CNA Training Program in Northern Virginia — Get Certified in 150 Hours at AVI Career Training

—

Hero Section

Your healthcare career starts here — and you can be ready to work faster than you think.

AVI Career Training’s Certified Nurse Aide program gives you the hands-on clinical skills, Virginia state board preparation, and real-world confidence to step into one of Northern Virginia’s most in-demand healthcare roles — in just 150 hours.

No waitlists. No four-year commitment. No guessing whether it’s worth it.

👉 Apply Now — It Takes Just Minutes

Or call us directly: (703) 943-9841

—

✅ 150-Hour Program — Weeks, not years
✅ COE Accredited · SCHEV Certified — Virginia-recognized, employer-trusted
✅ Financial Aid Available · GI Bill® Accepted — Training that fits your budget

—

Why Choose AVI Career Training for Your CNA Certification?

There are other CNA programs in Northern Virginia. Here’s why our graduates choose AVI — and why it matters for your career.

—

1. We’re Accredited and Employer-Recognized — Not Just Another Certification Mill

AVI Career Training holds COE (Council on Occupational Education) accreditation and is SCHEV-certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. These aren’t marketing checkboxes. They mean our curriculum meets rigorous national standards, our graduates are recognized by Virginia employers, and your certification carries real weight when you walk into a job interview at Inova, Virginia Hospital Center, or any skilled nursing facility in Fairfax County.

When you train with an accredited institution, you’re not gambling. You’re investing.

—

2. Real, Hands-On Clinical Training — Not a Slide Deck

A lot of CNA programs will teach you the theory. We’ll teach you the work.

AVI’s program is built around hands-on skill development in clinical settings — the kind of training that makes you feel genuinely prepared on day one of your first job, not terrified. You’ll practice patient transfers, take vital signs, assist with activities of daily living, and apply infection control procedures the way you’ll actually use them on the floor.

The difference between knowing what a procedure is and being able to do it calmly, correctly, and compassionately — that’s what our training is built to close.

—

3. Small Class Sizes. Instructors Who Know Your Name.

You are not a seat number here.

AVI is not a multi-campus factory pushing hundreds of students through a conveyor belt. Our class sizes are intentionally small so that your instructor can see where you’re struggling, answer your questions without rushing past you, and give you the individualized attention that actually moves the needle on exam day.

If you’ve ever felt invisible at a big institution — or just read the NOVA waitlist page and sighed — you’ll feel the difference at AVI from day one.

—

4. Built for Real People with Real Lives

You might be working a full-time job. Raising kids. Supporting a family. Maybe doing all three.

We know, because most of our students are.

Our program is structured to work around the obligations you already have — not to compete with them. 150 hours is a serious commitment, and we don’t pretend otherwise. But it’s a commitment with a clear finish line, a defined payoff, and a schedule designed for people who can’t just press pause on their lives.

—

5. Located in the Heart of Northern Virginia’s Healthcare Economy

Vienna, Virginia isn’t just convenient — it’s strategic.

AVI sits minutes from Tysons Corner, Reston, McLean, Falls Church, Herndon, and Fairfax. These communities are surrounded by hospitals, outpatient clinics, assisted living facilities, and long-term care centers that are actively hiring CNAs right now. You’ll train locally, build your professional foundation locally, and be positioned to work locally — close to home, close to your family, close to the opportunities that are already waiting for you.

—

CNA Program Curriculum — What You’ll Learn in 150 Hours

Virginia state law requires 150 hours of training to sit for the CNA certification exam. Every hour of AVI’s program is designed to count.

Here’s what your training covers:

—

Foundational Clinical Skills

Patient Care Fundamentals — Positioning, transferring, and safely moving patients with dignity and proper body mechanics

Vital Signs Measurement — Blood pressure, pulse, respiration, temperature, and oxygen saturation — performed accurately and documented correctly

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) — Assisting patients with bathing, dressing, grooming, feeding, toileting, and mobility while preserving independence and respect

Infection Control & Safety — Hand hygiene, PPE, isolation precautions, and standard protocols that protect you, your patients, and your facility

Nutrition & Hydration Support — Understanding dietary needs, fluid intake monitoring, and mealtime assistance for residents with varying conditions

—

Communication & Patient-Centered Care

Therapeutic Communication — How to speak with patients who are confused, frightened, in pain, or non-verbal; how to listen and report accurately

Working with Diverse Populations — Cultural sensitivity, working with elderly patients, patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s, pediatric considerations

Observation & Reporting — Recognizing and documenting changes in patient condition; understanding when and how to escalate to nursing staff

Patient Rights & Legal/Ethical Standards — HIPAA basics, patient dignity, abuse and neglect recognition and reporting obligations

—

Clinical Settings Preparation

Nursing Home & Long-Term Care — The daily rhythms, resident relationships, and care protocols of skilled nursing facilities

Hospital & Acute Care Basics — How CNAs function on hospital floors, work within care teams, and support nursing staff in faster-paced environments

Home Health Fundamentals — The unique demands and independence required of CNAs working in private home settings

—

Virginia State Board Exam Preparation

Your 150 hours culminate in preparation for the Virginia Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation — both the written/oral knowledge test and the clinical skills evaluation administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of the Virginia Board of Nursing.

