Ohio CNA License Lookup
Look up and verify any Ohio certified nursing assistant's status in seconds using the official Ohio Nurse Aide Registry — free, no account required.
Look Up a Ohio CNA LicenseOpens the official OH registry search · Questions? (800) 582-5908
2 years
Renewal Period
7.5 consecutive hours of paid nursing services (or 8 hours within 48)
Work Requirement
Yes
Accepts Reciprocity
Free
Online Lookup
How to Look Up Your Ohio CNA License
Open the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry search
ODH's public verification tool covers every STNA/CNA on the Ohio registry. It is free and needs no account.
Go to Registry SearchEnter a Facility ID if you are an employer
If you are running the check on behalf of a long-term care facility, enter your seven-digit Facility ID before proceeding. Members of the public skip this and search directly.
Search by registry number or by name
A registry number must be entered in full to return an exact match. Otherwise enter last name and first name, or the last four digits of the Social Security number — partial values are accepted and the tool returns the closest matches.
Read the status and check for findings
The record shows whether the aide is listed and in good standing. If a finding of abuse, neglect or misappropriation is attached, federal rules require the response to include any statement the aide filed disputing it.
Understanding Your Ohio Registry Result
When you search the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry, the result tells you whether a nurse aide is cleared to work in Ohio. Here's how to read what you see:
Active / In Good Standing
The certification is current and the aide is eligible to work in Ohio. Confirm the expiration date — Ohio certifications run 2 years and must be renewed.
Expired / Lapsed
The aide cannot legally work until renewed or reinstated. Renewal requires 7.5 consecutive hours of paid nursing services (or 8 hours within 48) during the certification period. If the lapse is long, a competency retest may be required.
Not Found / Findings
A "not found" result usually means a name/ID mismatch — try variations or call (800) 582-5908. A listed finding (abuse, neglect, theft) bars employment in certified facilities.
About the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry
In Ohio the credential is almost always called the State Tested Nurse Aide, or STNA. That is the term training programs, employers and job ads use, and it appears in state rulemaking: Ohio Department of Aging rules qualify a person as an STNA if they "successfully completed a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program approved by Ohio department of health (ODH)" and are listed on the nurse aide registry. The Ohio Department of Health uses a different word for the same person — its guidance states that an individual listed on the Nurse Aide Registry in good standing "is referred to as a certified nurse aide (CNA) in Ohio." STNA and CNA are one credential on one registry, so if you came here to check an STNA license, this is the right search.
The registry is maintained by the Ohio Department of Health's Bureau of Regulatory Operations. ODH describes it as "a list of all Certified Nurse Aides (CNA) in Ohio" that also "maintains records of those nurse aides who have had a finding of abuse, neglect or misappropriation of property against them." The public search takes either a full registry number, which returns an exact match, or a last name, first name and the last four digits of a Social Security number, which returns the closest matches. ODH also offers two options that are not web-based — a voice-automated phone system and a live customer service technician — on (800) 582-5908 in state or (614) 752-9500 from out of state.
Ohio has no renewal application and no renewal fee; federal rules bar a state from charging registered nurse aides for registration (42 CFR 483.156(b)(4)). You stay listed by working. Under Ohio Administrative Code 3701-17-07.3, ODH may not continue to list an aide as eligible to work in a long-term care facility unless it has received verification that the aide "provided at least seven and one-half consecutive hours or eight hours in a forty-eight hour period of nursing and nursing-related services for compensation" during the 24-month period following either the date of registry placement or the most recent date of verified work. Employers do the reporting: long-term care facilities submit the Nurse Aide Registration Form (HEA 7713) listing the aides they employ.
An expired listing and a finding are different things. Federal law requires finding information to "remain in the registry permanently, unless the finding was made in error, the individual was found not guilty in a court of law, or the State is notified of the individual's death" (42 CFR 483.156(c)(1)(iv)(D)), and any response that reports a finding must also carry the aide's own statement disputing it where one was filed. ODH publishes the findings list separately from the individual search: its Abuse Listing page hands you an "Abuse Extract.csv" download rather than a search form.
Contact Information
Official Website
https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/nurse-aide-registryPhone Number
(800) 582-5908Mailing Address
Ohio Department of Health Bureau of Regulatory Operations, Nurse Aide Registry 246 N. High Street Columbus, OH 43215
Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST
Ohio CNA Testing Information
Testing Vendor
Ohio uses D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) to administer the nurse aide competency evaluation. The exam consists of a written (or oral) knowledge test and a skills demonstration.
Visit D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster)Training Requirements
Ohio requires 75 hours, including 16 hours of clinical experience in a skilled nursing facility. Training programs must be approved by the state.
Find Ohio CNA ClassesOhio CNA Renewal Requirements
Renewal Period
Ohio CNA certification is valid for 2 years from the date of initial certification or last renewal.
Work Requirement
You must perform at least 7.5 consecutive hours of paid nursing services (or 8 hours within 48) during your certification period to be eligible for renewal.
Employer Verification
Your employer verifies your work hours directly through the registry system. Keep your contact information current with your employer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an STNA the same as a CNA in Ohio?
Yes — same credential, same registry. "State Tested Nurse Aide" (STNA) is the term Ohio training programs, employers and job ads use, and it appears in Ohio Department of Aging rules and on the state testing vendor's Ohio forms. The Ohio Department of Health uses "certified nurse aide" instead: its guidance says an individual listed on the Nurse Aide Registry in good standing "is referred to as a certified nurse aide (CNA) in Ohio." Whichever term you searched for, the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry search at nurseaideregistry.odh.ohio.gov is where you check the status.
