In order to gain CNA certification in Massachusetts, one should be able to comply with the federal and state requirements for the said course. It is important for one to have proper training as well as pass the examination so that he or she can work at a nursing facility in this state. One cannot work for a long period as a nurse aide if he or she is not included in the state’s nurse aide registry.
The state requires a certified nursing assistant training that is coming from a state-approved facility or school. There is also one which is being offered by the American Red Cross in Massachusetts. Their course lasts for about 4 to 8 weeks depending on whether you take the daytime classes or those which are being conducted at night. The course aims to equip students with the proper skills and knowledge in handling and providing care for the elderly as well as the ill in long-term care facilities. The course requires 100 hours of training, out of which 24 hours should be spent on clinical practice at a nursing facility.
The requirements for application is a negative TB test result, an entrance exam for Math and English competency, a criminal background check coming out good in both state and federal levels, as well as proof of immunizations for Hepatitus B, chicken pox, measles, mumps and rubella.
After completing the training, the student can now take the CNA examinations. He or she needs to submit a completed application form, certificate of training, and the appropriate fees for the test. One’s eligibility to take the exam does not expire from the time that he or she completes his training. The application will be processed within 26 days and the applicant will receive his date of testing at least 7-10 days before the exam. Those who arrive late will not be allowed to take the exam.
The exam includes a written as well as a clinical exam. The written test lasts for 2 hours while the clinical skills test lasts 20 minutes. There will also be corresponding fees if one is absent at the date of the exam for the rescheduling. One should bring a photo ID during the exam for proper identification. The test results will be mailed within 3 weeks from the date of exam and the applicant’s name will be entered on the state of MA nurse aide registry.
Those who are already certified in another state can also apply for reciprocity. The conditions being that the certification should be current and active. The candidate should also pass the state and federal background checks and should not have any record of abuse and misappropriation of a resident’s property from that state. If the opposite is the case, then he or she should take the state exam first. CNA recertification is done every 2 years with proof of at least 8 hours of paid work as a nurse aid in a nursing facility. There is also a required in-service training of 12 hours per year for those employed in nursing facilities.
Click this link to find the nursing assistant classes in Massachusetts.
Because of the increase in demand for nursing assistants, there is also an increase of facilities that offer their training. It is the job of the Nurse Aide Registry to maintain a standard of training that the quality of care that is given to the patients may not be compromised. For this reason, facilities that wish to offer a training program must undergo inspection and get approval from the board before they are allowed to handle any students. You can contact the state registry for further details by calling (617) 753-8144.
Taking the tests is a necessity to get your name on the Registry. No facility or agency will hire you if you are not able to get your name on the Registry or if your license has expired. These facilities/agencies are able to determine your license status by simply accessing the Nurse Aide Registry Automated Voice Response System. To access the system, all they have to do is to call (617) 753-8192.
To ensure that the nurse aides in the state are highly qualified, they are required to undergo proper training. Because of the increasing demand and number of fresh nurse aides in the state, the Registry will have to closely monitor that the new graduates are capable of handling different situations. In order to make certain about them having proper training, they are requiring facilities who wish to offer training programs to submit their curriculum for review and approval. Only those facilities that have had their programs approved will be allowed to handle students.
After you undergo proper training from a state-approved training program you will need to pass all the tests in the competency evaluation exams to become certified. These exams are being monitored by the Nurse Aide Testing Office. If you have any questions regarding the exams, you can call them at (781) 979-4010.
With its increasing demand, more and more facilities are now offering nursing assistant training programs. Depending on the type of program you enroll in, your training can last from 4 to 8 weeks. When you graduate from a state approved program, you will have a total of 100 hours of training and will be able to take on the license exams. Passing all the tests in the license exams will get your name on the Registry and will allow you to work in care facilities and hospitals.
