STNA Certification Requirements in Ohio (2026)
If you’re searching for CNA certification in Ohio and keep seeing the term “STNA” you’re not missing something. Ohio is the only state in the country that calls its certified nursing assistants State Tested Nurse Aides (STNAs). Same role, same duties, same pay. Just Ohio’s name for it. This guide covers everything you need to get certified, pass the exam, and start working.
(Dreambound, 2026)
STNA vs CNA: why Ohio does it differently
Ohio is the only state that uses the STNA designation. “State Tested Nurse Aide” emphasizes the state-administered competency exam at the heart of certification every Ohio STNA has passed a standardized, proctored two-part test administered by Headmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies). In most other states, the equivalent credential is called a CNA.
For practical purposes, an Ohio STNA and a CNA from any other state are doing the same work. Employers outside Ohio typically understand the equivalence, and Ohio accepts CNA credentials from other states through its reciprocity process.
Who oversees STNA certification in Ohio
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Ohio Department of Health (ODH) | Oversees all State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA) training through the Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) under OAC 3701-18-23. ODH approves training programs and maintains the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry. |
| Headmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) | Administers both the knowledge and skills competency examinations. Operates the TMU portal (oh.tmuniverse.com), where candidates schedule exams, access records, and manage testing activities. Passing scores are reported directly to ODH. |
| Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) | Conducts the fingerprint-based criminal background check required before employment in long-term care settings. Most employers also require an FBI background check. |
| Ohio Nurse Aide Registry | Public registry listing all active Ohio STNAs. Employers verify certification status through the registry, which also displays any findings related to abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property. |
Basic requirements to become an STNA
| Requirement | What It Means | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Age | Applicants must be at least 16 years old under Ohio law, although most training programs and employers require candidates to be 18 or older. | Required |
| High School Diploma / GED | Not required by Ohio state law, but most ODH-approved training programs and long-term care employers require a diploma or GED. Confirm requirements before enrolling. | Typically Required |
| ODH-Approved NATCEP Program | Complete a 75-hour Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP), including at least 59 hours of classroom/lab instruction and at least 16 hours of supervised clinical training in a long-term care facility. | Required |
| Competency Evaluation (Two Parts) | Pass both the written/oral knowledge exam (minimum 70% score) and the skills demonstration exam (minimum 80% on each skill with all critical steps completed correctly). | Required |
| BCI Background Check | Complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). Most long-term care employers also require an FBI background check under OAC 3701-13-05. | Required |
| Ohio Nurse Aide Registry Listing | After passing both portions of the competency evaluation, your information is automatically added to the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry. No separate application is required. | Required |
How to get your STNA: step by step
Complete a 75-Hour ODH-Approved NATCEP Program
Training must include at least 59 hours of classroom and skills lab instruction and at least 16 hours of supervised clinical experience in a long-term care facility. The first 16 hours are classroom and lab only, no resident contact until that threshold is met. Most programs take 3–8 weeks depending on whether you attend full-time or part-time.
Activate Your TMU Profile and Pay Exam Fees
After you complete training, your program provider submits your details to TMU (oh.tmuniverse.com). You’ll receive login instructions, then complete your profile, select your exam preferences (written or oral knowledge test), and pay fees online. You cannot schedule your exam until your profile is complete and fees are paid. Some training programs pre-pay exam fees for graduating students before you start.
Pass the Two-Part Competency Evaluation
Both sections are administered by the Headmaster. If taken back-to-back at the same site, plan for up to 6 hours on testing day. You have 3 attempts per section and must pass both within 2 years of completing your training program. Results are typically posted in your TMU portal within 24–48 hours.
Get Listed on the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry
Once you pass both exam sections, the Headmaster reports your results directly to ODH. Your name is automatically added to the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry, no additional application, no fee, no waiting. Verify your listing at odh.ohio.gov before applying for jobs, since employers check the registry directly.
Complete Your Background Check and Start Working
Ohio law prohibits individuals with certain convictions from working in long-term care facilities under OAC 3701-13-05. Background checks are processed through the Ohio BCI via WebCheck use the ORC 4723.091 reason code and a “direct copy” WebCheck location to ensure results go directly to the right agency. FBI check is also typically required by employers.
The STNA competency exam: what to actually expect
The exam is administered by the Headmaster and has two separate sections, both of which must be passed. If you fail one section, you only retake the failed portion, not both.
Knowledge Test (Written or Oral)
Skills Demonstration
The most common reason candidates fail the skills test is missing a bolded key step even if everything else is done perfectly. Study the Candidate Handbook carefully and practice each skill from start to finish, including handwashing and gloving. The evaluator cannot prompt you or tell you what you missed during the test.
You may work at a long-term care facility for up to 4 months before passing the exam if you’re enrolled in a NATCEP program. This grace period starts on your first workday and is cumulative across employers. Ask your employer about this option if you need income while completing your training.
