CNA Training Program in Northern Virginia — Become a Certified Nurse Aide at AVI Career Training
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Your healthcare career starts here — in as few as 150 hours.
AVI Career Training’s Certified Nurse Aide program gives you the hands-on skills, Virginia state board preparation, and real-world confidence you need to start working in healthcare — fast. No four-year degree. No long waitlists. No runaround. Just focused, career-ready training right here in Vienna, VA — in the heart of Northern Virginia.
Apply Now — It’s Free to Get Started
📞 Or call us directly: (703) 943-9841
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Why students choose AVI:
| ✅ 150-Hour Program | ✅ COE Accredited | ✅ Financial Aid Available |
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| One of the most efficient paths to Virginia CNA certification | A credential employers actually recognize | GI Bill® accepted · payment plans available |
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Why Choose AVI for Your CNA Training?
You have options. Community colleges, online bootcamps, staffing-agency programs — they’ll all promise you a fast start. But not every path leads to the same destination. Here’s what makes AVI Career Training different — and why that difference matters when you’re sitting in a job interview or standing at a patient’s bedside.
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1. COE Accreditation — Your Certificate Goes Where You Go
AVI Career Training is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE) and certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). These aren’t technicalities. They’re the reason your CNA certificate will be recognized by hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health agencies across Virginia and beyond.
When you train at AVI, you’re earning credentials that carry weight. Employers in Northern Virginia know what COE accreditation means — and it tells them you were trained seriously.
> “Will employers recognize my certificate?” — Yes. Absolutely, yes. That’s the whole point of accreditation.
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2. Hands-On Training That Actually Prepares You for the Job
Reading about vital signs and practicing them on a real person are two completely different things. AVI’s CNA program is built around hands-on clinical skills practice, not passive learning. You’ll work through patient care scenarios, practice the techniques required by Virginia’s state certification exam, and build the kind of muscle memory that only comes from doing.
By the time you walk into your certification exam — and then your first day of work — you won’t be guessing. You’ll know.
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3. Real Instructors Who Know the Industry
Our instructors aren’t distant academics. They bring direct healthcare experience into the classroom and lab, connecting what you learn to what you’ll actually encounter in a nursing home, hospital wing, or home health setting. Have a question that the textbook doesn’t answer? Ask someone who’s been there.
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4. You Won’t Wait Months to Get Started
One of the most common complaints about CNA programs at large community colleges? The waitlist. Students who are ready, motivated, and financially prepared sit on a list for months — losing momentum, income, and sometimes the window entirely.
AVI operates on a cohort-based enrollment model designed to get qualified students into the classroom quickly. When you reach out, we work with you — not a bureaucratic queue.
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5. Northern Virginia Is Your Backyard — and It’s One of the Best Healthcare Markets in the Country
You’re not training for a job market in the abstract. You’re training for Fairfax County, Arlington, Loudoun, and Prince William — a region with some of the highest CNA demand and strongest wages in Virginia. Inova Health System, Kaiser Permanente, Sunrise Senior Living, and hundreds of assisted living and home health providers are actively hiring. Your commute to opportunity is short.
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CNA Program Curriculum — What You’ll Learn in 150 Hours
Virginia’s CNA certification requirements are set by the Virginia Board of Nursing, and AVI’s 150-hour curriculum is built to meet and exceed those standards — so you’re prepared not just to pass the state exam, but to perform confidently on day one of employment.
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Core Skills & Knowledge Areas
Patient Care Fundamentals
Clinical Skills
Infection Control & Safety
Communication & Professionalism
Anatomy & Physiology for Nursing Assistants
Healthcare Settings & Environments
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Virginia State Board Exam Preparation
The Virginia CNA certification examination has two components:
AVI’s curriculum directly maps to both components. We integrate exam-style practice questions throughout the program, conduct mock clinical skills evaluations, and provide instruction on what Virginia’s testing criteria specifically look for — not just general healthcare knowledge.
Our goal is simple: you show up to the exam ready to pass it.
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Hours Breakdown at a Glance
| Component | Hours |
|—|—|
| Classroom / Didactic Instruction | ~60 hours |
| Laboratory Skills Practice | ~40 hours |
| Clinical Practicum (supervised patient care) | ~50 hours |
| Total | 150 hours |
Specific scheduling and hour distribution may vary by cohort. Contact our admissions team for current session details.
