Ohio CNA License Lookup: Check Your STNA Registry Status
Ohio CNA verification is handled through the Ohio Department of Health Nurse Aide Registry. If you search for an “Ohio STNA license lookup,” this is the state system you need—not the Ohio Board of Nursing license search.
Use this guide to choose the right search method, understand active or inactive eligibility, check registry findings, document an employer verification, fix missing work history, transfer an out-of-state CNA to Ohio, and understand the training and testing route.
Quick Answer: Where to Check an Ohio CNA Certification
Check an Ohio CNA or STNA through the Ohio Department of Health Nurse Aide Registry. The public search accepts either a complete Registry Number or a last-name search combined with first name or the final four digits of the Social Security number.
The full Registry Number search is an exact-match search. When searching by name or the last four SSN digits, the system allows partial values and returns the closest matches. A similar name should never be treated as proof until you have confirmed that the result belongs to the right person.
Use the ODH Nurse Aide Search
Individuals, families, recruiters and other public users can start with the public Ohio Nurse Aide Search.
Facilities have a separate search route
Ohio long-term care facilities should use the facility inquiry and provide their seven-character Facility ID before proceeding.
Do not use Ohio eLicense for a CNA
The Ohio Board of Nursing does not regulate CNAs or nurse aides. Use Ohio eLicense for professions regulated by that Board, such as RN or LPN credentials.
VerificationLicense.org is an informational website and is not the Ohio Department of Health. Final employment and credential decisions should be based on the live official Registry record.
Ohio CNA vs STNA: Which Term Should You Search?
Ohio residents still commonly use “STNA,” meaning State Tested Nurse Aide. Current Ohio Department of Health guidance describes an individual listed on the Nurse Aide Registry in good standing as a Certified Nurse Aide, or CNA.
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
ODH’s current nurse aide training material uses CNA for a person listed in good standing on the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry.
State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA)
STNA remains widely used in Ohio employment searches, training discussions and everyday terminology. Both terms lead to the same ODH registry verification process.
Use the separate Ohio Nursing License Verification guide when the credential is regulated by the Ohio Board of Nursing.
How to Complete an Ohio STNA License Lookup
Use the following workflow when checking your own record, reviewing a job applicant, completing onboarding or confirming an aide’s current Ohio Registry standing.
Open the official Ohio Nurse Aide Search
Start with the ODH public Registry rather than a private CNA directory or the Ohio Board of Nursing’s eLicense system.
Use the full Registry Number when you have it
The official form requires the complete Registry Number for this search method and returns an exact match.
Otherwise search by last name plus another identifier
Use last name with first name or with the last four digits of the Social Security number. The ODH form permits partial values for these searches.
Identify the correct person
Do not rely on the first similar name. Compare the returned record with known identifying information and the Registry Number when available.
Read the eligibility and finding information
Confirm whether the person is currently listed as eligible for the relevant long-term care employment and check any official finding information associated with the record.
Record the date of verification
For an employer or compliance file, document the source searched, person’s name, Registry Number when available, result, relevant findings and the date the verification was completed.
Ohio Nurse Aide Registry Search Fields
The search method matters. Using the wrong combination can create an unnecessary “no record” problem.
| Search option | What to enter | How it works | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registry Number | Complete Registry Number | Returns an exact match. | Best choice when the number is known. |
| Last Name + First Name | Last name and first name; partial values are allowed. | Returns the closest matching records. | Useful when the Registry Number is unavailable. |
| Last Name + last four SSN digits | Last name and final four SSN digits. | Can narrow a common-name search. | Use only on the official ODH portal when identity needs to be narrowed. |
| Facility Search | Seven-character Facility ID first. | The facility then proceeds with the nurse aide inquiry. | Ohio long-term care facility verification. |
The public ODH form asks for only the final four SSN digits for that search option. Do not enter a full Social Security number into a private credential lookup website.
How to Interpret an Ohio CNA Registry Result
A name match is not the end of the verification. Your next action depends on what the Registry says about eligibility and findings.
| Result or issue | What it means | Practical next step |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible/current | The Registry indicates that the aide currently satisfies the eligibility reflected by ODH. | Confirm identity and document the dated official result. |
| Eligibility not current | Required qualifying paid work may not have been verified within the applicable 24-month period. | Check your work documentation before assuming that full retraining is required. |
| Finding appears | The Registry may contain an ODH finding involving abuse, neglect or misappropriation of resident property. | Follow the official finding record and employer compliance requirements rather than relying on a verbal explanation. |
| No result | The number, spelling or name may be wrong, or the person may not currently be listed. | Retry the full number, partial-name search and relevant former name before contacting ODH. |
Ohio CNA Verification for Employers and Long-Term Care Facilities
Ohio maintains a separate facility inquiry. A long-term care facility must enter its seven-character Facility ID before proceeding with the CNA search.
