Take the first step toward a rewarding career in healthcare with Highline College’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Theory and Practicum Program. This accelerated, four-week course equips you with the essential knowledge and hands-on skills needed to pass the Washington State Nursing Assistant exam.
To support your success, the program offers open labs after class completion, allowing you additional practice time before your state exam.
Graduates who successfully complete the program and pass the exam have gone on to work in hospitals, short-term rehab facilities, nursing homes, hospice care, outpatient surgery centers, and as emergency room technicians.
Additionally, this program fulfills a prerequisite for the Registered Nursing Program at Highline College, helping you advance further in the nursing field.
Join us and start your journey in healthcare today!
How To Register:
We are only accepting applications in-person, students are required complete an entrance exam upon submission of the NAC application.
Our office hours are Mondays - Fridays from 8AM-4PM.
Campus Location
23609 Pacific Hwy S #202
Des Moines, WA 98198
If you have questions, please email ce@highline.edu or call 206-592-3785. Thank you---CE Staff.
Application Steps:
Below are the application steps for the NAC/CNA program:
- Apply to Highline College at:Apply to Highline College
- Complete the attached NAC/CNA application.
- Provide evidence of a negative Tuberculosis (TB) reading (within the past year) or current x-ray/symptom check (within the past 2 years).
- Incomplete or illegible applications will not be considered. A reading assessment will be administered upon application submission.
- Complete the background check form online and provide us with the generated 10-character code: https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/bcs/.
- Provide payment in full for the course, payment will be submitted online in the students CTC Link portal once accepted into the NAC Program. If you are receiving funding, you will be required to submit a letter or email from the funding source stating you have been approved for tuition assistance.
Why register for Highline's Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC/CNA) program?
- An intense 4-week program that prepares students to take the Washington State licensure exam. If successfully completed you will receive an NAC Certificate of Completion.
- Over half of our students qualify for funding (see below for more details).
- We are an approved testing site. You have the option to take the state test in a classroom space that you are already familiar and comfortable in.
- We now have a brand new, state-of-the-art, Allied Health Academy building where the NAC lab is located.
- While Highline College does not provide job placement, our Career and Student Employment department offers assistance with career exploration, job searches, on-campus employment, resume writing, career events and more.
- Becoming a certified NAC/CNA is a great entry-level position into the medical field. According to Emsi labor market analytics, the average hourly wage for a starting certified NAC/CNA position in the King County area is between $18.60-$23.40 an hour.
Sessions Open for Enrollment:
*CLASS FULL | WAITLIST OPEN*
Application Deadlines
- New applications for this session will not be accepted after Monday, June 29th, 2025
Dates/Days/Times
- Theory: June 23rd - July 10th, Mon-Thu, 8:00AM-2:00PM (3 Weeks)
- On-Site Clinical: (Students must attend 1-week) : July 14th - 18th or July 21st - 25th from Mon - Fri 6:00AM-2:30PM.
Application Deadlines
- New applications for this session will not be accepted after Monday, June 29th, 2025
Dates/Days/Times
- Theory: June 23rd - July 10th, Mon-Thu, 3:30PM - 9:30PM (3 Weeks)
- On-Site Clinical: (Students must attend 1-week) : July 14th - 18th or July 21st - 25th from Mon - Fri 2:00PM-10:30PM.
Summer Session 3: Application Here.
Application Deadlines
- New applications for this session will not be accepted after Monday, July 14th, 2025
Dates/Days/Times
- Theory: July 28 - August 14th, Mon-Thu, 8:00AM-2:00PM (3 Weeks)
- On-Site Clinical: (Students must attend 1-week) : August 18th - 22nd or August 25th - 29th from Mon - Fri 6:00AM - 2:30PM.
Enrollment & Payment Options:
Option #1: $839.00
- Non-Credit
- The student receives a Certificate of Completion
- State Exam Fees not included
- Additional fees include medical & liability insurance, nursing supply fee, processing fee and building fee.
- Ideal for students applying to a Nursing Program
Option #2: $1018.50
- Non-Credit
- The student receives a Certificate of Completion
- Includes State Testing Fees
- Additional fees include medical & liability insurance, nursing supply fee, processing fee, and building fee.
- Ideal for students entering the workforce or wanting to obtain a job working in this field
Option #3: $1458.90 (*estimated total varies on the price of college credit & student Admission status)
- 8-College Credits
- The student receives a Certificate of Completion
- Includes State Testing Fees
- Additional fees include medical & liability insurance, nursing supply fee, processing fee, parking and building fee.
- Ideal for students who need elective college credits and/or for students who are receiving funding assistance
Funding Assistance:
- The NAC/CNA Certificate Training Program does not qualify for traditional Financial Aid. Click on the Workforce Education Services (WES) link below for more information. If you are awarded funding from our WES department, you do not have to pay it back.
