Huduma CNA ProgramsSpokane is Washington's second-largest city, with 234,700 residents in the Office of Financial Management's April 2025 estimate, and it is roughly 280 miles from Federal Way by I-90 and I-5, about 4.5 to 5 hours of driving in good conditions. That distance changes the question. A Spokane resident does not commute to a Federal Way Nursing Assistant-Certified (NA-C) class; they either train in Spokane County or relocate to the Puget Sound side for 4 weeks. Both paths lead to the same credential: every Washington program must deliver 108 clock hours (35 theory, 33 skills lab, 40 clinical), and every candidate pays $155 for the two-part exam. Huduma CNA Programs in Federal Way runs those 108 hours in 4 weeks for $1,100 tuition plus about $105 in books and supplies, with the skills test on site, and it is the realistic choice mainly for people who are moving west anyway.
Spokane has its own supply of programs
Spokane is the health care hub of the Inland Northwest, with two Providence hospitals (Sacred Heart Medical Center and Holy Family Hospital), two MultiCare hospitals (Deaconess in the city and Valley Hospital in Spokane Valley), Shriners Children's, St. Luke's Rehabilitation Institute, the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center, the Spokane Veterans Home, and Eastern State Hospital in nearby Medical Lake. A market that size supports several kinds of nursing assistant training:
| Program type | Where | Typical timeline | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community college NA-C course | Spokane's public community college campuses | One academic quarter, about 10 to 12 weeks | Quarter start dates, prerequisite placement tests, per-credit cost |
| Nursing facility program | Skilled nursing facilities in Spokane and Spokane Valley | Weeks, while employed as a NAR | Post-certification work commitment, hours per week |
| Private training center | Spokane, Spokane Valley, Cheney | Varies | WABON approval, 108 hours, on-site skills testing |
| Huduma CNA Programs | Federal Way, near Federal Way Downtown Station | 4 weeks, day or weekend | Housing on the West Side for the month |
Any program on the WABON approved-program list produces the same NA-C. The tradeoffs between a college quarter and a private course are laid out in community college vs private CNA school in Washington.
What is fixed by state rule, wherever you train
- Hours: 108 minimum under WAC 246-841A-440, with 40 of them clinical in a licensed nursing facility.
- Instructors: licensed nurses with recent direct-care experience.
- Attempts: at least four at the skills competency exam.
- Exam: Part 1 skills test, $100, in person; Part 2 knowledge test, $55, online through Credentia after the skills pass is recorded. A Spokane program that does not test on site books through WABON's online scheduling.
- Credential: DOH application, name-based background check, fee per the current DOH fee schedule; the NA-C then appears on the Provider Credential Search.
- Renewal: annually on your birthday, no continuing education for a standard NA-C.
The step-by-step version is in how to become a CNA in Washington State.
Cost comparison for a Spokane resident
| Item | Spokane-area program | Huduma CNA Programs, Federal Way |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | Varies; ask for the all-in figure | $1,100 traditional; $800 HCA bridge |
| Books and supplies | Varies | About $105 |
| Skills test, Part 1 | $100 | $100, on site |
| Knowledge test, Part 2 | $55 | $55 |
| DOH application | Per DOH fee schedule | Per DOH fee schedule |
| Travel and housing | Local bus fare | 4 weeks of housing plus one trip each way |
The last row decides it. Unless you have a place to stay in King or Pierce County, housing for a month costs more than any tuition difference. Spokane residents eligible for WorkSource or WIOA funding through the Spokane workforce system should ask whether the grant covers a local program before considering the West Side; the funding rules are in WorkSource, WIOA, and Basic Food Employment and Training.
When Federal Way makes sense from Spokane
- You are moving to the Seattle-Tacoma area. Training where you will work puts your 40 clinical hours in a South King County nursing facility that may hire you, and the skills test happens on site before you start job hunting.
- You have family or friends in South King or Pierce County. Four weeks with a free room removes the housing cost; the weekend cohort still requires 8 or 9 class days, so the day cohort is usually the better fit for a temporary stay.
- Spokane cohorts are full or start with the next quarter. A private 4-week course with rolling start dates on the schedules page can be months faster.
- You hold an active HCA credential. The bridge is 40 hours over 5 weekdays, so one week on the West Side finishes it; see HCA to CNA bridge near Spokane, WA.
If none of these apply, train in Spokane.
Reaching Federal Way from Spokane
Times are approximate and based on Amtrak and Sound Transit published information as of September 2026.
- Car: I-90 west over Snoqualmie Pass to I-5, then south to Federal Way, roughly 280 miles and 4.5 to 5 hours. Winter pass conditions can add hours; check the WSDOT pass report before a January or February start.
- Amtrak Empire Builder: one train a day each way between Spokane and Seattle's King Street Station, overnight westbound. From King Street, walk to International District/Chinatown Station and ride the 1 Line south to Federal Way Downtown, roughly 50 minutes to an hour; the school is a short walk from the station.
- Air: Spokane International to Sea-Tac, then the 1 Line south from SeaTac/Airport Station to Federal Way Downtown, four stops and under half an hour on Sound Transit's schedule.
- Intercity bus: coach service runs the I-90 corridor to Seattle; confirm current timetables.
Once in Federal Way, the course itself needs no car. Federal Way Downtown Station, the Federal Way Transit Center, Sound Transit's 574, and King County Metro's RapidRide A Line are all within walking distance.
After the credential: Spokane or the West Side
Indeed's August 2026 posting data does not break Spokane out separately, so the Washington average of about $23.62 per hour (approximate) is the planning number; earlier BLS data put Washington nursing assistants around $20 to $21 per hour against about $17.40 nationally, and the Seattle-metro healthcare support mean of about $25.96 (BLS OEWS, May 2025) shows why some graduates stay west. Spokane's employers are listed in CNA jobs in Spokane, WA. The credential is statewide, so a Spokane resident who trains in Federal Way can return home the day the NA-C posts.
How the Federal Way course is structured
The CNA Traditional program at Huduma CNA Programs runs 108 clock hours in 4 weeks, day or weekend pattern, with licensed-nurse instructors, a background check before clinical placement, and the $100 skills test administered on site. It requires a high school diploma or GED and is taught in English. The HCA to CNA bridge is 40 hours for $800.
Frequently asked questions
Are there CNA classes in Spokane? Yes. Spokane's community colleges, nursing facilities, and private schools run approved programs. Check each on the WABON list and confirm 108 hours.
How far is Spokane from Federal Way? Roughly 280 miles, about 4.5 to 5 hours by car on I-90 and I-5, or an overnight Amtrak Empire Builder trip to Seattle followed by an hour on the 1 Line.
Is the exam different in Spokane? No. The $100 skills test and the $55 Credentia knowledge test are identical statewide, and the DOH issues one credential valid in Spokane and Seattle alike.
Would a Federal Way certificate be accepted by Spokane hospitals? Employers verify the NA-C on the DOH Provider Credential Search, not the school. Any approved program's graduate qualifies.
Can I do the 4-week course while staying with family near Seattle? Yes. That is the most common reason Spokane residents choose it. The day cohort finishes in 4 calendar weeks; the weekend cohort spreads the same 108 hours across more weekends.
What documents do I need to enroll? A high school diploma or GED and government photo ID, plus the background check before clinicals. Have both ready when you register, since enrollment cannot be confirmed without them.
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