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Career Outcomes — Where a CNA Certificate Takes You in Northern Virginia
The Northern Virginia Healthcare Job Market Is Hiring
Northern Virginia is not a soft market for healthcare workers. It is the opposite. The DC metro region — anchored by Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun, and Prince William counties — is home to a rapidly aging population, a dense network of senior care facilities, and major health systems that are actively recruiting CNAs at every level.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Virginia Employment Commission data:
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Where AVI CNA Graduates Work
After completing the program and passing Virginia’s state certification exam, graduates are qualified to seek employment at:
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Job Titles You’ll Be Qualified For
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The Career Ladder: CNA Is Just the Beginning
Many nurses started exactly where you’re starting — as a CNA. The credential opens doors not just to employment, but to advancement.
Common career pathways from CNA:
“`
CNA
↓
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) — typically 12–18 months of additional training
↓
Registered Nurse (RN) — associate or bachelor’s degree program
↓
Specialty Nursing, Nurse Practitioner, Healthcare Management
“`
Working as a CNA while pursuing further education is common — and strategic. You’re earning a paycheck, building experience, and gaining insider knowledge of healthcare settings that will serve you in every step you take upward.
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A Note on Scheduling Flexibility
One of the reasons CNAs have strong employment rates is the variety of shift options available. Healthcare facilities need coverage around the clock — which means:
You’re not locked into a 9-to-5. This career bends to meet your life.
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Your Path from Here to Hired — The AVI Enrollment Process
We’ve designed the enrollment process to be as straightforward as the training itself. Here’s exactly what to expect:
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Step 1: Explore — Ask Every Question You Have
Contact our admissions team. Call us at (703) 943-9841 or submit an inquiry through our online form. This is a conversation — not a sales pitch. We’ll talk through your schedule, your goals, any concerns about cost or prerequisites, and whether this program is the right fit for where you’re headed.
There’s no pressure. There’s no commitment. There are just answers.
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Step 2: Apply — A Simple, Fast Process
Submit your application. Our admissions team reviews applications promptly — you’re not going into a months-long queue. We’ll review your documentation, confirm your eligibility, and discuss any financial aid options that apply to your situation.
Basic eligibility requirements:
If you’re not sure whether you qualify, reach out and ask. That’s what we’re here for.
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Step 3: Enroll & Begin Training
Once accepted, you’ll confirm your cohort start date, finalize your financial arrangement, and receive everything you need to show up ready on day one. Our team walks you through what to bring, what to expect, and who to contact if questions come up.
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Step 4: Complete the Program & Prep for Your State Exam
Over your 150 hours of instruction, lab work, and clinical practicum, you’ll build the skills and the confidence the exam requires. Before you sit for Virginia’s certification exam, our instructors conduct a final readiness review so you walk in prepared — not hoping for the best.
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Step 5: Get Certified — and Get to Work
After passing the Virginia CNA certification exam, your name is added to the Virginia Board of Nursing’s Nurse Aide Registry — the official record that Virginia employers search before making hiring decisions. From there, you’re cleared to apply, interview, and start working as a Certified Nurse Aide in Virginia.
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Tuition & Financial Aid — Let’s Talk About Making This Work
We know that cost is real. If you’re reading this section, you’re probably doing the mental math — weighing what the program costs against what you’re going to earn, and wondering if there’s a path that doesn’t require you to take on significant debt.
Here’s what we want you to know:
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Financial Aid Is Available
AVI Career Training offers financial aid options for students who qualify. We work with students individually to explore what’s available — because not every student’s financial situation looks the same, and a one-size conversation rarely helps anyone.
If you’re connected to the military, AVI accepts the GI Bill® (Montgomery GI Bill® and Post-9/11 GI Bill®). For veterans, active duty spouses, and dependents navigating education benefits, we can walk you through how your benefits apply to this program.
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Think About It as an Investment With a Measurable Return
Northern Virginia CNAs earn $18–$24+ per hour depending on employer, shift, and experience. Many entry-level CNA positions in Fairfax and Loudoun counties start at or above $18/hour with benefits including health insurance, paid time off, and shift differentials.
A 150-hour program is a small window of time and a finite financial commitment — with a career on the other side that begins paying you back quickly.
