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Nursing Assistant Employment Outlook

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Nursing assistants are employed in a variety of settings, including hospitals and long-term care facilities. In Whatcom County, the average wage for nursing assistants is $20.13/hour. (Source: Washington State Employment Security Department, September 2024)

Certification

Upon successful completion of Whatcom's nursing assistant program, you will be prepared to take the state nursing assistant certification exam. Those who pass may apply to fill immediate job openings in our local community.

Important note: A criminal history may legally bar you from working in certain environments or with specific populations. Some charges may not come with such explicit barriers, but they may keep you from getting an interview. How to navigate a criminal history is a challenging exercise. It takes open, persistent exploration. Contact WCC's BFET program coordinator Tess Winds Johnson (twindsjohnson@whatcom.edu or 360.383.3183) and ask for a planning appointment. This may be your first step in uncovering the impact a criminal background may have on your professional path.

Age-related considerations

You may enroll in NURS 100 - nursing assistant if you are under the age of 18; however, to work as a nursing assistant - certified (NAC), you must be at least 16 years of age. NACs under the age of 17 will be restricted to working in certain environments for limited hours, especially when also attending school. These students may also have difficulty finding local employment. Historically, facilities which employ NACs strongly prefer hiring people aged 18 and over, due to these limitations on duties and work hours. Also, hospitals have been especially unlikely to hire anyone under 18 as an NAC.