Huduma CNA ProgramsYakima is not a commuting distance from Federal Way, so the honest answer for most Yakima residents is a local program: Yakima Valley College's Nursing Assistant Certified certificate, listed on the state's Career Bridge site at 10 weeks and 9 credits with 60 theory and 60 clinical hours, or training sponsored by one of the city's six skilled nursing facilities. The 4-week, 108-hour Nursing Assistant-Certified (NA-C) course at Huduma CNA Programs in Federal Way, $1,100 tuition plus about $105 in books and supplies with the skills test on site, makes sense for a Yakima resident in three cases: staying with family or friends in Puget Sound for the 4 weeks, an active Home Care Aide taking the 5-day, $800 bridge in a single week away, or a planned move to the west side. Federal Way is about 150 miles from Yakima, roughly 2.5 hours by car. Every option meets the same 108-hour state minimum and leads to the same $155 exam.
Yakima's options at a glance
| Question | Yakima Valley College | Facility-sponsored training | Huduma CNA Programs (Federal Way) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Yakima campus, with online components per Career Bridge | A Yakima nursing home while employed as a NAR | Federal Way, about 150 miles west |
| Length | 10 weeks, 9 credits | Several weeks | 4 weeks; bridge 5 days |
| Starts | By academic quarter, subject to seats | When a facility has vacancies | Several cohorts a year; see the schedules page |
| Cost | Per the college's current tuition page; financial aid and I-BEST may apply | Usually free with a work commitment | $1,100 tuition plus about $105 books; bridge $800 |
| Skills test | College site or WABON online scheduling | Facility or a scheduled site | On site, $100 |
| Weekend pattern | Check the quarter schedule | Rare | Yes |
| HCA bridge | Not listed | No | 40 hours, $800 |
| Lodging | None | None | Needed for most Yakima students |
Yakima Valley College is the default for a Yakima resident. The Federal Way course is a specific tool: the fastest fixed-price route for someone who can be on the west side for 4 weeks, and the only one of the three with a short HCA bridge.
Yakima Valley College in more detail
The Washington State Board of Nursing lists Yakima Valley Community College among approved nursing assistant programs, and the college catalog offers the certificate with I-BEST opportunities, the state's model that pairs a content instructor with a basic-skills instructor for students who want extra support in English or math. Career Bridge lists the program at 10 weeks and 9 credits, with 60 theory hours and 60 clinical hours, delivered in Yakima with online elements. That is more clinical time than the 40-hour state minimum, which helps Yakima graduates who go straight to hospital work. Tuition is per credit; check the college's current tuition page for the quarter you plan to start.
The friction points are the same as at any community college program: quarter timing and seat availability. Yakima County's large agricultural and seasonal workforce means some students need a program that fits between harvest seasons rather than the academic calendar.
When Federal Way makes sense from Yakima
A stay-over weekday cohort. Twenty class days in 4 weeks with lodging in south King County. The Federal Way Downtown station puts Seattle, Tacoma, and Sea-Tac within reach without a car, so a student staying with family anywhere on the 1 Line or the RapidRide A Line can commute to class. Weekends can be spent back in Yakima.
The HCA bridge in one week. An active Home Care Aide takes 40 hours in 5 consecutive weekdays for $800. One trip west, five nights, one trip home; the HCA to CNA bridge near Yakima, WA article works through the logistics.
A planned move. A Yakima resident relocating to Puget Sound can train in the new city and start applying to employers there before the move is complete.
What does not work from Yakima: a daily commute. About 150 miles each way by I-82, I-90, and I-5, or by US 12 over White Pass, is not a class-day trip, and the weekend cohort still requires either lodging or two long drives every weekend for several weeks.
Getting between Yakima and Federal Way
- Driving: I-82 north to Ellensburg, I-90 west over Snoqualmie Pass, then I-5 south to Federal Way, about 150 miles; or US 12 west over White Pass to I-5 north, similar distance. Plan about 2.5 hours in good conditions. Snoqualmie and White Pass carry chain requirements and closures in winter; check WSDOT pass reports before a winter cohort.
- Intercity bus: Greyhound lists service between Yakima and both Tacoma and Seattle. From Seattle, the 1 Line runs to Federal Way Downtown; from Tacoma, Sound Transit Express 574 reaches the Federal Way Transit Center. Check current schedules and fares on the carrier's site.
- At the Federal Way end: the school is a short walk from Federal Way Downtown Station, and the station garage has about 1,500 stalls.
Cost table for the Federal Way course
| Item | Set by | Traditional | HCA bridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | The program | $1,100 | $800 |
| Books and supplies | The program | About $105 | About $105 |
| Skills test, Part 1 | State rule; paid to the test site | $100 | $100 |
| Knowledge test, Part 2 | Credentia | $55 | $55 |
| DOH application | DOH fee schedule | Per the current schedule | Per the current schedule |
| Travel and lodging | Your arrangements | About 4 weeks on the west side | About 5 nights |
The travel line is the real difference for a Yakima student, and it is why a local program usually costs less in total even when its tuition is higher. Payment options for the Federal Way tuition are in payment plans for CNA training in Washington. Yakima residents on Basic Food or registered with WorkSource Yakima should read WorkSource, WIOA, and Basic Food Employment and Training before paying any program out of pocket; the funding is statewide.
What every program must include
Under WAC 246-841A-440, an approved program delivers at least 35 theory, 33 lab, and 40 clinical hours under licensed-nurse instructors, with a background check before clinical placement and at least four attempts at the skills test. The 4-week Federal Way course reaches 108 hours with longer days; the Yakima Valley College certificate spreads more hours over 10 weeks. Both graduates take Part 1, the $100 skills test, then Part 2, the $55 Credentia knowledge test, and apply to the DOH under route E1. The rules that govern all of this are explained in WAC 246-841A explained.
After training: Yakima employers
MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital describes itself as a 238-bed acute-care community hospital on its about page. Astria Health operates hospitals in Toppenish and Sunnyside. Yakima has skilled nursing facilities on Summitview Avenue, Tieton Drive, North 16th Avenue, North 39th Avenue, and North 40th Avenue. ZipRecruiter's Yakima CNA average is about $20.11 per hour as of September 2026, with a local evening-shift posting at about $23 to $26.70; both figures are approximate. The full picture is in CNA jobs in Yakima, WA.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a CNA class in Yakima? Yes. Yakima Valley College offers a WABON-approved Nursing Assistant Certified certificate, listed at 10 weeks and 9 credits, with I-BEST support available.
Can I commute from Yakima to Federal Way for class? No. It is about 150 miles each way. Yakima students who choose Federal Way stay on the west side for the 4-week course or the 5-day bridge.
Is the Federal Way course recognized the same as the college certificate? Yes. Both meet the 108-hour minimum in WAC 246-841A-440 and lead to the same NA-C exam and credential.
What is the total cost in Federal Way? $1,100 tuition, about $105 books and supplies, $155 for the two exam parts, the DOH application fee per the current schedule, and your travel and lodging.
Does Yakima Valley College offer an HCA bridge? The college catalog lists the full certificate; no separate HCA bridge appears. The 40-hour bridge in Federal Way is the nearest short option.
Can I take the skills test in Yakima after training in Federal Way? The Federal Way program administers the skills test on site at the end of the course, so no return trip is required.
Cohort dates are on the schedules page, and the CNA Traditional program page lists enrollment documents.
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