If you are considering a career as a certified nurse aide in Massachusetts, you will need to complete a number of tasks in order to be considered certified in the state. The first task is to finish a CNA training course that the Massachusetts Department of Health has approved. Then you will need to get a passing result on the nurse aide exam that is issued at approved sites within the state. Finally, you will be placed on the Massachusetts Nurse Aide Registry.

Before you enroll in classes to obtain your CNA certification in Massachusetts, there are a few prerequisites you should be aware of. Students need to be 18 years of age or older to be considered, and a GED or high school diploma is necessary, as well. You will also need to have a clear criminal record report, and most medical professions require this. A full physical evaluation of your health and a tuburculosis screening is required before enrollment for obvious reasons.

To qualify you to sit for the state licensing exam, your course will need to consist of a minimum of  100 hours. Seventy five of these hours will need to based out of the classroom and you will learn numerous concepts during this time such as medical terminology, interactions skills to use with patients and other medical personnel, and tactics to help you remain calm in an emergency. Expect to learn skills concerning the actions you should take in case a patient has a heart attack or accidentally falls.

There will be  25 hours of the nurse aide training program that you will work hands-on in a medical facility. This experience is invaluable, as it will be part of your testing for certification. You will learn basic phlebotomy skills, how to utilize various medical equipment, CPR skills, and many others.

Once the 100 hour course is complete, you will go on to sit for the nurse aide exam. You can often take the test at the same facility where you trained, but occasionally you will need to travel to a different location within your region. You will have to pay a fee of $93 at the time when you register to be given a test date. If you pass the two-part exam, you will be listed on the Massachusetts Nurse Aide Registry, and will ready to secure solid employment anywhere within the state.

Average CNA  salary in Massachusetts is $28,300 a year and openings for these positions are expected to grow by 13% during the next few years, so now is a great time to enroll.

If you would like to find out how to enjoy reduced rates concerning your classes, check out our section on free CNA training, and see if you meet the qualifications.