CNA Training Programs in Northern Virginia — Start Your Healthcare Career in 150 Hours
Launch a Meaningful Healthcare Career — Faster Than You Think
You want stable work. Real pay. A career that matters. AVI Career Training’s Certified Nurse Aide program gives you a direct, credible path into healthcare — without the years-long wait, the massive student loan, or the guesswork about what comes next.
150 hours. COE-accredited instruction. A Virginia state credential employers trust — everywhere.
Whether you’re switching careers, re-entering the workforce, raising a family while building toward something better, or transitioning out of military life, this program was built for where you actually are right now.
📞 Call or text us: (703) 943-9841
At a Glance
| ⏱ 150 Hours | One of the shortest credentialing pathways in all of healthcare |
| 🏆 COE Accredited | Nationally recognized — employers, licensing boards, and financial aid programs trust us |
| 💰 Financial Aid Available | Federal aid eligibility + GI Bill® accepted — we help make it affordable |
Why Choose AVI Career Training for Your CNA Certification?
Not all CNA programs are the same. When you’re making a decision that affects your livelihood, your family, and your future, the school you choose matters more than you might expect. Here’s what sets AVI apart from the community college waitlist, the hospital-only training tracks, and the programs that overpromise and under-deliver.
1. Accreditation That Actually Opens Doors
AVI Career Training is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE) and certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). Those aren’t just acronyms on a wall — they’re what make your credential recognized by employers, accepted by Virginia’s licensing board, and eligible for federal financial aid programs.
When an employer sees your AVI certification, they see a graduate who met rigorous, independently verified standards. That’s the difference between a credential and a competitive credential.
2. Your Virginia CNA Certificate Works Everywhere — Not Just One Employer
Some programs sound impressive because they’re attached to a hospital name. The catch? Those credentials are often designed to funnel you toward one employer’s open shifts — and leave you with limited options if the fit isn’t right.
AVI’s CNA program earns you Virginia state certification through the official Nurse Aide Registry — a credential that’s recognized and respected by:
- Long-term care and skilled nursing facilities
- Hospitals and acute care settings
- Home health agencies
- Assisted living communities
- Rehabilitation centers
You choose where to work. Your credential works everywhere.
3. Small Class Sizes — Instructors Who Actually Know Your Name
At a large community college, you’re often a student ID in a lecture hall. At AVI, you’re in a small, hands-on training environment where your instructor knows your strengths, notices when you’re struggling, and has the time to actually help you.
Our instructors bring real clinical experience into the classroom. They’ve done this work. They know what patients need, what employers expect, and what the state exam is really testing. That practical knowledge — delivered in a setting where you’re not lost in the crowd — translates directly into better exam preparation and stronger clinical confidence.
4. Start Sooner. Finish Faster. Start Earning.
NOVA’s CNA program has a waitlist. Hospital-based programs have limited, irregular enrollment windows. AVI offers more flexible enrollment start dates so you don’t spend months in limbo while a spot opens up somewhere else.
150 hours is a short commitment by any measure — but every week you spend waiting to start is a week you’re not earning. We help you move.
5. GI Bill® Accepted — A Real Commitment to Military Families
Northern Virginia’s military community is close to our hearts. AVI Career Training is approved for GI Bill® benefits, making our CNA program one of the few accredited, short-term healthcare training options in the area that active duty spouses, veterans, and transitioning service members can access using their earned education benefits.
If you or your family member has served, you’ve already earned the right to start this career. We help you use what you have to get there.
What You’ll Learn: CNA Program Curriculum
The Virginia CNA curriculum is designed to prepare you for the full scope of real-world patient care — not just the licensing exam. At AVI, that means combining classroom learning with hands-on lab work so that by the time you walk into your first clinical shift, you feel prepared, confident, and competent.
Core Competency Areas
Foundations of Patient Care
Understanding the healthcare system, patient rights and dignity, professional ethics, legal responsibilities, and the role of the CNA within the nursing team.
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Assisting patients with bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, eating, and mobility. These aren’t just procedural tasks — you’ll learn how to perform them while protecting patient privacy, preventing injury, and preserving the dignity of the people in your care.
Vital Signs & Clinical Observation
Accurately measuring and recording temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure. Recognizing changes in patient condition and knowing when and how to report them to the nursing team.
Infection Control & Safety
Standard precautions, hand hygiene, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), isolation procedures, and maintaining a safe environment for patients and staff alike.
Body Mechanics & Patient Mobility
Proper lifting and transfer techniques that protect both patients and CNAs. Positioning, ambulation assistance, range-of-motion exercises, and use of mobility aids.
Communication Skills
Communicating clearly and compassionately with patients, families, and healthcare team members. Documenting observations accurately. Understanding how communication changes with patients who have cognitive, sensory, or language challenges.
Nutrition & Elimination
Assisting with meals and hydration, recognizing nutrition-related concerns, and supporting patients with elimination needs — including catheter care and ostomy assistance — with skill and sensitivity.
