in person.
Moving from another state
An aide listed on another state's registry, from a state whose training and testing meet federal Title XVIII/XIX rules, qualifies. The handbook routes out-of-state reciprocity through the Nurse Aide Registry.
Paying for training
Vouchers, employers, grants, and scholarships cover nurse aide training in Ohio.
CNA funding in Ohio →Ohio CNA requirements
- Credential
- State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA)
- Training hours
- At least 75 hours
- Clinical hours
- At least 16 hours
- Exam provider
- Headmaster
- Exam fee
- $120 ($30 knowledge, $90 skills)
- Fee details
- Audio (oral) knowledge test is $40 ($30 + $10). Retakes are charged at the per-part price. Refunds carry a $35 processing fee. Replacement card is $25. The knowledge test can be taken with a remote proctor.
- Deadline to test
- Test within 2 years of finishing training; after 2 years you must complete a new ODH-approved program
- Retakes
- 3 attempts at the knowledge and skill parts within 2 years of finishing training, then retrain
- Online classroom
- Online classroom allowed, with state conditions
- Regulator
- Ohio Department of Health
Checked September 2026 against official state and exam provider sources: codes.ohio.gov, odh.ohio.gov, hdmaster.com. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the state or your program before you pay.
Becoming a CNA in Ohio, answered.
How many hours of training do you need to be a CNA in Ohio?
Ohio requires at least 75 hours of nurse aide training, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice. Then you pass the state exam through Headmaster and get listed on the nurse aide registry.
Who gives the CNA exam in Ohio?
Headmaster runs the Ohio nurse aide competency exam. The exam fee is $120.
Can you take CNA classes online in Ohio?
Online classroom allowed, with state conditions. Skills lab and clinical hours are always in person.
I am a CNA in another state. Can I work in Ohio?
An aide listed on another state's registry, from a state whose training and testing meet federal Title XVIII/XIX rules, qualifies. The handbook routes out-of-state reciprocity through the Nurse Aide Registry.
How do you renew a CNA certification in Ohio?
Stay eligible by working for pay doing nursing or nursing-related services; certification lapses after 24 consecutive months without paid work, and then you need new training and competency evaluation. Handbook refers renewals to the registry at (800) 582-5908.
How do I pay for CNA training in Ohio?
Workforce vouchers, employer sponsorship, state grants, and scholarships all pay for nurse aide training. A nursing home that hires you within a year of certification must reimburse your training costs under federal rules.
Start your training in Ohio.
Compare approved programs, then get matched to funding that pays for it.