The gap between what Massachusetts CNAs are paid and what training costs remains unusually narrow for an allied health field. Metro-area nursing assistants typically earn above the national median annual wage of $42,260, while DPH-approved community college programs charge roughly $1,500 to $3,000. That makes the CNA credential a fast paid entry point into nursing.
Schedule is the other variable. Two-week accelerated tracks and four-week daytime programs serve students who can pause work, while evening and weekend cohorts stretch the same clinical hours over several months. Free employer-sponsored classes eliminate tuition and often guarantee a job after the state competency exam, but many require a work commitment. Choosing among them comes down to which cost and schedule trade-off you can sustain.
Best CNA Schools in Massachusetts: 2027 Rankings
Most of the approved nurse aide training in Massachusetts runs through the state's community college system, which keeps the price of entry comparatively low and the schedule options surprisingly varied. The profiles below walk through what each program involves, what financial support exists, and what outcomes the school reports, so you can weigh cost, convenience, and next steps side by side. Whatever your schedule or budget, one of these programs is likely built for you.
How we ranked these
- Net price after financial aid
- Financial aid generosity
- Program length and flexibility
- Post-completion earnings potential
- Institution-wide graduation rates
- Original research on individual programs
- NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
- College Scorecard post-completion earnings data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- In-house program catalog data
Massachusetts Bay Community College
#1Wellesley Hills, MA · $7,000/yr (net price)
Best for: Employed adults needing weekend clinical schedules
Massachusetts Bay Community College runs its nurse assistant training as an eight-week, 120-hour certificate that blends online lectures with clinical hours at long-term care facilities. The program is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and prepares students for the Red Cross nurse aide competency evaluation used for state certification. MassBay offers tuition assistance through scholarships, and the school's overall graduation rate is about 17 percent.
- Eight-week format with 120 total training hours
- Online lectures paired with hands-on clinical labs
- Approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health
- Prepares students for the Red Cross nurse aide competency evaluation
- Weekend clinical sessions at long-term care facilities
- Scholarship assistance available for qualifying students
- Requires CORI and SORI background checks plus CPR certification
Greenfield Community College
#2Greenfield, MA · $8,000/yr (net price)
Best for: Full-time students preferring daily in-person classes
Greenfield Community College offers an efficient route to a Massachusetts nursing assistant credential: a seven-week, 100-hour program that pairs CNA training with a home health aide certificate in the same cohort. Students train daily on campus, tuition covers state testing fees, and no college-level prerequisites stand in the way beyond the required background check and health clearances. Greenfield's overall graduation rate is about 31 percent.
- Seven-week program combining CNA and home health aide training
- 100 training hours with daily in-person classes
- Tuition includes Massachusetts state nurse aide testing fee
- No college prerequisites; CORI background check required
- CPR, First Aid, and dementia care certificates included
- Clinical rotation at a local assisted-care facility
- Scholarships may be available through pre-registration
North Shore Community College
#3Danvers, MA · $9,000/yr
Best for: Massachusetts residents using state-funded training
North Shore Community College's nurse assistant and home health aide pathway stacks CPR, dementia care, and home health aide certification on top of the core CNA curriculum, with clinical hours at local nursing facilities. Day and evening sessions run at the Danvers and Lynn campuses, and qualifying Massachusetts residents have accessed state funding that covers tuition, books, uniforms, and exam fees. The school's overall graduation rate is about 18 percent.
- Program holds ACEN accreditation
- Prepares students for the Massachusetts nurse aide exam
- Adds home health aide, CPR, and dementia certifications
- Clinical hours completed at local nursing facilities
- Day and evening options at Danvers and Lynn campuses
- State funding covers tuition, books, uniforms, and exam fees
- Open to students age 16 and older
Mount Wachusett Community College
#4Gardner, MA · $5,000 – $10,000/yr
Mount Wachusett Community College offers a fully free, eight-week nurse assisting certificate, including materials, with CPR, First Aid, and AED credentials folded into the training. The hybrid format includes a 30-hour clinical practicum, and graduates are eligible to sit for the Massachusetts nurse aide exam. MWCC positions the course as a first step into allied health study, and the school's overall graduation rate is about 24 percent.
