There are ways to become a certified nursing assistant for free in Ohio and this article will help you learn about some of the ways to obtain free CNA training. Most CNAs in Ohio make somewhere between $20,000 and $27,000 per year depending on their experience and their employer. Of course, some CNAs can have even higher earnings. There are many different types of employment opportunities for nursing assistants in Ohio.
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Training Requirements
You can take a direct path to becoming a CNA in Ohio by enrolling in a state approved training program. This program will cover at least 75 hours of studying. The format will include lectrue, clinical experience and typically skills labs. You cannot begin the clinical portion of your studies until you have received at least 16 hours of classroom instruction. When you have finished your training, you can apply to sit for the nursing assistant competency exam.
Background checks are necessary to show you are eligible to work with patients. This must take place before your clinical time begins under supervision of your instructor.
Free CNA Training Opportunities
Knox Technical Center
308 Martinsburg Road-Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050
The Knox Technical Center has a nursing assistant training program. There are various forms of financial assistance at the center that could help you complete the program at no cost to you depending on your income and other individual circumstances. One such option is for Veteran’s. If you are a US military Veteran, you can apply for Veteran’s Education Benefits to train for a civilian career.
You should have educational benefits available to you through the government for having serviced your country. These benefits should cover a range of programs including the nursing assistant training program. When you apply for this form of financial aid you will need a certified copy of your discharge papers. You will also need your Notice of Basic Eligibility for members of Selective Service.
You can contact the financial aid office for more information on how to apply. You can also contact a Veteran’s benefits coordinator to help you learn more about how to access your educational benefits. In addition to help with tuition and related expenses, you might also receive other benefits to help you cover living expenses while you complete your training.
Job Corps-Cleveland
020 Bolivar Rd-Cleveland, OH 44115
At risk youth can potentially train to become a nursing assistant for free through the Job Corps including the Cleveland Job Corps Facility. An individual cannot be older than 24 or younger than 16 if they are going to apply. The students will be those with a low income. You must not have any major legal problems and must maintain g0od behavior while on campus. The program is not mandatory and so you can leave the program if any problems come up while studying.
If accepted into the Job Corps, you will receive help transitioning to your program study of interest. If you are accepted for the nursing assistant training program, you will receive the training and hands on experience needed to sit for the certification exam for nursing assistants. Students can also receive housing, food and other benefits to help them build a better life while training for a new career. After you have become certified, the Job Corps will go a step farther.They will help you look for your first job and provide you with the support needed to move to the new career successfully.
CNA Training Schools/Locations
Ohio Medical Career Center
1133 S Edwin C Moses Blvd- #110- Dayton, OH 45417
You can enroll in 75 hour certified nursing assistant program at Ohio Medical Career Center. They offer day, evening and weekend training options to meet your unique scheduling needs. In addition to the classroom studies, students will receive 16 hours of clinical instruction spread over two days. This instruction will be held nearby healthcare facilities and provide you the hands on skills training you need.
This course will prepare you to know how to assist patients with bathing, eating, getting in and out of bed, walking and a variety of other ADL activities. Students will receive the knowhow to provide safe and effective care to patients while always preserving their rights to privacy and dignity. You will learn how to play an important role on the team providing daily care for patients and residents.
After completing the course you will have met the requirements to take the state certification competency test.
Cuyahoga Valley Career Center
8001 Brecksville Rd-Brecksville, OH 441Rd
Cuyahoga Valley Career Center offers a Nurse Aide training program that will allow you to sit for certification competency exam upon completion. Tuition will include the training, book fee, certification exam and insurance coverage for the clinical portion. Students will receive both the ‘textbook’/classroom instruction and the hands on experience in local healthcare facilities.
You will receive skills training where you will get to work with patients providing actual CNA services to those patients under careful supervision. In addition to that you will receive the lecture portion and hands on lab training that will further prepare you not only to take the test successfully but also to be successful in your future career as a CNA.
Those interested in becoming a nursing assistant, should contact the director of the CNA program: Karen Schroedel at KSchroedel@cvccworks.edu. She can provide you with more information to get started.
Apollo Career Center
3325 Shawnee Rd-Lima, OH 45806-1454
The program manager for Apollo Career Centers Nurse Aide Program is Ruth Nichols. Students can sit for the state certification exam if they successfully graduate from this program. This course covers a total of 76 hours of instruction. Sixty of those hours will be spent on lab and classroom studies.The remaining hours are spent receiving hands on instruction in one or more local healthcare locations.
