CNA Certification in Washington

Start a rewarding career as a nursing assistant in the state of Washington by receiving your nursing assistant certification.  Nursing assistants work under the direction of nurses in various healthcare facilities and settings.  After working for awhile as a certified nursing assistant, you might decide to further career in healthcare.

Training Hours and Requirements

The training programs for nursing assistants in the state of Washington are approved by the Department of Social and Health Services.  In order to be eligible to sit for the nursing assistant certification competency exam, you must attend a training course that was approved by the Department of Social and Health Services.

In the state of Washington, training programs must cover at least 85 hours of studies.  Some of this time will be spent in a classroom.  Other time will be spent in a clinical setting.  You will have an opportunity to gain hands on experience.  Prospective nursing assistants must submit to and pass drug testing.  A health screening is also required.

Transfer your CNA certification to Washington via Reciprocity

You can apply to receive certification through reciprocity in the state of Washington. This is a process in which you apply to the state to transfer your certification from a prior state. You will need to be listed as active and in good standing in the former state in order to qualify to apply for reciprocity. If your certification in the other state has expired, it will be necessary to go through the certification process in Washington.

The State of Washington will ensure that you are listed in the Nursing Aide Registry from your former state. They will verify that you completed an accredited training and that you were granted certification as a nursing assistant.

The steps for transferring are as follows:

1. Complete the application form which can be accessed here: http://www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/Professions/Nursing_Assistant/documents/NsgAsstCertEnd.pdf.
2. Provide all demographic information in the first section and answer all personal data questions in the second section. Attach any required documentation based on your answers.
3. Complete the Caregiver Employment History Option in Section 3
4. Complete section 5 listing the details for all other licensing and certification credentials in the healthcare industry that you hold in another state.
5. Complete Section 6 Attesting that you received and completed all necessary AIDS Training.
6. You will then sign and date the final section which is your attestation that all information is true and accurate.
7. Complete Part I of the out of state credentialing form. Once you have completed Part I, you need to mail the form to your former states registry. They will complete Part II of the form and mail it directly back to the Washington State Department of Health.
8. Mail your application and processing fee to: Department of Health- P.O. Box 1099- Olympia, WA 98507-1099.

Renewing CNA Certification in Washington

You will find that you must renew your certification every twenty-four months when you are a certified nursing assistant. You will be sent a renewal notice a few months in advance of the expiration of your certification. Follow all the instructions on the form. You are also able to renew your certification online at:http://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/ProfessionsNewReneworUpdate/NursingAssistant/ApplyOnline.aspx. Remember if you are renewing your certification online you must do it at least 60 days before the expiration date.

If you have let your license lapse, you will need to contact the Department of Health to determine the steps you will need to take if you want to become a certified nursing assistant in the state of Washington once again.

Also check out: Free CNA training in Washington and Accredited NA classes in Washington