Points of interest…
- Akron metro STNAs earned a median $39,250 in May 2025.
- Ohio allows online classroom hours but always requires supervised clinical hours.
- OhioMeansJobs WIOA grants up to $7,000 can cover training in 2027.
In Ohio, a certified nursing assistant is called a State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA), a nursing career path that takes weeks to earn, not years. Approved courses run 75 hours, and most students are working or testing within two months.
True in-city options in Cuyahoga Falls are limited, so most students also weigh programs in Akron, Stow, Kent, Hudson, and the Cleveland/Brecksville area. That widens the choice but also the price spread. Cost, free or employer-paid training, and how quickly you can reach the state exam tend to decide which program fits.
Where STNAs Work in Cuyahoga Falls and the Akron Area
Hospital work offers acute-care pace and smaller STNA hiring volume; skilled nursing, assisted living, and home health account for most entry-level STNA jobs in greater Cuyahoga Falls, roles that often begin with CNA programs in Ohio.
Hospital and health system roles
Summa Health, the Akron system with more than 8,500 employees1, posts STNA/nursing assistant jobs at about $15.77 to $19.85 per hour on 7am to 7pm or 7pm to 7am shifts2. Its Cuyahoga Falls campus, Summa Western Reserve Hospital3, has per-diem CNA ER listings, so hospital openings exist but are often less predictable for new aides. Cleveland Clinic Akron General is another major health system in the Akron market.
Skilled nursing, assisted living, and home health
Skilled nursing and rehab centers are the largest STNA employer type and the most likely to offer paid training. Falls Village in Cuyahoga Falls advertises a $4,500 full-time sign-on bonus3, Bath Creek Estates lists $21 to $23 per hour2, and Hudson Elms posts $19 per hour base pay on 6:30am to 6:30pm or 6:30pm to 6:30am shifts4. In Akron, Highland Square Rehab and Nursing advertises up to $19 per hour.5 Assisted living and home health add lower-acuity options: Brookdale Senior Living lists aide openings at $13.50 to $16.44 per hour2, and Haven Home Care in Cuyahoga Falls pays $16 to $20 per hour for at least 20 hours weekly2. Commutes to Akron, Stow, Tallmadge, Hudson, and Kent widen the job pool further. Because STNA work often includes 12-hour days, nights, and weekends, it is a common first step toward LPN Programs in Cuyahoga Falls or RN programs.
Online, Blended, and 2-Week STNA Classes Near Cuyahoga Falls
Ohio lets you do part of STNA training online, but never all of it. Under Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3701-18, the 59 classroom hours can be delivered online or in person, provided an instructor is available at the end of each lesson for questions and discussion.1 The 16 clinical hours must be supervised, hands-on, and in person at a facility.2 The competency evaluation, where you demonstrate skills, also has to happen in person.1 Any program that promises a fully online STNA is not an Ohio-approved certified nursing assistant program.
Fast tracks and evening schedules
Searches for fast track CNA programs like "2 week STNA classes" usually surface accelerated daytime formats. Since Ohio requires at least 75 total hours, a full-day schedule works out to roughly two to three weeks.1 Evening and weekend tracks cover the same 75 hours but stretch over more weeks. Exact lengths vary by provider, so ask for the calendar before paying a deposit.
Providers to check
- Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C): Lists an accelerated State Tested Nursing Assistant course through its workforce catalog. Start dates, meeting times, campus, and tuition for 2026 were not confirmed, so verify directly.
- Six District and Portage Lakes career centers: Worth a call, but a current STNA schedule and format were not documented.
- Private nurse aide academies: Some advertise online theory plus in-person skills. Confirm Ohio Department of Health approval first.2
A reality check
A fast track means showing up full days, usually without a work shift on the side. If you hold a job, an evening schedule you can actually keep may get you certified sooner than an accelerated class you have to drop.
Free and Paid STNA Training in Summit County
Three routes can bring STNA training close to free in Summit County through free CNA training programs and other low-cost options: employer-run programs, federal protections for facility hires, and WIOA grants of up to $7,000 through OhioMeansJobs.
Facility-based training
Many nursing homes run their own approved training programs and either pay trainees or waive tuition as part of a work commitment. We could not confirm whether Altercare or similar chains enroll outside applicants. Ask each facility whether training is open to non-employees, whether a conditional job offer comes first, and who pays for testing.