The course will teach students to communicate well with patients, family and staff members. They will also learn to help patients retain as much independence as possible. The instruction will also teach students good personal care and basic nursing skills and they will have the opportunity to practice these skills to better perfect these necessary skills.
A student who works hard in this program and studies well, should not have any problem completing the written and skills competency exam portions necessary to become certified as an aide.
Keep in mind that for any training program you attend, you can contact the school to see if there are any financial assistance options to hep you cover the required tuition.
Exam Requirements
Upon successfully completing your CNA course, you can prepare to sit for the certification test. This test includes an exam that you complete either on a computer or in written format. This will be the knowledge segment of your examination. You will then need to exhibit your ability to complete 5 random CNA skills. You will only be given 35 minutes to complete these skills. You will not know which skills you will be tested on until you arrive for your exam.
Various testing materials can be found here: http://www.hdmaster.com/testing/cnatesting/ohio/OH_STNA_Home.htm. Learn more about how to get ready for your exam. Once you pass the exam, you will be listed on the registry for aides within a short period of time.
If you have a year or more experience as a hospital aide or orderly, you can request to take the test without having taken a training course. The same is true for nursing students who have completed basic level courses equivalent to nursing aide training.
Out of State CNAs
You may be eligible to be listed on the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry if you hold a certification in another state. The registry will need to verify that you are a CNA in active and good standing within that state. You will need to submit documentation showing you have worked at least 7 and ½ hours as a CNA in the past two years. You can call the registry to begin your application process: 1-800-582-5908
Places to Work in OH
Otterbein St Marys Retirement
St Marys, OH, USA
+1 419-394-2366
Otterbein Senior Lifestyle Choices
Lebanon, OH, USA
+1 513-933-5400
Open until 17:00
Bennington Glen
Marengo, OH, USA
+1 419-253-0144
Clermont Nursing Care Center
Milford, OH, USA
+1 513-831-1770
Sycamore Run Nursing & Rehab
Millersburg, OH, USA
+1 330-674-0015
Silverton Pointe Nursing & Rehabilitation
Cincinnati, OH, USA
+1 513-793-2090
Heartland of Jackson
Jackson, OH, USA
+1 740-286-5026
Heartland of Marietta
Marietta, OH, USA
+1 740-373-8920
Venetian Gardens
Loveland, OH, USA
+1 513-722-0700
Ohio Living – Breckenridge Village
Willoughby, OH, USA
+1 440-942-4342
Laurels of Shane Hill
Rockford, OH, USA
+1 419-363-2620
Autumnwood Care Center
Tiffin, OH, USA
+1 419-447-7151
Franklin Plaza
Cleveland, OH, USA
+1 216-651-1600
CNA Training Center Reviews
Ohio Medical Career Center – Classes are small so you get the help you need from teachers and staff, classmates create study group for all students making it easier to succeed together. The tuition is also affordable and the college also provides financial aid.
Cuyahoga Valley Career Center – Wonderful school to attend, they provide the opportunity for students to intern at different clinical sites.
CNA Training FAQs
How can I become a CNA? There are three major steps that you will need to do in order to work as a CNA and these are education, skill training and certification.
Education – You can choose to go to a vocational or technical school, a community college or even enroll in an online program. There are also some hospitals and the American Red Cross offers training programs for you to consider. Wherever you go for training, you must ensure the training program is approved by your state.
Clinical training – This includes gaining hands-on experience in a healthcare setting. Even though your instructor can tell you how to properly bathe or feed a patient, performing the skill on your own will give you a better understanding on how it is properly done.
Certification examination – Once you complete training, before you can get a job as a CNA, you will need to take the certification examination. The exam consists of 50 to 70 multiple choice questions and part skills demonstration. You must pass both parts of the exam in order to use the title of a CNA.
Why is Nursing Assistant Certification so important? There are a few reasons including:
- Certification is the only way you can be listed in the Nurse Aide Registry for your state.
- Nursing assistants with certification tend to make more money.
- Certification opens up more employment opportunities and possible promotions.
- A CNA can specialize in niche areas and make more money.
- Certification will become the standard in the very near future.