How to Become a CNA in Massachusetts
To work as a certified nursing assistant in Massachusetts, you finish a state-approved training program of at least 75 hours, pass the competency exam given by D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster), and get listed on the state nurse aide registry. Massachusetts has 109 approved programs to choose from (list dated July 2026).
Updated October 2026 · Sources: Massachusetts Department of Public Health (July 2026), 105 CMR 156.300(A), IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
- Training required
- 75+ hrfederal minimum 75
- Approved programs
- 109official list, July 2026
- Massachusetts median pay
- $46,680$22.44/hr · BLS May 2025
Step 1: Choose a state-approved program
Only programs on the official Massachusetts list qualify you for the exam. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health list has 109 approved programs.
Biggest Massachusetts metro areas for CNA training
- CNA classes in Boston63
- CNA classes in Worcester15
- CNA classes in Barnstable Town7
- CNA classes in Springfield6
- CNA classes in Pittsfield3
Step 2: Complete at least 75 hours of training
Massachusetts requires at least 75 hours: covering every module of the Department's minimum standard curriculum; how the course is organized is up to the instructor, and facilities must add training for any tasks outside that curriculum. Source: 105 CMR 156.300(A). That is the same as the federal minimum of 75.
Step 3: Pass the Massachusetts competency exam
The exam has a written (or oral) part and a hands-on skills part, given by D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster).
Step 4: Get listed on the registry
After you pass, you are added to the Massachusetts nurse aide registry, kept by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (Nurse Aide Registry Program). Employers check it before hiring, and anyone can look up a CNA license for free. Under federal rules, if you go 24 months in a row without paid nursing-related work, you must retrain or retest.
Step 5: Find a job
38,130 nursing assistants work in Massachusetts. The median earns $46,680 a year; the top 10% earn $57,880 or more (BLS May 2025). See Massachusetts CNA pay by metro area.
CNA requirements by state
| State | Training hours | Clinical | Exam | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 160 | 100 | D&SDT-Headmaster, Credentia, or the Regional Testing Center | 592 |
| Colorado | 75+ | 16 | Credentia (NNAAP) | state list |
| Florida | 120 | 40 | Prometric | 201 |
| Georgia | 85 | 24 | Credentia (NNAAP) | 335 |
| Illinois | 120 | 40 | Southern Illinois University Carbondale (INACE) | 395 |
| Massachusetts | 75+ | — | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | 109 |
| Michigan | 75 | 16 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | 222 |
| Missouri | 175+ | 100 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | not checked |
| New Jersey | 90 | 40 | PSI and D&SDT-Headmaster | 158 |
| New York | 100 | 30 | Prometric | 196 |
| North Carolina | 75+ | — | Credentia (NNAAP) | 247 |
| Ohio | 75+ | 16 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | not published |
| Pennsylvania | 80 | 37.5 | Credentia (NNAAP) | 182 |
| Texas | 100 | 40 | Prometric | not published |
| Virginia | 140+ | 40 | Credentia (NNAAP) | 220 |
| Washington | 108+ | 40 | Credentia | 170 |
| Wisconsin | 75+ | 16 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | not checked |
Becoming a CNA in Massachusetts: FAQ
How many hours of training does a CNA need in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts requires at least 75 hours: covering every module of the Department's minimum standard curriculum; how the course is organized is up to the instructor, and facilities must add training for any tasks outside that curriculum (105 CMR 156.300(A)). The federal minimum is 75 hours, 16 of them supervised clinical.
Who runs the Massachusetts CNA exam?
The Massachusetts competency exam (a written or oral test plus a skills test) is given by D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster).
How do I look up a CNA license in Massachusetts?
Use the free Massachusetts nurse aide registry search, run by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (Nurse Aide Registry Program). It shows whether a certificate is active. The link is in the rules box on this page.
How much do CNAs make in Massachusetts?
The median Massachusetts nursing assistant earned $46,680 a year ($22.44 an hour) in BLS May 2025 data, above the U.S. median of $42,260. The middle half earned $44,340 to $49,800.