CNA Program in Northern Virginia — Start Your Healthcare Career at AVI Career Training
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Your Healthcare Career Starts Here — in Weeks, Not Years.
AVI Career Training’s Certified Nurse Aide program gives Northern Virginia residents a fast, fully accredited path into one of the most in-demand careers in healthcare. 150 hours of hands-on training. Real clinical skills. A credential employers across the DMV respect and hire on sight.
Whether you’re entering the workforce for the first time, pivoting out of a job that doesn’t fulfill you, or building the first step toward an RN or LPN — this is where your healthcare story begins.
Apply Now — It’s Fast & Free
Call Us: (703) 943-9841
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Three Reasons Students Choose AVI First:
| ✅ COE Accredited & SCHEV Certified | ✅ Financial Aid & GI Bill® Accepted | ✅ Local, Hands-On, Vienna VA |
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| Your credential means something. AVI’s accreditations are recognized by Virginia employers, state licensing boards, and the federal government. | You shouldn’t have to choose between healthcare training and paying rent. Funding options are available — including for veterans. | You’re not a student ID number at a big university. You’re a future healthcare professional getting real training at a real school in your community. |
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Why Choose AVI for CNA Training in Northern Virginia?
There’s no shortage of CNA programs in the DC metro. So why do Northern Virginia students keep choosing AVI Career Training in Vienna? Because we do something the big schools and online platforms simply can’t: we treat your career like it actually matters.
Here’s what sets AVI apart:
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1. Fully Accredited — Your Credential Is the Real Thing
AVI Career Training is COE Accredited (Council on Occupational Education) and SCHEV Certified (State Council of Higher Education for Virginia). Those aren’t just logos on a website — they mean your CNA certificate is recognized by Virginia’s licensing board, honored by employers across the DMV, and eligible for federal financial aid funding.
When you graduate from AVI, no hiring manager is going to Google whether your school is legitimate. They already know the answer.
> “Is this school legitimate? Will employers respect my certificate?”
> Yes — and here’s the proof.
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2. Hands-On Clinical Training That Actually Prepares You
Healthcare isn’t learned from a textbook. At AVI, you practice the real skills — taking vital signs, assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs), infection control protocols, patient communication — in a structured, hands-on environment before you ever set foot in a clinical placement.
Our 150-hour curriculum is built to meet Virginia’s state requirements and is designed to get you exam-ready and job-ready at the same time. You won’t just memorize answers for a test — you’ll know how to do the work.
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3. Dedicated Focus on Your Success — Not Just Your Enrollment
At large community colleges and national chain schools, CNA students often find themselves lost in the crowd — waiting on slow admissions cycles, navigating impersonal systems, and never quite sure who to call when they have a question.
At AVI, real people answer the phone. When you call (703) 943-9841, you’re reaching someone who knows the program, knows the local healthcare market, and can actually help you figure out your next step. Our instructors are experienced healthcare professionals who are invested in your outcomes — because your success reflects theirs.
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4. Financial Aid & GI Bill® Acceptance — Training Shouldn’t Break You
AVI’s CNA program is eligible for federal financial aid through Title IV funding, and we proudly accept the GI Bill® — a significant differentiator for Northern Virginia’s large and active military community.
We’ll talk more about funding options below, but the short version is this: the cost of training should not be the reason you don’t start your healthcare career. We’ll help you explore every option available.
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5. Rooted in Northern Virginia — Connected to Northern Virginia Employers
AVI is located at 1595 Spring Hill Rd #720, Vienna, VA 22182 — in the heart of the Tysons/Vienna corridor, accessible from Reston, Herndon, McLean, Falls Church, Fairfax, and across the I-66 and I-495 corridors.
We’re not a national chain with a local address. We’re a local institution with deep community roots and genuine relationships with the healthcare employers who hire our graduates. The DMV healthcare market is one of the most stable and in-demand in the country — and AVI puts you right in the middle of it.
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CNA Program Curriculum — What You’ll Learn in 150 Hours
Virginia requires 150 hours of training to sit for the state CNA certification exam. AVI’s curriculum is designed to cover every hour with purpose — no filler, no busywork. Every skill you learn has a direct application in a nursing home, hospital, assisted living facility, or home health setting.
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Core Competency Areas
1. Foundations of Patient Care
Understanding the role of the CNA, the healthcare team hierarchy, residents’ rights, ethical responsibilities, and professional conduct in clinical settings.
2. Vital Signs & Clinical Measurement
Taking and recording blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and temperature accurately — the foundational clinical skill every CNA must master.
3. Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Assisting patients with bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, feeding, and mobility. Learning to support patient dignity while delivering essential physical care.
4. Infection Control & Safety
Standard precautions, handwashing protocols, PPE use, isolation procedures, and preventing the spread of infection in healthcare environments.
5. Nutrition & Hydration
Understanding dietary needs of patients across different conditions, assisting with meal service, monitoring intake and output, and recognizing signs of nutritional concern.
6. Communication & Documentation
Communicating effectively with patients, families, and the nursing team. Accurate documentation practices and reporting observations up the chain of care.
