CNA Classes in Washington

The timeline to become a CNA in Washington typically ranges from 4 to 10 weeks from enrollment to certification. Washington requires a minimum of 85 hours of training—exceeding the federal minimum of 75 hours—including classroom instruction and supervised clinical practice. This comprehensive training ensures Washington CNAs are exceptionally well-prepared for professional nursing assistant careers in the Pacific Northwest. Full-time accelerated programs at institutions like Seattle Central College, Tacoma Community College, Spokane Community College, Highline College, Bellevue College, and other Washington State Community and Technical College System institutions can be completed in as little as 3-4 weeks with intensive daily schedules Monday through Friday. Standard programs typically run 4-6 weeks with morning or afternoon sessions. Part-time programs accommodate working students with evening or weekend classes and generally take 6-8 weeks to complete. Many healthcare facilities throughout Washington—particularly in the Puget Sound region (Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Bellevue), Spokane, and Vancouver—offer employer-sponsored training programs with flexible schedules based on facility needs and employee availability. After completing training, you'll register with Prometric to schedule your competency exam. Testing is available at Prometric centers throughout Washington in Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Vancouver, Bellingham, Yakima, Kennewick, and other metropolitan areas. Exam results are typically provided immediately after the skills test, with official scores processed within a few business days. Once you pass both components, your name is added to the Washington Nursing Assistant Registry within 7-10 business days. Most students complete the entire process—from first day of class to active registry status—within 5 to 12 weeks.

CNA training costs in Washington typically range from free to approximately $2,000 depending on the program type and location. Washington State Community and Technical College System institutions including Seattle Central College, North Seattle College, South Seattle College, Tacoma Community College, Pierce College, Highline College, Bellevue College, Spokane Community College, Clark College in Vancouver, and others offer programs ranging from $1,000 to $1,800 for Washington residents. These community and technical colleges receive state funding for workforce development programs, making them cost-effective options for comprehensive 85-hour training that exceeds federal minimums. Tuition typically includes textbooks, supplies, and materials needed for training. Private vocational schools and healthcare training academies throughout Washington—particularly in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area, Spokane, and Vancouver—typically charge $1,500-$2,000 but often provide accelerated schedules, smaller class sizes, and convenient locations. Many nursing homes and long-term care facilities across Washington offer FREE CNA training through employer-sponsored programs in exchange for employment commitments of 6-12 months after certification. This "earn while you learn" model is common in Washington's healthcare sector, particularly in areas experiencing worker shortages including rural communities in Eastern Washington and smaller cities throughout the state. Under federal OBRA regulations, if you're employed by or receive an offer from a Medicare/Medicaid-certified nursing facility, your employer must pay all training and testing costs. In addition to tuition, budget for the $153 Prometric exam fee (covering both written and skills components), required immunizations and health screenings ($100-$200), scrubs and clinical supplies ($50-$100), and CPR/BLS certification if not included in your program ($40-$75). Washington residents may qualify for financial assistance through WorkFirst (Washington's TANF program), Worker Retraining program, Federal Pell Grants for eligible students, or Washington College Grant for undergraduate education costs.