At AVI, exam prep isn’t a last-minute scramble. It’s woven through the entire program. You’ll practice skills under the same standards used by state evaluators, review exam-format questions regularly, and enter your test date with genuine confidence — not just hope.

—

Career Outcomes — What Happens After You Graduate

The Northern Virginia Healthcare Market Is Hiring

Northern Virginia sits at the intersection of one of the most robust healthcare markets in the Mid-Atlantic and one of the fastest-growing regional economies in the country. Demand for CNAs across Fairfax County, Arlington, Loudoun County, and the surrounding communities is strong, consistent, and not going anywhere.

Where AVI CNA graduates work:

Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs)

Assisted Living Communities

Memory Care Units

Inpatient Hospital Settings (Inova Fairfax, Virginia Hospital Center, Reston Hospital Center)

Home Health Agencies

Adult Day Programs

Rehabilitation Centers

Outpatient Clinical Settings

—

What You Can Earn

CNA salaries in Virginia vary by setting, shift, and experience level, but here’s the realistic picture for Northern Virginia:

| Experience Level | Estimated Annual Salary (Virginia) |
|—————–|———————————–|
| Entry-Level CNA | $34,000 – $38,000/year |
| Experienced CNA (2+ years) | $38,000 – $44,000/year |
| Specialty Settings (ICU, Memory Care) | $42,000 – $48,000+ |

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Virginia Employment Commission, regional employer postings.

Many employers also offer shift differentials for evenings, nights, and weekends — meaning your take-home pay can exceed base salary estimates significantly.

For comparison: the average Virginia retail or food service worker earns $28,000–$32,000/year, often without benefits, without growth, and without a path forward.

150 hours of training can close that gap — permanently.

—

CNA as a Launchpad, Not a Ceiling

Many of our students come to us wanting to become CNAs. Many more come to us knowing the CNA is just the beginning.

Here’s the healthcare career ladder your certification can unlock:

CNA (150 hours) → LPN (1 year) → RN (2–4 years) → Specialized Nursing or Advanced Practice

Hospitals and healthcare systems actively promote from within. Employers across Northern Virginia offer tuition reimbursement for CNAs who want to advance their education while working. Your AVI certification doesn’t just open a door — it puts you inside the building where the real career-building happens.

—

Job Titles You’re Qualified For After Certification

Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)

Patient Care Technician (PCT)

Nursing Assistant

Restorative Aide

Home Health Aide (with additional training)

Medical Assistant (with supplemental coursework)

—

Your Enrollment Path — 5 Clear Steps from Today to Your First Day of Work

We’ve made this as simple as possible, because the decision to change your career is already hard enough.

—

Step 1: Explore the Program
You’re already here. Good. Read through this page, review the curriculum, look at the schedule options, and think about what your life looks like 150 hours from now. If you have questions, call us at (703) 943-9841 — a real person will answer.

—

Step 2: Apply Online
When you’re ready, submit your application through our online form. It takes just a few minutes. There’s no fee to apply, no essay, no intimidating gate.

👉 Submit Your Application Here

—

Step 3: Connect With Our Admissions Team
After you apply, we’ll reach out to confirm your eligibility, walk you through scheduling options, and talk about financial aid if you need it. This is not a high-pressure sales call. It’s a real conversation about whether this is the right step for you — and how we can make it work.

—

Step 4: Enroll and Begin Training
Once you’re enrolled, you’ll receive your class schedule, orientation information, and everything you need to show up on day one ready to learn. Our team is with you through the full 150 hours.

—

Step 5: Pass Your State Exam — and Get to Work
After completing the program, you’ll sit for the Virginia Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation through Pearson VUE. Pass your written and clinical skills components, get listed on the Virginia Nurse Aide Registry, and you’re officially a CNA — and officially ready for your first healthcare job in Northern Virginia.

—

Tuition & Financial Aid — Let’s Talk About the Real Cost of Not Acting

Financial Aid Is Available

AVI Career Training offers financial aid options for students who qualify. We also accept the GI Bill® for eligible veterans and military-connected students — and we’re proud to serve those who’ve served.

If cost has been the thing standing between you and this decision, let’s have that conversation before you assume the answer is no. Our admissions team can walk you through what’s available, what you qualify for, and how to structure your enrollment in a way that works for your financial situation.

Contact Us to Discuss Financial Aid Options

—

The True Cost of Waiting

Here’s something worth sitting with for a moment.

Every month you stay in a job that doesn’t pay you enough, doesn’t challenge you, doesn’t have a future — that has a cost too. It just doesn’t come with an invoice.

