Points of interest…
- Ohio requires 75 training hours and ODH approval for STNA eligibility.
- Stark State College Akron offers eight-week day and evening cohorts.
- Akron-area nursing assistants earn a $39,250 median annual wage.
Ohio requires at least 75 hours of state-approved nurse aide training, an early part of the steps to become a nurse, which means an Akron student can move from a first class session to a state exam date in as little as two to eight weeks, then start on a floor at a Summit County nursing home, hospital, or home care agency.
Ohio calls the credential STNA, or State Tested Nurse Aide. Local job postings and school catalogs use CNA and STNA interchangeably, so the two words point to the same license. The harder question is cost: tuition sits alongside background checks, CPR, scrubs, and exam fees, while some employers cover the whole thing in exchange for a work commitment. Median pay in the metro runs near $18.87 an hour.
Where Akron CNAs Work: Hospitals, Nursing Homes, and Home Care
Two very different starting points exist for new Akron STNAs entering nursing careers: a long-term care floor or a hospital unit. Each hires differently, and knowing which type hires faster saves weeks of searching.
Long-Term Care Hires First
Skilled nursing and assisted living operators are the biggest STNA employers in Summit County and usually the fastest route to a first job. Maplewood Senior Living in Cuyahoga Falls runs evening caregiver shifts, Brookdale Senior Living advertises full-time, part-time, and PRN schedules with same-day interviews2, and Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care lists CNA/STNA openings. Home care is another on-ramp: Buckeye State Health and Family Services offers free training toward certification with no prior experience required.3
Hospitals Often Want Experience
Akron's major hospital systems, including Summa Health, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, and Akron Children's, hire nurse aides, but hospital roles may ask for prior experience or use titles like patient care technician or patient safety companion.4 Summa Health has posted multiple Nursing Assistant openings across different units on 12-hour shifts, so hospital work is reachable, just more competitive for a first job.
Nearby Commuting Markets
Demand extends well past the city line. Staffing platforms list STNA shifts in Stow, Copley, and Kent, Barberton and Cuyahoga Falls carry their own facility clusters, and Canton to the south adds another market within a reasonable commute.
CNA programs in Ohio train STNAs to provide personal care, take vital signs, and assist with mobility under nurse supervision. The role does not include medication administration. For what these jobs pay locally, see the salary section below.
Ohio STNA Rules: Training Hours, ODH Approval, and Online Options
Ohio sets a clear floor for CNA training programs: a program must deliver at least 75 total hours1, and approval from the Ohio Department of Health is what makes the training valid for STNA eligibility2.
Training Hours and Clinical Minimums
Under Ohio Department of Health rules, the 75-hour total includes at least 16 classroom hours before any nursing-related service with direct resident contact1. After that, the program must provide at least 59 additional hours, including 16 to 25 hours of supervised clinical experience1. Clinical supervision must come from the primary instructor, an RN, or an LPN2.
Approval Matters More Than Accreditation
When comparing programs, look for ODH approval rather than a general "accreditation" label. Ohio approves specific nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs, often called NATCEP or TCEP2. Before paying, ask the school to identify its current ODH approval and confirm the specific course is on the ODH approved-program list, not just the institution. You can verify by checking the ODH nurse aide training program roster or contacting the ODH nurse aide office.
Online and Hybrid Coursework
Ohio permits the classroom theory portion of an approved STNA course to be delivered online or in a hybrid format2. That flexibility does not remove the in-person requirements. The skills lab and the 16 to 25 supervised clinical hours require in-person attendance, and students still must pass the competency evaluation3. A course marketed only as an "online STNA" is not ODH-approved unless you verify that specific course.
How Long Training Takes in Calendar Time
Because the state requires the same 75 hours, fast CNA programs with daytime schedules can finish in about two weeks. Standard daytime sections spread the work over several weeks, and evening or weekend schedules take longer because weekly contact hours are lower.
Confirm Current Status
A program run by a nursing facility can lose its approval in certain circumstances, so confirm the program's current ODH status before enrolling, even if it was approved in the past.
