Nursing: Nursing Assistant Certified
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Program Overview

This course provides instruction and hands on experience in basic nursing care skills including First Aid, CPR, and HIV/AIDS and supervised clinical training in a long-term are facility. Instruction will also be provided in student success and career transition skills. After successful completion of the Nursing Assistant Certified Short-Term Certificate, students are eligible to sit for the State of Washington NAC exam for certification as a Nurse Assistant.

Degrees & Certificates

Nursing: Nursing Assistant Certified Short-Term Certificate

With fewer than 20 credits, short-term certificate programs generally cover an entry-level or specific skill set needed for that industry. Credits earned in these programs may apply toward a next-level certificate or degree. Typically offered in a condensed time period.

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  • Credits to complete: 16.0
  • Estimated program length in quarters: Full Time - 1

We operate a hybrid Nursing Assistant Program through Seattle Central Campus. Theory is offered remotely, with lab operations located at the South Seattle College Campus. Sites in the Seattle area vary for the clinical course component which occurs at the end of the quarter.

Entrance Requirements:

If you wish to obtain a Nursing Assistant Certificate, you must meet the following entrance requirements and complete the application process.

  • Eligible for at least ENGL 098 and MATH 087, as demonstrated by the placement testing or unofficial transcripts.
  • Pass a criminal background check.
  • Attend a mandatory NA-C information session

How to Get Started:

Applications are accepted on a first–come, first–served basis for students who meet the entrance requirements. We now accept applications for NA-C on an ongoing basis. Once your application has been processed, you will receive a confirmation email with your next steps.

  1. Complete the 5-Step Enrollment Process for Seattle Central College,  which includes placement testing and/or transcript review to ensure you meet the eligibility requirements. You can contact an advisor at advisorcentral@seattlecolleges.edu.
  2. After the advising office has approved you to begin NA-C (See eligibility requirements), a Program Ready Form will be submitted on your behalf from your advisor, and you will receive an email from the NA-C program explaining your next steps.
  3. Attend NA-C orientation (You will receive an invitation after completing the steps above).
  4. Immunization Requirements - immunizations required for the program to be completed are after acceptance to the program. Process can take a few weeks so please get started right away.

After Acceptance

Attend the mandatory NA-C orientation, where you will register for class. Bring your receipt from the cashier’s office.

Applicants are invited to attend orientation on a space-available basis.

In order to be placed in a clinical setting, you will need to have a physical examination, vaccinations or titers, TB tests and pass a criminal background check. You will receive more information about this requirement at NA-C orientation.

Program Expectations

This is a full-time program with theory and lab meeting 4 days per week, with mandatory clinical at a healthcare site for 40 hours towards the end of the quarter. Students must commit to a fast-paced schedule for the 8-9 week course duration. If you would like to discuss specifics regarding coursework/scheduling, please contact NAC@seattlecolleges.edu

Current schedule is as follows (subject to change):

  • Tuesday and Thursday – Mandatory in person lab at South Seattle College Campus - 6000 16th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106. (Students may be placed in a morning 0800-1300 or afternoon 1400-1900 group)
  • Wednesday and Friday – Mandatory Online Theory via Zoom - 0900-1400

New process for the Nursing Assistant Exam:

Washington is changing the process for completing the nursing assistant exam. The purpose is to increase students’ access to skills testing following graduation. 

  • New process starts October 1, 2023.
  • Registration for October skills testing slots starts now. (See steps below.)

Important Information

  • Skills test dates scheduled for September are unchanged.
    • Testing candidates should keep September testing appointments.
  • Graduates beginning their testing process October 1 or later will take the skills test first.
    • Graduates are expected to pass the skills test before registering for the written test.
    • This change will save steps and time in testing and certification processes.
  •  For October skills test dates, many approved nursing assistant training programs will schedule and provide skills tests for their current and previous graduates.
    • View list of the programs ready to provide skills testing to their graduates.
    • More programs will begin providing skills testing in November or December.
    • By 2024, most programs will provide skills testing routinely immediately after graduation.
  • Graduates will no longer register for skills tests on Credentia365.
    • They will continue to use Credentia365 to get their Candidate Identification (ID) number and register for the written (or oral) exam.
  • For October skills test dates, graduates will use these new steps to register and test.

New Skills Test Registration Process

Step 1: Get a Credentia Candidate ID number. 

  • Create a Credentia365 account and verify your email address.
  • You need a Candidate ID number to:
    • Register for the skills test.
    • Register for the written (or oral) test.
    • Ensure your results are processed quickly.

Step 2: Register for the skills test.

  • Option A: Register with your training program, if your training program is ready to provide skills testing
    • If your training program offers testing, the program will reach out to you about available skills test dates and the registration and payment process.
    • Please wait for the program to contact you (or check the program’s website for information). Contacting the program now will cause delays in scheduling.
  • Option B: Register through WABON online scheduling if your training program is NOT providing skills testing at this time.
    • Use WABON online scheduling to register for a test location, date, and time.
    • The test site will follow up regarding their process for paying the skills test fee.

Step 3: Register for the written (or oral) test AFTER you pass the skills test.

Step 4: Apply for your nursing assistant-certified (NAC) credential with the Department of Health (DOH), if you have not already done so.

Other Information 

  • Overall cost of the nursing assistant exam is the same, but the amounts paid for each part of the exam have changed. 
    • Skills test fee will be $100.
    • Written (or oral) test fee will be $55.

Helpful Resources

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The Seattle Central District Nursing Program at Seattle Central College is approved by the Washington State Board of Nursing.

Board of Nursing  
111 Israel Road SE  
Olympia, WA 98504

The Seattle Central District Nursing Program at Seattle Central College located in Seattle Washington is also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing  
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400  
Atlanta, GA 30326  
(404) 975-5000

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Seattle Central District Nursing Program: Associate degree program is under continuing accreditation with conditions for Good Cause for two years with a follow up report with a site visit in Fall 2025.

The board identified these areas:

Evidence of Non-Compliance: Standard 6 outcomes, Criterion 6.1  
There is a lack of evidence that assessment data are consistently analyzed and used in program decision-making for the maintenance and improvement of students’ attainment of the end-of-program student learning outcomes.

Areas Needing Development:

Standard 6 Outcome, Criterion 6.3  
Review and revise the program completion outcome statement(s) to be congruent with the ACEN definition of program completion by including the first nursing course and on-time completion.

Standard 6 Outcomes, Criterion 6.4  
Review and revise the job placement outcome statement to be congruent with the ACEN definition of job placement by including ELA with appropriate timeframe and in a role for which they were prepared.

Seattle Central College's Nursing program is intended to meet the educational requirements for licensing/certification in the State of Washington only. Seattle Central College has not determined if the Nursing curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensing/certification in any other state. Additional information about licensure/certification concerns can be found on the NC-SARA webpage. Please contact eLearning with any questions at eLearning@seattlecolleges.edu.