CNA Certification for Washington High School Students and Running Start Learners

A Washington high school student can become a Nursing Assistant-Certified (NA-C or NAC) before or immediately after graduation through one of three channels: a Career and Technical Education (CTE) nursing assistant program run by a high school or regional skills center, a Running Start course at a community or technical college that is approved as a nursing assistant program, or a private approved program such as Huduma CNA Programs after earning the diploma. All three lead to the same 108-hour state standard, the same two-part exam ($100 skills test plus $55 Credentia knowledge test), and the same Department of Health (DOH) credential. Washington's rules do not set a minimum age for the credential itself; the practical age limits come from clinical facilities, employers, and each program's own admission policy.

Why a CNA credential is worth pursuing in high school

• Pay. Washington nursing assistant pay averages roughly $23.62 per hour by job-posting data (approximate, August 2026), against a 2026 state minimum wage of $17.13. For a student working weekends and summers, the difference is substantial.
• Nursing school admission. Many Washington nursing programs give preference to applicants with direct-care experience, and some require an active NA-C to enroll.
• Career testing. Forty hours of supervised clinical in a nursing facility tells a 17-year-old whether healthcare is the right field before they commit to a four-year degree.
• Portability. The credential renews annually on the holder's birthday with no continuing education requirement for a standard NA-C, so it stays active cheaply through college.

The three channels compared

Every channel must meet the same WAC 246-841A-440 standard: at least 108 clock hours split 35 theory, 33 skills lab, and 40 clinical in a licensed nursing facility, taught by licensed nurses with recent direct-care experience. The Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) approves programs; ask any school whether its nursing assistant course is WABON-approved, because a health careers class that is not approved does not lead to the exam.

Channel 1: CTE and skills center programs

Many Washington districts offer nursing assistant training through their CTE departments or through regional skills centers that serve several districts at once. Students attend during the school day, earn high school credit, and complete clinical at a partner nursing facility. Because districts fund these programs, tuition is typically free, which makes this the cheapest channel by far.

Availability is the constraint. Not every district participates, programs cap enrollment by clinical capacity, and application often happens the spring before. Ask a counselor about nursing assistant or health sciences offerings by the middle of sophomore year.

Channel 2: Running Start

Running Start lets Washington 11th and 12th graders take college courses at community and technical colleges for both high school and college credit, with tuition covered for eligible credits. Some colleges offer their nursing assistant course to Running Start students; others restrict it because of clinical placement rules or age requirements at partner facilities.

Points to check with the college before enrolling:

1. Whether the nursing assistant course is open to Running Start students at all, and any minimum age for clinical.
2. Which costs Running Start does not cover: books, uniforms, background check, immunizations, exam fees, and DOH fees are typically the student's responsibility.
3. Whether the course fits the quarter calendar alongside required high school classes.
4. Whether the college administers the skills test on site.

Channel 3: A private program after graduation

For students whose district has no CTE option and whose college does not open its course to Running Start, the fastest route is a private approved program the summer after graduation. Huduma CNA Programs in Federal Way requires a high school diploma or GED, which means current high school students cannot enroll until they graduate; a June graduate can complete the 4-week CNA Traditional program in July, test on site, and hold the credential before fall college classes begin. Class dates and the day and weekend patterns are on the schedules page. Federal Way is reachable by the Federal Way Downtown Link light rail station, the RapidRide A Line, and the Sound Transit 574 from Tacoma, which matters for students without a car.

Age, consent, and clinical placement

Washington's nursing assistant rules do not state a minimum age for certification. In practice:

• Clinical facilities set the floor. Many require students to be at least 16 for clinical placement, and some require 18. The program will tell you what its partner facility allows.
• Minors need a parent or guardian signature on enrollment, background check consent, and clinical health forms.
• The background check is the same at any age: a name-based statewide check through DOH before clinical placement and again at the DOH application. Juvenile records can appear; disclose anything the form asks about. See Washington CNA background check.
• Immunizations and TB testing are required by clinical sites regardless of age.

The exam and the DOH application for minors

The exam does not change for younger candidates. Part 1 is the skills test administered by the program (fee $100 to the test site); Part 2 is the Credentia knowledge test ($55), registered only after the skills pass is recorded. Programs must allow at least four attempts at the skills test. A minor can register and test with a government photo ID such as a state ID card, passport, or driver's license. The Washington NAC exam guide covers exam-day rules.

The DOH application asks for a Social Security number and includes the standard background check and fee per the DOH fee schedule. There is no age question that bars a minor applicant. Once issued, the credential appears on Provider Credential Search like any other.

Working as a teenage nursing assistant

Employers, not DOH, decide whether to hire minors, and Washington's child labor rules limit the hours and times a 16- or 17-year-old can work, especially during the school year. Skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and adult family homes across King and Pierce counties do hire 17- and 18-year-old NA-Cs for weekend and summer shifts; hospitals more often set 18 as a minimum. A nursing facility can also employ a student as a Nursing Assistant-Registered (NAR) during training, with four months from hire to finish and pass the exam; see NAR vs NAC in Washington.

For a realistic picture of first jobs, read CNA jobs in Washington and CNA salary in Washington State.

Planning timeline for a student

Frequently asked questions

How old do you have to be to get a CNA in Washington? The state sets no minimum age for the credential. Clinical facilities and employers set practical limits, commonly 16 for training and 18 for many hospital jobs.

Is a high school CNA program free? CTE and skills center programs are usually free or low cost through the district. Running Start covers tuition for eligible credits but not books, fees, or exam costs. Private programs charge tuition.

Can a current high school student enroll at Huduma? Not until they have a diploma or GED. Graduates can enroll in the first cohort after graduation.

Does a high school CNA course count for college credit? A Running Start course does. CTE courses may carry dual credit depending on the district's agreements with local colleges.

Is the exam different for high school students? No. Every candidate takes the same $100 skills test and $55 knowledge test in that order.

Does the credential expire while I am in college? It renews annually on your birthday through the DOH portal with no continuing education for a standard NA-C, so keeping it active is simple.

For the full set of state rules, read Washington State CNA requirements in 2026, then compare program details on the CNA Traditional page.