How Akron CNA Programs Compare on Cost, Length, and Schedule
Tuition and schedule structure vary widely across Akron STNA providers. Stark State College Akron runs an 8-week course with day and evening cohorts, while Med-Cert and A&E Nursing Skills offer 2-week accelerated paths, with Med-Cert also listing weekend and evening options. Working adults who need evening classes should look closely at Stark State College Akron and Med-Cert; students who want the fastest finish will likely weigh Med-Cert or A&E Nursing Skills.
| Program | Location | Tuition | Length (Weeks) | Schedule Options | What's Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stark State College Akron | Akron Perkins Campus, 360 Perkins Street, Akron, OH 44308 | $1,260 | 8 | Day and evening cohorts | Training course ($1,071), liability insurance, BCI/FBI background check, written state test, and skills state test. Textbook/workbook, physical exam, flu shot, scrubs, white shoes, and retests are separate. |
| Med-Cert | 733 West Market Street, #101, Akron, OH 44303 | $540 | 2 (day hybrid); 5 (weekend) | Day, weekend, evening, and Monday/Wednesday-only options | Catalog lists $500 total: $75 registration fee and $425 instructional tuition. Source does not specify whether books, CPR, or state exam are included. |
| A&E Nursing Skills | Akron, OH | $550 | 2 | Week 1 online; Week 2 in-person lab Monday through Wednesday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; optional evening practice Monday through Thursday 4:30 to 9:00 p.m. | Full CNA training program and certificate of completion. State testing fee, TB test, background check, and optional CPR certification are separate. Book rental and optional evening practice are provided. |
What a CNA Actually Costs in Akron Beyond Tuition
Tuition varies widely by school, and some programs bundle background checks, CPR, TB testing, scrubs, or supplies into tuition. This donut shows a typical mid-range estimate for the out-of-pocket add-ons many Akron STNA students pay separately. Always ask each school for an itemized total before enrolling.
Related Articles
Several Akron-area employers will pay you while you train and cover your STNA tuition if you commit to work for them after hire.
What Nursing Assistants Earn in the Akron Metro
For nursing assistants in the Akron metro area, the median annual wage is $39,250, which works out to about $18.87 per hour assuming a 2,080-hour work year. The 25th percentile wage is $37,660 and the 75th percentile wage is $44,160, so most local nursing assistant roles fall in that band. These are metro-wide wages for the occupation, not earnings tied to any specific program. Nights, weekends, and facility incentive shifts can add differential pay on top of these base figures.
| Metric | Akron, OH metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Estimated employment | 3,170 |
| Annual mean wage | $40,520 |
| 25th percentile annual wage | $37,660 |
| Median annual wage | $39,250 |
| 75th percentile annual wage | $44,160 |
Questions to Ask Yourself
Would you sign a work commitment with an Akron nursing home in exchange for free STNA training?
Free training often ties you to several months of employment at that facility. If you want to shop around for pay and shift options, paying out of pocket keeps your choices open.
Do you need evening or weekend classes, or can you handle a 2-week daytime accelerated course?
Accelerated daytime courses finish fastest but demand full weekday availability. If you're working now, evening or weekend formats let you train without quitting your current job.
Is a college-based program worth it for a future LPN or ADN path?
A community college program can count toward nursing prerequisites later. A private training center usually gets you certified sooner but offers no direct bridge into further nursing degrees.
Can you commute to Canton, Kent, or Cuyahoga Falls if a program there starts sooner?
Nearby towns often have different start dates and openings. A short drive can mean beginning weeks earlier instead of waiting for the next Akron cohort to fill.
Top-Ranked CNA Schools in and Near Akron
Below are the ranked CNA programs serving Akron-area students.
Factors considered
- First-year retention
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- Post-completion earnings outcomes
- Program-level accreditation and approvals
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 (net price) | First-time healthcare students wanting hands-on labs | |
Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools in Groveport, Ohio, offers a campus-based State Tested Nurse Aide program. The training combines classroom instruction with hands-on clinical experience. Students practice essential patient care skills such as vital signs, hygiene, and medical terminology. Graduates meet Ohio's requirements to sit for the state certification exam.
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| #2 | Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County | Newark, OH | Entry-level workers targeting nursing home roles | ||
C-TEC of Licking County in Newark, Ohio, offers a campus-based Certified Nurse Aide program. The curriculum develops patient care skills through hands-on clinical experience. Students learn vital signs monitoring, infection control, and daily living assistance. The program meets Ohio certification requirements and prepares graduates for roles in nursing homes, hospitals, and home health agencies.
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| #3 | ETI Technical College | Niles, OH | $14,000/yr | Budget-conscious learners needing payment flexibility | |
ETI Technical College in Niles, Ohio, offers a Certified Nurse Aide training program focused on the Ohio State Test for Nurse Aides. The campus-based program teaches personal care skills for multiple healthcare settings. Admission requires a high school diploma or GED, a BCI background check, and TB testing. Tuition includes a payment plan, and some students may qualify for assistance through local workforce agencies.
