Somewhere in the Puget Sound today, a former barista is sitting in a skills lab practicing a transfer from bed to wheelchair. A parent who just sent their youngest to kindergarten is halfway through a dementia care module. An Amazon warehouse worker is finishing their last online session before their certification exam.
None of them had a caregiving credential a year ago. All of them are about to.
This is one of the few careers in Washington where you can go from zero to credentialed, paid, and steadily growing in under a year. If that path appeals to you, the rules just got more forgiving. Here is what actually happens between hire and certification in 2026, and what comes after.
Why Caregiving Is a Real Career in Washington Right Now
Home care is not a fallback job in this state. It is one of Washington’s largest and fastest-growing occupations.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that home health and personal care aides held about 4.3 million jobs nationally in 2024, with employment projected to grow faster than average through the next decade. Washington consistently ranks among the highest-paying states in the country for these roles. (See the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the full data.)
The demand is not abstract. In the Puget Sound region, adult family homes, community living programs, and home care agencies are actively hiring. The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services runs Long-Term Care Workforce Navigators specifically to help people enter this field.
The catch: you need to be certified. That is where the 75-hour training and the Home Care Aide Certified (HCA-C) credential come in.
What Changed in 2025: The 365-Day Rule
For years, Washington caregivers had 200 days from hire to finish certification. In May 2025 the state legislature passed Senate Bill 5672, and the Department of Health followed with an emergency rule in August 2025.
The new deadline is 365 days from the date of hire. For caregivers who qualify as Limited English Proficient, a provisional certification adds 60 more days, for a total of 425 days.
A few things to know about this change:
- The 120-day training deadline did not change. You still have to finish the 75-hour training within 120 days of hire.
- It is retroactive. Caregivers whose applications were pending when the rule filed automatically reset to the 365-day timeline.
- The extension sunsets on December 31, 2027. After that, the state may return to a shorter timeline unless it is extended.
- Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and advanced registered nurse practitioners are exempt from HCA-C requirements. Their existing credentials already cover the territory.
This is a real change, not a loophole. You can read the bill text at the Washington State Legislature and the implementation notice at WA DOH.
What the 75-Hour HCA-C Training Actually Covers
The training is the same 75 hours it has been since Initiative 1163 passed in 2011. Sunrise’s DSHS-approved 75-hour HCA-C program breaks out this way:
5 Hours: Orientation and Safety
This part is online and has to be finished before you work with a client. Even if an agency hires you and pays you to train, you cannot be in a client’s home until those five hours are done. It covers the baseline of what safe caregiving looks like.
54 Hours: Core Basic Training
This is the bulk of the program. Thirty-eight hours are classroom instruction (online or in person), and the remaining time is a two-day hands-on skills lab. This is where you practice transfers, personal care, infection control, and the kinds of everyday tasks that fill a caregiving shift.
16 Hours: Population-Specific Training
DSHS expects that you complete the Mental Health and Dementia specialty tracks for the 75-hour training. Other classes, such as Traumatic Brain Injury or Substance Use Disorder, can only be used for continuing education (CE) credits.
At Sunrise, most students complete a significant portion of the training online and come to the Everett or Oak Harbor facility for the hands-on skills days.
The State Licensing Exam: Fees, Format, and Timing
After the 75-hour certificate is issued, you have 150 days to apply for and take the state licensing exam. While the state-managed testing process is an option, it currently faces a significant backlog that can result in a 6 to 8-month wait from application to receiving your credentials. Sunrise Caregiver Training offers a streamlined alternative as an independent testing center, allowing for immediate testing after your application is submitted and the potential to receive your credentials within a single month.
Here is what to expect:
- Application fee to DOH: $100.
- Knowledge exam: 60 questions, 90 minutes, $50 fee. You can now complete the written or oral portion online in English if your computer meets the requirements.
- Skills exam: covers hands-on caregiving tasks, 25–35 minutes, $100 fee.
