CNA Training WA – An Overview of the CNA Training in Washington

In the state of Washington, certified nursing assistants, or CNAs, are in high demand in medical facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes and other such medical care facilities throughout the state. The CNA is often considered to be an entry-level position. It is often easy to find jobs for CNAs in the state, and new CNAs can expect to earn on average about $26,000 per year. However, to become a certified nursing assistant, you must first complete the CNA training WA program and pass the licensing exam.

The Washington Department of Health and Social Services regulates and monitors the CNA training WA programs. Training for CNA licensing in this state requires that the student complete a minimum of 85 hours of training. These hours must include at least 50 hours of clinical study with at least a portion of the hours taking place in the classroom. Students are permitted to receiving reimbursement from employers for the cost of the program, which tends to make becoming a CNA an affordable prospect for many potential candidates.

CNA training WA programs are available at most community colleges throughout the state and are relatively easy to find. Other options for finding a CNA training WA program includes obtaining your training through various clinics and private facilities offering the training. You can obtain a list of possible training sites through the Washington Department of Health and Human Services.

Once you have completed your training, the next step to becoming a certified nursing assistant in Washington is to complete the test. The test is administered through Promissor and costs $107. This test includes both a multiple choice exam and a skills test. After passing the exam, students are considered licensed and will be placed on the Washington Licensed Nursing Assistant Registry. Those who are certified must renew their license every two years, and this includes showing proof of working at least eight hours in the field over the course of the last two years.

Certified nursing assistants usually state that the job, while it does offer comparatively low pay, is very rewarding because it involves plenty of interaction with patients. Some of the areas that a certified nursing assistant may help with include range of motion, nutritional habits, taking vital signs, infection control procedures, monitoring the physical and emotional health of a patient, helping with personal hygiene and grooming and more. However, because of the low pay, many people will use the CNA license as a stepping stone to further their medical career. It is not uncommon to find that CNAs later transition to other aspects of the nursing career, including becoming an RN or LPN. There is quite a bit of turnover in this position; however, this turnover provides CNAs with high demand and thus job security.

Anyone who is interested in pursuing an entry-level job in the medical professional, whether that’s as a final career choice or a stepping stone to further career advancement, should consider the training that a CNA program can provide.

If you are from Virginia, check out CNA Training VA.