CNA Training Program in Northern Virginia — Become a Certified Nurse Aide at AVI Career Training
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Start a Healthcare Career in Weeks — Not Years.
AVI Career Training’s 150-hour CNA program gives Northern Virginia adults a direct, state-approved path to a Certified Nurse Aide credential. Hands-on clinical training. Built-in exam prep. Financial aid available. Real healthcare jobs waiting on the other side.
Apply Now — It’s Free to Start
Not ready to apply? Schedule a free conversation with our admissions team →
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✅ 150 Hours — Virginia state-compliant, complete program
✅ COE Accredited · SCHEV Certified — your credential is legitimate and recognized
✅ Financial Aid Available · GI Bill® Accepted — don’t let cost stop you from starting
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Why Choose AVI Career Training for Your CNA Certification?
You’ve probably seen the options: big community colleges with semester-long waitlists, online programs that can’t legally fulfill Virginia’s clinical hour requirements, and hospital-affiliated programs that lock you into a specific employer before you’ve worked a single shift.
AVI is different — and the difference matters for your career.
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1. We’re State-Approved and Accredited — So Your Credential Is, Too
AVI Career Training is COE Accredited and SCHEV Certified (certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia). That’s not fine print — it’s everything. It means our CNA program meets Virginia’s state board requirements, our clinical training hours count toward licensure, and the credential you earn here is recognized by employers across Virginia and, through reciprocity, in most other states.
When you graduate, you can walk into a job interview at any nursing home, hospital, assisted living facility, or home health agency in the region with a credential that holds up.
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2. Hands-On Clinical Training Is Non-Negotiable — And We Deliver It
Here’s something the online CNA programs won’t tell you upfront: Virginia law requires hands-on clinical training hours for CNA licensure. You cannot legally sit for the Virginia CNA state exam without documented clinical experience with real patients in a real healthcare setting.
At AVI, clinical training isn’t an afterthought. It’s woven into the full 150-hour program. You’ll practice patient care skills in our hands-on lab environment and gain the clinical exposure the state board requires — so when you finish, you’re genuinely ready for both the exam and the job, not scrambling to figure out what you missed.
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3. Small Class Sizes — Your Instructor Actually Knows Your Name
AVI is not a 300-person lecture hall. We deliberately keep cohort sizes small so that instructors can give you real attention — answering your specific questions, catching skills errors before they become habits, and making sure you build the confidence that comes from actually knowing what you’re doing. If you’ve ever felt like just a number in a big institution, you’ll notice the difference here immediately.
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4. Flexible Scheduling Designed for Working Adults
Life doesn’t pause while you go back to school. AVI’s program is built with that reality in mind. We offer scheduling options designed to work around family obligations, part-time work, and the unpredictable demands of adult life. Whether you’re a single parent figuring out childcare, an immigrant building a new career in the US, or a veteran transitioning out of service, we’ve helped students in your exact situation find a path through.
Talk to an advisor about current class schedule options — reach out here and we’ll help you find what works.
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5. No Employer Strings Attached — Your Career, Your Choice
Some CNA programs are offered through hospitals or healthcare systems and come with hire-back agreements — meaning you commit to working for a specific employer before you’ve even completed training. AVI doesn’t do that.
Graduate from our program and you can pursue employment with any employer you choose — in Northern Virginia, across the state, or anywhere that recognizes Virginia CNA credentials through reciprocity. Your career belongs to you.
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What You’ll Learn: CNA Program Curriculum
AVI’s 150-hour CNA program covers everything Virginia requires for state board examination eligibility, and everything real employers expect of a competent, confident Certified Nurse Aide.
Core Curriculum Areas
Patient Care Fundamentals
The foundational skills of nursing aide practice — how to safely assist patients with movement, positioning, transfers, and personal hygiene. You’ll learn to provide care that preserves patient dignity and meets clinical standards, not just check boxes.
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Hands-on training in assisting patients with bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, and toileting. ADL assistance is the heart of CNA work — you’ll practice these skills repeatedly until they become second nature.
Vital Signs Measurement
Accurate measurement and documentation of temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure. You’ll learn what normal ranges look like, how to identify and report abnormal readings, and why this data matters to the nursing team.
Infection Control & Safety
Standard precautions, proper hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE) use, and the protocols that protect both patients and caregivers. In healthcare settings, getting this right isn’t optional.
Communication & Documentation
How to communicate professionally with patients, families, and the nursing team. Accurate documentation practices, proper reporting of patient changes, and respectful communication across cultural and language differences.