Begin with the facility route
The ODH facility form displays a seven-character example such as OH99999 and requires the Facility ID before the inquiry continues.
Keep the actual Registry result
For compliance and onboarding, document what official source was checked, when it was checked and what the Registry showed.
DataOhio is not the facility verification
Ohio’s Data Portal states that reviewing the aggregate Nurse Aide Registry dataset does not satisfy a licensed or certified nursing facility’s mandated status-verification requirement.
Ohio CNA Abuse, Neglect and Misappropriation Findings
The Ohio Nurse Aide Registry is more than a list of certification records. It also maintains specified findings involving abuse, neglect or misappropriation of resident property.
Read adverse information carefully
An employer should not treat a current-looking credential alone as the whole verification when the Registry shows relevant adverse information.
Some non-CNAs can have findings
ODH explains that certain people who are not STNAs may also appear on the Registry when an applicable finding has been entered.
ODH publishes an Abuse Listing
The public Abuse Listing can be used as an additional official resource, but person-specific employment verification should still follow the applicable Registry process.
How to Keep an Ohio CNA Registry Status Active
Ohio’s maintenance rule is based on qualifying compensated nursing or nursing-related work. It is not simply a matter of paying a standard renewal fee every two years.
7.5 consecutive hours
You can satisfy the work-duration part of the rule with at least seven and one-half consecutive hours of qualifying nursing or nursing-related services for compensation.
8 hours within 48 hours
The rule also permits eight hours of qualifying compensated nursing or nursing-related services within a forty-eight-hour period.
Within the applicable 24 months
The qualifying work must be verified during the 24-month period following Registry placement or the most recent verified work date.
The current rule includes personal-care work and appropriate activities delegated by a nurse within the limits described by Ohio law. The qualifying work must be compensated.
ODH states that long-term care facilities may submit Nurse Aide Registration Form HEA 7713 to report employed nurse aides and help ensure active status is reflected on the Registry.
What if Your Ohio STNA Status Becomes Inactive?
If more than 24 consecutive months have passed since the last verified qualifying work date, first determine whether qualifying paid work actually occurred but was never properly documented.
Prove qualifying work occurred
Ohio permits documentation showing that the required compensated nursing or nursing-related work was performed within the relevant 24-month period.
- A facility, agency or authorized health care provider can provide a statement verifying the qualifying dates and hours.
- A physician or nurse with personal knowledge of the services can provide the verification described by the rule.
- If compensation cannot be verified by that professional, additional proof of payment is required.
Additional training and competency evaluation
If qualifying work cannot be verified, the Ohio rule provides an additional training and competency-evaluation route before eligibility can be restored.
Contact the Nurse Aide Registry before paying for a course so you understand which requirement applies to your specific record.
Ohio’s long-term care rules contain limited facility provisions involving the use of certain nurse aides during training or competency requirements. Those provisions do not replace the need to resolve the aide’s actual Registry eligibility.
What to Gather if Your Ohio CNA Work History Is Missing
A Registry problem is easier to resolve when the documentation clearly connects you, the qualifying services, the dates and the compensation.
Correct legal name
Make sure the work verification clearly identifies the same individual whose Registry status is being corrected.
Exact qualifying work period
Keep records showing when the 7.5 consecutive hours or eight hours within a 48-hour period were completed.
Nature of the work
When a physician or nurse provides the verification, Ohio’s rule requires information about the nature of the nursing or nursing-related services.
Proof the work was paid
Compensation is part of the maintenance rule, so keep payroll or other payment proof when it may be needed.
Keep contact details
Save facility or agency contact information and employment dates, especially before leaving a job.
Recheck the Registry periodically
If qualifying work has not been reflected, resolving it is usually easier while the employer and records are still readily available.
Ohio CNA Reciprocity: Transfer an Out-of-State Nurse Aide Record
A CNA certified in another state does not automatically become an Ohio Registry-listed CNA. ODH instructs out-of-state nurse aides who want Ohio registration to submit the Nurse Aide Registry Request for Reciprocity with the required transferring-state information and signature.
Verify your source-state credential
Check that the other state’s nurse aide record is current and that your identifying information is correct before starting the transfer.
