This program prepares students to take the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) Examination. If successful, students will be certified in Washington State and qualified to work in nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living, group homes, and other home care agencies. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Social and Health Care Services (DSHS) in Washington State approve this program. Certification can be used as a stepping stone into nursing, or other healthcare professions.
Certified nursing assistants have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide daily care to adult residents, patients, and clients who are unable to care for themselves. This includes assistance with basic care skills such as grooming, bathing, and feeding. Giving both social and emotional support is a large part of the job, in addition to being familiar with resident rights, the legal aspects of care, death and dying, dementia care, and communication skills necessary to function with confidence in a healthcare team.
Eligibility Criteria
- Complete NAC Admission Requirement NAC
- Medical Document Manager (Required documentation to be uploaded to CastleBranch)
- Completion of Required Immunization
- Completion of Required Program Forms
- Background Check (Background Check will be completed by CastleBranch only)
- Medical Document Manager (Required documentation to be uploaded to CastleBranch)
- Students under the age of 18 are required to have parent permission and permission from Running Start (if in Running Start) to complete the program.
- **Please Note:it may be difficult to get a job if younger than 18. Retraining and retesting is required if you do not work one paid shift in a 24 month period**
Are you Ready to Apply?
- Review the program Eligibility Criteria listed above.
- Become familiar with the program “Application Seps” located on the Application Instruction page.
- Visit the NAC Application Instruction page to find out important dates, deadlines and step-by-step instructions on creating and submitting your application.
- Your CastleBranch account is your NAC application
Helpful Notes & Resources
Graduates will be able to:
- Exhibit leadership and a commitment to continuous quality improvement in patient care
- Demonstrate strong communication skills essential for collaborating effectively and confidently within any healthcare team
- Offer both social and emotional support to residents, patients, and clients to enhance their overall well-being
- Recognize and consistently uphold the rights of residents with respect and integrity.
- Effectively apply innovative technologies to enhance patient care and outcomes.
- Demonstrate proper assistance with basic care task such as bathing, feeding, grooming and related task
- Apply established safety and infection control procedures
- Communicate effectively with residents, patients, clients, and other members of the health care team
- Recognize emergency situations, procedures and respond appropriately
- Demonstrate professional behavior
- Use the principles of restorative and rehabilitative care
- The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Social and Health Care Services (DSHS) in Washington State approve this program.
- Now offering on-site (in-facility) Washington State written and skills testing to students who successfully complete our program!
- Open Lab times are arranged, attendance required
- Fall, Winter and SpringTheory (NURS106) and Lab (NURS107) class times are Monday through Friday, 3:00pm to 7:50pm
- Summer Theory (NURS106) and Lab (NURS107) class times are Monday through Friday, 7:00am to 6:50pm
- Clinical (NURS 108) times are arranged (day or evening shift)
- Please check the quarterly: class schedule
The NAC program is designed to be completed in one quarter. All three classes (NURS 106, NURS 107 and NURS 108) within the NAC program must be taken together within the same quarter. Tuition and fees are billed by Bellevue College. The figure below is an estimate of tuition and fee costs for the duration of the program. The charges for tuition and fees are subject to change at the discretion of Bellevue College and the Nursing Program. These figures do not include indirect costs that may be incurred while attending the program, such as housing, cost of travel to and from campus or clinical sites, etc.
Nursing Assistant Certified Certificate of Completion
NAC Handbook 2024-2025
Clinical Participation Requirements
Textbook: Nursing Assisting: A Foundation in Caregiving, 5e
Scrubs: Surgical Green (color)
Shoes: Plain white shoes
Watch: An inexpensive watch with a second-hand is required
Other: Small Pocket Notebook and pen
Schedule an Academic Advising appointment with our HSEWI Advisors Marina Melnik or Sadia Mazid.
F-1 status students must schedule an academic advising appointment through International Education.
Permission entry codes will be provided to applicants once they have completed the application process and been selected for the program. Acceptance into the Nursing Assistant Certified program is first come, first serve for applicants who have submitted completed applications.
Your CastleBranch account is your NAC application. Please allow CastleBranch 2-3 business days to review all submitted documents. Once CastleBranch has approved and “Completed” all application requirements, then you may submit your completed NAC application.
The “Application Steps” on the NAC Application Instruction page will provides step-by-step instructions on how to apply to the NAC program.
Contact the program manager, Lamont Thomas, for application assistance:
📧 EMAIL | 📞 Phone
I-BEST NAC Program & Eligibility
Discover if You Qualify for Additional Support!
You may be eligible for the I-BEST NAC program, which offers further academic and language assistance. Complete the form within the LINK to find out if you qualify for additional support.
Last Updated April 14, 2025
