CNA in Massachusetts 2026: Training, Certification, Salary, and Requirements
How to become a CNA in Massachusetts. 100-hour DPH training, Prometric exam, MA DPH Nurse Aide Registry, MassHire free training, 1199SEIU union, and CNA salary guide for Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and beyond.
Massachusetts Key Facts and Figures
Massachusetts Important Details
Massachusetts requires a minimum of 100 hours of training at a DPH-approved nurse aide training program — meeting the federal minimum under OBRA '87. At least 60 hours must be classroom or lab instruction covering basic nursing skills, anatomy and physiology, infection control, resident rights, mental health and social service needs, personal care, safety, and emergency procedures. The remaining 40 hours must be supervised clinical practice in a DPH-approved long-term care facility. Programs are offered at community colleges, vocational schools, Red Cross chapters, hospitals, and nursing homes throughout the Commonwealth. Massachusetts requires a CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) and SORI (Sex Offender Registry Information) check before students begin clinical placements.
- Classroom Instruction: Minimum 60 hours
- Clinical Training: Minimum 40 hours supervised
- Clinical Setting: DPH-approved long-term care facility
- Background Check: CORI/SORI required before clinical
The Massachusetts CNA competency exam is administered by Prometric — the standard national testing company used by most states, making it straightforward for candidates familiar with the national format. The exam has two components: a written knowledge test (multiple-choice, 70 questions) and a clinical skills evaluation (5 randomly selected skills). Both components must be passed within 24 months of completing training. Testing sites are available in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and other locations statewide. The written exam can also be taken as an oral/audio exam for candidates with reading challenges.
- Written Exam: Multiple-choice, 70 questions
- Skills Exam: 5 randomly selected skills
- Passing Score: 70% written, pass all 5 skills
- Exam Attempts: 3 attempts within 24 months
Massachusetts Detailed Breakdown
Boston and the Greater Metro area is Massachusetts' dominant CNA job market by a wide margin, with hundreds of approved training programs and an exceptional concentration of world-class healthcare employers. The top employers in the region include Massachusetts General Hospital (the largest hospital in New England), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Tufts Medical Center, and the broader Mass General Brigham (formerly Partners HealthCare) network. Boston is also home to major academic medical centers including Boston Medical Center (BMC), which serves as a safety-net hospital and major public-sector CNA employer. Training programs are widely available at Bunker Hill Community College, Roxbury Community College, and the American Red Cross of Massachusetts. The 1199SEIU union represents a significant portion of Boston-area healthcare workers, including CNAs at major hospitals and long-term care facilities, providing union benefits, step increases, and shift differentials. Boston metro CNAs typically earn $17–$22/hour, with hospital system CNAs at Mass General Brigham reaching $20–$25/hour for experienced staff. Cambridge, Somerville, Quincy, and Brookline all have strong CNA job markets tied to the Boston healthcare cluster.
Massachusetts Costs and Pricing
Massachusetts Step-by-Step Process
Find a DPH-Approved Training Program
Meet Prerequisites and Health Requirements
Complete 100 Hours of DPH-Approved Training
Register with Prometric and Schedule Exam
Pass Both Components of the Prometric Exam
MA DPH Nurse Aide Registry Processing
Massachusetts Essential Checklist
MassHire Career Centers — Free CNA Training in Massachusetts
Massachusetts offers one of the strongest free CNA training programs in the country through the MassHire career center network — a statewide system of over 30 one-stop career centers funded by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD). MassHire career centers partner with DPH-approved CNA training programs to fund tuition, fees, books, and sometimes even transportation and childcare for eligible job seekers.
To qualify for MassHire-funded CNA training:
- Be unemployed or underemployed and seeking full-time work
- Meet income eligibility guidelines (WIOA Title I criteria)
- Demonstrate CNA training is appropriate for your career goals
- Receive approval from a MassHire career counselor
Key MassHire locations that regularly fund CNA training include:
- MassHire Boston — 30 Winter Street, Boston
- MassHire Worcester — 60 Foster Street, Worcester
- MassHire Hampden County — 1 Federal Street, Springfield
- MassHire Merrimack Valley — 438 Essex Street, Lawrence
- MassHire Greater Lowell — 107 Merrimack Street, Lowell
- MassHire New Bedford — 181 Union Street, New Bedford
MassHire funding covers DPH-approved programs at community colleges, Red Cross chapters, and other approved providers. Call your local MassHire office or visit masshirestatewide.com to check current CNA program availability and eligibility. Many participants complete CNA training at zero personal cost through this program.
Massachusetts Advantages and Disadvantages
- +Among the highest CNA salaries in the US — $36K–$44K statewide average
- +MassHire career centers provide free funded CNA training for eligible workers — zero cost path
- +World-class employers: Mass General Hospital, Brigham and Women's, Beth Israel — exceptional career ladder
- +1199SEIU union representation at major employers — strong benefits, step increases, job security
- +Prometric exam is the national standard — well-documented, widely supported study resources
- +Strong academic medical center presence creates CNA-to-RN bridge program opportunities
- +Boston metro has one of the largest CNA job markets in New England
- +MassHealth (Medicaid) strongly funds home care CNA positions — stable demand
- +High density of teaching hospitals creates exceptional on-the-job learning environment
- +Massachusetts has strong labor protections including one of the highest state minimum wages
- −Boston housing costs are among the highest in the US — can offset higher wages significantly
- −High cost of living across the Greater Boston area reduces real purchasing power
- −CORI/SORI background check process adds 1–2 weeks before clinical training can begin
- −Prometric exam fee ($130–$150) is higher than some states
- −Traffic and commute times in Boston metro can be significant for shift workers
- −Competition for positions at top-tier hospitals (Mass General, Brigham) is intense
- −Annual 12-hour in-service requirement adds ongoing training obligation
- −Western MA wages ($15–$18/hr) are significantly below Boston metro despite same certification requirements
- −Registry processing takes 2–4 weeks after passing exams — delays start of paid work
- −Some rural areas (Western MA, outer Cape) have fewer training program options requiring travel
CNA in Massachusetts Questions and Answers
About the Author
Registered Nurse & Healthcare Educator
Johns Hopkins University School of NursingDr. Sarah Mitchell is a board-certified registered nurse with over 15 years of clinical and academic experience. She completed her PhD in Nursing Science at Johns Hopkins University and has taught NCLEX preparation and clinical skills courses for nursing students across the United States. Her research focuses on evidence-based exam preparation strategies for healthcare certification candidates.