How to get a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) license in Massachusetts

Massachusetts nursing assistant licenses

Massachusetts issues 2 nursing assistant credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Who needs a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) license

Provides nursing care under the supervision of a nurse in a long-term care facility (nursing home or rest home); includes permanent, temporary, full- and part-time staff and agency staff; excludes RNs, LPNs and volunteers.¹

Work that does not need this license:

• Aides certified in another state, aides trained in another state's approved program, and nursing students who completed a qualifying clinical course are exempt from completing training after starting employment.¹

Other rules on who may do this work:

• A facility may employ a new aide who has not finished training for up to 90 days (permanent employees only), and an aide who has not yet passed the CNA test for up to 4 months.⁵

Requirements for a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) license

Education or training

At least 75 clock hours¹
A Department-approved nurse aide training course of at least 75 hours covering all modules of the DPH minimum standard curriculum, with clinical instruction in a level II or III long-term care facility.¹
Who may teach it: Only DPH-approved training providers (e.g. vocational high schools, community colleges, long-term care facilities, temporary nursing agencies); primary instructor must be an RN with at least two years' nursing experience, one in a level II/III long-term care facility. Private occupational schools also need a Division of Professional Licensure license.¹
Alternative: Waiver of training: applicants who meet the qualifications in 105 CMR 156.100 may request a Nurse Aide Training Waiver (application on the D&S website) to take the competency evaluation without the course.²
Alternative: Nursing students who completed a clinical course in an approved school of nursing that included the hands-on skills of the minimum standard curriculum are exempt from the training requirement.¹

Exam

Massachusetts Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation (knowledge test and clinical skills test)²
Given by: D&S Diversified Technologies (D&S)²
When you can take it: After completing a DPH-approved training program (or an approved training waiver); programs that register students through D&S trigger an email to complete test registration.²
Knowledge test²
Clinical skills test²
Retakes: Knowledge portion: up to 4 attempts; clinical portion: up to 3 attempts.²
Time limit: A facility may not keep an aide employed for more than four months unless the Registry shows current certification.¹
Exam waived: Training (not the test) may be waived for applicants meeting 105 CMR 156.100.²

Background check

Employers check the Registry before hiring and keep the result with the aide's CORI check; facilities may not hire anyone with a Registry finding of abuse, neglect, mistreatment or misappropriation, or anyone found guilty of (or pleading guilty/nolo to) such conduct.⁵

Also required

The exam is offered in English, Spanish, Chinese and Haitian Creole (since December 2, 2024).²

How to apply

1. Find and complete a DPH-approved nurse aide training program (at least 75 hours), or apply for a training waiver if you qualify under 105 CMR 156.100.² mass.gov²
2. Apply to D&S Diversified Technologies to schedule the Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation (your program may register you, in which case D&S emails you to finish registration).² hdmaster.com²
3. Pass the knowledge test (up to 4 tries) and the clinical skills test (up to 3 tries).²
4. Allow at least three weeks for results; then confirm your CNA status on the Massachusetts license verification website.² checkahealthlicense.mass.gov⁶

Apply online

hdmaster.com²

Temporary or provisional license

No temporary certificate; an uncertified aide may be employed for up to 4 months while awaiting the test (90 days to finish training).⁵

Processing time

Allow at least three weeks after the exam for results and for your name to appear on the license verification website.²

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

Renew online in the DPH Health Professions Licensing System when the certification is about to expire, if you have worked for pay as a nurse aide for at least 8 hours doing nursing-related duties within the past two years.⁷

Approved courses

DPH does not approve certification or CEUs for educational CNA workshops.⁸

If it expires

Expired: you may renew through work experience only if currently employed as a nurse aide with no break in employment since before expiry; otherwise you may need to retake the test.⁷
If certification lapsed and you have not worked as a nurse aide (or licensed nurse) in a long-term care facility in the prior two years, you must repeat training and certification.¹

Renew online

healthprofessionlicensing.mass.gov⁷

Moving to Massachusetts with a license from another state

These are the routes the Nurse Aide Registry publishes for the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) license. The other nursing assistant licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Certified Medication Aide (CMA)

