Ohio Nursing Assistant / Nurse Aide Guide
Is a License or Certification needed: To get certified and work as a nursing assistant or nurse aide in Ohio, you need to complete a nursing assistant program and pass a nursing aide exam. You must also be listed on the state’s nurse aide registry.
Who Grants Certification: The Ohio Department of Health maintains the registry of state-tested nursing assistants. A company called D & S Diversified grants certification to nursing assistants.
The Qualifications to become Certified: There are two routes of eligibility in order to qualify for receiving a nursing assistant registration in Ohio. These include:
- You have successfully completed a Ohio state-approved training program within the past year; or
- You have graduated from or are a student of a nursing school and have the nursing director of your school approve a waiver request form –other reasons for a waiver request would be military, out of state or foreign nurse aide experience;
- In addition to one of the above options, you must have successfully completed a clear background check.
Further details can be found here.
How to Apply for Certification and to take the Exam: In order to apply for Nurse Aide Licensure in the state of Ohio, you will need to:
- Have proof of completion of an Ohio state-approved nurse aide training program; or
- Have proof of having passed the Fundamentals of Nursing course at your local nursing school (for LPN or RN) and your grades transcript: or
- Have a letter from your employer of 5 years outlining your job position and duties as a nurse aide and 1600 hours of employed nurse aide work.
Along with one of the items above, in order to apply to take the exam; use the Ohio State Certified Nurse Aide Exam Application forms found here.
- Fill out the application and send it along with proof of the above qualifications to:
D&S Diversified Technologies
PO Box #418
Findlay, OH 45839-0418
Completed paper applications must be received by Headmaster eight business days ahead of test day or express charges will occur. Business days exclude holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Test Content: The nursing assistant exam has two parts, a written section and a skills evaluation. Both parts must be passed to be listed on the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry. The written section is 75 questions in length. You will have 90 minutes to complete the exam. The written exam covers the following topics:
- Safety
- Communication
- Infection Control
- Data Collection
- Personal Care
- Basic Nursing Skills
- Mental Health
- Role and Responsibility
- Care Impaired
- Disease Process
- Resident Rights
- Older Adult Growth and Development
You can find all details for the written exam in the candidate handbook.
The Skills Evaluation will be a 35 minute time period given to complete 5 selected nurse aide skills. The first skill with be either the Bedpan/Measuring Output Skill or the Perineal Care Skill. You must actually wash your hands during this first skill. For the last 4 skills, you may verbalize that you are “washing your hands”. If you feel that you have missed a step, verbalize to your instructor that you missed it and perform the step. If you miss one of the critical steps, you will fail the skills portion automatically. The critical steps are identified in the handbook.
Certification Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements: According to Ohio Law, to renew your license, it is required that you have worked 16 hours and had 24 hours of in-service at your place of employment in the paid role of a nurse aide during the past 24 months. This must be paid employment, not volunteer work, and in a nursing environment such as a nursing home, home health setting or a hospital.
You can renew your license with D &S Diversified at:
D&S Diversified Technologies
PO Box #418,
Findlay, OH 45839-0418
or call: Toll Free 877-851-2355 – local 419-420-1605.
If your certification has already lapsed, you must either retake the CNA training program or contact the D &S Diversified Headmaster at the number above. Contact the above address or phone number for an Ohio State Tested Nurse Aide Renewal Application Form.
Contact
OH Nurse Aide Registry
OH Department of Health
246 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-2412
Verification: (outside OH): 614-752-9500
Verification (OH Residents only): 800-582-5908
Fax: 614-564-2461