- Fully free program, including all training materials
- Eight-week hybrid format with 30-hour clinical practicum
- Includes CPR, First Aid, and AED certifications
- Prepares students for the Massachusetts state nurse aide exam
- Can serve as an entry point into allied health study
Berkshire Community College
#5Pittsfield, MA · $5,000 – $10,000/yr
Berkshire Community College schedules its CNA course in the evenings, making it a strong option for students who work during the day, with clinical time at long-term care facilities in Berkshire County. The college also operates as an approved testing site for the Massachusetts nurse aide exam, so graduates can sit for certification close to home. Scholarship support may be available, and BCC's overall graduation rate is about 20 percent.
- Evening schedule runs Monday through Friday plus one Saturday
- Clinical work at partner facilities in Berkshire County
- Designated testing site for the Massachusetts CNA exam
- Scholarship opportunities available for qualified students
- Covers core patient care skills and infection control
Quinsigamond Community College
#6Worcester, MA · $6,000 – $11,000/yr
Quinsigamond Community College fits its direct-entry nurse assistant certificate into a single semester and just seven credits, with clinical experiences at Worcester County facilities. The DPH-approved curriculum is built around the Massachusetts nurse aide competency exam and can be completed in a blended format with evening or Saturday clinical hours. QCC has used a state skills capital grant to upgrade its nurse assistant labs, and the school's overall graduation rate is about 22 percent.
- One-semester certificate requiring just seven credits
- DPH-approved training for the Massachusetts nurse aide registry
- Blended format with evening or Saturday clinical hours
- Prepares students for the Massachusetts nurse aide exam
- Credit for prior learning may be recognized
- Requires CORI and SORI checks plus healthcare provider CPR
- Lab equipment upgraded through a state skills capital grant
Middlesex Community College
#7Bedford, MA · $6,000 – $12,000/yr
Middlesex Community College's noncredit nurse assistant and home health aide certificate packs 100 hours of training into a structure that mixes classroom time, skills labs, and a 24-hour clinical rotation. Completers can sit for the Massachusetts nurse aide exam, and the certificate carries credit value if they later enroll in MCC's credit nursing assistant courses. Grant funding has supported qualified state residents, and Middlesex's overall graduation rate is about 23 percent.
- 100-hour Massachusetts DPH-approved training program
- Blends classroom learning with skills labs and clinical work
- 24 hours of clinical training at local long-term care sites
- Grant funding available for qualified Massachusetts residents
- Completers may sit for the Massachusetts nurse aide exam
- Articulation credit available toward credit nursing courses
- Day and evening options plus weekend clinical rotations
Springfield Technical Community College
#8Springfield, MA · $6,000/yr (net price)
Springfield Technical Community College's CNA Plus is workforce training in the truest sense: 139 hours that wrap CPR, home health aide, and Alzheimer's education around the nurse assistant core. It accepts students as young as 16, offers bilingual English and Spanish cohorts, and is approved for SNAP, Individual Training Account, and unemployment funding. STCC's overall graduation rate is about 32 percent.
- 139 total hours with 24 clinical hours in direct care
- CPR, home health aide, and Alzheimer's training included
- Accepts students as young as 16
- Minimum 8th-grade reading level for admission
- Bilingual Spanish and English cohort options
- Eligible for SNAP, Individual Training Account, and unemployment funding
- Day, evening, and Saturday-only schedule options
Massasoit Community College
#9Brockton, MA · $8,000/yr
Massasoit Community College teaches its nurse assistant and home health aide certificate in a hybrid format, with online class sessions followed by in-person skills training and clinical hours at a long-term care facility. Graduates leave with both credentials plus dementia care training, and the classroom component is Massachusetts DPH-approved. The school's overall graduation rate is about 19 percent.
- Blended online sessions with in-person skills labs
- Graduates earn both nurse assistant and home health aide credentials
- Classroom training approved by the Massachusetts DPH
- Includes Hand in Hand dementia care training
- Clinical hours at a long-term care facility with RN instructors
- Prepares completers for the Massachusetts CNA exam
- Requires CORI check, health form, and negative TB test
Roxbury Community College
#10Roxbury Crossing, MA · $12,000/yr (net price)
Roxbury Community College's CNA course is built around 75 hours of training: 54 in the classroom and 21 in clinical practice, with the Massachusetts nurse aide exam bundled into the course. Sitting for the state exam is required to complete the program, which also covers medical terminology, documentation, and patient rights. The school's overall graduation rate is about 28 percent.
