Huduma CNA ProgramsAn approved CNA program in Washington is one approved by the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON, formerly the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission), which sets training and exam standards; the Department of Health (DOH) then issues the credential after you pass the exam. Only graduates of an approved program qualify to test under eligibility route E1, so approval is the first thing to verify. Beyond that baseline, every approved program must deliver at least 108 clock hours (35 theory, 33 skills lab, 40 clinical) under WAC 246-841A-440, use licensed nurse instructors with recent direct-care experience, and allow at least four attempts at the skills test. The twelve questions below turn those rules and a few practical factors into a checklist you can use in one phone call or visit.
First, confirm the approval
Two terms get confused. "DOH-approved" is common shorthand, but the approving body for nursing assistant training programs is WABON; the DOH runs credentialing, background checks, renewals and the Provider Credential Search that serves as the state's nurse aide registry. When you ask a school about approval, ask specifically whether it is currently approved by the Washington State Board of Nursing as a nursing assistant training program and whether that approval is in good standing. A school that answers with a DSHS Home Care Aide approval or a business license has not answered the question. The two agencies' roles are explained in Washington DOH vs Board of Nursing for CNAs.
The 12 questions
1. Are you currently approved by WABON as a nursing assistant training program?
The answer should be a plain yes, with the program name as it appears on the state's list. Approval can lapse or be conditional after an audit, so ask when it was last renewed.
2. How many total clock hours, and how are they split?
The legal minimum is 108: 35 theory, 33 lab, 40 clinical. A program may schedule more, but not less. Ask for the split in writing; a school that quotes a single total without the breakdown may be counting exam prep or orientation as training hours.
3. Where is clinical held, and who supervises it?
The 40 clinical hours must be in a licensed nursing facility with a licensed nurse instructor present. Ask for the facility name, the days and shift times, and the student-to-instructor ratio. A program that tells students to find their own clinical site is not delivering an approved program.
4. Who teaches, and what is their license and recent experience?
Instructors must be licensed nurses with recent direct-care experience under WAC 246-841A-430. Ask whether the same nurse teaches theory, lab and clinical, and whether the instructor who evaluates your skills test is different from the one who trained you.
5. Who administers the skills test, and where?
Since October 2023 the skills test (Part 1) is administered in person by the training program, or scheduled through WABON online scheduling if the program does not test. The fee is $100 to the test site. A program that tests on site, as Huduma CNA Programs does in Federal Way, saves you travel and usually shortens the wait between completion and testing.
6. How many skills test attempts do you allow, and what does each cost?
Programs must allow at least four attempts (WAC 246-841A-430(6)(k)(iii)). Each attempt carries its own $100 fee. Ask whether mock testing or extra practice is offered between attempts and what it costs; Huduma builds mock testing into both of its courses.
7. What is the schedule pattern, and what is the attendance policy?
Weekday programs run about 4 weeks; weekend programs about 6 to 7 weekends; evening formats 8 to 10 weeks. Every hour must be documented, so ask how missed hours are made up and whether make-up time costs extra.
8. What does the total cost include?
Get tuition, books and supplies, uniform, background check, and any lab or testing fees itemized. For comparison, Huduma charges $1,100 for the 108-hour CNA Traditional course and $800 for the 40-hour HCA-CNA Bridge, each with about $105 in books and supplies, with the $100 skills and $55 knowledge fees paid at testing. DOH application fees are per the current DOH fee schedule.
9. What are the admission requirements?
Typical requirements are a high school diploma or GED, a background check cleared before clinical placement, immunization and TB records, and the ability to attend every scheduled hour. Ask whether English proficiency is assessed and how.
10. What happens after completion?
You receive a Certificate of Completion, which is not a credential. Ask whether the program helps you register for the Credentia knowledge test ($55, online, only after the skills pass is recorded) and submit the DOH application. See Certificate of Completion vs CNA certification.
11. Do you offer a bridge for Home Care Aides?
If you hold an active Washington HCA credential, a 108-hour course is more than you need. The DOH describes a 24-hour bridge; Huduma's HCA-CNA Bridge is 40 clock hours (36 instructional plus 4 hours of mock testing) over 5 weekdays or about 2.5 weekends. A program that cannot offer or explain the bridge may not be the right fit for an HCA.
12. Can I see the enrollment agreement and refund policy before I pay?
A written agreement with tuition, due dates, refund schedule and cancellation window is standard. Refusal to provide one before a deposit is a reason to walk away. Payment terms are covered in payment plans for CNA training in Washington.
What the answers should look like
| Question | Acceptable answer | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Approval | Current WABON approval, named program | Only a business license or DSHS HCA approval |
| Hours | 108 or more, split 35/33/40 or higher | A single total, or fewer than 108 |
| Clinical | Named licensed nursing facility, instructor present | Student arranges own site |
| Instructors | Licensed nurses with recent direct-care experience | Unlicensed or unspecified staff |
| Skills test | Administered by the program or scheduled via WABON, $100 | "Take the state test online" |
| Attempts | At least four, $100 each | Fewer than four, or unclear |
| Cost | Itemized, in writing | Verbal totals only |
| Refunds | Written schedule before deposit | Provided only after payment |
Program types you will encounter
Approved programs in Washington come in three main forms, and the questions above apply to each.
| Type | Typical length | Typical setting | Funding that fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private training center | 4 weeks weekday or 6 to 7 weekends | School lab plus partner nursing facility | Employer sponsorship, WIOA, Worker Retraining at selected schools |
| Community or technical college | One academic quarter | College lab plus partner facility | Washington College Grant, Opportunity Grant, Worker Retraining |
| Nursing facility program | Varies; often tied to employment | The facility itself | Employer pays; federal no-charge rule for employees |
The trade-offs between the first two are covered in community college vs private CNA school in Washington, and between the first and third in CNA training at a nursing home vs a training center.
Verifying claims independently
Do not rely on the school alone. Three checks take a few minutes:
- Approval status. WABON publishes its list of approved nursing assistant training programs; confirm the school's name appears and the approval is current.
- Graduate credentials. Ask the school for two or three recent graduates' first names and look them up on the DOH Provider Credential Search, which shows active NA-C credentials. A program whose graduates are not appearing as NA-C is not producing certified aides.
- Facility license. Confirm the clinical site is a licensed nursing facility.
If the program also trains Home Care Aides, as Caregiver Training and Huduma Center LLC does under DSHS approval, keep the two approvals separate in your mind: HCA approval is DSHS, nursing assistant approval is WABON.
Frequently asked questions
Who approves CNA programs in Washington? The Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON). The Department of Health issues the credential after you pass the exam.
How many hours must an approved Washington CNA program have? At least 108 clock hours: 35 theory, 33 skills lab and 40 clinical, under WAC 246-841A-440.
Can I take the Washington CNA exam if my program was not approved? Not under route E1. Other eligibility routes exist for nursing students, military medics, out-of-state CNAs and others, but a non-approved Washington course does not qualify.
Does the school have to administer the skills test? Programs administer the skills test in person, or schedule students through WABON online scheduling if they do not test. Either way the fee is $100.
How many times can I take the skills test? Programs must allow at least four attempts, each with its own $100 fee.
Is Huduma CNA Programs an approved program? Huduma delivers the 108-hour CNA Traditional course and the 40-hour HCA-CNA Bridge in Federal Way and administers the skills test on site; confirm current approval status on the WABON list as you would for any school.
For the full state rules behind these questions, read Washington State CNA requirements in 2026, and compare the two Huduma courses on the CNA Traditional and HCA-CNA Bridge pages.
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