Points of interest…
- Ohio STNA training requires 75 hours, including 16 clinical hours.
- Alia Healthcare's blended STNA course starts at $575 in 2027.
- Two-week STNA classes run weekdays, roughly 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Finding the Right STNA Program in Columbus
In Ohio, the credential most states call a CNA is officially the State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA), and the biggest choice facing a prospective aide in Columbus is price against pace. A free facility-sponsored class that trains you for a specific nursing home is a very different path than a self-paid private course that finishes in two weeks.
Nursing Schools in Columbus offer both ends of that range. Routes run from Columbus State Community College and regional career centers to short private programs and employer-run classes, several of which cost little or nothing if you train where you will later work.
Across the schools ranked here, average institution-wide net price runs from the low teens into the mid-$40,000s, though that is a campus-wide figure, not the price of the STNA course alone. The state's 75-hour training floor sets the actual length of nearly every class.
Columbus-Area STNA and CNA Programs Ranked for 2027
The Columbus-area STNA programs below stand out for their affordability, completion outcomes, and format flexibility for working adults and commuters. Each profile highlights the training model, location relevance, and key program details to help you compare options quickly.
Factors considered
- First-year retention
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- Approximate net price
- Completion outcomes
- Commute and format fit
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) | Hands-on learners wanting quick entry | |
Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools in Groveport offers a campus-based State Tested Nurse Aide program that pairs classroom instruction with hands-on clinical experience. The curriculum covers vital signs, patient hygiene, medical terminology, and other core patient-care skills needed for the Ohio certification exam. Its location in the Columbus metro makes it a practical choice for south-side commuters.
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| #2 | Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County | Newark, OH | Entry-level healthcare career seekers | ||
Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County in Newark provides a campus-based Certified Nurse Aide program with hands-on clinical training. Students learn vital signs monitoring, infection control, and daily living assistance, meeting Ohio certification requirements. The program is a strong fit for learners in Newark, Heath, and eastern Columbus suburbs.
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| #3 | Central Ohio Technical College | Newark, OH | $5,000 – $8,000/yr | Budget-conscious commuter students | |
Central Ohio Technical College offers a short-term Basic Healthcare Skills certificate that leads to State Tested Nurse Aide eligibility. The 3.5-credit-hour program is open enrollment and available on the Newark, Knox, and Pataskala campuses. A Talent Ready Grant may cover up to $2,000 for eligible students, though the program does not qualify for federal financial aid.
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| #4 | ETI Technical College | Niles, OH | $14,000/yr | ||
| #5 | Columbiana County Career and Technical Center | Lisbon, OH | $12,000/yr | ||
| #6 | Sandusky Career Center | Sandusky, OH | |||
Ohio's STNA Rules: 75 Training Hours, 16 Clinical Hours, and ODH Approval
CNA or STNA: Same Job, Different Title
The two names describe the same role. Ohio uses State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA), and working aides are listed on the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry. Programs and job boards still say "CNA" all the time, so search both terms when evaluating CNA training programs.
The Hour Requirements
Under Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3701-18, enforced by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), a nurse aide training program must total at least 75 hours.1 The first 16 hours are classroom instruction and must be finished before any direct resident contact.1 Of the remaining hours, at least 16 (and up to 25) must be clinical experience, meaning supervised care of residents in an Ohio long-term-care facility.2 Skills testing done in the facility can count toward that clinical time.3 Lab simulation does not, unless the program holds an ODH variance.4 CNA programs in Ohio may run longer than 75 hours.
Checking That a Program Is ODH-Approved
In STNA searches, "accredited" really means state-approved. Before paying a deposit:
- Ask the school: Request its current ODH approval status in writing.
- Verify with ODH: Use ODH's approved nurse aide training program list or lookup, and match the program name, sponsoring organization, and training location.
- Check the curriculum: Confirm the 75-hour total, 16 classroom hours before resident contact, and clinical hours in a real facility.
Why Fully Online STNA Programs Don't Work
Theory can be delivered in a hybrid format, but the clinical hours cannot be done remotely. They must happen in person at a facility. Programs on the ranked list marked "Online/Both" are hybrid: you may do some coursework from home, but you will still report to a facility for hands-on training.
What a Non-Approved Certificate Costs You
A certificate from a program ODH has not approved will not qualify you to sit for the state competency exam. That leaves you without a path onto the registry, so confirm approval first.
