CNA Training Grants and Scholarships in Washington State

CNA training in Washington costs far less than a degree, so most grant and scholarship money that applies to it comes from broad state aid rather than CNA-specific awards. The largest sources are the Washington College Grant (WA Grant), which per the Washington Student Achievement Council can cover certificate and job-training programs at participating institutions for eligible residents; the Opportunity Grant at community and technical colleges, which pays tuition for up to 45 credits and up to $1,000 for books for students at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level; and Worker Retraining, which pays tuition, books and fees for unemployed and dislocated workers at colleges and selected private career schools. Employer scholarships and the federal nurse aide reimbursement rule cover the rest for many students. A full 108-hour course such as Huduma CNA Programs' CNA Traditional costs $1,100 plus about $105 in books, so a single award often covers all of it.

What you are trying to fund

Before applying anywhere, know the numbers. State-level fees do not change with the school.

Full cost detail is in CNA certification cost in Washington.

Washington College Grant

The WA Grant is the state's main need-based aid program, administered by the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC). Per WSAC, it is available to Washington residents, including undocumented students, at participating institutions, and it covers certificate programs and job training as well as degrees, on a part-time or full-time basis. For the 2026-27 year WSAC states that a family of four earning $83,500 or less may receive full tuition coverage and that families earning up to $139,500 may qualify for partial awards; WSAC notes that about half of Washington families qualify for some aid. The grant is not a loan.

Two conditions limit its use for CNA training:

1. The school must be a participating institution. Community and technical colleges participate; many private career schools do not. Ask the school's admissions office whether it accepts WA Grant before assuming.
2. You must file a FAFSA or WASFA. WSAC calls this the first step to any state aid. File it as early as possible; the college's financial aid office then determines the award.

A WA Grant award at a college can cover a nursing assistant certificate course in full for lower-income students.

Opportunity Grant

The Opportunity Grant is run by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) for low-income students in high-demand fields. Per SBCTC, eligibility requires Washington residency, income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, a completed FAFSA or WASFA showing unmet need, and a 2.0 GPA. The grant pays tuition and fees for up to 45 credits, which is one year full time, and up to $1,000 for books and supplies, and it can add tutoring, career advising, emergency childcare and emergency transportation support through the college. To apply, contact the Opportunity Grant coordinator at the community or technical college you plan to attend; the coordinator confirms whether that college's nursing assistant program is on its eligible list.

Because a CNA course is a small number of credits, the Opportunity Grant can also fund a follow-on step such as a medical assistant or LPN pathway within the same 45-credit limit.

Worker Retraining

Worker Retraining is an SBCTC program for people who have lost work. Per SBCTC, it serves people receiving or eligible for unemployment benefits, people who exhausted benefits within the past four years, formerly self-employed people out of work because of economic conditions, unemployed veterans discharged within the past four years, displaced homemakers, and certain vulnerable workers at risk of losing their jobs. It provides tuition assistance, books and fees for those who qualify, plus educational advising and job search help, for basic skills and professional-technical programs. Apply through the Worker Retraining coordinator at a community or technical college; SBCTC also funds Worker Retraining at selected private career schools and colleges, which award the funds to eligible students directly.

How the state programs compare

Details are current as of this article's review date per the WSAC and SBCTC program pages; confirm with the college, because income thresholds change yearly.

Employer scholarships and sponsorships

Healthcare employers in the Puget Sound area, including hospital systems, skilled nursing operators and large assisted living companies, regularly fund CNA training for people they hire as Nursing Assistant-Registered (NAR). A NAR hired by a nursing facility has four months from hire to complete training and pass the exam, so employers pair the scholarship with a start date. Typical terms (a labeled typical range) are a 6-to-12-month work commitment after certification and prorated repayment if you leave early. Some employers pay the $100 skills test and $55 knowledge test as well. The mechanics are described in free CNA training in Washington.

The federal reimbursement rule

Federal nursing facility regulations administered by CMS say that a nurse aide employed by, or holding an offer from, a nursing facility on the day training begins may not be charged for any portion of the training and competency evaluation program, and that an aide hired by a nursing facility within 12 months of completing the program must be reimbursed on a pro-rata basis for the costs incurred. This is not a scholarship you apply for in advance; it is a reimbursement you claim afterward with receipts. It applies to nursing facilities, not to adult family homes or home care agencies.

Foundation and community scholarships

Community foundations, immigrant and refugee service organizations, and faith communities in South King County periodically offer small awards for healthcare training, typically $250 to $1,000, which is enough for books, supplies and both exam fees. Search "healthcare career scholarship" or "caregiver scholarship" with your city's name, and apply to several at once, since each covers only a slice of the cost.

A step-by-step application plan

1. File the FAFSA or WASFA first. It is required for WA Grant and the Opportunity Grant and takes about an hour.
2. Decide between a college and a private school. State grants flow mainly to colleges; employer sponsorship and Worker Retraining at selected schools flow to private programs. The trade-offs are in community college vs private CNA school in Washington.
3. Contact the coordinator for the Opportunity Grant or Worker Retraining at your chosen college, or the admissions office at a private school, and ask which awards it accepts.
4. Apply for the NAR credential early so an employer can hire and sponsor you during training; see the NAR credential in Washington.
5. Keep every receipt for tuition, books and exam fees in case the federal reimbursement rule applies later.
6. Cover any gap with a payment plan; see payment plans for CNA training in Washington.

Huduma CNA Programs in Federal Way accepts employer and agency funding for the $1,100 CNA Traditional course and the $800 HCA-CNA Bridge; the enrollment office can tell a funder what documentation the school provides.

Frequently asked questions

Are there scholarships specifically for CNA training in Washington? Few are CNA-specific. The main money comes from the Washington College Grant, the Opportunity Grant, Worker Retraining, and employer sponsorship, all of which can cover a nursing assistant course.

Does the Washington College Grant pay for CNA classes? It can, for certificate and job-training programs at participating institutions, if you meet the income limits and file a FAFSA or WASFA.

How much does the Opportunity Grant pay? Per SBCTC, tuition and fees for up to 45 credits plus up to $1,000 for books and supplies, for students at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

Can I get a grant at a private CNA school? Sometimes. Worker Retraining funds are available at selected private career schools, and employers sponsor students at private programs. State grants like WA Grant generally require a participating institution.

Do grants cover the exam fees? Opportunity Grant book and supply funds and employer scholarships often do. The $100 skills and $55 knowledge fees are otherwise paid by the student.

For public workforce funding that is not grant-based, read WorkSource, WIOA and BFET, and see the CNA Traditional program page for the course most awards are applied to.