Compare Ohio-approved STNA training near Independence by cost, schedule, and outcomes
Choose an in-person STNA program or a hybrid that moves theory online: Ohio's clinical hours still happen in a facility. Independence sits on the Rockside Road healthcare and office corridor, minutes from major Cleveland hospital systems and long-term care employers, so new State Tested Nurse Aides (STNAs) have nursing career paths nearby. Ohio uses STNA for what most states call a CNA, and nursing schools in Ohio list the terms interchangeably here. Cost and clinical placement, not distance, usually drive the choice.
An STNA (state tested nurse aide) works at the bedside under a nurse's supervision, helping with bathing, mobility, vital signs, and feeding. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities hire the most graduates of STNA programs in Ohio, so long-term care and rehab employers around Independence, Seven Hills, Garfield Heights, Parma, and Brecksville are the usual starting point. Hospital patient care tech roles often prefer STNA certification too.
University Hospitals Parma Medical Center (7007 Powers Boulevard)1 is the clearest nearby hospital. Cleveland Clinic and UH also run clinics in Independence and Brecksville13, but many are outpatient sites that may rely on medical assistants rather than STNAs. Confirm openings with each employer. We could not verify a complete current list of area nursing homes or hospice providers.
From Independence, I-77 and I-480 put most Cuyahoga County employers within about 20 minutes.
Some nurse aide theory can move online, but Ohio still requires hands-on clinical hours. Ohio Department of Health-approved programs may move some theory coursework online or run as a hybrid. The 16 clinical hours of the 75-hour minimum must be done in person at a long-term-care facility under an instructor's supervision.
Near Cleveland, accelerated day programs typically run about 2.5 to 5 weeks. One Cleveland program compresses the 75 hours into 2.5 weeks: online classes plus four in-person days, two of which are clinical. Evening and weekend tracks usually take 4 to 16 weeks. Evening instruction does not mean evening clinicals, which generally happen during the day.
Expect roughly 3 to 6 weeks of full-time CNA training, or longer part-time, plus the time it takes to schedule the state exam afterward.
A program advertising 100% online STNA training without ODH-approved in-person clinicals will not count toward Ohio certification.
Most Independence-area students considering Nursing Schools in Independence will need to look a short drive away. Within Independence itself, one verified health training listing at a Rockside Road address is Central School of Practical Nursing at 4700 Rockside Road.4 That program is approved for practical nursing in 2026, not for Ohio Department of Health STNA training, and the listing does not confirm current class dates or STNA availability.
The main confirmed STNA option for the Cleveland metro is Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C). Its Ohio Department of Health-approved1 Certified Nursing Assistant program runs about 108 hours (100 accelerated)2, with day, evening, weekend, and blended formats from 700 Carnegie Avenue in Cleveland.3 Tuition is around $1,200, and the program is not financial-aid eligible.1
No currently operating STNA-specific career center, private training school, or facility-based provider in Parma, Seven Hills, Garfield Heights, or Brooklyn Heights was confirmed in available records. Rockside Road STNA directory listings may be outdated, so call ahead to verify a school's current schedule and ODH approval before enrolling. For broader options, see /cna/programs/oh/.
A realistic Cleveland-area STNA budget includes tuition, books and supplies, scrubs, a BCI or FBI background check, a two-step TB test, and the state competency exam. Community college totals typically run $687-$1,390 before the exam, while private school totals run $787-$2,190. After adding the $104 written and skills exam fee, the all-in estimate is about $791-$2,294, though employer-sponsored seats can reduce the student cost to zero.
BLS data for the Cleveland-Elyria, OH metro area places the median annual wage for nursing assistants at $39,010, with the middle half earning between $37,850 and $45,000. Recent Cleveland-area STNA and CNA postings from 2025 and 2026 list base rates from roughly $17 to $27 an hour, and several employers add shift differentials or sign-on bonuses, such as a $2.50 afternoon differential or up to a $4,000 sign-on or retention bonus. Statewide nursing assistant wage figures and home health or personal care aide pay for this metro are not published in the available source data. Because local STNA training is typically short and low cost, a new graduate can often recover the entire program expense within the first few weeks of full-time work.
| Metric | Cleveland-Elyria, OH Metro |
|---|---|
| Total nursing assistant employment | 13,060 |
| Mean annual wage | $40,590 |
| 25th percentile annual wage | $37,850 |
| Median annual wage | $39,010 |
| 75th percentile annual wage | $45,000 |
Ohio's STNA competency exam, administered by D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster), has two parts you must both pass: a written knowledge test and a hands-on skills demonstration. The combined fee runs about $120, and candidates get up to three attempts per component within their testing window.