What STNA Classes Cost in Columbus, Including Free Options
Private STNA programs in Columbus listed total prices between $499 and $850 in 2026. Allure Health Services and a Columbus fast-track course, two Columbus fast track CNA programs, sit at the bottom at $499, while Alia Healthcare's 75-hour blended course starts at $575. Statewide, Ohio STNA tuition generally runs $400 to $1,200 depending on the institution. NCUS TEC (96 hours over three weeks) and Buckeye Health Agency (75 hours over two weeks) do not publish tuition in the sources reviewed, so call for a quote.
Columbus State Community College offers a 76-hour Nurse Aide Certificate with 16 clinical hours, reported at $625 in total program cost. Confirm the current figure on the college's site before enrolling.
The Federal Rule on Who Pays
Under 42 CFR 483.1521, a nursing facility cannot charge an aide for training when that aide is employed by the facility or has received an offer of employment from it. That includes textbooks. Aides hired by a Medicare or Medicaid facility, or within 12 months of completing training, can have costs reimbursed, generally on a pro-rata basis during employment. Ohio's exact paperwork and deadlines were not confirmed, so ask any prospective employer how reimbursement works before you pay a deposit.
Free and Employer-Sponsored Routes
A 2026 provider survey found no private Columbus school offering free CNA training programs. Free training usually comes through an employer in exchange for a work commitment, commonly reported at 6 to 12 months. Mayfair Village Nursing Care Center, for example, advertised an STNA role with free training at $13.25 to $17.75 an hour. Ask about repayment terms if you leave early, and whether class time is paid.
Workforce funding is the other path. WIOA money may cover training for eligible people through the local OhioMeansJobs office, and the City of Columbus job help resource list2 describes free training open to both employed and unemployed residents after eligibility is verified. No approved-provider list or income threshold was confirmed, so contact OhioMeansJobs before enrolling, since funding generally has to be arranged first.
Watch the Exam Fee
A "free" class may not cover everything. One 2026 Ohio summary puts the direct cost for employer-sponsored students near $144 to $164, mostly the competency exam and a background check. That is a statewide estimate, not a Columbus figure. Facility employees may have the exam fee covered, so confirm it in writing.
What Will You Actually Spend Outside Tuition?
Tuition for an STNA program varies by school; one Columbus-area program currently lists $625 including books. For a self-paying student, the typical non-tuition bill also includes a background check, competency exam, physical and TB test, scrubs and supplies, and a textbook. Many employers cover the exam, background check, or supplies after hire, so your final out-of-pocket total can be lower.
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Two-Week, Evening, and Weekend STNA Schedules
Ohio's 75-hour minimum is the math behind every schedule you will see advertised. Pack those hours into full-time weekdays, roughly 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the course genuinely finishes in about two weeks. So "2 week STNA classes" in Columbus are not a shortcut or a watered-down version; they are the same state-required hours compressed into ten or so consecutive program days. Several local providers run on exactly that rhythm, including accelerated and hybrid options that land closer to two and a half weeks.
Private providers versus the college calendar
The difference in format matters more than the difference in total hours. Private training centers and long-term care employers tend to start new cohorts every couple of weeks, which means you can often begin within days of enrolling. Columbus State Community College instead delivers its nurse aide certificate as a 3-credit course (76 hours total, 60 in classroom and lab plus 16 clinical) in traditional and blended formats at its Columbus and Dublin locations, following the college's term calendar. That usually means waiting for the next term to open rather than the next Monday.
If you are working days
Evening cohorts in Columbus commonly run around four weeks, weekend cohorts closer to five, and some part-time schedules stretch to ten weeks or longer depending on how often the class meets. A common catch: even in an evening or weekend section, the required clinical hours are frequently scheduled on daytime shifts that start early in the morning. Ask for the clinical dates and the clinical site address before you pay. Facilities can sit well outside downtown, so confirm the commute is one you can actually make.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Would you rather be hired first and train free, or pay upfront and keep your employer options open?
Facility-sponsored training costs nothing but usually comes with a work commitment at that employer. Paying tuition yourself lets you compare pay, shifts, and settings after you pass the exam.
Can you handle two or three weeks of full-time daytime classes, or do you need an evening cohort?
Accelerated courses get you certified fastest but leave little room for a job. Evening classes fit a work schedule, though they may take twice as long to finish.
Is the program on ODH's approved list, and where will your 16 clinical hours take place?
Only approved programs qualify you for the state competency exam. The clinical site affects your commute, your schedule, and the type of care setting you experience first.
Do you plan to bridge to LPN or RN later?
A college-based program like Columbus State's can put you closer to nursing prerequisites and an academic advisor. If STNA work is your final goal, a shorter, cheaper course may serve you better.
What Nursing Assistants Earn in the Columbus Metro
The most recent metro-level wage data shows what nursing assistants earn across all employers in Columbus.