A CNA in Northern Virginia earning $38,000 per year is earning $500–$800 more per month than the average retail or service worker in the same region. That difference adds up to $6,000–$10,000 per year. Every year you delay is real money you don’t get back.

150 hours of training. Weeks, not years. A career that pays you more, means more, and grows with you.

The question isn’t whether you can afford to do this. It’s whether you can afford to keep waiting.

—

Payment Options

AVI works with students to find payment structures that make enrollment accessible. Reach out directly to discuss what options are available to you. We’d rather find a way to say yes than watch you walk away from a career that’s waiting for you.

📞 (703) 943-9841
🌐 Contact Our Admissions Team

—

Frequently Asked Questions

—

Q: Do I need any prior healthcare experience or education to enroll in AVI’s CNA program?

No prior healthcare experience is required. The CNA program is designed to be a true entry point into healthcare — meaning you start from the beginning. What you do need is a high school diploma or GED, a genuine desire to work in patient care, and the commitment to show up and put in the 150 hours. We’ll teach you everything else. If you’re not sure whether you meet the basic requirements, call us at (703) 943-9841 and we’ll sort it out with you in minutes.

—

Q: How flexible is the schedule? I’m working full-time and can’t just quit my job.

This is the most common question we hear, and it’s a fair one. Our program is structured to accommodate students with existing work and family obligations. Specific schedule options — including daytime and evening availability — vary by cohort, so the best way to find out what works for your situation is to reach out directly. We’ll be honest with you about what the schedule looks like and whether it can realistically fit your life. We’d rather have that conversation upfront than watch you struggle to balance something that wasn’t communicated clearly.

—

Q: What is the Virginia CNA state certification exam like — and what happens if I fail?

The Virginia Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation is administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of the Virginia Board of Nursing. It consists of two parts: a written (or oral) knowledge test and a clinical skills performance evaluation where you demonstrate hands-on procedures in front of a trained evaluator. AVI’s curriculum is built around both components. Exam prep is integrated throughout the full 150 hours — not just tacked on at the end — so you arrive at your test date having practiced in the way that matches how you’ll be evaluated. If you don’t pass on the first attempt, Virginia allows retakes, and we support our students through that process. Our goal is that you pass the first time, and our training reflects that.

—

Q: What kind of job placement support does AVI provide after graduation?

We maintain active connections with healthcare employers throughout Northern Virginia — including skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, assisted living communities, and hospital systems. We’ll work with you on resume preparation, help you understand the local job market, and connect you with opportunities where our graduates have had success. We want to be clear: we don’t guarantee employment — no ethical school does — but we don’t graduate you and disappear either. The Northern Virginia CNA job market is genuinely strong right now, and a COE-accredited certification from AVI is a credential that gets taken seriously by local employers. Most of our graduates are working in healthcare within weeks of passing their state exam.

—

Q: Is AVI’s CNA program legitimate? I’ve seen a lot of programs that seem questionable.

That skepticism is healthy. The vocational training industry has a complicated history, and it’s smart to ask the question before you commit your time and money.

Here’s how to verify AVI for yourself:

COE Accreditation: The Council on Occupational Education is a nationally recognized accrediting body. You can verify AVI’s accreditation directly at coenet.us.

SCHEV Certification: The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia certifies institutions operating in Virginia. SCHEV’s school directory is publicly searchable.

Virginia Board of Nursing Approval: CNA training programs in Virginia must be approved by the Board of Nursing to qualify students to sit for the state certification exam.

Talk to us: Call (703) 943-9841 and ask us anything. Ask about our pass rates, our instructor credentials, our employer relationships. A school that’s doing things right has nothing to hide.

We’re proud of what we’ve built at AVI. We’ve earned the right to say so.

—

Apply Today — Your Healthcare Career in Northern Virginia Is 150 Hours Away

You’ve read the curriculum. You’ve seen the salaries. You know the job market is real. You understand that this is a legitimate, accredited program at a school that’s going to treat you like a person and prepare you to succeed.

The only question left is: when are you going to start?

Every week you wait is a week you’re not earning a healthcare wage. Every month that passes is another month before you’re on the career path that actually fits who you want to be.

The students who enroll today aren’t different from you. They have jobs, kids, bills, and doubts. They just decided that 150 hours was worth it — and they were right.

—

Ready to Take the First Step?

Apply Now — It Takes Just Minutes

—

Or reach out to our admissions team directly:

📞 Call or Text: (703) 943-9841
📍 Visit Us: 1595 Spring Hill Rd #720, Vienna, VA 22182
(Minutes from Tysons Corner, Reston, McLean, Falls Church, Herndon, and Fairfax)

Admissions Hours: Contact us to confirm current walk-in and phone availability.

—

AVI Career Training is COE Accredited and SCHEV Certified. Financial aid is available for students who qualify. GI Bill® benefits accepted. The 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 benefits.va.gov/gibill.

—

Follow AVI Career Training:
Instagram & TikTok: @avicareertraining
Facebook: facebook.com/avibeautyschool