Long-Term Care & Acute Care Settings
Training that prepares you for both nursing home and hospital environments — because your career may take you to either, and you should be ready for both.
Restorative Care
Supporting patients in maintaining or regaining maximum functional independence, including working with rehabilitation and restorative nursing programs.
State Exam Preparation
Graduating from the program is only part of the goal. Virginia requires CNAs to pass the Pearson VUE Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation — a two-part exam with a written (or oral) knowledge test and a hands-on clinical skills demonstration.
AVI’s curriculum is explicitly structured around Virginia’s exam requirements. Your instructors will walk you through:
- The exact clinical skills evaluated in the hands-on portion
- Strategies for the knowledge test
- Practice scenarios and mock evaluations before exam day
- What to expect on exam day so nerves don’t get in the way of what you know
The goal isn’t just to hand you a diploma and wish you luck. The goal is for you to walk into that exam room ready.
Program Snapshot
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Total Hours | 150 |
| Format | Classroom instruction + hands-on lab/clinical training |
| Credential Earned | Certificate of Completion — prepares for Virginia state CNA licensure |
| Licensing Exam | Pearson VUE Virginia Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation |
| Location | 1595 Spring Hill Rd #720, Vienna, VA 22182 |
Career Outcomes: Where Does a CNA Certification Take You?
You’ll Be Qualified to Work in the Moment — and Ready to Grow for the Long Term
The CNA credential is one of the most versatile entry points in all of healthcare. It opens doors immediately, and it keeps opening them as your career develops.
Where CNAs Work in Virginia
- Skilled Nursing & Long-Term Care Facilities — The largest employer of CNAs nationwide, with consistent, year-round demand
- Hospitals & Acute Care Centers — Including the major health systems serving the Northern Virginia and DC metro area: Inova, Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, Reston Hospital Center, and more
- Home Health Agencies — Growing rapidly as the population ages and patients prefer care in their own homes
- Assisted Living Communities — A large and expanding sector in Fairfax County and surrounding areas
- Rehabilitation Centers — Supporting patients recovering from surgery, injury, or illness
- Memory Care & Dementia Units — Specialized settings where compassionate, patient-centered care is at a premium
- Hospice & Palliative Care — Meaningful, emotionally significant work supporting patients and families during critical times
What CNAs Earn in Virginia
The average CNA in Virginia earns between $18 and $22 per hour, with rates varying by setting, shift, and experience. In the Northern Virginia / DC metro market — one of the higher cost-of-living regions in the country — wages trend toward the higher end of that range, and many facilities offer shift differentials for evening, overnight, and weekend hours.
Think about that for a moment:
Your 150-hour training investment could pay for itself within your first few weeks of work. That’s not a marketing claim — that’s healthcare economics.
CNAs Are in Demand — Especially Right Now
Healthcare is consistently among the most recession-resistant sectors of the economy. When the economy contracts and employers cut costs, healthcare doesn’t shrink — it adjusts. People still need care. Facilities still need CNAs. That job security is real and it matters, especially if you’ve watched other industries lay people off without warning.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of nursing assistants is projected to grow steadily over the coming decade — driven by an aging Baby Boomer population and the ongoing expansion of long-term care facilities across the country. In Virginia, this trend is particularly pronounced given the region’s large and aging suburban population in Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties.
The CNA as a Launching Pad
Many nurses — including many LPNs and RNs — started exactly where you’re starting right now. The CNA credential is the first clinical step in a clear healthcare career ladder:
CNA → LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) → RN (Registered Nurse) → Specialized Clinical Roles
Your CNA experience isn’t just a job. It’s clinical hours. Patient contact. Real-world nursing team exposure. The kind of experience that makes you a stronger candidate for nursing school — and a better nurse when you get there.
If you have long-term aspirations in healthcare, starting here isn’t settling. It’s being strategic.
Your Path From Application to Employment
We’ve seen too many people talk themselves out of starting because the process felt overwhelming or unclear. It isn’t. Here’s exactly how it works.
Step 1: Explore & Connect
Ask your questions before you commit a dollar.
Reach out to our admissions team through the link below. Tell us about your situation — your schedule, your goals, your concerns about cost or timing. We’re not here to pressure you. We’re here to help you figure out if this program is the right fit, and if it is, to help you start as soon as possible.
Contact Admissions →
📞 (703) 943-9841
Step 2: Apply & Review Financial Aid Options
Submit your application and connect with our team about financial aid. We’ll walk you through eligibility for federal student aid, GI Bill® benefits, and any available payment arrangements. We want cost to be a solved problem, not a barrier.
Step 3: Enroll & Begin Training
Once your enrollment is confirmed, you’ll receive your start date and everything you need to show up ready on day one. Classes are small. The environment is hands-on and supportive. You’ll know people’s names — including your instructor’s — before the first week is over.
Step 4: Complete the Program & Sit for the State Exam
150 hours of classroom and clinical training, structured specifically to prepare you for the Virginia Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation. Your instructors will have run you through mock skills demonstrations and knowledge practice before exam day. You won’t go in cold.
