CNA Classes Near Tukwila, WA: Programs, Costs, and Commute to Federal Way

Tukwila, WA has a 1 Line station at the corner of SR 99 and SR 518, and from Tukwila International Boulevard Station the train reaches Federal Way Downtown in about 20 to 25 minutes (five stops; Sound Transit lists the station at 34 minutes from Westlake and Federal Way at about 56). That puts Huduma CNA Programs' 4-week, 108-clock-hour Nursing Assistant-Certified (NA-C) course, $1,100 tuition plus about $105 for books and supplies with the $100 skills test administered on site, inside a half-hour rail trip for the west side of the city. Washington fixes the training floor at 108 hours (35 theory, 33 lab, 40 clinical) under WAC 246-841A-440 and the exam at $155 for every graduate, so a Tukwila resident is choosing between programs on schedule, price, on-site testing, and the trip, not on what the credential is worth.

Tukwila is two cities for commuting purposes

The west side, along International Boulevard and Military Road near the light rail station and the airport, is transit-rich: the 1 Line, the RapidRide A Line to Federal Way, and the F Line to Burien and Renton all meet at Tukwila International Boulevard Station, which also has 600 parking stalls per Sound Transit. The east side, around Southcenter, the Green River, Allentown, and the Tukwila Sounder station, is built around I-5, I-405, and SR 518, with the F Line and Metro route 150 as the main bus links. A student in Allentown or near Southcenter has a bus ride to the station before the train; a student on International Boulevard walks to it.

Tukwila's population is about 21,600 (Census Bureau 2024 estimate as summarized on the city's Wikipedia entry), small for a city with two rail stations and a regional mall, and a large share of residents were born abroad. Instruction at Huduma CNA Programs is in English, and the state knowledge test is in English with an oral option; see English requirements for CNA training in Washington.

Commute table: Tukwila to Federal Way

Figures are approximate; they reflect Sound Transit and King County Metro timetables published for September 2026, which already include the August 29, 2026 South King County service change.

Metro route 150 links Southcenter to Kent Station and downtown Seattle but not to Federal Way, so it is a feeder to the 1 Line rather than a route to class.

Program types within reach of Tukwila

Tukwila is unusual in having two colleges with nursing assistant courses within one transit ride in different directions. If quarter timing suits you, price both. If you want the credential in a month with testing in the same building, the private 4-week course is the model. The tradeoffs are worked through in community college vs private CNA school in Washington.

Cost breakdown from Tukwila

Tukwila residents who qualify for WIOA, WorkSource, or Basic Food Employment and Training may have tuition paid; see free CNA training in Washington for the routes that exist and the ones that do not.

The Tukwila job market the course leads to

Tukwila has no general hospital. It does have Olympic Heritage Behavioral Health, a 72-bed DSHS state psychiatric hospital per DSHS, plus skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, and adult family homes. Within a short trip are St. Anne Hospital in Burien (formerly Highline Medical Center) by the F Line, Valley Medical Center in Renton by the F Line or I-405, St. Francis in Federal Way by the 1 Line, and Seattle hospitals 34 minutes north. Tukwila also has one of the highest local minimum wages in the state, $21.65 per hour in 2026 for covered employers per L&I's local rate list, which raises the floor for care jobs in the city. Indeed job-posting data (August 2026) shows a Washington nursing assistant average of about $23.62 per hour; Tukwila is not reported separately. Employers are mapped in CNA jobs in Tukwila, WA.

Decision rule for a Tukwila resident

1. Live on the west side near the station? Federal Way is 20 to 25 minutes by train; choose by start date and total cost.
2. Live near Southcenter or in Allentown? Add an F Line ride or drive I-5; a car makes Federal Way 15 to 25 minutes.
3. Want college credit and can wait for a quarter? Highline College (south) or Renton Technical College (east) are each one transit ride away.
4. Already employed at a Tukwila nursing facility? Ask about sponsored training under the NAR rule before paying tuition.
5. Hold an active Washington HCA credential? The HCA to CNA bridge is 40 hours for $800.
6. Want a fixed 4-week finish with testing on site? The CNA Traditional program; current cohorts are on the schedules page.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the trip from Tukwila to CNA class in Federal Way? About 20 to 25 minutes on the 1 Line from Tukwila International Boulevard Station, 30 to 45 minutes on the A Line, or 15 to 25 minutes by car on I-5.

Are there CNA classes in Tukwila? Some nursing facilities run approved training for employees. Confirm any program on the WABON approved-program list and ask whether it delivers 108 hours and tests on site.

Can I park at the Tukwila light rail station? Yes. Sound Transit lists 600 stalls across two lots at Tukwila International Boulevard Station.

Is the weekend cohort reachable by transit on weekends? Yes. The 1 Line runs every day, and the A Line runs every 15 minutes most weekend hours per Metro; the F Line also runs weekends for Southcenter riders.

Does the program accept students who live in Tukwila but work in Seattle? Yes. Residency does not matter; the requirements are a high school diploma or GED, a background check before clinical placement, and attendance for all 108 clock hours.

The full sequence from enrollment to the DOH credential is in how to become a CNA in Washington State.