7. Range of Motion & Rehabilitation Support
Assisting with passive and active range-of-motion exercises, supporting patients recovering from illness or surgery, and working alongside physical and occupational therapy teams.
8. Mental Health, Dementia & Cognitive Care
Understanding behavioral health conditions common in long-term care settings, including Alzheimer’s and dementia. Communication techniques, de-escalation, and patient-centered approaches to cognitive care.
9. Emergency Procedures & Safety Protocols
Recognizing medical emergencies, performing basic first response, understanding fall prevention, fire safety, and disaster protocols in healthcare facilities.
10. Virginia State Board Exam Preparation
Your 150 hours conclude with focused review and preparation for the Virginia CNA certification exam — the test that gets your name on the Virginia Nurse Aide Registry and officially makes you a CNA.
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Clinical Hours & Hands-On Application
A required portion of the 150-hour program is dedicated to supervised clinical experience — real patient care in a real healthcare setting. This isn’t simulated. This is you, working with actual patients, under the supervision of qualified clinical instructors, building the confidence and competence that separates a trained CNA from someone who just read about it.
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Virginia State Board Exam Prep
To become a Certified Nurse Aide in Virginia, you must pass the Virginia CNA Competency Evaluation — a test that includes both a written (or oral) knowledge component and a hands-on skills demonstration.
AVI’s curriculum is built around this exam. By the time you’ve completed your 150 hours, the skills evaluated on the state board aren’t new to you — they’re second nature.
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Career Outcomes — What Happens After You Graduate
Completing AVI’s CNA program doesn’t just give you a certificate. It opens a door into one of the most stable, in-demand, and emotionally rewarding career fields in the country — and in one of the strongest healthcare job markets in the United States.
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What Can You Do With a CNA Certificate?
CNA-certified graduates from Northern Virginia programs work in settings including:
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CNA Salary in Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia’s healthcare market consistently outpaces national CNA salary averages due to the region’s higher cost of living adjustments and strong employer competition for qualified staff.
Northern Virginia CNAs typically earn $35,000–$45,000+ annually, with experienced CNAs in specialized settings or with additional certifications earning more. Entry-level hourly rates in the region generally range from $17–$22+ per hour, with many facilities offering shift differentials for evenings, nights, and weekends.
To put that in perspective: your CNA training investment pays for itself quickly — often within your first few months of employment.
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CNA as Your First Step on the Healthcare Career Ladder
For many AVI graduates, CNA isn’t the destination — it’s the launchpad.
The CNA-to-RN pathway is one of the most well-traveled routes in American nursing. Working as a CNA while pursuing further education gives you:
Step 1: CNA. Step 2: LPN. Step 3: RN. The path is well-marked — AVI gets you started.
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Northern Virginia Healthcare Job Market
Northern Virginia sits within the DC metropolitan healthcare corridor — one of the most resilient healthcare job markets in the country. The region is home to:
Healthcare employment in this region has historically been recession-resistant. When other industries contract, healthcare hiring remains stable — often growing. For a price-sensitive, stability-seeking audience, that’s not a minor detail. It’s the whole point.
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Your Enrollment Path — From Curious to Certified
We’ve made the process as clear and straightforward as possible. Here’s exactly what getting started looks like:
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Step 1: Explore
You’re doing this right now — and it counts. Read through this page, get your questions answered, and picture yourself in this role. If something resonates, don’t wait. The next step is easy.
Have questions? Fill out our contact form here.
Or call us directly: (703) 943-9841
A real member of our team — someone who knows this program inside and out — will get back to you promptly.
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Step 2: Apply
Our application process is simple and accessible. There’s no lengthy waiting list, no complex admissions committee, no bureaucratic maze to navigate.
Submit your application here →
Basic admissions requirements for the CNA program include:
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Step 3: Enroll & Fund Your Education
Once accepted, you’ll work with AVI’s team to finalize your enrollment and explore your financial aid options. This is where we talk about funding — FAFSA, GI Bill®, payment plans, and any other options that may apply to your situation.
You shouldn’t have to figure out funding alone. We help.
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Step 4: Train
Show up. Learn. Practice. Ask questions. Push yourself. This is the work — and it’s deeply worth it.
Your 150 hours are structured to build your skills progressively, from foundational knowledge to full clinical competency. By the end, you won’t just be ready for the state exam — you’ll be ready for the job.
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Step 5: Pass Your Virginia CNA Exam & Get Registered
After completing your 150 hours, you’ll sit for the Virginia CNA Competency Evaluation. Pass it — and your name goes on the Virginia Nurse Aide Registry.
That’s the credential. That’s the key to every job posting, every interview, every career step that follows.
AVI’s exam prep doesn’t leave you to figure it out on your own. We prepare you thoroughly for both the written and skills components of the state exam.
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Step 6: Launch Your Career
Credential in hand, registry listing confirmed — you’re a Certified Nurse Aide. Now the Northern Virginia healthcare market is yours to enter.
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Tuition & Financial Aid — Let’s Talk About Paying for This
We’re not going to hide the cost conversation. This audience deserves honesty.
