Start your nursing career as a STNA.

State Tested Nurse Aide Certificate

Overview

Do you want to pursue a career in the healthcare field? Enrolling in Central Ohio Technical College’s State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA) program is a great way to get started.

This course prepares basic healthcare workers with the skills required by the Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) prior to gaining eligibility to become a state tested nurse aide (STNA). The course content includes communication, infection control, safety and emergency procedures, promoting residents’/clients’ independence, respecting residents’/clients’ rights, basic nursing skills, personal care skills, providing care in a home setting, mental health and social service needs, and basic restorative services.

Benefits of completing the course are:

  • Fulfill your STNA prerequisite for the nursing program.
  • You will be eligible to take a state-administered competency evaluation test to become an STNA and be placed on the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry.
  • You will also gain clinical experience in the medical field.
  • Have the ability to start working in the medical field upon successful completion of the course.

STNAs may choose to work in long-term care, assisted living facilities or hospitals. In order to work in these fields, students may need to pass the state-administered competency evaluation test, which is not part of the program. STNAs provides basic healthcare needs for patients under the direction of a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN). 

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Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly can I complete the STNA program?

At COTC students can quickly complete the STNA program in just one semester.

Can I take classes online or face-to-face?

Students will be required to take classes in person for STNA. Depending on the location where STNA is taken, students may need to be at a location, in-person five days per week.

Where can the STNA certificate be completed?

COTC partners with other locations to provide students more options to complete the STNA certificate, and STNA can also be completed on the Coshocton campus. 

  • C-TEC (Newark)
  • COTC Coshocton campus
  • Knox County Career Center/Knox Technical Center (Mount Vernon)
  • COTC Pataskala Campus

What else can I consider studying in nursing after I complete the STNA?

Students are encouraged to continue their nursing education. Many students who complete the STNA certificate are working to meet the STNA requirement to apply to either the practical nursing certificate program or the associate degree nursing (ADN) program. 

What type of financial assistance is available to help me pay for STNA? 

The STNA certificate is eligible for the short-term certificate grant available to students with demonstrated financial need as well as students who are currently in or exiting foster care. Each student may receive a one-time grant of up to $2,000 to assist with tuition and fees (does not include the cost of books and supplies). To be considered, students must submit and satisfy the requirements on the Short-Term Certificate Grant Application or Foster Youth Grant Application. 

Connect with the Office of Student Financial Services at 740.366.9435 or email NWK-studentfinancialservices@mail.cotc.edu.

How do I get started at COTC?

Help us learn more about you by visiting our Future Students webpage, then follow the COTC Steps to Enroll to get started.