How to Become a CNA in Washington
To work as a certified nursing assistant in Washington, you finish a state-approved training program of at least 108 hours, pass the competency exam given by Credentia, and get listed on the state nurse aide registry. Washington has 170 approved programs to choose from (list dated October 2026).
Updated October 2026 · Sources: Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) (October 2026), WAC 246-841A-440, IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
- Training required
- 108+ hr40 clinical
- Approved programs
- 170official list, October 2026
- Washington median pay
- $49,180$23.65/hr · BLS May 2025
Step 1: Choose a state-approved program
Only programs on the official Washington list qualify you for the exam. The Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) list has 170 approved programs, including 78 private school programs, 34 high school programs, 27 college programs and 19 nursing home programs. Federal law bars a nursing home from charging the aides it hires for training: see free CNA classes in Washington.
Biggest Washington metro areas for CNA training
- CNA classes in Seattle70
- CNA classes in Spokane12
- CNA classes in Wenatchee8
- CNA classes in Bremerton7
- CNA classes in Olympia7
- CNA classes in Vancouver7
- CNA classes in Kennewick6
- CNA classes in Mount Vernon6
Step 2: Complete at least 108 hours of training
Washington requires at least 108 hours: at least 35 hours of classroom theory, 33 hours of skills lab and 40 hours of clinical training; facility orientation does not count toward the 108. Source: WAC 246-841A-440. That is 33 hours more than the federal minimum of 75.
Classroom theory can be taught in a live online format, or asynchronously online, if the program has board approval; skills lab and the 40 clinical hours are in person, and a background check is required before any contact with residents (WAC 246-841A-440). More: online CNA classes.
Step 3: Pass the Washington competency exam
The exam has a written (or oral) part and a hands-on skills part, given by Credentia.
Step 4: Get listed on the registry
After you pass, you are added to the Washington nurse aide registry, kept by the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON). Employers check it before hiring, and anyone can look up a CNA license for free. Under federal rules, if you go 24 months in a row without paid nursing-related work, you must retrain or retest.
Step 5: Find a job
30,270 nursing assistants work in Washington. The median earns $49,180 a year; the top 10% earn $62,660 or more (BLS May 2025). See Washington CNA pay by metro area.
CNA requirements by state
| State | Training hours | Clinical | Exam | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 160 | 100 | D&SDT-Headmaster, Credentia, or the Regional Testing Center | 592 |
| Colorado | 75+ | 16 | Credentia (NNAAP) | state list |
| Florida | 120 | 40 | Prometric | 201 |
| Georgia | 85 | 24 | Credentia (NNAAP) | 335 |
| Illinois | 120 | 40 | Southern Illinois University Carbondale (INACE) | 395 |
| Massachusetts | 75+ | — | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | 109 |
| Michigan | 75 | 16 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | 222 |
| Missouri | 175+ | 100 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | not checked |
| New Jersey | 90 | 40 | PSI and D&SDT-Headmaster | 158 |
| New York | 100 | 30 | Prometric | 196 |
| North Carolina | 75+ | — | Credentia (NNAAP) | 247 |
| Ohio | 75+ | 16 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | not published |
| Pennsylvania | 80 | 37.5 | Credentia (NNAAP) | 182 |
| Texas | 100 | 40 | Prometric | not published |
| Virginia | 140+ | 40 | Credentia (NNAAP) | 220 |
| Washington | 108+ | 40 | Credentia | 170 |
| Wisconsin | 75+ | 16 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | not checked |
Becoming a CNA in Washington: FAQ
How many hours of training does a CNA need in Washington?
Washington requires at least 108 hours: at least 35 hours of classroom theory, 33 hours of skills lab and 40 hours of clinical training; facility orientation does not count toward the 108 (WAC 246-841A-440). The federal minimum is 75 hours, 16 of them supervised clinical.
Who runs the Washington CNA exam?
The Washington competency exam (a written or oral test plus a skills test) is given by Credentia.
Can I do the Washington CNA classroom hours online?
Classroom theory can be taught in a live online format, or asynchronously online, if the program has board approval; skills lab and the 40 clinical hours are in person, and a background check is required before any contact with residents (WAC 246-841A-440).
How do I look up a CNA license in Washington?
Use the free Washington nurse aide registry search, run by the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON). It shows whether a certificate is active. The link is in the rules box on this page.
How much do CNAs make in Washington?
The median Washington nursing assistant earned $49,180 a year ($23.65 an hour) in BLS May 2025 data, above the U.S. median of $42,260. The middle half earned $46,980 to $57,930.