- 75 total hours: 54 classroom plus 21 clinical hours
- Massachusetts nurse aide exam registration bundled into the course
- Sitting for the state exam is required to complete the program
- Covers medical terminology, documentation, and patient rights
- Requires high school diploma or GED plus background checks
Quincy College
#11Quincy, MA · $17,000/yr
Quincy College offers a certified nursing assistant program within a college focused on health careers, with a curriculum that emphasizes patient-centered care and clinical experiences at Massachusetts healthcare facilities. The college also grants an associate degree in nursing, an option for graduates who eventually want to become RNs. Quincy College's overall graduation rate is about 15 percent.
- Clinical experiences at Massachusetts healthcare facilities
- Patient-centered care emphasized throughout the curriculum
- Associate degree nursing available at the same college
Frequently Asked Questions About CNA Training in MA
Massachusetts has specific requirements for CNA training and certification that every aspiring nurse aide should understand before enrolling. Below are answers to the most common questions about program length, online options, and the certification exam.
How long does it take to get CNA certified in Massachusetts?
Can you get CNA certification online in Massachusetts?
What is the NACE exam and how do I register for it?
How to Become a CNA in Massachusetts
Massachusetts requires completion of a state-approved training program before you can sit for the competency exam and join the Nurse Aide Registry. The Department of Public Health (DPH) sets minimum training standards and approves all qualifying programs. Here is the step-by-step credentialing path from eligibility to registry listing.
Massachusetts CNA Training Costs Compared
Tuition is the largest single expense, but it is not the only one. CNA students in Massachusetts should also budget for uniforms or scrubs ($40 to $80), textbooks and workbooks ($50 to $150), a background check ($25 to $50), CPR certification ($60 to $110), immunizations or TB testing ($0 to $200 depending on insurance), and the competency exam fee (commonly around $110 for the written knowledge and skills tests combined). Some programs bundle several of these items into their published price, while others list them separately, so it pays to ask exactly what is included before you enroll. The table below compares published tuition with the effective net price after financial aid at each ranked school. Net price reflects the average amount students actually pay out of pocket for institutional costs after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. The spread is significant: the lowest effective net price among these programs is roughly $2,624 at Middlesex Community College, while the highest is approximately $17,126 at Quincy College, a difference driven largely by institutional sector, available aid, and overall cost of attendance.
| School | City | Published In-State Tuition | Published Out-of-State Tuition | Effective Net Price (After Aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex Community College | Bedford | $6,098 | $12,170 | $2,624 |
| Springfield Technical Community College | Springfield | $5,904 | $11,112 | $5,662 |
| Massachusetts Bay Community College | Wellesley Hills | $5,856 | $10,800 | $7,169 |
| Greenfield Community College | Greenfield | $5,810 | $11,930 | $7,679 |
| Mount Wachusett Community College | Gardner | $6,160 | $11,080 | $7,931 |
| Massasoit Community College | Brockton | $5,376 | $10,320 | $8,460 |
| North Shore Community College | Danvers | $5,352 | $10,920 | $9,000 |
| Quinsigamond Community College | Worcester | $6,262 | $11,206 | $9,090 |
| Berkshire Community College | Pittsfield | $5,712 | $11,328 | $9,921 |
| Roxbury Community College | Roxbury Crossing | $6,096 | $11,088 | $12,244 |
| Quincy College | Quincy | $8,938 | $8,938 | $17,126 |
Explore other Massachusetts related topics
Free and Employer-Sponsored CNA Programs in Massachusetts
The core decision for Massachusetts CNAs exploring no-cost training is whether to pay tuition or accept a work commitment. With 37 free CNA programs reported statewide in 2025, options range from nonprofit workforce development organizations to nursing homes that invest in their future employees.