Get the current Ohio reciprocity form
Use the official ODH Nurse Aide Registry reciprocity resource rather than an old form downloaded from another website.
Complete the transferring-state verification
ODH states that the reciprocity request must contain the necessary information and signature from the transferring state.
Submit according to the current instructions
Follow the current ODH form directions and retain a copy of everything submitted.
Verify the new Ohio record
After processing, search the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry and confirm that your Ohio listing appears before treating the transfer as complete.
If your current certification comes from another state, you can first verify the source record using our New York CNA License Verification, North Carolina CNA License Verification, or Illinois CNA License Verification guide when applicable.
How to Become a CNA in Ohio if You Are Not on the Registry
The standard route is an Ohio Department of Health-licensed Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program followed by the state-approved competency evaluation. Ohio also recognizes specific alternative testing-eligibility routes.
At least 75 total hours
ODH requires an approved nurse aide training program to provide no less than 75 hours of instruction.
59 hours plus at least 16 clinical hours
ODH describes licensed programs as including at least 59 hours of classroom and skills instruction plus at least 16 hours of supervised resident care in a nursing home.
A separate testing-eligibility route may apply
A nursing student who has completed required coursework in basic nursing skills, infection control, safety, emergency procedures and personal care may qualify to take the competency evaluation without a separate NATCEP.
1,600 qualifying hours can matter
Ohio rules provide a route for applicants with the equivalent of at least 1,600 continuous hours in a twelve-month period as a hospital aide or orderly within the preceding five years.
Both competency components matter
Ohio’s state-administered process includes a knowledge component and a skills-performance component.
Three unsuccessful attempts trigger retraining
Ohio’s testing eligibility rule requires additional approved training when a candidate fails a test component on three separate occasions before registering for that component again.
ODH explains that a CNA who is employed by, or has an offer of employment from, a facility when beginning NATCEP cannot be charged by that facility for the program, required course materials or competency evaluation. ODH also describes pro-rata reimbursement in certain cases when qualifying employment begins within 12 months after training.
Ohio CNA Testing and Published Exam Fees
D&S Diversified Technologies / Headmaster provides Ohio nurse aide testing resources. The official Headmaster Ohio page should be checked before scheduling because candidate handbooks, forms, testing procedures and fees can change.
| Exam | Published fee | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge Exam | $30 | The previously published official Headmaster fee schedule lists the same amount for a knowledge retake. |
| Audio Knowledge Exam | $40 | This published amount includes the knowledge exam plus the audio option. |
| Skills Test | $90 | The same published amount was listed for a skills retake. |
| Knowledge + Skills | $120 total | This is the arithmetic total of the published $30 and $90 amounts, not a separate bundled state fee. |
Headmaster maintains the Ohio CNA testing page and current candidate materials. Testing fees and payment procedures can be revised, so use the current Ohio testing page or your TMU account for the final amount.
Passed the Ohio CNA Exam but Cannot Find Your Registry Record?
Do not assume that a missing public result means your exam failed. First separate a testing-record problem from a Registry-record problem.
Check your testing account
Make sure the relevant test components show the expected result and that your candidate information is correct.
Retry the ODH search carefully
Use the Registry Number when available or try partial name values and an applicable former name.
Contact the right office
Contact Headmaster when the problem is the exam or testing account. Contact the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry when the testing record is correct but the state listing remains unresolved.
Ohio STNA License Lookup Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Registry Number shows no match | The number is incomplete or mistyped. | The official Registry Number search requires the complete number. Recheck every character. |
| Too many name matches | The name is common or the search is too broad. | Enter more of the first name or use the final four SSN digits on the official ODH portal. |
| Nothing under current surname | The Registry may have an older or different name. | Try relevant former, maiden or hyphenated-name variations and partial values. |
| Status is not eligible | Qualifying paid work may not have been verified in the required period. | Review employer records and ODH’s documentation route before paying for retraining. |
| Employer is using DataOhio only | The aggregate dataset has been confused with required facility verification. | Use the applicable ODH Registry/facility inquiry. DataOhio warns facilities that its dataset does not satisfy the mandated check. |
| Ohio eLicense has no STNA record | The wrong agency is being searched. | Use the Ohio Department of Health Nurse Aide Registry. |
| Out-of-state CNA is not listed | Ohio reciprocity has not been completed or posted. | Complete the ODH reciprocity process and verify the Ohio listing afterward. |
| Exam completed but no public record | Testing information or Registry posting may still need to be resolved. | Check TMU/testing information first, then contact Headmaster or ODH according to where the problem exists. |
Ohio CNA Verification Checklist
Use this checklist before hiring, accepting an assignment, transferring a credential or resolving a Registry problem.
