Huduma CNA ProgramsA Seattle Home Care Aide with an active Washington HCA credential can become a Nursing Assistant-Certified (NA-C) through a bridge program of 40 clock hours rather than the full 108-hour course. Huduma CNA Programs in Federal Way runs its HCA to CNA bridge for $800 tuition plus about $105 in books and supplies, in two patterns: 5 consecutive weekdays, or about 2.5 weekends for caregivers who keep working during the week. Graduates take the $100 skills test on site, then the $55 Credentia knowledge test, and apply to the DOH under eligibility route E6. From central Seattle, Federal Way Downtown Station is about a 56-minute 1 Line ride from Westlake, so the weekday option is one week away from home and the weekend option is 5 or 6 round trips.
Who qualifies for the bridge in Seattle
The bridge is open only to caregivers who already hold an active Washington HCA credential issued by the DOH after completing DSHS-approved 75-hour Home Care Aide training and the HCA exam. Seattle has a large HCA workforce because of Medicaid in-home care, agency caregiving, adult family homes, and assisted living, and all of those workers are candidates if the credential is current. You also need a high school diploma or GED.
Three groups are not eligible and should take the traditional course instead:
- Caregivers whose HCA credential has expired, until it is renewed.
- Long-term care workers who completed training but never obtained the DOH HCA credential, including workers exempt from certification.
- Anyone certified as a nursing assistant in another state, who applies by endorsement rather than by bridge.
The full eligibility logic, including how route E6 differs from E1, is in the HCA to CNA bridge program in Washington.
What 40 clock hours covers
| Component | Hours | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Theory | 17 | Nursing assistant content beyond HCA scope: the nursing process, facility documentation, vital signs, and the resident-rights framework in licensed facilities |
| Skills lab | 13 | The state skills list practiced to checklist standard, including transfers, measurements, and catheter care |
| Clinical | 6 | Supervised care in a licensed nursing facility |
| Mock testing | 4 | Full-length skills test rehearsals scored against the state checklists |
| Total | 40 | 36 instructional hours plus 4 mock-testing hours |
The DOH describes the bridge as a 24-hour minimum; Huduma's 40-hour design adds lab, clinical, and mock testing because the skills test is scored on exact checklist steps that HCA work does not require. An HCA who has assisted with bathing for years still has to perform the state's version of the skill in the state's order, including the handwashing, privacy, and safety steps that count as critical on the checklist. The mock-testing hours exist to expose those habits before the scored attempt.
Weekday or weekend: choosing the pattern
| 5-weekday pattern | Weekend pattern | |
|---|---|---|
| Calendar | One week, Monday to Friday | About 2.5 weekends |
| Best for | Caregivers who can take one week of leave or unpaid time | Caregivers on weekday client schedules |
| Round trips from Seattle | 5 | 5 or 6 |
| Time from first class to skills test | About 1 week | About 3 weeks |
| Risk | One missed day is hard to make up | Longer gap between sessions requires practice at home |
A caregiver paid hourly by an agency usually loses less income with the weekend pattern. A caregiver with a live-in or parent-provider arrangement often prefers the weekday block because a single week is easier to cover. Attendance rules matter in a 40-hour course because there is no slack; see CNA class attendance rules before choosing.
The commute from Seattle
Times are approximate and taken from Sound Transit and King County Metro published information as of September 2026.
- 1 Line light rail: Westlake to Federal Way Downtown about 56 minutes; from SeaTac/Airport about 16 minutes. The ride is direct from downtown, Capitol Hill, the University District, Beacon Hill, and Rainier Valley.
- Driving: roughly 22 miles on I-5 from downtown, 30 to 60 minutes depending on the hour, with a 1,500-stall garage at Federal Way Downtown Station.
- From West Seattle or the north end: add the connection to the 1 Line; a weekend cohort avoids weekday peak traffic entirely.
The school is a short walk from the station and the Federal Way Transit Center, where the RapidRide A Line and Sound Transit 574 also stop.
Cost of the bridge from Seattle, start to credential
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $800 |
| Books and supplies | About $105 |
| Skills test (Part 1), on site | $100 |
| Knowledge test (Part 2), Credentia | $55 |
| DOH NA-C application | Per the current DOH fee schedule |
| Transit or driving for 5 or 6 trips | Varies; ORCA fares apply on the 1 Line |
Compare that with the traditional course at $1,100 tuition for 108 hours over 4 weeks. The bridge saves $300 in tuition and about 3 weeks of class time. Seattle employers pay the same NA-C rate either way; postings average about $23.80 per hour in Seattle (Indeed, August 2026).
Why Seattle HCAs bridge to NA-C
- Hospital access. UW Medicine, Harborview, Swedish, Providence, and Virginia Mason hire nursing assistants, not HCAs. The NA-C credential opens those postings.
- Facility work. Skilled nursing facilities employ NA-Cs for the roles HCAs cannot fill.
- Pay. HCA pay generally sits closer to the wage floor; NA-C postings in Seattle average about $23.80 per hour (Indeed, August 2026), with shift differentials of roughly $1.50 to $4 per hour on top in facility and hospital settings.
- Pathway. An NA-C is often a prerequisite or preference for LPN and RN program applicants.
The pay difference and the scope difference are worked through in CNA Traditional vs HCA-CNA bridge.
After the last class: exam and application
- Skills test. Taken on site at Huduma CNA Programs for $100. Programs must allow at least four attempts under WAC 246-841A-430.
- Knowledge test. Register on Credentia's site only after the skills pass is recorded; $55; online or oral format.
- DOH application. Apply for NA-C under route E6 with the name-based background check.
- Registry check. Confirm the NA-C appears on the DOH Provider Credential Search, then update your employer.
Keep the HCA credential active until the NA-C is issued so you can keep working. Registration details for both exam parts are in how to register for the Washington CNA exam.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the HCA to CNA bridge near Seattle? 40 clock hours at Huduma CNA Programs: 5 weekdays or about 2.5 weekends, followed by the two-part exam.
Can I take the bridge if my HCA credential expired last year? Renew it first. The bridge requires an active Washington HCA credential at enrollment.
Is there an HCA to CNA bridge inside Seattle city limits? Some programs offer bridges; verify each on the WABON approved list and compare hours, price, and testing. Federal Way is one direct light rail ride from downtown.
Do I need to repeat the background check? The DOH runs a name-based check for the NA-C application, and Huduma completes a check before clinical placement, even though your HCA credential also required one.
Will my HCA hours count toward the NA-C? Your HCA credential is what qualifies you for the shorter course; individual work hours are not credited toward the 40.
Program details, requirements, and start dates are on the HCA to CNA bridge program page and the schedules page.
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