Patient Rights & Professional Ethics
Understanding the legal and ethical obligations of a nursing aide — patient privacy, dignity, abuse prevention and reporting, and the professional boundaries that define the CNA role.
Nursing Home & Hospital Settings
Exposure to the different environments where CNAs work — including long-term care facilities and acute care hospital settings — and the specific expectations, workflows, and patient populations in each.
Virginia State Board Exam Preparation
Exam prep is built into the curriculum, not bolted on at the end. You’ll practice both the written knowledge test and the hands-on skills evaluation throughout the program, so by the time you’re eligible to sit for the exam, you’ve already done it dozens of times in training.
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Skills You’ll Graduate With
By the time you complete AVI’s CNA program, you’ll be able to:
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CNA Career Outcomes: What This Credential Opens for You
Immediate Job Opportunities in Northern Virginia
The Northern Virginia and greater DC metro region is one of the strongest healthcare job markets in the country. Aging population demographics, a concentration of major healthcare systems, and consistent demand for direct patient care workers mean that qualified CNAs have real options — and real leverage — in this market.
Graduates with a Virginia CNA credential are qualified to pursue positions including:
What CNAs Earn in Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia’s cost of living is among the highest in the country — and CNA wages in this market reflect that. CNAs in the Northern Virginia/DC metro area typically earn $18–$23 per hour depending on employer, setting, shift differential, and experience. Facilities that offer evening, overnight, and weekend shifts frequently pay shift differentials that push hourly rates higher.
For someone currently working in retail, food service, or hospitality — often earning $13–$16 per hour with inconsistent hours and no benefits — this represents a meaningful and immediate income improvement.
The CNA Credential as a Career Launching Pad
Many students who enroll in AVI’s CNA program aren’t planning to be a CNA forever — and that’s perfectly fine. The CNA credential is widely recognized as the first rung of the healthcare career ladder, and for good reason:
You’re not just getting a job. You’re building a healthcare career — and the CNA credential is where that career begins.
Job Security That Retail and Service Work Can’t Offer
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects steady demand for nursing assistants driven by an aging Baby Boomer population that increasingly needs institutional and in-home care. Healthcare hiring doesn’t evaporate in recessions the way retail, hospitality, and office support roles do. For students who’ve experienced layoffs or sector disruptions, that stability is worth something real.
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Your Enrollment Path: From Curious to Credentialed
We’ve simplified the process. Here’s what the path looks like from your first conversation with us to your first day on the job.
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Step 1: Start the Conversation
Have questions? Good — ask them. Our admissions team knows this program inside and out, and we’d rather answer your questions now than have you enroll with unmet expectations. You can reach us online, by phone, or by walking in.
Connect with an Admissions Advisor →
📞 (703) 943-9841
📍 1595 Spring Hill Rd #720, Vienna, VA 22182
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Step 2: Complete Your Application & Financial Aid Review
Submit your application — it’s free and straightforward. At the same time, our team will walk you through available financial aid options, GI Bill® eligibility (if applicable), and payment plan options. We want you to have a clear picture of cost and funding before you commit to anything.
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Step 3: Enroll and Begin Training
Once enrollment is confirmed, you’ll receive your program schedule and everything you need to start. From day one, you’re in a hands-on, instructor-led environment building the skills that will take you to the exam and beyond.
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Step 4: Complete Your 150 Hours and Meet State Requirements
Work through the full 150-hour curriculum — classroom instruction, lab skills practice, and clinical training hours. Your instructors are tracking your progress, coaching your technique, and preparing you for the state board exam throughout.
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Step 5: Pass the Virginia CNA State Board Exam
After program completion, you’ll be eligible to sit for the Virginia CNA state board examination, which includes a written knowledge test and a hands-on skills evaluation. The exam prep you’ve been doing throughout the program isn’t separate from the curriculum — it is the curriculum. You’ll be ready.
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Step 6: Earn Your Virginia CNA Credential and Start Working
Pass your exam, receive your certification, and start applying. With a valid Virginia CNA credential, you’re qualified to work in nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities, home health agencies, and rehabilitation centers across Northern Virginia — with the freedom to choose the employer and setting that’s right for you.
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Tuition & Financial Aid
We believe cost shouldn’t be the reason someone gives up on a healthcare career — especially for a 150-hour program with a direct line to employment.
Financial Aid Options Available at AVI
AVI Career Training participates in federal financial aid programs for eligible students. Depending on your financial situation, you may qualify for grants or other aid that significantly reduces your out-of-pocket cost. Many of our students are surprised to discover how much of their tuition is covered once they complete the financial aid process.
AVI also accepts the GI Bill® — eligible veterans and qualifying dependents can use their GI Bill® benefits to fund CNA training at AVI. If you’ve served, you’ve already earned this.
