CNA Certification in Ohio

How to Become a CNA in Ohio

The Ohio Department of Health oversees and approves the OBRA-regulated nurse aide training programs in Ohio. Approved CNA training in Ohio must be completed before the nurse aide can move on to the nurse aide certification exam and be listed on the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry.

The Ohio Department of Health governs CNA training in Ohio. You must successfully complete this training before you can take the required nurse aide competency examination and be state-certified. CNAs in Ohio are also known as State Tested Nurse Aides, and you can expect a very exciting CNA career with new experiences.

Enrollment and Completing CNA Classes

Step 1

Find an approved program in your state. 

Ohio CNA training programs are at least 75 hours which will be a mix of classroom learning and hands-on training in a clinical setting.

For CNA certification in Ohio, candidates must have a diploma or GED and be at least 18 years of age. You will also need to do a full health screening and pass a criminal background check.

Step 2

Complete your Ohio CNA training.

Ohio CNA training will  teach you how to help a disabled patient with their daily cleaning and feeding requirements and will teach you to perform tasks like patient monitoring, emergency prep, and record keeping as delegated by a supervising nurse.

Some of the things you will learn during your training may include:

  • Understanding patient rights and how to protect them
  • Dealing with emergencies
  • Communicating with patients and supervising nurse
  • Recognizing neglect or abuse
  • Providing comfort for patients
  • Overall cleanliness and sanitation

Step 1

D&S Diversified Technologies will conduct the Ohio State Nurse Competency Test. You will need to pre-register with a signed photo ID to take the test. Upon registration, you will be given a testing date.

Step 2

We encourage you to prepare for your CNA certification exam by taking our CNA practice tests and reviewing what you learned in your training program.

Step 3

Pass the Ohio CNA certification exam.

This exam consists of a written portion and a skills assessment portion. The written portion consists of about 70 multiple-choice questions. The skill assessment portion of the test requires you to successfully complete five randomly-chosen nurse aide tasks.

Step 4

Create your resume and find a CNA job.

Ohio CNA jobs are expected to grow at a rate of 14%. The median yearly salary for Ohio CNAs is around $24,274.

For Additional Information regarding CNA certification in Ohio visit:

Ohio Nurse Aide Registry
Ohio Department of Health
246 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
License Verification: (800) 592-5908 (in-state) or (614) 752-9500 (out-of-state)
Fax: (614) 564-2461
E-mail: nar@odh.ohio.gov