Huduma CNA ProgramsBellingham residents have two Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) approved nursing assistant programs in the city itself: Bellingham Technical College runs a one-quarter, 12-credit certificate that its program page prices at roughly $1,800 in tuition and fees, and Whatcom Community College runs an evening program with weekend clinicals that it lists at about $1,651 to $1,715 all in, though the college's page says the fall 2025 cohort was suspended for budget reasons. The 4-week, 108-hour Nursing Assistant-Certified (NA-C) course at Huduma CNA Programs in Federal Way costs $1,100 tuition plus about $105 in books, but Federal Way is about 110 miles south by I-5, roughly two hours each way. Every option meets the same state floor of 108 clock hours (35 theory, 33 lab, 40 clinical) and ends in the same $155 two-part exam.
Three programs compared for a Whatcom County student
| Question | Bellingham Technical College | Whatcom Community College | Huduma CNA Programs (Federal Way) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calendar | Fall, winter, spring; some summers space permitting | Evenings on campus, clinicals on weekends; check current quarter status | Cohorts through the year; see the schedules page |
| Length | One quarter, 12 credits | One quarter, 8 credits; 49.5 theory, 37 lab, 40 clinical hours per its page | 4 weeks, 108 clock hours |
| Listed cost | About $1,800 tuition and fees plus $129 to $310 tools and clothing, per BTC's page | About $1,651 to $1,715 including books and uniform, per WCC's page | $1,100 tuition plus about $105 books and supplies |
| Entry testing | ACCUPLACER reading and arithmetic scores or equivalent coursework, per BTC | Per the college's entry page | High school diploma or GED |
| Skills test site | Not stated on the program page | On campus at quarter's end, per WCC | On site |
| HCA bridge | No | No | Yes, 40 hours, $800 |
| Distance from Bellingham | In town | In town | About 110 miles |
The two colleges are the sensible first choice for anyone who can wait for a quarter start and wants to stay in Whatcom County. The Federal Way course earns consideration in three situations: you need to start within weeks rather than at the next quarter, you already hold a Home Care Aide credential and want the 40-hour bridge, or you have a reason to be in South King County for a month anyway.
Getting into the Bellingham colleges
Bellingham Technical College's Nursing Assistant certificate page lists placement requirements before enrollment: ACCUPLACER Reading of 232 or higher (or ABE 054 with a C), and ACCUPLACER Arithmetic of 230 or higher (or MATH 090 or ABE 050 with a C). Before clinical rotations, BTC requires a criminal background check, urine drug screen, immunizations, TB screening, proof of health insurance, and CPR certification, which the college says is included in the program. Its summer quarter runs only on a space-available basis, so plan on fall, winter, or spring.
Whatcom Community College's program page describes evening class sessions on campus with clinical hours at long-term care facilities on weekends, a schedule built for people who work days. The same page states the program was suspended for fall 2025 and that the college was exploring reinstatement for winter, so confirm the current quarter directly before building a plan around it. When it runs, WCC schedules the skills portion of the state exam on campus at the end of the quarter.
Per the Whatcom Transportation Authority's major destinations page, WTA routes 3 and 10 reach BTC, and Whatcom Community College is served by the GREEN (232) and GOLD (331) GO Lines, which run every 15 minutes on weekdays from downtown Bellingham.
The honest math on Federal Way from Bellingham
Trip-planning services put Bellingham to Federal Way at about 110 miles and roughly two hours by car in light traffic, entirely on I-5 through Everett and Seattle. Weekday peak through Seattle can add 30 to 60 minutes. A 20-day course at four hours of round-trip driving per day is not realistic for most people, which is why Bellingham students who choose the Federal Way course typically fall into one of these patterns:
- Stay south for the month. A student with family or a sublet in King or Pierce County completes the day cohort in 4 weeks and returns home certified. The school is a short walk from Federal Way Downtown Station, so a temporary base anywhere on the 1 Line (Lynnwood to Federal Way) works without a car.
