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Top CNA Programs in Ohio

In Ohio, Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) are referred to as State Tested Nursing Assistants (STNAs). STNAs perform the same functions as CNAs. They help to provide basic nursing care services to a wide variety of patients in numerous healthcare settings like hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. Quite often, those who gain their STNA certificate will go on to become registered nurses (RNs).

Some good traits to have if you're considering becoming an STNA are:

  • Being understanding and compassionate
  • Having a genuine concern for others
  • Dependability and having a cooperative and professional attitude
  • Good-natured

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that nationwide, between 2012 and 2022, CNA employment will to rise 21%. This means that in the coming years, there will be ample employment opportunities in the field.

How to Choose a Top CNA Program in Ohio

Individuals contemplating a future career in the CNA field are advised to find the best CNA programs in their area. Researching the following when looking for top programs can be helpful:

  • Total cost
  • Institutional and program accolades/accreditation
  • Program success rate
  • State certification pass rate
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Rate of job placement upon graduation
  • Availability of financial aid, grants and scholarships
  • Partnerships with local healthcare facilities
  • Credentials of instructors

Testing and Certification

Aspiring STNAs must first enroll in a program that's been approved by the Ohio Department of Health. These programs must have at least 75 total training hours. After the first 16 hours of training, prospective STNAs are permitted to begin interacting with patients. Alternatively, individuals who have at least a year of experience as an aide or hospital orderly in the previous five years are able to sit for the state certification exam. Secondly, nursing students who are enrolled in a program which has been approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing are eligible to test if they are able to demonstrate that their coursework has included curriculum included in most CNA programs (i.e. infection control, safety procedures, etc.).

Once prospective STNAs have met any one of these requirements, they will need to sit for and successfully pass the Ohio nurse aide competency evaluation, which is administered via Diversified Technologies or by Headmaster. The competency evaluation is composed of two sections: knowledge and skills. The knowledge test comprises a series of multiple-choice questions which tests a student's knowledge base concerning topics like data collection, safety, the disease process, and others. The skills section tests five critical nurse aide skills. Students must complete this portion in 30 minutes and most score at least 80% on each skill tested.

The written test will cost students $24 and the skills exam costs $76. Students are given three attempts to pass the competency evaluation.

List of Top CNA Classes and Programs in Ohio

Lorain County Community College

Located in the city of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a higher education institution which was founded in 1963. Serving the population of Lorain County, LCCC also maintains learning centers in North Ridgeville, Wellington and Lorain. Earlier this year, LCCC was the 2018 Recipient of the American Association for Community College’s (AACC) Award of Excellence in Student Success.

LCCC offers students a State Tested Nursing Assisting (STNA) program which prepares students to perform a variety of clinical tasks and to work directly with different kinds of patients. Students can choose between courses that are three, four and five weeks long. Courses are offered during Fall, Spring and Summer semesters in Lorain and Westlake learning centers.

Healthcare facilities located near Lorain County are currently hiring CNAs

  • Cleveland Clinic
  • Veterans Affairs
  • Huntington Woods Care and Rehabilitation

Tuition

For more information regarding tuition and fees for LCCC’s program, call (800) 995-5222.

Sinclair College

Located in downtown Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a 2-year public college that was founded in 1948. Sinclair College is widely regarded as one of the top community colleges in the area.

As a part of its Health Sciences division, Sinclair College offers students a 75-contact hour CNA training program (ALH 1120). The training program seeks to impart the basic knowledge and skills required for future employment in the medical field. During the program’s duration, CNA students will learn how to identify the various signs and symptoms of infection, communication techniques, end of life care, and various safety and emergency procedures.

Healthcare facilities located near Dayton that are currently hiring CNAs

  • Kettering Health Network
  • Mercy Health
  • Premier Health Partners

Tuition

Current tuition for Sinclair College’s STNA program can be found by contacting the school directly at (937) 512-3000.

Warren County Career Center

Warren County Career Center is a career training and development institution that serves the adult and high school population of Warren County. It was first established in 1976. The institution specializes in assisting young students and adults in vocational training and boasts a job placement rate of over 75 percent.

WCCC offers students an STNA program that includes a total of 76 contact hours. 60 of these hours are dedicated to in-class lecture, discussion and lab practice, while the remaining 16 hours are dedicated to supervised clinical experience. Students can choose between programs that are two or four weeks in length.

Once students have completed the program, WCCC’s Job Placement Center and CNA instructors will assist students in their search for a job. According to the school’s webpage, approximately 75 to 100 percent of students who finish an adult education program at WCCC (i.e. STNA program) will be placed into a job.

Healthcare facilities located near Warren County that are currently hiring CNAs

  • UC Health
  • Graceworks Lutheran Services
  • Otterbein Senior Lifestyle Choices

Tuition

The total cost to attend WCCC’s STNA program is $820. This fee includes textbooks, scrubs, testing fees and additional supplies.

Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development

Continually operating since 1970, Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development is a joint vocational school that serves the communities of southwest Ohio. Great Oaks has most of its campuses in the Cincinnati metropolitan area: Diamond Oaks, Laurel Oaks, Live Oaks and Scarlet Oaks.

Great Oaks offers students two STNA programs: a basic program and a “Plus” program. Students who enroll in the basic STNA program can expect to complete the program in two weeks. During this two-week period, students are instructed in basic caregiving skills which include bathing, lifting and transferring patients, safety and hygiene procedures, medical terminology, HIPPA regulations, monitoring vital signs and more. Basic STNA courses meet from 8am to 4:30pm every day.

Students who opt for the Plus CNA program go through five weeks of theoretical and clinical training and two weeks of employability skills training. During the first five weeks of the Plus program, students learn the basic CNA skills mentioned above, in addition to other skills like PCA training, Glucose testing, oxygen monitoring and more. During the final two weeks of job skills training, instructors will emphasize a variety of skills that are recommended by employers in the area.

Healthcare facilities located near the Cincinnati Metropolitan Area that are currently hiring CNAs

  • The Christ Hospital Network
  • TriHealth
  • UC Health

Tuition

More information on Great Oaks’ STNA program tuition can be found by contacting them at (513) 961-4220.

Knox Technical Center: Adult Education

Knox Technical Center: Adult Education, formerly known as Knox County Career Center, is a post-secondary educational institution that’s situated in the small city of Mount Vernon, in Knox County.

KTC offers students an STNA program that’s just over 3 weeks in duration. The program follows state sanctioned curriculum. In the previous 5 years, KTC’s STNA program has boasted a first-time state certification pass rate of 90 percent. In total, the program comprises 76 hours of instruction. Students undergo a mixture of didactic lecture, clinical practice in the student lab, skills verification and a clinical skills experience onsite at a local healthcare facility. Lecture times are scheduled 4 days per week from 4:00pm to 9:30pm, while the clinical skills experience is scheduled on two Saturdays during the 3rd week of class.

Healthcare facilities located near that are currently hiring CNAs

  • Select Specialty Hospital
  • Newark Care and Rehabilitation
  • Kendal at Granville

Tuition

The total estimated cost to attend KTC’s STNA program is $885. This price includes scrubs, a watch, shoes and other expenses.

Northwest State Community College

Originally established in 1968, Northwest State Community College is a 2-year institution that’s located in the town of Archbold in Fulton County. NSCC is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college boasts more than 70 degree and certificate programs to choose from—one of the largest selections of majors of all Ohio community colleges.

NSCC’s STNA program is compliant with standards set forth by the Ohio Department of Health. In total, the program is comprised of a total of 75 contact hours. 59 of these hours are dedicated to classroom lecture, discussion and lab time, and the remaining 16 hours are dedicated to clinical experience onsite at a local healthcare facility. The in-class component of the program instructs students in areas like safety, the disease process, personal care and mental health. After students have established a solid knowledge base, they will be instructed in various psychomotor skills that are required for CNA work. Finally, students will have the opportunity to receive hands-on experience while taking care of real patients in a genuine healthcare setting. During this part of the program, CNA students will need to exhibit proficiency in various skills like feeding, bathing, dressing and more.

Healthcare facilities located near Archbold that are currently hiring CNAs

  • Twin Rivers Center – Genesis HealthCare
  • Bryan Center –Genesis HealthCare
  • Enlivant

Tuition

For more information on current tuition for NSCC’s STNA program, call (419) 267-2286.

Lakeland Community College

First chartered in 1967, Lakeland Community College is a public institution located in Lake County. The college’s main campus is located in Kirtland, but it also maintains a satellite campus in Madison. LCC represents the very first college to be established in Ohio by way of the people’s vote.

LCC offers students two different STNA programs. One them is simply an STNA that is taken alone. This course is a non-credit course and has a duration of 8 weeks—2 of these weeks are dedicated to a clinical externship that’s carried out at a local nursing facility.

The 2nd STNA program offered by LCC is called the STNA Certificate program. This program is comprised of a full 15-week semester. The courses that make up LCC’s STNA certificate program include the following:

  • Medical Terminology for Health Professions—3 credits
  • Nursing Assistant—4 credits
  • Customer Service and Healthcare—2 credits

In addition to the above classes, the certificate program also includes the instruction that’s meant to prepare students for the state certification exam.

Healthcare facilities located near Kirtland that are currently hiring CNAs

  • HCR ManorCare
  • Legacy Health Services
  • Maxim Healthcare Services

Tuition

For students who maintain a residence in Lake County, expected tuition is around $963 for LCC’s STNA course. Those coming from outside of Lake County and out-of-state can expect to pay around $1,224 and $2,826, respectively.