CNA Programs in Washington DC

You may have heard that the demand for Certified Nursing Assistants in Washington DC is likely to be nearly 10% between now and 2016. You may have heard that this is one of the fastest, cheapest and easiest ways to get into the healthcare industry.

All of that is true, but there are a few things you need to know about training, registering and working as a certified nurses aide in Washington DC, before you sign up for any classes.

State Approved CNA Training Programs in Washington DC

In Washington DC, you may be eligible to take the certification exam and register as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) if you’ve already been working as a CNA or in a related capacity. However, for most new CNA’s, the first step in becoming a nurses aide in Washington DC is to find a state approved training program.

In the District of Columbia, the organisation responsible for approving CNA training programs is the District of Columbia Department of Health – Health Care Facilities Division, so make sure that they have accredited the course you are considering before you apply.

What to Expect from Washington DC CNA Courses

The state approved training syllabus for CNA’s in Washington requires that candidates complete no less than 120 hours of training (although programs may offer more training if they choose to.) Of those 120 hours, 45 hours each will be spent on classroom studies and practical training, and 30 will be spent on lab based studies.

The course covers all the basic nursing, patient care and administrative skills you will need to work as a CNA in the state, so once you have completed a training program, you should be able to cope with any certified nurses aide job in Washington DC.

Washington DC CNA Certification

Before you can begin working as a CNA, or call yourself a certified nurses aide in Washington, you will also have to pass the National Nursing Assistant Assessment Program (NNAAP™) Examination. The exam covers both practical and theoretical assessment, and once you have passed it, you can apply for registration with the District of Columbia Nurses Aide Registry, and with the DC Board of Nursing.

Examinations are offered by Pearson Vue and the Red Cross in Washington DC.

Reimbursement for CNA Training In Washington DC

If you have already got a job offer to become a CNA at a Medicaid or Medicare facility, or if you get one in the 12 months following your training, then you are eligible to apply for reimbursement in accordance with federal law for your studies to become a CNA in Washington DC. Essentially, that means that it’s possible to get trained and certified for free.

Job Opportunities and Salaries for a CNA in Washington DC

There are a growing number of job openings for trained and certified nurses aides in Washington, and the state average salary for this career is around $27,000 per year, although that varies from area to area, and facility to facility.

There’s also the possibility of further training as a nurse or in administration once you have become certified, so it’s a good way to get involved in the healthcare business quickly, easily, and cost effectively.

District of Columbia Nurse Aide Registry
DC Department of Health – Health Professional Licensing Administration
717 14th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (877) 672-2174

Washington DC Board of Nursing
899 North Capitol Street, NE
First Floor
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 1-877-672-2174
Fax: (202) 727-8471

Accredited CNA Training Classes & Programs in the District of Columbia

Bethel Training Institute
824 Upshur Street NW
Washington, DC 20011.

Capitol Health Institute
7826 Eastern Avenue, Suite 515
Washington, DC 20012

Comprehensive Health Academy Nurse Aide Training
1106 Bladensburg Road NE
Washington, District of Columbia 20002

J. C. Inc. American Institute of Professional Studies
6411 Chillum Place NW
Washington, DC 20008

Success International School of Allied Health Sciences, Inc.
1916 Rhode Island Ave. NE
Washington, DC 20018

University of the District of Columbia CNA Training Program
4108 8th Street, NE
Washington, DC 20004

Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School
1100 Harvard Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

VMT Education Center Nurse Aide Training Program
4201 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008

CAPTEC Med Care
3925 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20011

Home Care Partners, Inc.
1234 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite C-1002
Washington, DC 20005

Washington Training Institute
1910 9th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001