Huduma CNA ProgramsCaregiver Training and Huduma Center LLC is the Federal Way, Washington organization that operates Huduma CNA Programs. It is also a DSHS-approved Home Care Aide (HCA) training provider and an HCA exam site, which means it covers both of Washington's entry-level direct-care credentials under one roof: the 75-hour HCA training approved by DSHS, and nursing assistant training approved by the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON). On the CNA side it runs two courses: a 4-week, 108-hour CNA Traditional program at $1,100 tuition, and a 40-hour HCA-to-CNA bridge at $800, both with skills testing administered on site. This page explains what each part of the organization does and how the pieces connect for a student.
Two credentials, one organization
Washington has two separate direct-care credentials with two separate regulators. The Home Care Aide credential is for caregivers in home care agencies, adult family homes, and assisted living; its 75-hour training is approved by DSHS. The Nursing Assistant-Certified (NA-C) credential is for nursing facilities, hospitals, and other settings requiring a nursing assistant; its training is approved by WABON and its minimum is 108 hours. Both credentials are issued by the Department of Health (DOH).
| Home Care Aide (HCA) | Nursing Assistant-Certified (NA-C) | |
|---|---|---|
| Training approver | DSHS | WABON |
| Minimum training | 75 hours | 108 hours (35 theory, 33 lab, 40 clinical) |
| Credential issuer | DOH | DOH |
| Caregiver Training and Huduma Center's role | Approved training provider and exam site | Operates Huduma CNA Programs; administers skills test on site |
| Bridge between them | An active HCA opens the alternative (bridge) route | Huduma's bridge is 40 clock hours |
Because the organization holds both approvals, a student who starts as an HCA can later bridge to NA-C at the same school, and the bridge course is built to the state's home care aide alternative program type. The relationship between the two credentials is explained in the HCA to CNA bridge program in Washington.
Huduma CNA Programs: the CNA Traditional course
The CNA Traditional program is the full route for someone with no prior credential. Its structure follows WAC 246-841A-440 exactly: 108 clock hours split into 35 hours of classroom theory, 33 hours of skills lab, and 40 hours of clinical practice in a licensed nursing facility, completed in 4 weeks. Key facts:
- Tuition: $1,100, with books and supplies about $105.
- Entry requirements: high school diploma or GED; instruction is in English.
- Patterns: day and weekend schedules, with dates on the schedules page.
- Background check: completed before clinical placement.
- Completion: a Certificate of Completion, which is the document the state checks for exam eligibility under the E1 route.
- Skills test: administered on site, for the $100 fee paid to the test site.
Testing on site matters more than it sounds. The skills test is Part 1 of Washington's two-part exam, and a candidate who tests in the same lab where they trained, on equipment they know, avoids the unfamiliar-room problem that comes with booking an outside site through WABON online scheduling. Program details are on the CNA Traditional program page.
Huduma CNA Programs: the HCA-to-CNA bridge
The bridge is for students who already hold an active Washington HCA credential and a diploma or GED. DOH describes the bridge as a 24-hour course; programs may run longer, and Huduma's is 40 clock hours: 36 instructional hours (17 theory, 13 lab, 6 clinical) plus 4 hours of mock testing. Tuition is $800, with books and supplies about $105. It runs over 5 weekdays or about 2.5 weekends.
The bridge exists because HCA training already covers a large share of nursing assistant content, so the state allows an alternative route under the E6 eligibility category. Graduates take the same two-part exam as traditional students: the $100 skills test on site, then the $55 Credentia knowledge test. The bridge is described on the HCA-CNA Bridge program page, and the choice between the two routes is worked through in CNA Traditional vs HCA-CNA Bridge.
What "DSHS-approved HCA training provider and exam site" means
For readers who arrive looking for HCA training, the DSHS approval means the organization delivers the 75-hour Home Care Aide curriculum that DSHS requires for long-term care workers, and the exam-site status means HCA candidates can take their certification exam there. For CNA students, the practical effect is that instructors and facilities are already set up for hands-on caregiver skills, and the organization is used to running state-standard skills evaluations.
This page describes only what is documented about the organization's approvals and programs. For history, staff names, or anything not listed here, contact the school directly.
Where it is and how to get there
Huduma CNA Programs is in Federal Way, in south King County. Federal Way Downtown Station on the Link 1 Line and the adjacent Federal Way Transit Center connect the area to Seattle, SeaTac, Kent, and Tacoma: Sound Transit route 574 serves Tacoma and SeaTac, and the King County Metro RapidRide A Line serves the Pacific Highway corridor. Detailed directions are in getting to CNA class in Federal Way.
Cost summary
| Item | CNA Traditional | HCA-CNA Bridge |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $1,100 | $800 |
| Books and supplies | about $105 | about $105 |
| Skills test fee (to test site) | $100 | $100 |
| Knowledge test fee (to Credentia) | $55 | $55 |
| DOH NA-C application | per current DOH fee schedule | per current DOH fee schedule |
| Clock hours | 108 | 40 |
| Calendar length | 4 weeks | 5 weekdays or about 2.5 weekends |
Exam fees are set by the state and vendor and are the same at every program. The NA-C credential then renews annually on the holder's birthday through the DOH portal, with no continuing education required for a standard NA-C.
How to enroll
Enrollment follows the same sequence for both courses:
- Choose the course: Traditional if you hold no credential, bridge if your Washington HCA is active.
- Pick a start date and pattern from the schedules page.
- Gather documents: diploma or GED, government photo ID, and for the bridge, proof of the active HCA credential.
- Complete the background check before clinical placement, plus the TB test and immunizations the clinical facility requires.
- Pay tuition or arrange funding; WorkSource, WIOA, and Basic Food Employment and Training can cover eligible students.
The step-by-step version with document details is in how to enroll in CNA training at Huduma CNA Programs.
Frequently asked questions
Is Huduma Center the same as Huduma CNA Programs? Huduma CNA Programs is operated by Caregiver Training and Huduma Center LLC. The CNA courses run under the Huduma CNA Programs name.
Does Huduma Center offer HCA training as well as CNA training? Yes. Caregiver Training and Huduma Center is a DSHS-approved Home Care Aide training provider and an HCA exam site, in addition to operating the CNA programs.
Can I take the CNA skills test at Huduma? Yes. The skills test, Part 1 of the Washington exam, is administered on site for the $100 test-site fee.
How long is the Huduma CNA Traditional course? 4 weeks, covering the state minimum of 108 clock hours: 35 theory, 33 lab, and 40 clinical.
Do I need an HCA credential to enroll? Only for the 40-hour bridge. The CNA Traditional course requires a high school diploma or GED and no prior credential.
For the wider context of CNA training in the area, see CNA classes in Federal Way, WA, and check the schedules page for the next start dates of both courses.
Which path may fit you?
Already an eligible HCA?
Review the HCA–CNA Bridge Program and confirm the active Washington HCA credential requirement before choosing a class.
Explore the HCA–CNA Bridge ProgramStarting CNA training?
Review CNA Traditional, the complete training route for learners who are not entering through the HCA bridge route.
Explore the CNA Traditional Program