JVS Boston: A Leading No-Cost Option
JVS Boston offers one of the most established free CNA training programs in the Greater Boston area. Located at 75 Federal Street in downtown Boston, JVS runs two tracks: a 6-week accelerated program for candidates who already hold a high school diploma, and a 14-week track that provides additional academic support. Both tracks prepare students for the Massachusetts State Nursing Assistant Exam at no cost to participants.
Eligibility requires applicants to be at least 18 years old, a Massachusetts resident, and authorized to work in the United States. A background check is mandatory. JVS also offers a 3-week Direct Care Worker Training for those interested in home health roles before pursuing full CNA certification.
Employer-Sponsored Training at Nursing Homes
Many long-term care facilities cover CNA training costs in return for a work commitment after graduation. Seacoast Nursing Home offers free training with a 6-month employment agreement, while Royal Megansett Nursing and Retirement Home runs a 5-week program at no cost. These arrangements benefit both parties: facilities address staffing shortages, and trainees enter the workforce without debt.
Expect to sign a contract specifying how long you must remain employed after completing training. If you leave early, some facilities may require partial reimbursement of training costs.
MassHire and Workforce Development Resources
MassHire career centers connect job seekers with funded training opportunities across Massachusetts. Quincy College, for example, offers a CNA program with MassHire financial aid available to qualifying applicants. The Greater New Bedford area recently received a $500,000 state grant specifically for CNA training in 2026.
Enrollment windows vary by provider and funding cycle. Contact your local MassHire career center directly to learn about current openings, income eligibility thresholds, and application deadlines. Community organizations and regional workforce boards frequently update their training schedules, so checking in quarterly keeps you informed of new opportunities.
Program Length and Schedule Formats: 2-Week, 4-Week, and Flexible Options
Speed and flexibility rarely come in the same package, so choosing a CNA program in Massachusetts often means trading one for the other. A handful of schools compress training into a few intense weeks, while others stretch the same coursework across evenings or weekends to fit around jobs and family obligations.
The Fastest Options
Northern Essex Community College runs a DPH-approved 4-week track with enrollment windows in September and October 2026, built for students who can commit to a near full-time schedule for the duration. Excel Training Institute offers an even tighter format: two weeks of classroom instruction (roughly four to four and a half hours a day, Monday through Friday) followed by a third week of in-person clinical time at a partnering nursing home. Neither program appears to offer a standalone evening or weekend section, so applicants should confirm current schedule details directly with each school before enrolling.
Evening, Weekend, and Mid-Length Choices
For working adults who cannot pause their income for a month, Quincy College spreads its hybrid CNA training across five to seven weeks with day, evening, and weekend tracks, including evening classes running 4pm to 10pm on paired weekdays and a weekend option meeting Saturdays from 7am to 7pm. MassBay Community College takes a similar approach over eight weeks, pairing online lecture time on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons with in-person labs and weekend clinicals.
What Stays the Same
Regardless of pace, every DPH-approved program, accelerated or extended, must deliver the same minimum hours of classroom and clinical instruction. A 2-week format simply front-loads those hours into longer days; a 6-week evening track spreads them thinner. Neither shortcuts the state's requirements.
Hybrid Delivery
Several of these programs, including Excel, Quincy, and MassBay, use a hybrid model where lecture content is delivered online while clinical skills are taught and tested in person, since hands-on assessment cannot be replicated remotely. Prospective students should weigh whether an intensive full-day commitment or a longer, part-time schedule better fits their current income needs and learning style.
Can You Complete CNA Training Online in Massachusetts?
Is there any way to earn a CNA credential entirely online in Massachusetts? The short answer is no. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health will not approve a fully online CNA program, and the clinical portion of any approved training must be completed in person at a licensed healthcare facility. What DPH does allow is a partially online, or hybrid, structure where the classroom theory can be delivered remotely as long as the program still meets the state's minimum training standards.
What Hybrid Actually Looks Like
Under the current DPH framework, Massachusetts CNA programs must deliver at least 75 total training hours; the minimum rises to 87 hours, including 21 hours of supervised practical training, in 2026. Hybrid programs move the didactic content online while preserving in-person skills labs and clinical rotations. A few DPH-approved programs currently using this format:
- Northern Essex Community College: Theory delivered online with mandatory Zoom sessions, plus a required skills lab at the Lawrence campus and 25 clinical hours at a long-term care facility.