You may begin providing care before certification, as long as your completed application and exam fee reach DOH within 14 days of hire. Sunrise is a certified, independent testing site authorized by DOH to test all candidates in Washington, not just Sunrise students. Candidates from other programs only need to contact us, provide their state application number, and a copy of their 75-hour program completion certificate to test, often within a week. Additionally, students who are English as a second language can take the skills test with an interpreter (no extra fee is charged) and complete their written test in their mother tongue, provided they give the Sunrise Caregiver Testing Site 2 weeks’ notice.
What Comes After HCA-C: The Career Ladder
HCA-C is not a ceiling. For many Washington caregivers, it is the first rung.
Nurse Delegation
Once you hold an HCA-C, you can add Nurse Delegation Core, a 9-hour self-study course followed by an exam. With nurse delegation, a registered nurse can authorize you to perform specific clinical tasks like medication administration or glucose monitoring. Caregivers with this credential qualify for a wider range of jobs and often earn more.
NAC (Nursing Assistant Certified)
The NAC Bridge Program is a 40-hour course across five days. It builds on your HCA-C and qualifies you to work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and clinics in addition to home and community settings. NACs typically earn higher hourly wages than HCAs, and some Washington nursing programs require an NAC license plus 1,000 clinical hours as an admissions prerequisite.
LPN and RN
From NAC, many caregivers move on to Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse programs. Washington’s nurse wages are among the highest in the country. Many hospitals and long-term care facilities in the Puget Sound region help employees schedule shifts around nursing school, and some cover tuition.
A fuller walkthrough of the ladder is in our post on career paths for caregivers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to get certified as a caregiver in Washington?
The HCA training program must be completed within the first 120 days of hire, or the worker is no longer eligible to provide care. After successful completion of the training program, you have 365 days from your date of hire to complete the HCA-C certification. This extended deadline is the result of Senate Bill 5672, signed in May 2025, and it applies to all caregivers hired through December 31, 2027.
Do I have to pay for my own caregiver training?
Not necessarily. Many Washington agencies, including Sunrise Services, sponsor the 75-hour training for new hires. Scholarships and workforce funds are also available through WorkSource and the Long-Term Care Workforce Navigator program. If the student lives in Snohomish County and has government subsidies (like SNAP or housing assistance), they automatically qualify for up to $1,000 in tuition, which covers the entire HCA program or the upgrade to NAC. Others who fall in a lower income and want to grow in their career can also access these local county scholarships. Those interested in this funding may reach our representative, Mary Dyakanoff, at wendy@tracassoc.com
Can I start working before I am certified?
Yes. You can begin providing care after the 5-hour Orientation and Safety module is complete, as long as your application and exam fee reach the Department of Health within 14 days of your hire date.
What if English is not my first language?
You may be eligible for provisional certification, which adds 60 days to the standard 365-day timeline for a total of 425 days. You can also request an oral translation of the exam.
Do nurses have to complete HCA-C training?
No. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and advanced registered nurse practitioners licensed under Washington law are exempt from HCA-C training and certification requirements. While HCA-C opens many doors, most nursing programs in Washington require an NAC license for admission. Some even mandate a specific amount of clinical experience; for instance, the Shoreline Registered Nursing Program requires 1,000 hours of NAC work, while the state apprenticeship program at Edmonds College requires six months. If you are looking to advance quickly, the HCA Bridge to NAC can help you reach that next rung on the career ladder in just six to eight weeks.
Start the Path
The 2025 rule change made the Washington caregiver pathway easier to manage. You have a year, not six and a half months, to finish what you started. The 75-hour training is well-defined. The exam is manageable. The credential opens real doors. What it still requires is starting.
If you are ready, click here to enroll in Sunrise’s 75-hour HCA-C training program in Everett or Oak Harbor.
If you want to see where this career can go, click here to read about career paths for caregivers: nurse delegation, NAC, and beyond.
Sources
Washington State Legislature: SB 5672 Session Law (2025)
WA Department of Health: Home Care Aide
WA DSHS: Becoming a Paid Caregiver
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Home Health and Personal Care Aides