Huduma CNA ProgramsA Kirkland resident has three realistic ways to earn the Nursing Assistant-Certified (NA-C) credential: a quarter-long course at the public technical college in Totem Lake, an employer-run program at a nursing facility, or a 4-week private course such as the one at Huduma CNA Programs in Federal Way, which costs $1,100 tuition plus about $105 for books and supplies. All three must deliver the same 108 clock hours (35 theory, 33 skills lab, 40 clinical) under WAC 246-841A-440, and every graduate pays the same $155 for the two-part state exam. Federal Way is roughly 30 miles from downtown Kirkland; the drive runs about 35 minutes off-peak and considerably longer in traffic, and the transit trip is Metro route 255 to the University of Washington station followed by the 1 Line south.
What "near Kirkland" actually means for CNA training
Kirkland has no hospital-scale private CNA school of its own. The city's training landscape is the Lake Washington Institute of Technology campus in Totem Lake, which the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) lists as an approved nursing assistant program, plus EvergreenHealth's Kirkland medical center and the skilled nursing and assisted living communities around it that sometimes train their own nursing assistants. Everything else is a commute: Bellevue and Redmond to the south and east, Seattle across SR 520, or South King County by light rail.
That matters because the credential is identical no matter where you sit for the 108 hours. The Department of Health (DOH) issues one NA-C, checks one background, and lists you in one registry. The variables you control are how long the course takes, what it costs in total, whether the school administers the skills test on site, and how many hours you will spend getting there over 20 class days.
Three program models compared
| Model | Where a Kirkland resident finds it | Time to finish | Cost pattern | Skills test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public technical college | Lake Washington Institute of Technology, Totem Lake | One academic quarter | Per-credit tuition and fees; financial aid may apply | College site or booked through WABON online scheduling |
| Facility-based program | Skilled nursing facilities in Kirkland, Bothell, Redmond, and Bellevue | Weeks, while employed as a Nursing Assistant-Registered (NAR) | Often free or reduced in exchange for a work commitment | Facility or booked site |
| 4-week private course | Huduma CNA Programs, Federal Way | 4 weeks, day or weekend pattern | Fixed: $1,100 tuition, about $105 books and supplies | On site |
The college route suits a Kirkland student who is already on a nursing pathway and can wait for the quarter to begin. The facility route suits someone who wants a paycheck from week one and accepts that a NAR hired by a nursing facility has 4 months from hire to finish training and pass both exam parts. The 4-week course suits someone who wants the credential fast, wants a known total price, and can commit to 20 consecutive class days. The tradeoffs across these models are worked through in community college vs private CNA school in Washington.
Getting from Kirkland to Federal Way
Times below are approximate and drawn from King County Metro and Sound Transit published information as of September 2026. Traffic on I-405 and I-5 is the main variable.
By car
Downtown Kirkland to the Federal Way Downtown light rail station is about 30 miles via I-405 south and I-5 south. Off-peak, that is roughly 35 to 45 minutes; during the afternoon peak it can run well past an hour. The station garage in Federal Way has about 1,500 stalls, and the school is a short walk from it.
By transit
- Metro route 255 runs from Totem Lake Transit Center through downtown Kirkland and across the SR 520 bridge to the University of Washington station. A typical ride from Kirkland Transit Center to UW is in the range of 25 to 40 minutes depending on the time of day; check Metro's current timetable for your departure.
- 1 Line south from University of Washington station to Federal Way Downtown. Sound Transit's schedule lists Lynnwood to Federal Way at roughly 80 to 90 minutes end to end; from UW the remaining ride is about 65 to 70 minutes.
- Total: plan on about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours each way. That is workable for a weekend cohort or for a student who can use the ride to study, but it is a real cost across 20 days.
A Kirkland resident who lives near South Kirkland Park and Ride can also reach the 2 Line in Bellevue and ride it across I-90 to the International District station, then transfer to the 1 Line south; Sound Transit opened that cross-lake segment on March 28, 2026. Whether it beats the 255 depends on where in Kirkland you start.