Step 5: Get Certified, Get Hired
After passing your state exam, you’ll be listed on the Virginia Nurse Aide Registry — the official record that every Virginia employer checks when hiring CNAs. From there, you’re in the job market with a credential that speaks for itself.
Our team can also connect you with job search resources and guidance to help you navigate the Northern Virginia healthcare hiring landscape.
Tuition & Financial Aid
We Believe Cost Shouldn’t Be the Reason You Don’t Start
Healthcare careers create financial stability. But we understand that getting there requires an upfront investment — and that investment can feel like a barrier when you’re already stretched.
Here’s what we want you to know:
Federal Financial Aid Eligible
AVI Career Training’s COE accreditation and SCHEV certification make the CNA program eligible for federal student financial aid. If you’ve never explored what you might qualify for, you may be surprised. Reach out and we’ll help you find out.
GI Bill® Accepted
If you’re a veteran, active duty service member, or military spouse with GI Bill® benefits, AVI is approved to accept them toward your CNA tuition. You’ve earned that benefit — use it.
Payment Plans & Options
We understand that different students have different financial situations. Talk to our admissions team about available payment arrangements that make your enrollment workable.
Think About the Return
At $18–$22/hour in the Northern Virginia market, a full-time CNA position generates meaningful income quickly. Your training is an investment — a short-term cost with a long-term return that begins within weeks of certification.
“Don’t let cost be the reason you delay a career that’s already waiting for you.”
For specific tuition information and to discuss your financial aid options:
Contact Our Admissions Team →
📞 (703) 943-9841
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need any prior healthcare experience or education to enroll in the CNA program?
A: No prior healthcare experience is required. The CNA program is designed as an entry-level credential — that’s the whole point. You’ll learn everything you need from the ground up. The main prerequisite is that you meet Virginia’s baseline requirements for CNA candidates (including a background check, as required by state law for any prospective nursing aide). Our admissions team will walk you through exactly what you need to provide before your start date.
Q: How flexible is the schedule? I have kids and/or a job right now.
A: We hear this more than almost any other question, and it’s a fair one. Life doesn’t pause so you can go to school. Contact our admissions team to discuss current schedule options — including what days and times classes are offered. At 150 total hours, this program is designed to be intensive but finite. Many students find it manageable precisely because the endpoint is clear and close. Talk to us about your specific situation and we’ll give you an honest answer.
Q: How does the Virginia state licensing exam work, and what happens if I don’t pass the first time?
A: Virginia CNAs are licensed through the Pearson VUE Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation, which consists of two parts: a written (or oral) knowledge test and a hands-on clinical skills demonstration. AVI’s curriculum is specifically structured to prepare you for both components.
If a student doesn’t pass on the first attempt, Virginia allows multiple retake opportunities within a set window following program completion. Our instructors will help you identify where to focus your preparation so that retakes are the exception, not the expectation. That said — go in prepared, practice the skills, and take the preparation seriously. The exam is passable for students who do the work.
Q: Will Virginia employers actually recognize my AVI CNA certification?
A: Yes — and here’s why you can be confident about that. Your credential isn’t an “AVI credential.” It’s a Virginia state CNA certification, issued through the official Virginia Nurse Aide Registry upon passing the Pearson VUE competency exam. Every licensed employer in Virginia checks that registry when hiring CNAs. Once you’re on it, your credential is indistinguishable from any other Virginia-certified nurse aide — regardless of which state-approved program you trained through.
AVI’s COE accreditation and SCHEV certification confirm that our program meets the standards required to sit for that exam in the first place. So yes — employers recognize it, because what they’re recognizing is your state license.
Q: Does AVI help with job placement after graduation?
A: AVI Career Training provides career guidance and job search support to our graduates. Northern Virginia’s healthcare market is one of the most robust in the country, with consistent, high demand for qualified CNAs across dozens of employers in Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, and Prince William counties. We’ll help connect you with resources and point you in the right direction. Reach out to our admissions team to ask about specific career support available to CNA graduates.
Ready to Start? Here’s Your Next Step.
You’ve read this far because something in you is serious about this. A career that’s stable. Work that matters. A credential you can earn quickly and use for the rest of your working life.
AVI Career Training’s CNA program gives you all of that — with the accreditation to back it up, the instructors who will actually prepare you, and the financial aid pathways to make it achievable right now.
Don’t put this off for another month while the right moment keeps not arriving. The right moment is the one where you make the move.
📋 Apply Now or Request More Information
Start Your Application or Ask Us Anything →
📞 Call or Text: (703) 943-9841
📍 Campus Location:
AVI Career Training
1595 Spring Hill Rd #720
Vienna, VA 22182
(Serving students from Tysons Corner, Reston, Herndon, Fairfax, McLean, Falls Church, Sterling, Ashburn, and all of Northern Virginia)
🏆 COE Accredited · SCHEV Certified · GI Bill® Approved · Financial Aid Available
AVI Career Training is approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE). GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.