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Payment Plans & Scholarship Options
Payment plan options may be available. Scholarship opportunities are sometimes offered for qualifying students. The most accurate and current information is always through a direct conversation with our admissions team — because those details change, and we want to give you accurate answers, not outdated website copy.
Contact Us About Financial Aid →
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: Do I need any prior healthcare experience to enroll in the CNA program?
No. The CNA program is designed for people entering healthcare for the first time. Many of our students come from retail, food service, childcare, or other completely unrelated backgrounds. What you bring with you — care for other people, a desire to help, a willingness to learn — matters more than a medical résumé. The technical skills are what we teach.
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Q: What are the scheduling options? I work during the day / I have kids.
Schedule flexibility is something we take seriously, because the students who succeed in this program often aren’t doing it from a position of unlimited free time. They’re working. They’re parenting. They’re managing real lives.
Cohort schedules vary, and we offer options designed to accommodate non-traditional availability. When you contact our admissions team, tell us about your schedule constraints — and we’ll tell you honestly what’s available and what might work. We won’t waste your time suggesting something that doesn’t fit.
Ask About Current Schedule Options →
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Q: What happens if I don’t pass the state certification exam the first time?
Virginia allows CNA candidates a limited number of attempts to pass the certification examination. AVI prepares students thoroughly for both the written and clinical skills components — but we also don’t pretend that test anxiety, life circumstances, or difficult test days don’t happen.
Our instructors are invested in your success through the exam, not just through the program. If you’re struggling before exam day, we want to know so we can help. And if a retake is needed, we’ll help you understand the process and prepare again.
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Q: Will AVI help me find a job after I complete the program?
AVI Career Training provides career services support to graduates, including job search guidance and connections to the Northern Virginia healthcare employer community. We want you working — not just certified.
That said, we’ll be honest with you: job placement is ultimately a function of your effort in the job search, your interview skills, and your qualifications. What we can tell you is that the Northern Virginia CNA market is strong, COE-accredited credentials are respected by area employers, and students who complete this program leave with a real, portable credential that opens genuine doors.
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Q: Is AVI Career Training accredited? Will Virginia employers recognize my certificate?
Yes — and this is worth understanding clearly. AVI Career Training is:
When you complete AVI’s CNA program and pass the Virginia state certification exam, your name is entered into the Virginia Nurse Aide Registry maintained by the Virginia Board of Nursing. Every licensed employer in Virginia uses that registry to verify CNA credentials. Your certificate isn’t from AVI — it’s from the Commonwealth of Virginia. That goes with you everywhere.
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Q: How long does it take to complete the CNA program?
The program is 150 hours of combined classroom instruction, lab skills practice, and supervised clinical experience. How many weeks that translates to depends on the cohort schedule — full-time students may complete the program in a matter of weeks, while part-time or evening formats extend the timeline to fit working schedules.
Contact our admissions team for the current cohort calendar and an honest estimate based on the schedule that fits your life.
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Ready to Start? Apply to AVI Career Training’s CNA Program Today.
You’ve read this far. That tells us something — you’re serious about making a change, and you’re doing the work to make sure it’s the right one.
Here’s what we know: Northern Virginia is hiring CNAs right now. The facilities are there. The shifts are there. The paychecks are there. The only thing standing between where you are today and a stable, meaningful healthcare career is 150 hours of training and a state certification exam — and AVI is here to get you through both.
Don’t wait for a waitlist. Don’t settle for a program that treats you like a number. Come to a school that’s invested in what happens to you after graduation.
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Three ways to take the next step — right now:
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🖥️ Apply Online
Fill out our quick contact and application form. Our admissions team will follow up promptly — no robo-emails, no automated queue.
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📞 Call Us
Talk to a real person. Ask every question you have.
(703) 943-9841
Monday–Friday, during business hours — we’re here.
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📍 Visit Us
Come see the school. Meet the instructors. Walk through the lab.
AVI Career Training
1595 Spring Hill Rd #720
Vienna, VA 22182
Located in the Spring Hill Road corridor — easily accessible from Tysons, Reston, Herndon, Fairfax, McLean, and Falls Church.
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> 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 https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
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AVI Career Training · COE Accredited · SCHEV Certified · Vienna, VA · (703) 943-9841