Below are the top CNA and STNA programs serving Independence students, ranked by cost, completion, outcomes, and format. Cuyahoga Community College District is the only Cuyahoga County school in this list; the remaining options are elsewhere in Ohio and may require an extended commute.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Cuyahoga Community College District | Cleveland, OH | $4,000/yr (est. net price) | Cleveland-area students needing local campus | |
Cuyahoga Community College, commonly known as Tri-C, offers an Ohio Department of Health approved nursing assistant program at its Metro and Westshore campuses in Cleveland. The non-credit workforce training includes hands-on clinical experience and prepares students for the state exam. Workforce scholarships may help reduce costs for qualifying students.
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| #2 | Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools | Groveport, OH | $16,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools provides a State Tested Nurse Aide program on a campus-based schedule in Groveport. The training combines classroom instruction with hands-on clinical experience and covers patient hygiene, vital signs, and medical terminology. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Ohio STNA certification exam.
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| #3 | Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County | Newark, OH | |||
C-TEC of Licking County offers a Certified Nurse Aide program in Newark with campus-based instruction and hands-on clinical experience. The curriculum covers infection control, daily living assistance, and patient care skills while meeting Ohio certification requirements. Graduates may pursue entry-level roles in nursing homes, hospitals, and home health agencies.
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| #4 | ETI Technical College | Niles, OH | ~$14,000/yr (est.) | ||
ETI Technical College in Niles offers a State Tested Nurse Aide program that prepares students for the Ohio state exam through a compact campus schedule. The program requires a high school diploma or GED, a BCI background check, and TB testing, and tuition is $850 with a payment plan option. Classes run for 10 classroom days and 2 clinical days on weekdays.
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| #5 | Columbiana County Career and Technical Center | Lisbon, OH | ~$12,000/yr (est.) | ||
Columbiana County Career and Technical Center in Lisbon provides an 86-clock hour Certified Nurse Assistant program that meets Ohio Department of Health requirements. Day and evening schedules are available, and training includes clinical rotations at nursing facilities. The program reports a 98% completer rate, 80% placement rate, and 78% licensure rate.
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| #6 | Sandusky Career Center | Sandusky, OH | |||
Sandusky Career Center offers a 76-hour Certified Nursing Assistant program that runs over three weeks with classroom and clinical training. Total cost is $810 and includes the state exam fee. Classes meet Monday through Wednesday, and the program is accredited by the Ohio Department of Health.
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| #7 | Central Ohio Technical College | Newark, OH | $5,000 – $8,000/yr (est.) | ||
Central Ohio Technical College offers a short-term Basic Healthcare Skills certificate that prepares students for the state CNA exam. The program requires 3.5 credit hours and is completed on campus in Newark, Knox, or Pataskala. A Talent Ready Grant of up to $2,000 may help cover costs for eligible students, though federal financial aid is not available for this noncredit option.
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| #8 | 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 format does not follow the standard college calendar, and courses may be taught off campus in partnership with Pioneer Career and Technology Center. The certificate applies toward the college's Health Services Technology associate degree.
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| #9 | Sinclair Community College | Dayton, OH | $4,000 – $9,000/yr (est.) | ||
Sinclair Community College in Dayton offers a Nurse Aide short-term certificate that meets Ohio Department of Health requirements and includes 75 hours of training with clinical experience. The 4-credit program prepares students for the Ohio STNA certification exam and for roles in long-term care and home health settings. Sinclair partners with local healthcare providers to connect graduates with job opportunities.
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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. Admissions requires a free application, high school or GED transcripts, state and federal background checks, and a two-step TB test. The program prepares students for state testing and can serve as a prerequisite for nursing programs.
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