How to Enroll in CNA Training at Huduma CNA Programs

Enrolling at Huduma CNA Programs in Federal Way takes five steps: choose between the 4-week, 108-hour CNA Traditional program ($1,100 tuition plus about $105 for books and supplies) and the 40-hour HCA-CNA bridge ($800 plus about $105), pick a start date from the schedule page, submit the registration form with your documents, clear the DOH background check before clinical placement, and pay tuition by the deadline for your cohort. Most applicants who have their diploma or GED and photo ID ready can complete the paperwork in a single day; the background check and any TB screening are the steps that need lead time, so start them three to four weeks before your chosen date.

Step 1: choose the program that matches your credentials

The decision rule is simple: if your Washington HCA credential is active in the DOH Provider Credential Search, choose the bridge; if it has lapsed or you never held one, choose the traditional program. The bridge saves 68 hours and $300 for those who qualify.

Step 2: pick a start date and pattern

Class dates are posted on the schedule page, which lists upcoming cohorts for both programs with their day or weekend pattern. Choose based on two constraints. First, your health paperwork and background check must be complete before the clinical portion, which begins in the second half of the traditional course; a start date under two weeks away is workable only if those items are already done. Second, the pattern must fit your work hours for the entire cohort, because the 108 hours are a state minimum under WAC 246-841A-440 and missed hours must be made up. Working caregivers usually choose the weekend pattern; students who are not working finish faster on the weekday pattern.

Step 3: submit the registration form and documents

Registration is done through the online registration page. Have these ready before you start, because incomplete forms are the most common cause of delay:

1. Government-issued photo ID (driver license, state ID, or passport). The name on this ID becomes the name on your skills test record and DOH application.
2. Proof of high school diploma or GED, or a transcript showing graduation, with a certified translation if it is not in English.
3. For the bridge only: your HCA credential number, so the school can confirm it is active.
4. Contact details and emergency contact.
5. Your preferred cohort and pattern from the schedule.

You will receive confirmation of your seat and a list of the health items required by the clinical facility, which for most nursing facilities means a TB screen dated within 12 months and immunization records. That list is explained in TB tests, immunizations, and health requirements for CNA clinicals in Washington, and the school confirms exactly which items its current facility requires.

Step 4: clear the background check

Huduma requires the DOH background check before clinical placement. The check is name-based and statewide; a fingerprint check may be required for people who lived outside Washington recently. The school walks you through starting it at enrollment so that results are back before clinical days begin. A record does not automatically disqualify you, but certain convictions bar work with vulnerable adults under state rules, and the DOH reviews others case by case. If you have any history you are unsure about, ask before paying tuition; the process and the categories are described in the Washington CNA background check.

Step 5: pay tuition and confirm

Tuition is $1,100 for the traditional program and $800 for the bridge, with books and supplies of about $105 in either case. Payment options and any deposit-and-balance arrangement are confirmed at registration; if you need to split payments, ask before your cohort fills, since seats are confirmed in order of completed registration. Students using WorkSource, WIOA, or Basic Food Employment and Training funding should start the funder's approval process as early as possible, because the funder's paperwork often takes longer than the school's. The funding routes are described in payment plans for CNA training in Washington.

Exam fees are separate and paid later: $100 for the skills test, which Huduma administers on site, and $55 to Credentia for the knowledge test, for a total of $155. DOH application and credential fees are set by the current DOH fee schedule.

Enrollment timeline at a glance

Applicants who start later than this can still enroll, but the clinical placement date will not move, so a late TB test can mean waiting for the next cohort's clinical block.

What happens after you enroll

The traditional program runs 35 hours of theory and 33 hours of skills lab before the 40 clinical hours in a licensed nursing facility, with a licensed nurse instructor on site throughout, as WAC 246-841A-440 requires. At the end you receive a Certificate of Completion and take the skills test on site; a pass is recorded with the state, after which you register with Credentia for the knowledge test. Bridge students follow the same order with 36 instructional hours and 4 hours of mock testing. Both groups then apply to the DOH for the NA-C credential and appear in the Provider Credential Search once it is issued. Programs must allow at least four skills test attempts under WAC 246-841A-430, each with its own $100 fee.

Getting to the school

Huduma CNA Programs is in Federal Way near the Federal Way Downtown Link light rail station and the Federal Way Transit Center, which is served by the RapidRide A Line and Sound Transit route 574 to Tacoma. Students commute from Kent, Auburn, Tacoma, SeaTac, and Des Moines by rail, bus, and car. Weekend cohorts make the trip on Saturdays and Sundays only, which suits students who work weekdays.

Frequently asked questions

How do I enroll in CNA training at Huduma CNA Programs? Choose the traditional program or the HCA bridge, pick a cohort on the schedule page, complete the online registration with your photo ID and diploma or GED, start the background check, and pay tuition by the cohort deadline.

How far in advance should I register? Three to four weeks is comfortable, mainly because the TB screening and background check need lead time before clinical placement.

What does enrollment cost in total? Tuition is $1,100 (traditional) or $800 (bridge), plus about $105 for books and supplies. Exam fees of $155 and DOH fees per the current fee schedule come later.

Can I enroll if I do not have my diploma paperwork yet? You can hold a seat, but the diploma or GED proof must be on file before you start. Request a transcript from your school district now if the original is lost.

Do I need to visit in person to enroll? Registration is online, and the school confirms details by phone or email; originals of some documents may be reviewed on day one.

Is the skills test included in the program? Huduma administers the skills test on site, and the $100 test fee is paid to the test site separately from tuition.

Start with the CNA Traditional program or the HCA-CNA bridge page, then register for your cohort on the schedule.