What the federal rule says
Under 42 CFR 483.1521, an aide who is employed by, or has a job offer from, a Medicare or Medicaid nursing facility when training begins cannot be charged any portion of it, including textbooks and course materials.2 If you pay for a course first and a facility hires you or offers you a job within 12 months of finishing, the state must reimburse your costs pro rata while you work as an aide.2 Enrolling alone creates no reimbursement right, and the rule does not make every private school free.
Workforce funding
The OhioMeansJobs Summit County Education and Training page offers WIOA Individual Training Account grants of up to $7,000, as funding permits. Applicants must be income-eligible, complete a Career Workshop, and take the TABE or WorkKeys assessment. Call 330-633-1050 to ask whether a current STNA course qualifies and what an award would cover, since books, uniforms, and testing fees are not confirmed.
Before signing with any employer, get the length of the work commitment and any payback clause in writing.
Related Articles
What CNA Training Costs in Cuyahoga Falls (And Why Listings Disagree)
The cost conversation has shifted from tuition to all-in price: two students can complete the same 75-hour Ohio STNA course and pay thousands apart.
A realistic Akron-area budget
Across CNA programs in Akron and surrounding communities, Ohio STNA courses generally list between $500 and $1,500, with community college options often $700 to $1,500 and private vocational programs roughly $800 to $2,000. Full-time training typically runs three to six weeks. Add the extras: a state competency exam near $104 to $120 depending on format (verify current fee), BCI/FBI background check $40 to $70, TB test $15 to $40, scrubs and shoes $20 to $60, and a CPR/BLS card. A reasonable student-paid estimate is $700 to $1,800 for lower-cost courses, while private programs at the high end can approach $2,300 before shoes and supplies.
Why Fortis listings look inconsistent
For Nursing Schools in Cuyahoga Falls, third-party pages for Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls at 2545 Bailey Road sometimes pair a short STNA-style course priced in the hundreds with a much longer, higher-priced program. The school's own current catalog does not clearly list a nurse aide or STNA program. One catalog program is 15 months and five quarters, but it is not identified as nurse aide training and its tuition is not published, so 15 months is not STNA length. Institution-wide net price figures describe the whole college, not a short STNA course, so request a program-specific quote.
How to pay far less
Employer-sponsored training can reduce tuition to $0, especially in long-term care. Free STNA classes and paid training routes often cover the course and sometimes CPR or a uniform, cutting most out-of-pocket cost to zero.
Ohio STNA Certification Requirements, Step by Step
Follow these steps to meet Ohio's STNA certification requirements.
- Complete an approved training programFinish an Ohio Department of Health-approved program with at least 75 total hours: 59 hours of classroom/lab instruction and 16 hours of supervised clinical in a long-term-care setting.
- Pass background and health checksComplete the required Ohio BCI and FBI fingerprint background checks, typically through Ohio WebCheck, and meet any facility health screening requirements.
- Pass the state competency examPass both the written/oral knowledge and skills demonstration components through D&S Diversified Technologies/Headmaster/TMU. Published 2026 fees vary, one source lists $30 knowledge, $40 audio, and $90 skills, while another reports $55 combined, so confirm the current amount at registration.
- Get on and maintain the Ohio Nurse Aide RegistryAfter passing both components, you can be listed on the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry. Keep the listing active by working at least 7.5 consecutive hours or 8 hours within a 48-hour period in paid nursing-related services during each 24-month cycle.
- Verify a program's ODH approvalBefore enrolling, confirm the program is currently on the Ohio Department of Health's approved list. For statewide options, see topnursing.org/cna/programs/oh/.
Top Nursing Assistant Schools Near Cuyahoga Falls
Below are the top nursing assistant programs serving Cuyahoga Falls students, ranked by affordability, program fit, and completion support. Because no Cuyahoga Falls campus appears in current federal data, the list includes Ohio Department of Health-approved STNA training options across the state; each school's home city is noted in its card. Net price is an institution-wide average and does not equal the STNA course price.
Factors considered
- First-year retention rates
- Student-to-faculty ratios
- Program affordability and net price
- Delivery mode and schedule fit
- Clinical training and certification alignment
Data sources
- BEA state price parities, used to adjust tuition — bea.gov
- College Scorecard post-completion earnings data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Program-level records maintained in house
- Original research on individual programs
- National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) — nces.ed.gov
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools | Groveport, OH | $16,000/yr (est. net price) | Career changers wanting hands-on clinical training | |
Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools in Groveport provides campus-based State Tested Nurse Aide training that combines classroom instruction with hands-on clinical experience. Students prepare for the Ohio certification exam while practicing vital signs, patient hygiene, and medical terminology. The school's institution-wide average net price is $15,732, not the STNA course price.
