Nurse Aide Training Programs in Washington

What are your options if you have failed to renew your nursing assistant certification for an extended period of time? According to the State of Washington regulations, if a nursing assistant certification lapses for more than two years, then a nurse aide must retrain and retake the CNA exam in order to become re-certified. Nurse aide certificates in this state are to be renewed every year, and the renewal of a certification costs approximately $30. Endorsement applications are accepted in the state of Washington and individuals who have completed an out-of-state CNA training program will be evaluated for transfer of their license or certification.

The Department of Health reviews each endorsement application individually, and checks to see if the nurse aide training program in your home state has similar educational requirements as CNA classes in Washington State. Every state approved CNA training program in Washington must provide at least thirty-five (35) hours of classroom and laboratory instruction as well as a minimum of fifty (50) hours of hands-on, clinical training experiences in a long-term care facility. All state-approved nurse aide training courses in Washington are re-evaluated every two years to make sure they continue to meet state training requirements. Only those who meet state criteria in terms of CNA training curriculum obtain further approval for an additional two years.

Nursing Assistant Classes in Lincoln County

Odessa Memorial Hospital
P.O. Box 368, Odessa, WA 99159
Phone: (509) 982-2611

Lincoln Hospital Nurse Aide Program - Davenport
10 Nichols Street, Davenport, Washington 99122
Phone: (509) 725-7101

CNA Classes in Mason County

Fir Lane Health and Rehabilitation Center - Shelton
13th Street, Shelton, WA 98584
Phone: (360) 426-1651

Evergreen Shelton Health and Rehabilitation Center CNA Course - Shelton
153 Johns Court SE, Shelton, Washington 98584
Phone: (360) 427-2575

CNA Training Schools in Okanogan County

North Valley Hospital and Nursing Home - Tonasket
203 South Western Ave., Tonasket, WA 98855
Phone: (509) 486-2151

Valley Care Center - Okanogan
520 South 2nd Ave., Okanogan, Washington 98840
This nursing assistant program is closed or currently inactive.

Wentachee Valley College Nurse Aide Training - Omak Campus
P.O. Box 2058, Omak, WA 98841
Phone: (509) 442-7952

Harmony House Health Care Center CNA Program - Brewster
100 River Plaza, Brewster, Washington 98812
Phone: (509) 689-2546

Colville Tribal Convalescent Center - Nespelem
P.O. Box 150, Nespelem, WA 99155
Phone: (509) 634-2875

Nurse Aide Training Programs in Pacific County

Ocean View Convalescent Center - Long Beach
211 Pioneer Road West, Long Beach, Washington 98631
This nursing assistant program is closed or currently inactive.

CNA Training Courses in Pend Orielle County

River Mountain Training Center - Newport
608 West 2nd Avenue, Newport, Washington 99156
Phone: (509) 447-9358

Pathways Training Services - Usk
P.O. Box 178, Usk, WA 99180
This nursing assistant program is closed or currently inactive.

CNA Classes in Pierce County

Pierce College C.N.A. Class - Puyallup
1601 SE 39th Avenue, Puyallup, WA 98374
Phone: (253) 840-8355

Priority Instructional Center Nursing Assistant Course - Lakewood
5202 100th Street SW, Lakewood, Washington 98499
Phone: (253) 512-0313

Bates Technical College Nursing Assistant Course - Tacoma
1101 South Yakima Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98405
Phone: (253) 680-7327

Gig Harbor High School CNA Training Program
5101 Rosedale Ave. NW, Gig Harbor, Washington 98335
Phone: (253) 851-2568

Health Resources VoTech - Gig Harbor
5775 Soundview Dr., Suite 104B, Gig Harbor, Washington 98335
Phone: (206) 218-3979

Linden Grove Health Care Center Nurse Aide Course - Puyallup
400 29th Street NE, Puyallup, WA 98372
This CNA program is closed.

Western State Hospital CNA Training - Tacoma
9610 Steilacoom Boulevard, Tacoma, Washington 98498
Phone: (253) 756-2871

Medical Training Consultants Institute - Lakewood
9100 Bridgeport Way SW, Lakewood, WA 98499
Phone: (253) 566-8282

Clover Park Technical Certified Nurse Aide Program - Lakewood
4500 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Lakewood, Washington 98499
Phone: (253) 589-5885

Alaska Gardens Health and Rehabilitation Center Nurse Aide Training Course
6220 South Alaska Street, Tacoma, WA 98408
Phone: (253) 476-5300

Tacoma Community College Nursing Assistant Certification (NAC) Course
6501 South 19th Street, Tacoma, Washington 98466
Phone: (253) 566-5020

CNA Schools in Washington State ( Page 6 )

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

Felica G. on July 16, 2014 at 02:23 PM
How long do CNA classes take and what exactly do you have to do?


Admin on July 19, 2014 at 10:51 PM
Nursing assistant training courses may take anywhere between three weeks to three months to complete, depending on the facility or school which offers the program. To enroll in nurse aide classes you must meet certain admission criteria pertaining to education, health, and background history. Those who are accepted into CNA classes must complete both the classroom and hands-on practice sessions to graduate. Finally, one must pass a final exam which tests a candidate's skills and abilities to practice correctly and safely. When you pass this final test you become a certified nurse aide.


After becoming a CNA how much more experience, training or school has to be done to become a registered nurse?

I am in the military and I do not have too much time to actually attend a regular CNA program. Who offers online CNA classes?

How do I sign up for CNA training? I am having trouble finding the shortest training program in my area. Can you help me?

How long does it take to get the CNA certificate itself while in school taking courses?

Can you share any tips or advice regarding CNA job interviews?

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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