- Weekend cohort with overnight stays. The 108 hours spread across Saturdays and Sundays over more weeks. A Friday-evening drive down, two nights near Federal Way, and a Sunday-evening return means one long trip per weekend rather than two per day.
- HCA bridge in one week. Active Home Care Aides need only 40 hours: 5 consecutive weekdays. One week away from Bellingham, one exam sequence, and a return with the NA-C application in progress. Details for this group are in HCA to CNA bridge near Bellingham, WA.
Without a car, Amtrak Cascades stops at Bellingham's Fairhaven station with a morning and an evening southbound train to Seattle per the Bellingham tourism office's rail page, and from King Street Station the 1 Line runs south to Federal Way Downtown. Trip planners estimate about 3.5 hours for the combined journey. That is workable for a weekend cohort or the one-week bridge, not for a daily commute.
What each dollar covers
| Cost item | Set by | Bellingham colleges | Federal Way course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | The program | Per-credit rate plus fees; see each college's tuition page | $1,100 traditional; $800 HCA bridge |
| Books, uniform, supplies | The program | BTC lists $129 to $310; WCC folds them into its total | About $105 |
| Skills test, Part 1 | State rule; paid to test site | $100 | $100, administered on site |
| Knowledge test, Part 2 | State rule; paid to Credentia | $55 | $55 |
| NA-C application | DOH fee schedule | Per current schedule | Per current schedule |
| Travel | You | WTA fare | Fuel or Amtrak plus 1 Line, and lodging if you stay south |
College students may qualify for financial aid on a quarter program; a 4-week private course usually is not aid-eligible but can be paid in installments, described in payment plans for CNA training in Washington. Whatcom County residents on Basic Food can ask WorkSource about training funds, covered in WorkSource, WIOA, and Basic Food Employment and Training.
Where Bellingham graduates work
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center at 2901 Squalicum Parkway is the only hospital in Whatcom County, with 251 licensed beds and a Level II trauma center per public hospital listings. Bellingham's skilled nursing facilities include Avamere Bellingham, St. Francis of Bellingham (also on Squalicum Parkway), Alderwood Park, North Cascades Health and Rehabilitation on Cordata Parkway, Shuksan Healthcare Center, and Highland Health and Rehabilitation, per senior-care directories. Indeed's posting data updated September 2026 lists nursing assistants in Bellingham at about $23.48 per hour, close to the Washington average of about $23.62; both figures are approximate. Employers and pay bands are covered in CNA jobs in Bellingham, WA.
The Federal Way course, specifically
The CNA Traditional program covers 35 theory hours, 33 lab hours, and 40 clinical hours in a licensed nursing facility across 4 weeks, taught by licensed nurses. Enrollment requires a high school diploma or GED and a background check before clinical placement. The $100 skills test is given on site by the program, so there is no separate booking through WABON's online scheduler, and Washington rules guarantee at least four attempts. Instruction is in English. Cohort dates for both the traditional course and the bridge appear on the schedules page.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a CNA class in Bellingham? Yes, two: Bellingham Technical College's one-quarter certificate and Whatcom Community College's evening program, though WCC's page reported a suspension for fall 2025, so check its current status.
How far is Federal Way from Bellingham for CNA classes? About 110 miles and roughly two hours by car on I-5, per trip-planning estimates. Daily commuting is impractical; a one-week HCA bridge, a weekend cohort with overnight stays, or a month-long stay south are the realistic patterns.
Why would a Bellingham student choose a 4-week course? Speed and price certainty. The college programs start by quarter; the private course runs in 4 weeks for a flat $1,100 with the skills test on site.
Does the college certificate count for more than a private course? Not for licensing. Every WABON-approved program meets the 108-hour minimum in WAC 246-841A-440 and leads to the same exam and the same NA-C credential.
Can I take the exam in Bellingham after a Federal Way course? The skills test is administered by the training program, so a Federal Way graduate tests in Federal Way. The knowledge test is online through Credentia and can be taken from Bellingham.
For the licensing steps that follow any of these programs, read how to become a CNA in Washington State and compare paths in CNA Traditional vs HCA-CNA Bridge.
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