Weekend CNA Classes in Washington: Can You Train While Working Full Time?

Yes, you can train for the Washington NA-C credential on weekends while keeping a full-time weekday job, but the calendar stretches. Weekend CNA classes must still deliver the 108 clock hours required by WAC 246-841A-440 (35 theory, 33 skills lab, 40 clinical), so a two-day weekend pattern of roughly 16 to 20 hours a week takes about six to seven weekends instead of four weekday weeks. The hardest part is the 40 clinical hours, which are scheduled as full shifts in a licensed nursing facility and may fall on weekend days that start early. Huduma CNA Programs in Federal Way offers a weekend pattern for its 108-hour CNA Traditional course ($1,100 tuition) and a roughly 2.5-weekend pattern for its 40-hour HCA-CNA Bridge ($800).

What a weekend CNA schedule actually contains

The state does not define a "weekend program." It defines hours and components, and a school then arranges them on Saturdays and Sundays. Because no component can be skipped, a weekend program has to fit the same three blocks as a weekday one.

Programs may add hours above the minimum for mock testing or extra lab practice, so ask for the total scheduled hours and the exact calendar before you enroll.

How long weekend training takes compared with weekday

If your goal is the fastest route to the credential, the weekday program wins by about three weeks. If your goal is to keep a paycheck the whole time, the weekend program is usually the only realistic option among the three. The weekday format is described in the 4-week CNA program in Washington.

The clinical week is the deciding factor

Theory and lab are easy to schedule on weekends because they happen at the school. Clinical is different. The 40 hours must take place in a licensed nursing facility with a licensed nurse instructor present, and facilities set the days and shifts they can host students. Some weekend programs place clinical on Saturdays and Sundays; others require one or two weekday shifts because the facility does not host student groups on weekends.

Before you enroll, get a written answer to three questions:

1. Which days of the week will clinical shifts fall on?
2. What time do clinical shifts start and end? Day shifts in nursing facilities commonly begin around 6:30 or 7:00 a.m.
3. Can clinical hours be rescheduled if you miss a shift, and what does it cost?

A weekend program that requires two weekday clinical shifts still works for most full-time employees, but you will need to request those days off two to three weeks in advance.

Working full time during weekend CNA training

Combining a 40-hour job with 16 to 20 hours of weekend class is a six- or seven-day week for roughly two months. It is doable, and many students do it, but it requires planning.

• Study time. Budget about five hours a week outside class for reading and practicing skills. Most students do this on two weeknights.
• Rest. Plan for at least one weekday evening with nothing scheduled. Fatigue is the main reason students fall behind in lab.
• Employer conversation. Tell your employer at enrollment that you will need specific days for clinical shifts. Employers in healthcare are often supportive because a CNA credential makes you more useful to them.
• Childcare. Weekend childcare is harder to find than weekday care. Solve this before the first class, not during.

The decision rule: if you cannot protect both weekend days for six to seven weeks, choose a longer evening or part-time format rather than starting a weekend program and dropping out.

Weekend option for Home Care Aides: the bridge

If you already hold an active Washington Home Care Aide credential, you do not need the 108-hour course. The HCA-CNA Bridge at Huduma CNA Programs is 40 clock hours (36 instructional hours of 17 theory, 13 lab, and 6 clinical, plus 4 hours of mock testing) and is offered as five weekdays or about 2.5 weekends. Tuition is $800 with about $105 in books and supplies. That makes the bridge the fastest weekend route to NA-C in the state for current HCAs. Details are in the HCA to CNA bridge program in Washington.

Attendance rules matter more on weekends

Every approved program must document that each student completed all required hours. On a weekday program, a missed day can be made up the following week. On a weekend program, a missed Saturday means eight to ten hours to make up, and the next chance may be a week later, which can push clinical placement back. Read the program's attendance and make-up policy before paying tuition, and confirm whether make-up hours cost extra.

Testing after a weekend program

Weekend graduates take the same two-part exam as everyone else. The skills test (Part 1) is administered in person by the training program for $100; Huduma administers it on site. Only after the skills pass is recorded can you register with Credentia for the $55 online knowledge test. Ask whether your program schedules skills testing on weekends, because a weekday-only testing calendar can add a week or two for someone who works weekdays. The exam sequence and fees are explained in the Washington NAC exam guide.

Costs are identical to weekday programs

Schools generally charge the same tuition for weekend and weekday cohorts. At Huduma CNA Programs the CNA Traditional course is $1,100 with about $105 in books and supplies regardless of pattern. The exam fees ($100 skills, $55 knowledge) and DOH application fees, per the current DOH fee schedule, do not change with the format either. The only cost that tends to differ is your own: weekend students typically lose no wages, while weekday students may forgo about four weeks of pay.

How to choose between weekend and weekday

Use these decision rules:

• Choose weekday if you are between jobs, your employer will give you four weeks, or a funding program requires quick completion.
• Choose weekend if you work Monday to Friday and cannot take unpaid leave, and you can protect both weekend days for about seven weeks.
• Choose the weekend bridge if you already hold an active HCA credential; it cuts the time to about 2.5 weekends.
• Choose an evening format only if both weekend days are unavailable; see evening CNA classes in Washington.

Current weekend and weekday start dates for both Huduma courses are on the schedules page.

Frequently asked questions

How many weekends does a CNA class take in Washington? About six to seven weekends for the full 108-hour course, or about 2.5 weekends for the 40-hour HCA-CNA Bridge if you already hold an HCA credential.

Are weekend CNA classes shorter or easier? No. They cover the same 108 hours, the same state skills list, and the same two-part exam as weekday classes.

Will clinical shifts be on weekends too? Often, but not always. Some facilities host students only on weekdays, so confirm the clinical days in writing before enrolling.

Can I keep my full-time job during a weekend CNA program? Yes, if you can commit both weekend days for the length of the program and reserve a few weeknight hours for study.

Is weekend tuition higher? Typically no. Huduma CNA Programs charges $1,100 for CNA Traditional in both patterns.

Can I take the skills test on a weekend? It depends on the program's testing calendar. Ask before you enroll if weekday testing would be a problem for you.

For the full path from enrollment to credential, read how to become a CNA in Washington State, and compare the two Huduma courses on the CNA Traditional and HCA-CNA Bridge program pages.