Nurse Aide Training Programs in Washington

Which type of CNA training program in Washington State provides the best instruction and hands-on experience? When choosing between different nurse aide courses one has three basic choices: enroll in a CNA class offered at a nursing home, at a community college, or at a private school. According to feedback from students who completed nurse assistant courses in all of these settings, each facility or school has its pros and cons when it comes to judging the quality of their programs. Nursing homes are usually more skills oriented and immediately introduce nursing assistant students to the realities of the job.

Community colleges emphasize passing the CNA state exam and may be tougher on the classroom instruction side of the program. Private schools are usually run by registered nurses who are qualified to teach and conduct CNA training courses and these type of programs offer the best of both worlds: adequate classroom instruction combined with solid clinical experience. The best combination is when the private school partners with a long-term care facility to provide hands-on training for nurse aide students. All three types of CNA programs give graduates the right to sit for the Washington CNA examination which leads to certification as a nurse aide in this state.

Nurse Aide Classes in Columbia County

Booker Rest Home - Dayton
1012 South 3rd Street, Dayton, WA 99328
Phone: (509) 382-2531

CNA Classes in Cowlitz County

Woodland Rehab Center Nurse Aide Program
310 4th Street, Woodland, Washington 98674
Phone: (360) 225-9443

Lower Columbia College Nurse Assistant Program - Longview
1600 Maple Street, Longview, WA 98632
Phone: (360) 442-2861

Kelso School District - Longview
1405 Deleware Street, Longview, Washington 98632
Phone: (360) 414-2848

Evergreen Park Royal Nurse Aide Course - Longview
910 16th Ave., Longview, WA 98632
Phone: (360) 423-2890

Nurse Assistant Courses in Douglas County

Progressive Health Care Education Center Nurse Aide Training Program - Orondo
68 Orchard Drive, Orondo, Washington 98843
Phone: (509) 886-4187

CNA Courses in Ferry County

Ferry County Memorial Hospital Nursing Assistant Course - Republic
36 Klondike Road, Republic, WA 99166
Phone: (509) 775-3333

Nurse Aide Programs in Franklin County

Columbia Basin College CNA Training Course - Pasco
2600 North 20th Ave., Pasco, Washington 99301
Phone: (509) 544-8300

Avalon Health Care Inc. - Pasco
2004 North 22nd Street, Pasco, WA 98301
Phone: (509) 547-8811

Nursing Aide Programs in Garfield County

Garfield County Hospital District CNA Course - Pomeroy
66 North 6th Street, Pomeroy, Washington 99347
Phone: (509) 843-1591

CNA Schools in Grant County

Coulee Community Hospital Nursing Assistant Program - Grand Coulee
411 Fortuyn Road, Grand Coulee, WA 99133
Phone: (509) 633-1753

Columbia Basin Job Corps Nurse Aide Program - Moses Lake
24th Street, Moses Lake, Washington 98837
Phone: (509) 762-2341

Big Bend Community College - Moses Lake
7662 Chanute, Moses Lake, WA 98837
Phone: (509) 762-6285

Lake Ridge Solana Alzheimers Care Center CNA Program - Lakeridge
817 East Plum Street, Moses Lake, Washington 98837
Phone: (509) 765-7835

McKay Healthcare and Rehab - Soap Lake
127 2nd Avenue SW, Soap Lake, Washington 98851
Phone: (509) 246-1111

Nursing Assistant Classes in Grays Harbor County

Willapa Harbor Care Center Nurse Aide Course - Raymond
1100 Jackson Street, Raymond, WA 98577
Phone: (360) 942-2424

Elma Nursing Assistant Training - McCleary
P.O. Box 1384, McCleary, Washington 98557
Phone: (360) 495-3619

Montesano Health and Rehabilitation Center CNA Course
800 North Medcalf, Montesano, WA 98563
Phone: (360) 249-2273

CNA Programs in Washington State ( Page 3 )

Nursing assistant programs prepare individuals for challenging the nurse aide certification exam and for entry level positions in health care environments. Each state has the authority to decide how many hours of training a nursing assistant course must consist of, as long as the minimum federal requirement of seventy-five hours is met. Students interested in attending CNA classes have a wide array of choices when it comes to selecting a training facility.

Nursing assistant courses are conducted at nursing homes, vocational schools, private schools, and community colleges. Program length, admission requirements, and cost of training vary depending on the policies of every training facility. Several states have implemented legislation which requires licensed long-term care facilities to reimburse CNA employees for the costs associated with training. An individual who has paid for nursing assistant training classes and who becomes employed by a nursing home within a year of obtaining certification, is eligible for financial reimbursement. Compared to other training programs in the health care field, nursing assistant classes are relatively short and inexpensive. Obtaining state certification as a CNA is the main requirement for securing a nurse aide job at a nursing home, hospital, rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility.

CNA Training Schools and Programs

CNA classes, schools and programs by state.

Questions, Comments, Suggestions

Tenesha on September 21, 2014 at 03:14 PM
How do I sign up for CNA training? I am having trouble finding the shortest training program in my area. Can you help me?


Admin on September 22, 2014 at 04:16 PM
To sign up for a certified nursing assistant program, you must contact the school and request an enrollment application. Some schools provide applications online, but others do not. You might have to visit the facility to pick up an application. A deposit is usually required to reserve your seat in the class. You must contact each program yourself to ask about the length and cost of their classes and decide which one is best for you. I could help you locate several CNA training classes in your area. Please provide me with state and county information if you need help locating nursing assistant courses close to where you live.


How long does it take to get a CNA certificate?

Do you have any advice for someone having to go to a CNA job interview?

Is it better to become a CNA or a LVN?

I am a pre-nursing student. Is there any benefit in becoming a CNA before going to nursing school?

How can I tell if my CNA license is active and how do I renew it if it is not?

CNA Resources

CNA Training Requirements

There is a wide disparity between CNA training requirements among the states. The difference lies in the mandatory number of total training hours necessary to complete state-approved CNA classes.


While according to federal law each nursing assistant course should contain a minimum of seventy-five (75) instruction and clinical hours, individual states have the liberty to mandate extra training requirements for certified nursing assistants. The majority of states exceed the threshold federal minimum requirements for nurse aide training programs because they are considered insufficient to result in an optimal and safe level of care for clients.


A review of nationwide state requirements for nurse assistant courses has found that the following states have mandated highest number of CNA program hours: Maine with a minimum of 90 hours of theory, 20 hours of laboratory skills and 70 hours of clinical instruction for a total of 180 hours; California with one hundred and sixty (160) training hours; Delaware and Oregon each requiring one hundred and fifty (150) hours; followed by the state of Alaska with one hundred and forty (140) hours; Virginia, Arizona, and West Virginia have a minimum of one hundred and twenty (120) training hours for state-approved classes.

CNA Training Programs

Nurse Aide Registries

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