Nurse Aide Training Programs in Washington

Who is in charge of regulating the CNA training and educational programs as well as the practice of certified nursing assistants in Washington state? There are two distinct state agencies sharing this responsibility: the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Department of Health (DOH). The role of the Department of Social and Health Services is to make sure that nurse aides who seek employment in nursing homes are indeed qualified by meeting the federal requirements. It is also the responsibility of this department to approve and monitor nurse aide training courses.

Furthermore, the Department of Social and Health Services establishes testing criteria for the nurse assistant state examination. The role of the Department of Health is to ensure that a certified nurse aide satisfies all state requirements for employment as a nursing assistant. Once you pass the nursing assistant state exam this agency is the one responsible for issuing your nurse assistant certification. Are you curious to know how much you will earn working as a CNA in Washington State? The median salary for a CNA employed in a nursing home in 2008 was $25,000 per year.

CNA Classes in King County

Divine CNA Training - Seattle
11740 Aurora Avenue, Seattle, WA 98133
Phone: (206) 724-0830
Divine CNA Training offers morning, evening, and weekend nursing assistant classes at two locations: Federal Way and Seattle, Washington. Divine CNA Training is licensed as a vocational school under the Private Vocational School Act, Chapter 28C. 10 RCW and WAC 490-105. Workforce, DSHS and DOH approved the program objectives in the state of Washington. Completion of the nursing assistant program at Divine CNA Training prepares and qualifies you for the State/OBRA test.

Health Professionals Institute - Kent
18000 72nd Avenue South, Suite 160, Kent, Washington 98032
Phone: (425) 988-2675
Established in 2003 and located in Kent, Health Professionals Institute is a fully accredited, private vocational school licensed by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Department of Health, Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. Their mission is to provide the highest quality training and education possible to fully equip healthcare professionals to thrive in this industry. Along with superior teaching and instruction, they offer a variety of classes and programs that help students succeed both in the classroom and the industry. To register for a class or learn more, please call (425) 988-2675 or visit www.healthprofessionalsinstitute.com.

Lake Washington Institute of Technology Nurse Aide Course - Kirkland
132nd Avenue NE, Kirkland, Washington 98034
Phone: (425) 739-8100

A-Plus Nurses Assistant Training School - Seattle
6951 Martin Luther King Jr. Way South, Seattle, WA 98118
Phone: (206) 723-5100

Stafford Healthcare - Des Moines
2800 South 224th, Des Moines, Washington 98003
Phone: (206) 824-0600

Nursing Assistant Training School - Tukwila
625 Strander Blvd., Tukwila, WA 98188
Phone: (206) 575-2010

Highline Community College CNA Program - Des Moines
2400 South 240th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198
Phone: (206) 878-3710

Seattle Central Community College
1701 Broadway, Seattle, Washington 98122
Phone: (206) 587-3800

Vashon Community Care Center Nurse Aide Course
15333 Vashon Highway SW, Vashon, WA 98070
Phone: (206) 567-4421

Avalon Care Center - Federal Way
135 South 336th Street, Federal Way, Washington 98003
Phone: (253) 835-7453

Fircrest School Nurse Assistant Program - Shoreline
15th Avenue NE, Shoreline, WA 98155
Phone: (206) 361-3100

Queen Ann Health Care Nurse Aide Training Program - Seattle
2717 Dexter Avenue North, Seattle, Washington 98109
Phone: (206) 284-7012

Shoreline Community College C.N.A. Class - Seattle
1601 Greenwood Ave. North, Seattle, WA 98133
Phone: (206) 979-9268

Kamanga CNA Training - Des Moines
22659 Pacific Highway South, Des Moines, Washington 98198
Phone: (206) 271-1946

Kin on Health Care Center - Seattle
4416 South Brandon Street, Seattle, WA 98188
Phone: (206) 721-3630

Bellevue Community College Nursing Assistant Program
3000 Landerholm Circle SE, Bellevue, Washington 98007
Phone: (425) 564-5604

North Shore School District Health Occupations Program - Woodinville
136th Ave. NE, Woodinville, WA 98072
Phone: (425) 408-7444

Nursing Assistant Training Institute - Shoreline
15019 Aurora Ave. North, Shoreline, Washington 98133
Phone: (206) 546-1120

Sammamish High School CNA Training Course - Bellevue
140th Avenue SE, Bellevue, WA 98005
Phone: (425) 456-7617

Renton Technical College Nurse Aide Program
3000 NE 4th Street, Renton, WA 98056
Phone: (425) 235-2299

South Seattle Community College - Seattle
16th Avenue SW, Seattle, Washington 98106
Phone: (206) 768-6414

Canterbury House CNA Training Program - Auburn
29th Street SE, Auburn, WA 98001
Phone: (253) 939-0090

North Seattle Community College Nurse Aide Training Course - Seattle
9600 College Way North, Seattle, Washington 98103
Phone: (206) 527-3790

Cascade Vista Convalescent Center CNA Program - Redmond
7900 Wllows Road, Redmond, WA 98052
Phone: (425) 885-0808

Kindred Healthcare Corporation Nursing Assistant Course - Seattle
914 6th Ave. North, Seattle, Washington 98109
Phone: (206) 217-9419

Life Care Center of Kirkland
10101 NE 120th, Kirkland, WA 98034
This CNA training program is closed or currently inactive.

Seni Nursing Assistant Training Center - Kent
24700 Military Road South, # 105, Kent, Washington 98032
Phone: (206) 214-7232

Divine CNA Training - Federal Way
1707 S 341st Place, Unit D, Federal Way, WA 98023
Phone: (253) 874-0174

CNA Classes in Washington State ( Page 2 )

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

Name: Delores B. Date posted: July 24, 2013 - 06:32 PM
Message: Hello. I want to get my C.N.A certificate. I recently moved to Spokane, Washington and I am wondering if there are classes offered in the Spokane area. If so where and when and how do i apply? Thank you.


Name: Admin Date posted: July 26, 2013 - 09:04 AM
Message: You may search available CNA training classes in Washington by selecting this particular state from the map above. There are several pages which display different schools and facilities offering nurse aide courses in the state of Washington. Here is a link to the page with CNA training providers in Spokane County.


Cassie on August 03, 2014 at 12:22 PM
Are there any nursing assistant classes you can take for free or get financial aid in Pierce County, Washington?


Admin on August 03, 2014 at 05:11 PM
Free CNA training programs in Washington State are sometimes offered by licensed long-term care facilities and hospitals. The only way to find out if and when a facility does offer free nurse aide classes is by contacting them. Unlike community colleges or private schools which keep a regular course schedule, nursing homes may only offer classes when there is a need for additional certified nursing assistants at their facilities. There are approximately ten different long-term care facilities listed on our site, qualified to train certified nursing assistants in Pierce County. It is a good idea to first contact the ones close to where you live and inquire about nurse aide training. Community colleges and technical schools rarely offer financial aid for nursing assistant students. Grants are sometimes available to those who have lost their employment, are looking to retrain, and have limited annual incomes. It is best to speak with a financial aid representative or CNA program coordinator prior to enrolling in a program at a two-year college. This is the best way to find out if you qualify for any financial assistance.


Is it possible to enroll in a CNA class without a high school diploma or GED?

How long do CNA classes take and what exactly do you have to do?

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?

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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