CNA training is an investment. A short one, a high-return one — but an investment. We know many of the people reading this page are price-sensitive, financially careful, and understandably skeptical about taking on educational costs without certainty about the outcome.
Here’s what you should know:
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Financial Aid Is Available
AVI Career Training is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE) and certified by SCHEV — which means our students may be eligible for federal financial aid through Title IV programs, including Pell Grants.
If you’ve never filled out a FAFSA before, or if it’s been years since you’ve thought about financial aid, we’ll help you navigate it. You may qualify for grant funding that reduces or eliminates your out-of-pocket cost.
Start here: Contact our team to discuss financial aid options →
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GI Bill® — A Major Benefit for Northern Virginia’s Veterans
AVI Career Training accepts the GI Bill® — and this is worth highlighting specifically for Northern Virginia’s large military and veteran community.
If you’re a veteran or an eligible dependent, your GI Bill® benefits may cover a significant portion of your CNA training costs. This is one of the clearest, highest-value applications of military education benefits available in the region — a short, accredited, career-launching program that pays dividends immediately after completion.
Not sure if your benefits apply? Call us: (703) 943-9841
We’ll give you a straight answer.
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Payment Plans & Additional Options
Beyond financial aid and GI Bill® benefits, AVI works with students to explore available payment structures. Contact our admissions team directly to discuss what options may be available to you based on your specific situation.
The bottom line: We want financial barriers to be a conversation, not a wall. If funding is your concern — and for many students it is — let’s have that conversation before you assume training is out of reach.
Talk to someone about your options →
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: What are the prerequisites to enroll in AVI’s CNA program?
A: To enroll in AVI’s Certified Nurse Aide program, you’ll generally need a high school diploma or GED, a valid government-issued photo ID, and documentation meeting Virginia’s health requirements for clinical training (which typically includes immunization records and a background check). You must also meet Virginia’s minimum age requirement for CNA trainees. Contact our admissions team at (703) 943-9841 or through our form to get a complete, up-to-date list of requirements for your situation.
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Q: How long does it take to complete CNA training at AVI?
A: AVI’s CNA program is 150 hours — the state-required minimum for Virginia CNA certification eligibility. Depending on the schedule format, students can complete the program in a matter of weeks. This is one of the fastest legitimate paths into the healthcare workforce available in Northern Virginia. Contact us to find out current class schedules and start dates, since availability changes regularly.
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Q: Is the schedule flexible? I work and/or have children.
A: We understand that most of our students aren’t coming to us with completely open calendars. Schedule flexibility is something we take seriously. Contact our team directly at (703) 943-9841 or via our online form to discuss current scheduling options — including which formats may best accommodate your work schedule, childcare responsibilities, or other life commitments. We’d rather give you accurate, current information than generic promises.
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Q: What does the Virginia CNA licensing exam involve, and how does AVI prepare me for it?
A: To become a state-registered CNA in Virginia, you must pass the Virginia CNA Competency Evaluation, administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of the Virginia Board of Nursing. The exam includes:
AVI’s entire 150-hour curriculum is structured around preparing you for both components. The skills tested on the state exam are the same skills you’ll practice repeatedly throughout your training. Exam prep is embedded in the curriculum from day one — not tacked on at the end.
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Q: What kind of job placement support does AVI provide after graduation?
A: AVI Career Training supports your career launch beyond the classroom. Our team has established connections within the Northern Virginia healthcare employment market, and we’re invested in your success post-graduation — because your outcomes are a reflection of our program’s quality. Speak with our admissions and student services team to discuss what career support resources are available to you as an AVI CNA graduate. We encourage all prospective students to ask this question directly: (703) 943-9841 or contact us here.
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Q: I’m worried about the emotional demands of patient care. Is healthcare really right for me?
A: This is one of the most honest questions a prospective student can ask — and it deserves an honest answer.
Caring for patients is real work. It involves witnessing difficult moments, supporting people in vulnerable states, and sometimes navigating grief and loss. There’s no version of CNA training that glosses over that reality.
And here’s what we know: the students who ask this question are usually exactly the kind of people who make exceptional caregivers. The fact that you’re thinking about the emotional weight of the work — before you’ve even started — shows a level of empathy and self-awareness that healthcare desperately needs.
CNA training will prepare you not just technically but professionally. Your clinical hours give you supervised experience in real settings before you’re on your own. You’ll build the resilience, the routines, and the professional skills to care for others sustainably — for a career, not just a moment.
If you’re unsure whether it’s right for you, the best thing to do is talk to one of our team members directly. We’ll give you an honest picture — not a sales pitch. Call us at (703) 943-9841 or reach out through our contact form.
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Ready to Start? Take the Next Step Today.
You’ve read through the program. You know what the training covers, what the credential is worth, and what Northern Virginia’s healthcare market looks like for a qualified CNA.
The next move is yours — and it costs nothing to take it.
Apply Now — Free & Takes Minutes
Call AVI Directly: (703) 943-9841
AVI Career Training
1595 Spring Hill Rd #720
Vienna, VA 22182
COE Accredited | SCHEV Certified | Financial Aid Available | GI Bill® Accepted