What STNAs do in Ohio
✓ Within STNA Scope
- Personal care: bathing, dressing, grooming, oral hygiene
- Vital signs: blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respirations
- Mobility, transfers, and repositioning
- Meal assistance and nutrition support
- Infection control and standard precautions
- Resident rights documentation and reporting changes
✕ Outside STNA Scope
- Administering medications (reminder only)
- Skilled nursing procedures requiring LPN/RN
- IV access or wound care beyond basic
- Independent clinical decision-making
- Any task outside your approved training
How long it takes and what it costs
| Item | Timeline | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|
| ODH-Approved NATCEP Program | 3–8 Weeks | $300–$1,200 (many employers cover this at no cost) |
| Knowledge Exam (Written) | Scheduled After TMU Profile Creation | $26 |
| Skills Exam | Same Day or Separate From Knowledge Exam | $78 |
| BCI Background Check | 1–2 Weeks | $30–$50 |
| Registry Listing | Automatic After Passing Both Exams | Free |
| Total Out-of-Pocket | 3–8 Weeks Total | ~$430–$1,400 (often free through employer sponsorship) |
Ohio law requires your first long-term care nursing home employer to reimburse your training and exam costs if you begin working within 12 months of completing training. Reimbursement may be prorated based on your length of employment. Ask your employer about this before assuming those costs are permanent.
What Ohio STNAs earn
Ohio STNA pay is solid and competitive compared to national CNA wages. The average salary for STNAs in Ohio is $39,840 per year ($19.16 per hour). Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati metro areas where large health systems like OhioHealth, Cleveland Clinic, and TriHealth actively hire tend to pay at the higher end.
Salary Disclaimer: Salary estimates are based on publicly available wage data, employer job postings, and labor market information. Actual earnings vary by employer, geographic location, specialty, shift differentials, overtime opportunities, certifications, and experience level.
Where Ohio STNAs work
| Setting | What You Do | STNA Eligible? |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Nursing / Long-Term Care Facilities | Primary STNA setting; resident care, ADLs, and documentation. | Yes |
| Hospitals | Patient care technician or nursing assistant roles under RN supervision. | Yes |
| Assisted Living Communities | Residential personal care and support for residents. | Yes |
| Home Health Agencies | In-home client care under nurse supervision. | Yes |
| Rehabilitation Centers | Supporting therapy teams and patient recovery. | Yes |
| PASSPORT Medicaid Waiver Programs | Home-based care for eligible Medicaid waiver members. | Yes |
Keeping your STNA active renewal requirements
STNA certification in Ohio renews every 24 months. Ohio doesn’t charge a registry renewal fee, but you do have an ongoing work requirement.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Renewal Cycle | Every 24 months from the initial certification date. |
| Renewal Fee | None. Ohio does not charge a Nurse Aide Registry renewal fee. |
| Work-Hour Requirement | Must complete at least 7.5 consecutive hours OR 8 hours within a 48-hour period of paid nursing or nursing-related services during the 24-month renewal period. |
| Work Verification | Employer submits the HEA 7713 form to ODH confirming your qualifying work hours. |
| In-Service Education (LTC Facility) | If employed in a long-term care facility, you must also complete 12 hours of in-service education each calendar year. |
| If Requirements Are Not Met | Registry status becomes inactive. To reinstate, you must retake and pass both the knowledge and skills exams. Ohio does not offer a refresher course option; the full exam must be retaken. |
Your employer is responsible for submitting the HEA 7713 form confirming your work hours. If you change jobs, follow up with your new employer to ensure they’ve submitted it on your behalf, a missing form can cause your status to flag as inactive even if you’re actively working.
Transferring a CNA from another state to Ohio
If you’re already certified as a CNA in another state, Ohio allows you to transfer your credential through reciprocity rather than retaking the full NATCEP program and exam.
| Step | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Complete the HEA 6907 Form | Fill out Section I of Ohio’s reciprocity application. Section II must be completed directly by your home state’s nurse aide registry and submitted to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). |
| Submit Required ID | Include a photocopy of a valid government-issued photo identification document with your reciprocity application. |
| Mail to ODH |
Ohio Department of Health Attn: NAR 246 N. High Street Columbus, OH 43215 |
| Typical Timeline | Most reciprocity applications are processed within 2–4 weeks after ODH receives verification from your home state registry. |
| Active Status Requirement | Your out-of-state nurse aide certification must be active and in good standing. Expired, inactive, suspended, or revoked credentials are not eligible for reciprocity. |
Career path from STNA
Ohio’s healthcare career ladder is well-supported community colleges, TCATs, and bridge programs statewide offer pathways from STNA to LPN to RN. Major systems like OhioHealth, Cleveland Clinic, Bon Secours Mercy, and Kettering Health offer tuition reimbursement programs for staff pursuing nursing credentials. The experience you build as an STNA is genuinely valued in nursing school applications and interviews.
Skills that make a great STNA
Compassion
Building trust with residents at their most vulnerable
Observation
Noticing changes in a resident’s condition before they become emergencies
Communication
Clear reporting to nursing staff and families
Reliability
Residents and teams depend on consistent, punctual care
Physical Stamina
Lifting, transferring, and staying active through full shifts
Attention to Detail
Following care plans precisely and documenting accurately
Ready to start working as an STNA in Ohio?
Once you’re on the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry and credentialed with MyShyft, you don’t have to wait for a full-time position to open up. Pick up shifts at facilities near you on your own schedule Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and beyond.
- Pick up shifts that fit your schedule
- Work at a variety of facilities before committing full-time
- Get paid quickly
Frequently Asked Questions
Licensing Information Disclaimer: Licensing requirements, fees, examination details, renewal standards, and Nurse Licensure Compact participation may change over time. While we strive to keep this information current and accurate, MyShyft does not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information provided. Always verify licensing requirements directly with the Ohio Board of Nursing before making educational, licensing, employment, or relocation decisions. Reliance on information contained on this page is at the reader’s own risk.