- Quincy College: Online theory paired with an on-campus lab and 24 clinical hours at a skilled nursing facility, typically scheduled during the final one to two weeks of the course.
- MassBay Community College: Combines virtual class sessions with in-person clinical rotations.
Watch Out for National Online-Only Marketing
Several national websites advertise self-paced, fully online CNA courses that promise certification in a matter of weeks. These programs do not satisfy Massachusetts requirements. Without documented in-person clinical hours at an approved site, graduates will not qualify to take the state competency exam, and the coursework alone will not lead to placement on the Massachusetts Nurse Aide Registry.
Regardless of how the theory is delivered, the NACE skills evaluation must be taken in person at an approved test site. There is no remote option for the hands-on portion of certification.
Massachusetts CNA Certification and Licensing Requirements
Headmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) administers the Massachusetts Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation (NACE)1, and first-time candidates pay $100 to $110 depending on whether they select the audio option for the knowledge portion.
Exam Structure and Fees
The NACE consists of two parts that candidates must pass to earn certification:2
- Knowledge test: A written or oral exam available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Haitian Creole. The standard fee is $302, with an additional $10 for the audio version.
- Skills demonstration: A hands-on evaluation of clinical competencies. The fee is $70.2
Candidates who need to retake a portion pay the same fees: $30 for the knowledge test (plus $10 for audio if applicable) and $70 for skills.2 Missing a scheduled appointment without proper notice typically requires paying the full fee again to reschedule.2
Registration Process
Before you can register, your DPH-approved training program must post your completion status to the Headmaster system.1 Once that record appears, you create a candidate account through the Headmaster portal and upload your completion certificate, a photo ID, and any accommodation documentation.1 You also select your preferred language and audio option at this stage.1 That choice is final and cannot be changed on test day.1 Payment is made online by credit or debit card, then you select an available testing date and location.1
Testing sites include community colleges and hospital-based facilities across the state, though availability varies by testing cycle.1
Registry Listing and Maintenance
After passing both exam components, your name is automatically added to the Massachusetts Nurse Aide Registry at no additional cost. There is no separate application to submit. For registry questions, contact the state at [email protected] or (617) 753-8144.
Program-level pass rate data is not currently published by the state, so evaluating training quality requires looking at other factors like clinical partnerships and graduate outcomes.
CNA Salary Across Massachusetts Metro Areas
Massachusetts CNAs consistently earn well above the national median, making the state one of the more competitive markets for nursing assistants. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national median hourly wage for nursing assistants was $18.36 as of the May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release, while Massachusetts reported a statewide median annual wage of approximately $46,680. The Boston metro area alone employed roughly 25,200 nursing assistants in that same period, reflecting strong and sustained demand. While detailed median wages broken out by every Massachusetts metro area are not published by BLS at this time, the statewide and Boston area figures offer a useful benchmark. CNAs looking to boost their earnings further can pursue LPN certification (with typical Massachusetts salaries in the mid $50,000s to low $60,000s) or complete an ADN or BSN to become a registered nurse, where median salaries in the state often exceed $90,000 annually.
| Area | Annual Median Wage | Mean Hourly Wage | Approximate Employment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts (Statewide) | $46,680 | N/A | 38,130 | Statewide data; BLS May 2023 |
| Boston, Cambridge, Nashua (MA, NH) | N/A | $22.06 | 25,200 | Mean wage reported; median not published for this metro |
| United States (National) | $38,200 | $18.36 | N/A | National median for comparison; BLS May 2023 |
What CNA Program Completers Earn: A Closer Look
Program-level median earnings data for CNA certificate completers at Massachusetts community colleges is not yet available through federal reporting. This is common for short-term certificate programs, where cohort sizes are often too small for reliable wage tracking. It is worth noting that program-completer earnings, which reflect what graduates actually earn after finishing a specific program, measure something different from occupational wage estimates published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS figures represent broad averages across all workers in a given role, regardless of where or how they trained. Actual CNA earnings also vary by employer type: hospital-based CNAs in Massachusetts tend to earn more than those in long-term care or home health settings.