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| #2 | Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County | Newark, OH | Entry-level healthcare workers needing certification prep | ||
C-TEC of Licking County in Newark delivers a campus-based Certified Nurse Aide program with clinical experience in nursing homes, hospitals, and home health settings. Students learn vital signs, infection control, and daily living assistance. The school's institution-wide net price is not published.
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| #3 | ETI Technical College | Niles, OH | ~$14,000/yr (est.) | Cost-conscious adult learners | |
ETI Technical College in Niles offers a campus-based State Tested Nurse Aide program with an $850 total tuition and payment plan. The schedule includes 10 classroom days and 2 clinical days on weekdays, with admission requiring a high school diploma or GED, a BCI background check, and TB testing. The institution-wide average net price is $13,665, not the STNA course price.
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| #4 | Columbiana County Career and Technical Center | Lisbon, OH | ~$12,000/yr (est.) | ||
Columbiana County Career and Technical Center in Lisbon offers an 86-clock-hour Certified Nurse Assistant program that meets Ohio Department of Health requirements. Day and evening schedules are available, and the program reports a 98% completer rate and 80% placement rate. The school's institution-wide average net price is $12,133, not the STNA course price.
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| #5 | Sandusky Career Center | Sandusky, OH | |||
Sandusky Career Center in Sandusky offers a 76-hour Certified Nursing Assistant program that runs three weeks and costs $810, including tuition and exam fees. Classes meet Monday through Wednesday, with clinical days included. The school's institution-wide net price is not published.
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| #6 | Central Ohio Technical College | Newark, OH | $5,000 – $8,000/yr (est.) | ||
Central Ohio Technical College in Newark offers a short-term Basic Healthcare Skills certificate that prepares students for the State Tested Nurse Aide exam. The on-campus program is 3.5 credit hours, uses open enrollment, and eligible students may access a Talent Ready Grant of up to $2,000. The institution-wide average net price is $9,948, not the STNA course price.
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| #7 | North Central State College | Mansfield, OH | $5,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
North Central State College in Mansfield offers a State Tested Nurse Assistant Certificate that combines classroom, lab, and directed practice. The FLEX program operates outside the traditional college calendar, and CPR and first aid certification are included. The institution-wide average net price is $4,687, not the STNA course price.
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| #8 | Sinclair Community College | Dayton, OH | $4,000 – $9,000/yr (est.) | ||
Sinclair Community College in Dayton offers a four-credit Nurse Aide short-term certificate that meets Ohio Department of Health requirements. The 75-hour program includes clinical training and prepares students for STNA certification. The institution-wide average net price is $5,992, not the STNA course price.
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| #9 | Cuyahoga Community College District | Cleveland, OH | $4,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
Cuyahoga Community College District in Cleveland offers an Ohio Department of Health-approved Certified Nursing Assistant program at Metro Campus and Westshore Campus. The non-credit workforce program includes clinical experience, and workforce scholarships may be available. The institution-wide average net price is $4,266, not the STNA course price.
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| #10 | Belmont College | St Clairsville, OH | $7,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
Belmont College in St. Clairsville offers a fast-track Certified Nurses Assistant program with total upfront costs around $1,101.70, including tuition, fees, and materials. Admission requires state and federal background checks and a two-step TB test. The institution-wide average net price is $6,995, not the STNA course price.
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Nursing assistants in the Akron, OH metro area earned a median annual wage of $39,250 in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is slightly above the Ohio statewide median of $39,010.
Ohio STNA Exam and Program FAQs
Answers to common questions about Ohio's STNA competency exam, retake rules, program approval, and certification maintenance. Always confirm the latest details with the Ohio Department of Health or D&SDT-Headmaster.
The most recent statewide overall pass rate is 85% for the 2023-2024 testing year, up from 74% in 2021-2022, according to a secondary Ohio training source. Ohio does not publish separate pass rates for the written and skills portions.
Ohio allows three attempts per component within two years after training. Passing one component means retaking only the failed one. After three failures on a component, repeat an ODH-approved training program before retesting. Retest fees in 2026 are $30 for knowledge and $90 for skills; verify with D&SDT-Headmaster.
The Ohio Department of Health maintains a searchable list of approved Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Programs. Ask any program for its ODH approval code, then confirm that code on the ODH website or through the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry before enrolling.
Ohio STNA registry placement does not require periodic renewal, but if you have not worked as an aide for an extended period, the Ohio Department of Health may ask for a refresher course or retest before returning to work. Contact ODH or D&SDT-Headmaster for current reinstatement policy.