The Washington CNA competency exam is administered by Prometric and consists of two mandatory components that comprehensively test your knowledge and practical nursing skills. The Written Knowledge Test contains 60 multiple-choice questions with a 90-minute time limit. You must score at least 70% (42 correct answers) to pass. Questions cover: Basic Nursing Skills (vital signs, positioning, transfers, mobility assistance), Personal Care Procedures (bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, elimination), Infection Control (handwashing, standard precautions, PPE use, isolation procedures), Safety and Emergency Procedures (fall prevention, fire safety, emergency response, use of restraints), Communication and Interpersonal Skills (therapeutic communication, cultural sensitivity, resident interactions, reporting and documentation), Residents' Rights (privacy, dignity, independence, informed consent, confidentiality), Mental Health and Social Service Needs (emotional support, behavior management, coping with loss, end-of-life care), and Role of the Nurse Aide (scope of practice, legal responsibilities, ethical behavior). The Oral Examination is available upon request for candidates who prefer auditory testing or have reading difficulties. The Clinical Skills Evaluation requires you to demonstrate five randomly selected nursing assistant skills in front of a trained evaluator with approximately 30 minutes to complete all skills. The mandatory skill is handwashing/hand hygiene, plus four additional skills randomly selected from the approved skills list. Common skills include measuring blood pressure, pulse, respiration, or temperature; assisting with ambulation or transfers using proper body mechanics and safety equipment; performing range of motion exercises; providing perineal care; catheter care; feeding assistance; positioning in bed; or making an occupied bed. You must perform each skill competently according to the standardized checklist focusing on safety, infection control, patient dignity, and proper technique. Testing centers are located throughout Washington including Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Vancouver, Bellingham, Yakima, Kennewick, Olympia, and other communities serving both Western and Eastern Washington.

Washington accepts CNA certifications from other states through reciprocity, allowing you to transfer your credentials without retraining or retesting if you meet specific eligibility requirements. To qualify for reciprocity, you must hold a current, active CNA certification in good standing from another state's nurse aide registry, have no findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property on any state registry, have completed a training program that meets or exceeds federal requirements (minimum 75 hours with both classroom and clinical components), and your out-of-state certification must not have been expired for more than 24 months. To apply for reciprocity, contact the Washington State Department of Health, Health Systems Quality Assurance. You can find the reciprocity application form on the Washington Department of Health website. Submit the completed application along with verification of your current CNA certification from your state's registry (most states can send this electronically), proof of completion of a state-approved training program if required (diploma, certificate, or official transcript), and payment for any applicable processing fees. Washington requires a criminal background check as part of the reciprocity process, which you can complete through approved vendors including the Washington State Patrol and FBI. Processing time typically takes 3-6 weeks from receipt of all required documentation. Once approved, you'll be added to the Washington Nursing Assistant Registry and can begin working immediately at Washington healthcare facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health agencies across all 39 counties. For questions about reciprocity or to verify the status of your application, contact the Washington Department of Health or check the Washington Nursing Assistant Registry online. Washington's high wages, progressive policies, and exceptional quality of life make it an attractive destination for CNAs relocating from other states, particularly from neighboring Oregon, Idaho, and other Western states.

Washington offers exceptional employment opportunities for CNAs across its robust healthcare sector. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area dominates with major employers including UW Medicine (operating University of Washington Medical Center—Puget Sound's premier academic medical center and the region's only Level I Trauma Center for adults with 450 beds, Harborview Medical Center—the region's Level I Trauma Center with 413 beds, and Northwest Hospital), Providence Health & Services (operating Swedish Medical Center with multiple campuses including Swedish First Hill—Seattle's largest hospital with 697 beds, Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, and facilities throughout Western Washington), Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (including Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle and St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way), MultiCare Health System (operating Tacoma General Hospital—Pierce County's Level II Trauma Center with 391 beds, and facilities throughout Pierce County), CHI Franciscan (operating St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma and Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton), and EvergreenHealth in Kirkland. Spokane's healthcare is anchored by Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center (the Inland Northwest's largest hospital and only Level I Trauma Center with 623 beds), MultiCare Deaconess Hospital, and Providence Holy Family Hospital. Vancouver is served by PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center and Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center. The highest-paying areas include King County (Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond), Pierce County (Tacoma), and Snohomish County (Everett), where CNAs can earn $40,000-$45,000 annually. Washington CNAs earn a median salary of $39,140 annually ($18.82/hour)—among the highest in the nation. With Washington's high minimum wage, progressive labor policies, no state income tax, and stunning natural beauty from the Cascade Mountains to Puget Sound, CNAs achieve exceptional quality of life while building rewarding healthcare careers in the Pacific Northwest.