- Correct legal name
- Full Registry Number when available
- Former name when relevant
- Last four SSN digits only if needed on the official portal
- Date the search was completed
- Correct ODH facility inquiry when required
- Registry identity match
- Current eligibility result
- Finding information reviewed
- Dated proof retained under facility policy
- Employer/facility name
- Dates and hours of qualifying work
- Description of nursing-related services
- Compensation proof when needed
- Contact information for the verifier
- Resume alone
- Old CNA/STNA card alone
- Private directory alone
- Ohio RN/LPN lookup as a CNA substitute
- DataOhio aggregate data as facility compliance verification
Ohio CNA Registry and Testing Contact Information
| Office | Contact | Use this for |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio Nurse Aide Registry | 800-582-5908 in Ohio | Registry status, eligibility and general Nurse Aide Registry questions. |
| Ohio Nurse Aide Registry | 614-752-9500 from outside Ohio | Registry support when calling from outside the state. |
| Registry email | NAR@odh.ohio.gov | Official ODH Nurse Aide Registry correspondence. |
| NATCEP | 614-752-8285 | Ohio-approved nurse aide training program questions. |
| NATCEP email | NATCEP@odh.ohio.gov | Nurse aide training program correspondence. |
| D&S / Headmaster | 877-851-2355 | Ohio CNA testing, candidate accounts, scheduling and testing questions. |
Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Regulatory Operations, Nurse Aide Registry, 246 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215. Check the applicable form or ODH instructions before mailing anything because not every Registry action is completed by mail.
Official Ohio CNA and STNA Resources
Use these official sources for the final search, transfer, status correction, training decision or testing transaction.
Ohio CNA License Lookup FAQs
How do I perform an Ohio STNA license lookup?
Use the Ohio Department of Health Nurse Aide Registry public search. Enter the complete Registry Number for an exact match, or search by last name together with first name or the last four digits of the Social Security number.
Is an Ohio STNA the same as a CNA?
STNA remains a common Ohio term, while current Ohio Department of Health guidance refers to an individual listed on the Nurse Aide Registry in good standing as a Certified Nurse Aide, or CNA. Both terms use the Ohio Department of Health Nurse Aide Registry for status verification.
Can I search the Ohio CNA Registry by name?
Yes. The official Registry permits a search using last name with first name. Partial values are allowed and the system returns the closest matches, so confirm the result belongs to the correct person.
Can I search the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry with the last four SSN digits?
Yes. The ODH search permits last name together with the last four Social Security number digits. Use this information only on the official ODH Registry portal.
How does an Ohio CNA keep Registry eligibility active?
Ohio requires verification of at least seven and one-half consecutive hours or eight hours within a forty-eight-hour period of compensated nursing or nursing-related services during the applicable 24-month period after Registry placement or the most recent verified work date.
What can I do if my Ohio CNA status is no longer active?
If more than 24 consecutive months have passed since the last verified qualifying work date, Ohio allows you to submit acceptable documentation showing that qualifying compensated work occurred during that period or complete the applicable additional training and competency-evaluation route.
How do I transfer an out-of-state CNA certification to Ohio?
Use the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry Request for Reciprocity. ODH states that the request must include the required information and signature from the transferring state. After processing, verify that your Ohio Registry record appears.
Does the Ohio Board of Nursing verify CNA or STNA status?
No. The Ohio Board of Nursing states that it does not regulate Certified Nursing Assistants or nurse aides. Ohio CNA and STNA status is checked through the Ohio Department of Health Nurse Aide Registry.
How many training hours are required to become an Ohio CNA?
The standard Ohio NATCEP route requires at least 75 hours. ODH describes licensed programs as including at least 59 hours of classroom and skills training and at least 16 hours of supervised resident care in a nursing home.
What should I do if I completed Ohio CNA testing but cannot find my Registry record?
Check your testing account first, retry the ODH Registry using the Registry Number or appropriate name variations, and then contact Headmaster for testing-record problems or the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry when the testing record is correct but the state listing remains unresolved.
Ohio STNA Lookup: What to Do Next
Start with the official Ohio Department of Health Nurse Aide Registry. Use the complete Registry Number when possible, confirm that the result belongs to the correct person, and read the actual eligibility and finding information instead of relying on an old card, resume or private directory. If the status is not current, determine whether qualifying paid work can be documented before assuming that retraining is necessary.