How to Become a Home Health Aide in Washington

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A home Health Aides job is to provide elderly, ill, or disabled people with daily assistance such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and moving around.

Home Health Aides are obligated to meet the state-set training requirements before qualifying as Home Health Aides.

They work under the direction of Registered Nurses in hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes.

Health Aide duties also include checking the clients’ vital signs like blood pressure, pulse, or respiration, as well as, handling emergencies, monitoring their physical and mental health, then reporting their conditions to the registered nurse.

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Get information on Home Health Aide programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information.

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5 Home Health Aide Schools in Washington

1. Bates Technical College

Bates Technical College Logo

Bates Technical College is located in Bellingham, WA.

Bates Technical College has been fully accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

The college offers a certificate training program in Certified Nursing Assistant (NCA).

The course duration is one-quarter of the academic year.

Students will be eligible to successfully write the National Nursing Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) examination to be able to qualify for a license.

The In-State tuition fees and the annual cost to attend after aid is $7,669, which includes books and supplies.

The out-of-state cost to attend is $17,294, including books and supplies.

2. Centralia College

Centralia College Logo

Centralia College is located in Centralia, WA.

This course has officially been fully accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

The college offers a CNA Program that continues for one quarter of the academic year which will prepare its students with all the knowledge and skills they will need to be successful in a home health aid job.

The tuition fees and annual costs can be found on Centralia College’s website.

After the full completion of the CNA training program, students are then eligible to take the NNAAP examination to become licensed in Washington State.

Thereafter, the graduates will hold the following certifications:

  • Registered Nursing Assistant
  • Certified Nursing Assistant
  • The American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Card

3. Clover Park Technical College

Clover Park Technical College Logo

Clover Park Technical College is located in Lakewood, WA.

The Clover Park Technical College Practical Nursing program is fully accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA).

The college offers an Associate degree in pre-nursing which teaches its students the required skills and abilities to become Home Health Aides.

Their program is one-quarter of the academic year, making it a total of 160 credit hours.

Tuition fees for the training program for residents of Washington are $ 2,797.79 and non-resident fees are $ 4,445.42.

After the coursework has been completed, candidates will be eligible to write the Washington State Certification Examination to become licensed in Washington.

4. Big Bend Community College

Big Bend Community College Logo

Big Bend Community College is located in Moses Lake, WA.

The Big Bend Community College Nursing Program is fully accredited by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission, the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

The college provides a one-quarter program that offers the appropriate hands-on training that candidates will need to successfully complete the NNAAP examination which they will be eligible to write after completing the course.

The Academic year Tuition at Big Bend Community College is $ 1,890.35 for residents of Washington State registering with 19 credits.

5. Green River Community College

Green River Community College Logo

Green River Community College is located in Auburn, WA.

Green River College is fully accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

The college runs on a one-quarter curriculum that will prepare candidates to successfully write the NNAAP examination after completing the course and then moving on to becoming licensed in Washington state.

Their academic year tuition fees are $21,000 for resident tuition including living expenses and books.

Home Health Aide Schools in Washington – Summary Table

Top 5 Schools in Washington

School NameAddress
Bates Technical CollegeS Yakima Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405
Centralia College600 Centralia College Blvd, Centralia, WA 98531
Clover Park Technical College4500 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Lakewood, WA 98499
Big Bend Community College7662 Chanute St NE, Moses Lake, WA 98837
Green River Community College12401 SE 320th St, Auburn, WA 98092

Salary

The average annual salary for a certified nursing assistant in Washington is $33,637.

Which works out to be approximately $16 an hour, $647 a week, or $2,803 a month on the high end for an entry-level position.

The salary varies according to the exact location in Washington state, the type of employer, and the number of years of experience that the candidate has.

Annual Salary Range:
$27K
$29K
$32K

Average Salary of Home Health Aides in Washington

City NameSalary
Seattle$30,126
Spokane$26,561
Tacoma$29,218
Vancouver$28,532
Bellevue$30,126
Everett$29,482
Federal Way$29,218
Kent$29,159
Yakima$27,271
Bellingham$28,132
* Salary information last updated 2024

Regional Salary in Washington

RegionEmployedAvg. Annual SalaryAvg. Hourly PayTop 10% Annual SalaryBottom 10% Annual Salary
Bellingham, WA1,920$40,540$19.49$45,260$36,830
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA1,780$41,570$19.99$45,940$36,770
Kennewick-Richland, WA3,320$40,780$19.61$44,350$35,890
Longview, WA1,310$40,470$19.46$46,580$36,720
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA1,000$40,760$19.59$44,520$33,840
Olympia-Tumwater, WA2,620$40,360$19.4$43,900$36,610
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA40,980$43,600$20.96$46,950$37,970
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA8,290$39,660$19.07$43,730$35,790
Walla Walla, WA990$37,970$18.26$42,650$32,740
Wenatchee, WA860$40,320$19.39$45,700$36,430
Yakima, WA3,910$40,090$19.28$43,030$35,560
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Home Health and Personal Care Aides, OCC Code 31-1120, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the annual fees for holding my license?

You pay an additional amount to have your certified nursing assistant license certificate renewed, which is $85.

Can I use my Washington CNA license in another state?

If your new state doesn’t have a reciprocity agreement with your old state, then that means you’ll have to go through the full certification process again to be able to practice as a CNA in the current state you are in.

This also means having to take the class and pass the licensing exams and, whatever other requirements your new state has, to be licensed as a CNA, once again.

Does Washington state have CNA reciprocity?

If you hold an active NAC in another state, it means you may qualify for certification in Washington State by endorsement.

You must submit the application and pay the required fees.

Does a NAC license expire?

Yes, your NAC license does have an expiry date, which is usually every year on your birthday.

You will need to renew it ahead of time.

The expired registration renewal cost is $52 and the renewal of registration is $95.

The state will likely issue you a notice 60 days before the expiration date.

You can renew your license online via the Department of Health HSQA Online Services site (DOHOSS).

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