How to Become a CNA in Ohio
To work as a certified nursing assistant in Ohio, you finish a state-approved training program of at least 75 hours, pass the competency exam given by D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster), and get listed on the state nurse aide registry. Ohio does not post a current list of approved programs online, so check a program's state approval before you pay; 30 colleges here report a CNA program to the U.S. Department of Education.
Updated October 2026 · Sources: Ohio Department of Health, Nurse Aide Registry, Ohio Admin. Code 3701-18-12, IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
- Training required
- 75+ hr16 clinical
- Colleges with CNA programs
- 30IPEDS 2023–24
- Lowest college price
- $525median $770, 19 colleges
- Ohio median pay
- $39,010$18.76/hr · BLS May 2025
Step 1: Choose a state-approved program
Only a nurse aide training program approved by the Ohio Department of Health qualifies you for the exam. Ohio does not post a current approved-program list online (the state list was unavailable when we checked in October 2026), so ask each program for its state approval in writing. The 30 colleges that report a CNA program to the U.S. Department of Education are listed with costs here; programs run by nursing homes and private schools are not in that federal data.
Biggest Ohio metro areas for CNA training
- CNA classes in Cincinnati4
- CNA classes in Cleveland4
- CNA classes in Columbus3
- CNA classes in Dayton2
- CNA classes in Lima2
- CNA classes in Mansfield2
- CNA classes in Sandusky2
Step 2: Complete at least 75 hours of training
Ohio requires at least 75 hours: 16 classroom hours before any resident contact, then 59 hours that include 16 to 25 hours of clinical experience in an Ohio long-term care facility. Source: Ohio Admin. Code 3701-18-12. That is the same as the federal minimum of 75.
What college CNA programs charge in Ohio
19 colleges report a CNA program price to the U.S. Department of Education: $525 to $10,484, median $770 for tuition plus books and supplies (IPEDS 2023–24).
| College (lowest prices) | City | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Four County Career Center | Archbold | $525 |
| Mid-EastCTC-Adult Education | Zanesville | $575 |
| Pike County Joint Vocational School District | Piketon | $590 |
| Miami Valley Career Technology Center | Englewood | $650 |
| EHOVE Career Center | Milan | $690 |
Price = tuition plus books and supplies, self-reported by colleges for 2023–24. Exam and background-check fees are extra.
Step 3: Pass the Ohio competency exam
The exam has a written (or oral) part and a hands-on skills part, given by D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster).
Step 4: Get listed on the registry
After you pass, you are added to the Ohio nurse aide registry, kept by the Ohio Department of Health, Nurse Aide Registry. Employers check it before hiring, and anyone can look up a CNA license for free. Under federal rules, if you go 24 months in a row without paid nursing-related work, you must retrain or retest.
Step 5: Find a job
63,280 nursing assistants work in Ohio. The median earns $39,010 a year; the top 10% earn $46,570 or more (BLS May 2025). See Ohio CNA pay by metro area.
CNA requirements by state
| State | Training hours | Clinical | Exam | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 160 | 100 | D&SDT-Headmaster, Credentia, or the Regional Testing Center | 592 |
| Colorado | 75+ | 16 | Credentia (NNAAP) | state list |
| Florida | 120 | 40 | Prometric | 201 |
| Georgia | 85 | 24 | Credentia (NNAAP) | 335 |
| Illinois | 120 | 40 | Southern Illinois University Carbondale (INACE) | 395 |
| Massachusetts | 75+ | — | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | 109 |
| Michigan | 75 | 16 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | 222 |
| Missouri | 175+ | 100 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | not checked |
| New Jersey | 90 | 40 | PSI and D&SDT-Headmaster | 158 |
| New York | 100 | 30 | Prometric | 196 |
| North Carolina | 75+ | — | Credentia (NNAAP) | 247 |
| Ohio | 75+ | 16 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | not published |
| Pennsylvania | 80 | 37.5 | Credentia (NNAAP) | 182 |
| Texas | 100 | 40 | Prometric | not published |
| Virginia | 140+ | 40 | Credentia (NNAAP) | 220 |
| Washington | 108+ | 40 | Credentia | 170 |
| Wisconsin | 75+ | 16 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | not checked |
Becoming a CNA in Ohio: FAQ
How many hours of training does a CNA need in Ohio?
Ohio requires at least 75 hours: 16 classroom hours before any resident contact, then 59 hours that include 16 to 25 hours of clinical experience in an Ohio long-term care facility (Ohio Admin. Code 3701-18-12). The federal minimum is 75 hours, 16 of them supervised clinical.
Who runs the Ohio CNA exam?
The Ohio competency exam (a written or oral test plus a skills test) is given by D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster).
How much does CNA training cost in Ohio?
Among 19 Ohio colleges that report a CNA program price to the U.S. Department of Education, tuition plus books and supplies ranges from $525 to $10,484 (median $770, IPEDS 2023–24). Programs run by nursing homes and private schools are not in that data; ask them directly.
Is there a list of state-approved CNA programs in Ohio?
As of October 2026, Ohio does not post a current list of approved nurse aide training programs online. Only approved programs qualify you for the D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) exam, so ask any program for its state approval before you enroll. 30 colleges in Ohio report a CNA program to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS 2023–24); they are listed on this page.
How do I look up a CNA license in Ohio?
Use the free Ohio nurse aide registry search, run by the Ohio Department of Health, Nurse Aide Registry. It shows whether a certificate is active. The link is in the rules box on this page.
How much do CNAs make in Ohio?
The median Ohio nursing assistant earned $39,010 a year ($18.76 an hour) in BLS May 2025 data, below the U.S. median of $42,260. The middle half earned $37,300 to $44,590.