The cost that does not change with location
| Item | Amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Skills test, Part 1 | $100 to the test site | Every candidate in Washington |
| Knowledge test, Part 2 | $55 to Credentia | Every candidate in Washington |
| DOH NA-C application | Per the current DOH fee schedule | Every candidate in Washington |
| Tuition | Varies by program; $1,100 at Huduma | Program-specific |
| Books and supplies | About $105 at Huduma; college bookstores vary | Program-specific |
| Transit or fuel | ORCA fares or roughly 60 miles of driving per class day from Kirkland | Location-specific |
The $155 exam is fixed statewide, so a Kirkland student comparing quotes should line up tuition, books, and the cost of getting there. Anyone who qualifies through WorkSource or Basic Food Employment and Training may have tuition covered at an eligible provider; the rules are in WorkSource, WIOA, and Basic Food Employment and Training.
Which schedule pattern fits a Kirkland commuter
- Weekday day cohort. Best for a student who is not working and can leave Kirkland before the morning peak. Driving against the flow on I-405 south is usually lighter than the northbound direction in the morning.
- Weekend cohort. Best for a Kirkland resident holding a weekday job. Traffic on I-405 and I-5 is lighter, the 255 and 1 Line both run on weekends, and the full 108 hours are still delivered; it simply takes more calendar weeks.
- Local quarter course. Best if the commute is the deciding factor and you can wait for a start date in Totem Lake.
Kirkland employers you can walk into after certification
EvergreenHealth's Kirkland campus at 12040 NE 128th Street is a Level III trauma center, according to the hospital system's emergency care page, and it anchors a cluster of skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and assisted living employers in Totem Lake and Juanita. Overlake in Bellevue and the Swedish and EvergreenHealth emergency campuses in Redmond are a short drive. Indeed's job-posting data for August 2026 shows an approximate average of $23.73 per hour for nursing assistants in Kirkland, slightly above the Washington average of about $23.62. Employer detail is in CNA jobs in Kirkland, WA.
Already a Home Care Aide? Take the 40-hour bridge instead
Many Kirkland caregivers already hold the DSHS Home Care Aide credential from working in home care or assisted living. With an active HCA credential and a diploma or GED, the HCA to CNA bridge replaces the 108-hour course with 40 clock hours for $800 tuition, delivered over 5 weekdays or about 2.5 weekends. The commute math changes completely when the course is 5 days instead of 20.
How Huduma CNA Programs structures the traditional course
The CNA Traditional program delivers 35 hours of theory, 33 hours of skills lab, and 40 hours of clinical in a licensed nursing facility over 4 weeks. Instructors are licensed nurses, a background check clears before clinical placement, students get at least four attempts at the skills competency exam as WAC 246-841A-430 requires, and the $100 skills test is administered on site so there is no separate booking through WABON. Upcoming day and weekend cohorts are listed on the schedules page.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a CNA program inside Kirkland city limits? Yes. Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Totem Lake offers a WABON-approved nursing assistant certificate on the academic quarter calendar. Private 4-week options require a commute to Bellevue, Seattle, or Federal Way.
How long is the commute from Kirkland to a CNA class in Federal Way? About 30 miles. Roughly 35 to 45 minutes by car off-peak, and about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours by Metro 255 and the 1 Line.
Does a 4-week course cover the same material as a quarter-long course? Yes. Both must meet the 108-hour minimum in WAC 246-841A-440 with the same 35/33/40 split. The difference is calendar length, not content.
Can I work in Kirkland while I train? Yes. A nursing facility can hire you as a NAR before you certify, and you then have 4 months from hire to pass both exam parts.
What is the total exam cost after class? $155: $100 for the skills test at the test site and $55 to Credentia for the knowledge test, in that order. The DOH application fee is separate and set by the current fee schedule.
For the full sequence from enrollment to registry listing, start with Washington State CNA requirements in 2026.
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