Workforce Education Services (WES) – (Building 1)-- (206) 592-3802
- The Women’s Programs & WorkFirst department at Highline College supports student parents who are recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance from Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Eligible students must pursue a program offered through Continuing Education or any approved Professional-Technical (AAS) degree and/or certificate. Students may receive funding for required tuition, books, school fees, parking permit, childcare, and request monthly support funds for non-academic expenses.
To apply, contact your DSHS Case Manager and request them to send a WorkFirst Referral (Code 3AN) to Highline College.
Pre-Nursing Cohort Opportunity – Find Out If You Qualify Today!
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be a TANF recipient
- Complete Math & English Placement Testing
- Academic evaluation by a Highline College Navigator
- Maintain a full-time course schedule
What You'll Receive:
- Paid Tuition for prerequisite courses
- Free Laptop (for active participants)
- Academic Plan to guide your course and career planning
- Weekly Peer Support meetings
- Access to Highline College Tutoring Center
Interested? Contact:
Certificate of Completion:
In order to be eligible for state certification exam, you must have completed and passed (with an 80% score) the NAC/CNA Certificate Training Program class at Highline College. For more information about certification, check the website at: Program:Nursing Assistant Certificate.
Clinicals:
One of the key components of Highline's NAC/CNA Training Program is the clinical experience. Students will complete 10 hours of in class lab time and 40 hours of clinical time. During the clinical, students apply theory learned in the classroom to practice in a clinical setting, which results in 50 hours of "hands-on" experience. Our current clinical location is held at Judson Park, just minutes away from Highline College.
Important:
- Clinical sites will accept placement of only those students who are insured against malpractice liability for actions or in-actions occurring in the clinical setting.
- Students participating in the clinical education program will be covered either by a student medical malpractice policy offered through the College, or acquired by the student through another source.
- The limits of such coverage shall be, at a minimum, $1,000,000 per occurrence.
- Certificates of such coverage purchased by the student will be provided to the clinical site upon request. Should any student lack adequate proof of insurance, the clinical site can refuse to accept the student for placement.
- The clinical site will perform an independent background check on all students. The clinical site reserves the right to prohibit any student from participating in clinicals.
Criminal Background Check:
Students are now required to complete the background check form online and provide us with the generated 10-character code.
Instructions for Completing the Background Check Authorization Form:
1. Access the Form:
- Please use the Google Chrome web browser to access the following link: https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/bcs/.
- This link will direct you to the online Background Check Authorization Form. Please fill in all the required information.
2. Important Information:
- Personal Information: You will provide personal information on this form, which will be stored in a secure database for 90 days.
- Electronic Signature: You will sign the form electronically.
- Disclosure Reference: Reference your court documentation or charging papers for any crimes you disclose. For questions about self-disclosure, please seek legal advice from an attorney or the courthouse where the offenses occurred.
- One Sitting: The form must be completed in one sitting; it cannot be saved and resumed later.
- Submission: Completing the form does not automatically submit a background check to BCCU
If you have questions about the types of convictions that would exclude you from the program, call Washington State Patrol customer service at (360) 705-5100 or check the list online at click here. Clinical sites will perform an national background check that includes any previous addresses within the last 3 years.
State Testing Information:
Highline College’s NAC/CNA Certificate Training Program is now an approved In-Facility Testing Site. Students who choose the enrollment option with state test and DOH application fees will be eligible to take the Washington State Nurse Aide Exam at Highline College. If you pass the test successfully, you will be considered “certified”. The instructor will discuss this process during week three of class. As of 03/21/2023, current prices are: $85 DOH Application; $155 State Testing.
*Please note: Only one voucher code will be issued per state exam for each student*
Additional Fees & Required Supplies:
- Immunizations: TB testing (within the past year) or current chest x-ray/symptom check (within the past 2 years) must be turned in with application packet.
- Parking Permit: $3.00 daily parking passes. **Must be purchased daily. Purchases can be made at the parking pay stations located in the south and east parking lots. For more information, please visit the Public Safety website.
- Required Supplies: See Application Packet
Meet the Instructor:
Sharry Dedge, LPN worked for Kaiser Permanente for 26 years mostly in Home Health and Hospice and has been a clinical instructor for the Highline School District: Puget Sound Skill Center's (PSSC) CNA program. Sharry has a love for nursing and a passion for teaching. She has been here at Highline College for 3 years and she started her nursing career as a CNA 33 years ago.
Potential Career Pathways available at Highline College:
Educational Nursing Programs
Potential Career Pathways that are currently unavailable at Highline College:
Educational Nursing Programs
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP)
Non-Nursing Healthcare Occupations
- Medical Billing and Coding
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Pharmacy Technician
Extended CNA Trainings
- Medication Aide
- EKG Technician
- Phlebotomist
- Dialysis Technician