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| #4 | Columbiana County Career and Technical Center | Lisbon, OH | $12,000/yr | ||
Columbiana County Career and Technical Center in Lisbon, Ohio, offers a Certified Nurse Assistant program that meets Ohio Department of Health requirements. The training includes classroom instruction and clinical experience at nursing facilities. Students practice patient care, infection control, and communication skills. Admission requires a high school diploma or GED along with health clearances.
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| #5 | Sandusky Career Center | Sandusky, OH | |||
Sandusky Career Center in Sandusky, Ohio, offers a Certified Nursing Assistant program accredited by the Ohio Department of Health. The campus-based course combines classroom instruction with clinical training. Students learn patient care, safety, and communication skills. No prior healthcare experience is required, making it accessible for adults starting a healthcare career.
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| #6 | Central Ohio Technical College | Newark, OH | $5,000 – $8,000/yr | ||
Central Ohio Technical College in Newark, Ohio, offers a Basic Healthcare Skills certificate that prepares students for the State Tested Nurse Aide credential. The on-campus program is available in Newark, Knox, and Pataskala. Open enrollment makes the certificate accessible, and students gain clinical experience before sitting for the state CNA exam. Admission requires being at least 16, a TB test, and a background check.
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| #7 | North Central State College | Mansfield, OH | $5,000/yr (net price) | ||
North Central State College in Mansfield, Ohio, offers a State Tested Nurse Assistant certificate. The program combines classroom, lab, and directed practice to prepare students for patient care roles in hospitals, nursing homes, and home health. It includes CPR and First Aid certification and uses a FLEX program format with varied start dates. Completers can apply the certificate toward a Health Services Technology associate degree.
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| #8 | Sinclair Community College | Dayton, OH | $4,000 – $9,000/yr | ||
Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, offers a Nurse Aide short-term certificate that prepares students for Ohio's State Tested Nurse Aide certification. The program meets Ohio Department of Health requirements and includes clinical training. Graduates can pursue roles as nurse aides, home health care aides, or patient care assistants, with partnerships that connect students to local healthcare employers.
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| #9 | Cuyahoga Community College District | Cleveland, OH | $4,000/yr (net price) | ||
Cuyahoga Community College District in Cleveland, Ohio, offers an Ohio Department of Health approved Certified Nursing Assistant program. Classes are available at the Metro and Westshore campuses. The non-credit workforce training includes hands-on clinical experience and prepares students for roles in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and assisted living facilities. Workforce scholarship options may be available.
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| #10 | Belmont College | St Clairsville, OH | $7,000/yr (net price) | ||
Belmont College in St. Clairsville, Ohio, offers a Certified Nurses Assistant program that provides fast-track training for entry-level healthcare positions. The campus-based program prepares students to work in nursing homes, hospitals, and home health settings. Admission requires transcripts, state and federal background checks, and a two-step TB test. The program also serves as a prerequisite for nursing programs.
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Akron CNA Program FAQs
Quick answers to common questions about cost, online options, Ohio's four-month work window, reciprocity, and using STNA experience for nursing school.
Costs vary by provider, but many Akron-area CNA programs fall roughly between $600 and $1,500 for tuition. Expect added fees for textbooks, scrubs, background checks, drug screening, and the state competency exam. Some employers and long-term care facilities offer free or paid training, so ask before paying out of pocket.
Some providers offer hybrid CNA training with lecture content done online. Ohio still requires in-person supervised skills practice and clinical hours in a nursing home, so you cannot complete the full program online. Plan for scheduled campus or facility attendance for the hands-on portions.
In a nursing facility, Ohio generally allows uncertified nurse aides to work only within an approved training pathway and requires the competency evaluation within four months of starting employment. You must pass both the knowledge and skills components before that deadline to continue in that role.
Usually, yes. An active Ohio STNA listing can transfer through the receiving state's reciprocity process, which sets any application, verification, exam, or extra training requirements. Likewise, an out-of-state aide in good standing can apply to Ohio by verifying a current registry listing.
Yes. The University of Akron ADN pathway requires current CNA certification, a CNA boot camp, or an approved patient-care-assistance course, so STNA experience can satisfy that prerequisite. It also strengthens LPN or nursing applications, especially those to Nursing Schools in Akron. See Top LPN Programs in Ohio for local training options.
