A caregiving career will change your life. It also lets you change someone else’s.
In Washington State, that career starts with the Home Care Aide Certified (HCA-C) credential. The journey to earning certification as a caregiver is a clear, well-defined path. Best of all, you don’t have to walk it alone.
Sunrise Services guides you through every step. We’ll help you achieve certification as a caregiver, from your first class to the Washington state exam.
Why Caregiving Is Worth It in Washington State
A college degree isn’t necessary to becoming a caregiver. All you need is training, your certification credential, and a heart to help.
For those who love people and want to help improve their quality of life, a caregiving career is rewarding. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects home health and personal care aide jobs to grow at a faster-than-average rate through 2034. Rapid growth means steady work, job security, and opportunity.
Washington also is the highest-paying state. Certified caregivers here earn $22.57 per hour, significantly higher than the national median of $16.78 per hour.
Certification unlocks these jobs. Sunrise Services offers the core training you’ll need. As an independent testing center, we also enable you to take the licensing exam and receive your credential within weeks, instead of months.
Step 1: Enroll in Sunrise’s Caregiver Training
Paid caregivers in Washington must be at least 18 and authorized to work in the U.S. They also must pass a background check. Certified caregivers must also complete 75 hours of basic training.
Begin by enrolling in a Department of Health State Services (DSHS)-approved program. Sunrise Services runs its caregiver training program in Everett and Oak Harbor. You can enroll online or on-site.
Many caregivers start training after an agency hires them. Sunrise often sponsors training for new hires, so you may pay little or nothing out of pocket.
Step 2: Complete Your 75 Hours of Training
Sunrise’s 75-hour HCA-C program delivers most of the online, with required hands-on days at the Everett or Oak Harbor facility. You must finish all 75 hours within 120 days of your hire date.
Training content is split into three parts:
5 Hours: Orientation and Safety
You must finish this content online before working with any client. It covers the basics of safe, respectful care.
54 Hours: Core Basic Training
This is the heart of the program with 38 hours of online or in-class instruction. The remaining 16 hours are covered in a two-day, hands-on skills lab. Here, you’ll practice transfers, personal care, and infection control.
16 Hours: Population-Specific Training
These hours prepare you to work with specific groups of clients. Washington expects these hours to include training in Mental Health and Dementia. You’ll learn to support people with these conditions safely and with dignity.
Step 3: Apply for Certification as a Caregiver
After training, you will apply to the Washington State Department of Health for certification. You will need to complete the Home Care Aide Certification Application Packet and pay the $100 application fee.
If you are already working, submit your application within 14 days of your hire date. That keeps you eligible to provide care while you finish certifying.
You then have time to test. Under a 2025 rule change (Senate Bill 5672), you now have 365 days from hire to become certified. For the full timeline, read our 2026 Washington caregiver certification guide.
Step 4: Take Your Exam at Sunrise’s On-Site Testing Center
You can apply to the state-managed testing process, but you might wait months between application and certification. With Sunrise, you can test soon after you apply and receive your credential faster.
As a Department of Health (DOH)-authorized independent testing site, Sunrise can administer the test to any caregiver in Washington. The state exam has two parts. First is a knowledge test with 60 questions to be completed in 90 minutes. The second part is a hands-on skills test taking 25-35 minutes. The combined fee for both tests is $150.
If English is not your first language, Sunrise can help. You can take the skills test with an interpreter at no extra charge. You can also take the written test in your first language with two weeks’ notice.
Once you pass both parts, the Department of Health issues your HCA-C credential. You are now a certified caregiver.
Step 5: Keep Growing
Your HCA-C credential is just the first rung of your career, not the ceiling. Sunrise offers clear next steps.
You can add Nurse Delegation training, a nine-hour self-study course with an exam. When completed, a registered nurse authorizes you to perform certain clinical tasks. That can mean more job options and higher pay.
You also can become a Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC). The NAC Bridge program is a 40-hour course over five days. It qualifies you to work in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. From there, many caregivers move on to LPN or RN programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get certified as a caregiver through Sunrise Services?
Enroll in Sunrise’s DSHS-approved 75-hour training, complete it, then apply to the Department of Health and take the two-part state exam. Sunrise can train and test you in the same place.
How long does caregiver certification take?
You must finish the 75-hour training within 120 days of hire. You then have 365 days from your hire date to pass the state exam and certify. Many caregivers finish much sooner.
Can I take my certification exam at Sunrise?
Yes. Sunrise is a DOH-authorized independent testing site. It tests any Washington caregiver candidate, not only Sunrise students. That often means faster scheduling and quicker credentials.
Does Sunrise help pay for caregiver training?
Often, yes. Many agencies, including Sunrise, sponsor training for new hires. Workforce funds and county scholarships may also cover tuition. Contact Sunrise to check what you qualify for.
What can I do after I become a certified caregiver?
You can add Nurse Delegation training and become a Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC). Many caregivers continue toward LPN or RN licensure. Each step can raise your pay and your options.
Start Your Caregiver Career
Becoming certified as a caregiver is a clear, reachable goal. Sunrise guides you from your first class to your state exam, all in one place.
The work is steady, the path is mapped, and the need is real. The only thing left is to begin.
Ready to start? Click here to enroll in Sunrise’s 75-hour HCA-C caregiver training in Everett or Oak Harbor.
Want the full picture first? Click here to read our 2026 Washington caregiver certification guide and what the new 365-day rule means for you.