What to Do First
Don’t assume you won’t qualify for aid before you talk to us. The best first step is a conversation with our financial aid team. We’ll help you understand:
Talk to Us About Tuition and Financial Aid →
📞 (703) 943-9841
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> “Many of our students are surprised to find that with financial aid, the actual cost is far less than they expected — and the return on that investment starts the moment they land their first healthcare job.”
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Frequently Asked Questions About AVI’s CNA Program
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Q: Do I need any prior healthcare experience or education to enroll?
No prior healthcare experience is required to enroll in AVI’s CNA program. You’ll need a high school diploma or GED. Beyond that, what matters most is that you’re motivated, ready to commit to the training, and open to the hands-on demands of patient care work. Our program is designed to take students with no healthcare background and build them into competent, exam-ready nursing aides.
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Q: How long does the CNA program actually take to complete?
The program is 150 hours total. At a full-time training pace, students can complete the program in a matter of weeks. Part-time options take longer but are available for students who are working or managing family responsibilities while in school. The honest answer is: your timeline depends on the schedule option you choose. Talk to our admissions team about which schedule fits your life and we’ll give you a realistic completion estimate — no inflated promises, no hidden delays.
Ask about current schedule options →
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Q: What is the Virginia CNA state board exam, and how does AVI prepare me for it?
To become a licensed CNA in Virginia, you must pass the state board examination administered through the Virginia Board of Nursing. The exam has two components: a written (or oral) knowledge test and a skills evaluation where you demonstrate clinical procedures in front of an evaluator.
AVI builds exam preparation into the full 150-hour curriculum rather than treating it as a separate add-on. You’ll practice the skills evaluation competencies repeatedly throughout training, and your instructors will review the knowledge domains covered by the written test. By the time you’re eligible to sit, the exam should feel familiar — because you’ve essentially been practicing it all along.
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Q: What if I’m nervous about the hands-on clinical work — dealing with patients, bodily functions, difficult situations?
This is one of the most common things new CNA students worry about, and it deserves an honest answer. Yes, CNA work involves close personal care — bathing, toileting, wound care, and interactions with patients who may be confused, frightened, or in pain. It can be emotionally and physically demanding.
What we’ve seen, consistently, is that students who are nervous before they start clinical training almost always surprise themselves once they’re in it. The lab environment at AVI lets you build skill and confidence before you’re responsible for a real patient. Your instructors have worked in these settings — they can help you navigate the emotional and practical realities in ways that prepare you to handle them professionally.
If you have a genuine desire to help people, the rest is learnable. That desire is the thing you can’t teach.
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Q: What kind of job placement support does AVI provide after graduation?
AVI’s focus is on preparing you to be a strong, credentialed, exam-ready candidate — and that preparation is itself the most powerful job placement support we can offer. A Virginia CNA credential from a COE-accredited, SCHEV-certified program is recognized by employers across the region.
We encourage students to connect with us during training and after graduation to discuss the job search process. The Northern Virginia and greater DC metro healthcare market has consistent, ongoing demand for CNAs — especially in long-term care, home health, and hospital settings. Speak with our team about current employer demand and how to position yourself effectively once you’re credentialed.
Ask our admissions team about career support →
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Start Your Healthcare Career Today
The nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities, and home health agencies of Northern Virginia need qualified, caring CNAs. The credential that unlocks those doors takes 150 hours to earn.
You don’t need a four-year degree. You don’t need prior healthcare experience. You need the right training program, the right support, and the decision to start.
That decision can happen today.
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🎯 Why Act Now
Every week you spend in a job that doesn’t pay what you’re worth, doesn’t offer the stability you need, or simply doesn’t feel like it means something — is a week that could have been Week 1 of your CNA training.
AVI’s program is designed for exactly the situation you’re in. We’ve helped career changers, single parents, immigrants, veterans, and motivated adults at every stage of life cross the finish line and step into healthcare careers they’re proud of.
You could be next. But only if you start.
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Talk to an Admissions Advisor First
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📞 Call or Text: (703) 943-9841
📍 1595 Spring Hill Rd #720, Vienna, VA 22182
(Conveniently located in Vienna — accessible from Reston, Tysons, Herndon, Falls Church, Fairfax, McLean, Sterling, and Ashburn)
🕐 Contact us today and hear back within one business day
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AVI Career Training is COE Accredited and SCHEV Certified. Financial aid available for eligible students. GI Bill® accepted. CNA program meets Virginia state board requirements for Certified Nurse Aide examination eligibility.
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Ready to take the first step? We’re ready when you are.