Long-term care facility employee who administers non-narcotic medications (oral, sublingual, buccal, inhalation, oral-mucosa spray, topical, nasal, ocular, otic) under supervision of an LPN, RN, nurse practitioner or physician; no narcotics, no prescribing.³

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old³

High school diploma or GED

Required³

Education or training

60 clock hours⁴
Department-approved CMA training (theory and practical skills) completed within one year of applying; the DPH program is 60 hours over 8 weeks: 8 h live online, 24 h asynchronous online, 24 h clinical with an LPN/RN preceptor, 4 h exam preparation.³
Who may teach it: Course led by nursing instructors hired by UMass Chan Medical School; training must be approved by DPH.⁴

Experience

Must hold a current Massachusetts CNA certification and be currently employed by a long-term care facility.⁴
License you must hold first: Current Massachusetts Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)⁴

Exam

CMA competency examination approved by DPH³
Given by: D&S Technologies⁴
When you can take it: After completing the approved training; the trainer forwards your details to D&S, which emails you to register.⁴
Retakes: Unlimited retakes within the 12-month eligibility period; 21-day wait after the third failed attempt; each attempt is paid.⁴
Time limit: 12-month eligibility period; exam must be passed within one year of the application date.⁴

Background check

DPH may refuse to certify or renew, or discipline, a CMA who has been convicted of a crime.³

Social Security number

Application asks for name, home address, date of birth and Social Security number.⁴

Also required

Applicants should take the DPH pre-test first because the training fee is non-refundable.⁴

Fees

You pay the Nurse Aide Registry (application fee) and D&S Technologies (exam fee).

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Check eligibility: current Massachusetts CNA, employed by a long-term care facility, 18 or older, high school diploma or GED; take the DPH pre-test.⁴
2. Log in to the DPH eLicensing System, link your CNA certification, and start a Medication Aide Certification Application (Home > Apply for a New License > Nurse Aide Registry); pay the $640 fee (includes training).⁴ healthprofessionlicensing.mass.gov⁴
3. Complete the 60-hour, 8-week training (online plus 24 clinical hours with an LPN/RN preceptor).⁴
4. Register with D&S Technologies when emailed and pass the exam ($90 per attempt); allow three weeks for results and your certification.⁴

Apply online

healthprofessionlicensing.mass.gov⁴

Processing time

Allow at least three weeks after the exam for results and the license verification listing.⁴

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years⁴

When it expires

Renew every other year by the anniversary of initial certification, with proof of DPH-approved re-certification training and exam and a current CNA certification.³

Renewal fee

$180⁴

If it expires

Practising after expiry is a ground for discipline; refusal to renew for failure to file, pay or keep CNA status may be made without a hearing.³

Renew online

mass.gov⁹

From another state

City and county rules

Certified Medication Aide (CMA)No local license: DPH certifies medication aides statewide.¹⁰

Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)No local license: the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (Nurse Aide Registry Program) certifies nurse aides statewide.¹¹

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a nursing assistant in Massachusetts, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Massachusetts is on the Massachusetts license lookup page.

Look up a license

checkahealthlicense.mass.gov⁶

File a complaint

mass.gov¹¹

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• 105 CMR 156.000 The Training of Nurse Aides in Long-term Care Facilities
• 105 CMR 155.000 Patient and resident abuse prevention, reporting, investigation, penalties and registry
• M.G.L. c. 111, § 72J (nurse aide registry) and § 72W (regulatory authority for 105 CMR 156.000)
• 42 CFR 483.35, 483.95, 483.150-483.158
• 105 CMR 775.000 Certified Medication Aides in Long-term Care Facilities
• M.G.L. c. 111, § 72W½

Rule changes since January 2024

• February 13, 2026: 105 CMR 775.000 (Certified Medication Aides) published in the Massachusetts Register #1567.³
• December 2, 2024: CNA exam offered in English, Spanish, Chinese and Haitian Creole.²

Common questions

Certified nursing assistant (CNA) licenses in other states

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