How do I renew my STNA license in Ohio?
There is no renewal form and no renewal fee — federal rules bar the state from charging you for registration (42 CFR 483.156(b)(4)). Ohio keeps you listed based on work instead. Under Ohio Administrative Code 3701-17-07.3, the department may not continue to list you as eligible to work in a long-term care facility unless it has verification that you provided at least seven and one-half consecutive hours, or eight hours within a 48-hour period, of paid nursing and nursing-related services during the 24 months following your registry placement or your most recent verified work date. Long-term care facilities report this by submitting the Nurse Aide Registration Form (HEA 7713) listing the aides they employ, so the practical step is making sure your employer has you on that list.
How do I check the Ohio nurse aide abuse registry?
The Ohio Department of Health publishes findings in two places. The individual search at nurseaideregistry.odh.ohio.gov shows any finding of abuse, neglect or misappropriation attached to a person's record, and federal rules require the response to include any statement that aide filed disputing the finding. For the full list, ODH's Abuse Listing page provides an "Abuse Extract.csv" file to download rather than a search form. For a pre-hire check use the individual search, since that is the record which ties a finding to a specific registry number.
How long does it take to get on the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry?
After passing your state competency exam, it typically takes 2-4 weeks for your name to appear on the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry. Your training program should provide documentation of completion that employers can use while waiting for registry listing.
Can I transfer my CNA or STNA certification to Ohio from another state?
Yes. Ohio handles this through the Nurse Aide Registry, which ODH says "can assist CNAs from other states with moving their registry status to Ohio (reciprocation)." You submit the Nurse Aide Registry Request for Reciprocity form to the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry, complete with the information and signature of the transferring state — so the transferring state's registry has to fill in its section before you send it. Questions go to [email protected], or (800) 582-5908 in state and (614) 752-9500 from out of state.
What if I have a finding on my record?
A substantiated finding of abuse, neglect or misappropriation of property bars you from working as a nurse aide in a certified facility. Under federal rules the finding "must remain in the registry permanently, unless the finding was made in error, the individual was found not guilty in a court of law, or the State is notified of the individual's death" (42 CFR 483.156(c)(1)(iv)(D)). Your registry record also carries the date and outcome of a hearing if you chose to have one, plus any statement you filed disputing the allegation — and that statement must be included in any response given to someone who looks you up. You are entitled to all the information the registry holds on you on request; contact the Nurse Aide Registry at [email protected] or (800) 582-5908.
My Ohio STNA certification expired. What do I do?
Ohio gives two routes back. If more than 24 consecutive months have passed since your last verified work date, ODH says you must either submit documentation showing that you did provide at least seven and one-half consecutive hours, or eight hours in a 48-hour period, of paid nursing and nursing-related services during that period, or successfully complete additional training and competency evaluation under Ohio Administrative Code 3701-17-07.1. Acceptable documentation is either a statement from a facility, agency or other health care provider authorized to implement portions of a nursing regimen, verifying the dates you worked, or a statement from a physician or nurse with personal knowledge of the care you gave, confirming the dates and that you were paid for it.
How do I update my name or address on the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry?
Contact the Nurse Aide Registry directly. ODH lists [email protected], (800) 582-5908 from inside Ohio, (614) 752-9500 from out of state, and fax (614) 564-2461; postal mail goes to Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Regulatory Operations, Nurse Aide Registry, 246 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215. ODH notes the registry can also help aides update their information to show an "active" status. Keeping the record current matters because the public search matches on the name in your registry entry — if it still shows a former name, a search under your current name may not find you.
Ohio CNA Refresher Topics
Whether you are preparing to renew your Ohio certification, brushing up before returning to work, or studying for the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry reinstatement exam, these free guides cover the topics most commonly tested:
Patient Rights & HIPAA
OBRA '87 resident rights, mandatory reporting, advance directives — essential for any Ohio CNA returning to active status.
Infection Control
Standard precautions, PPE protocols, and transmission-based precautions for Ohio nurse aides working with vulnerable residents.
Safety & Emergencies
Fall prevention, RACE/PASS fire response, choking, and CPR — heavily tested on Ohio CNA reinstatement exams.
Personal Care & Elimination
Bathing, peri-care, toileting, and incontinence management procedures used daily by Ohio CNAs in long-term care.
Dementia & Cognitive Care
Validation therapy, sundowning, and de-escalation techniques for working with cognitively impaired residents in Ohio.
Body Systems & Conditions
Recognizing strokes (FAST), hypoglycemia, pressure injuries, and CHF — essential clinical knowledge for active Ohio CNAs.
Legal & Ethical Issues
Scope of practice, negligence, mandatory reporting, and professional boundaries — review essentials for any Ohio CNA renewing certification.
Communication & SBAR
SBAR handoff, therapeutic responses, and adaptations for hearing- or vision-impaired residents — practical refreshers for Ohio CNAs.
Data Collection & Reporting
Objective vs subjective documentation, pain scales, and what to report immediately — refresh the rules used daily by Ohio CNAs.
End-of-Life Care
Hospice vs palliative care, recognizing signs of approaching death, and postmortem care — for Ohio CNAs in long-term care settings.
Becoming a CNA in Ohio?
See the step-by-step requirements to become a CNA in Ohio, find approved training programs, or access free study materials.