Massachusetts Caregiver Training And Certification
There is currently a severe shortage of professional caregivers in Massachusetts. Thousands of job openings at nursing facilities and home care agencies mean high job security for Massachusetts caregivers.
Caregiver training and certification can be complicated, but it’s important to understand your state’s requirements. These criteria are in place to ensure both individual caregivers and home care agencies follow compliance standards and promote elders’ health, safety, and overall quality of life.
Whether you’re exploring the field of caregiving or have several years of experience, caregiver training and certification is essential to your professional growth.
Massachusetts Caregiver Qualification Requirements
Along with Texas and Florida, Massachusetts has minimal initial training requirements (if any) if you work for a private-pay agency. However, if you are employed for an agency covered by Medicaid, you will have to meet additional standards. Either way, training and certification should be a priority so you can provide the best possible care.
Becoming A Personal Care Attendant (PCA) In Massachusetts
MassHealth’s Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program gives people with disabilities financial assistance so they can hire a PCA and receive support with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as:
- Bathing and dressing
- Denture care
- Toileting
- Meal preparation and feeding
- Light housework and shopping
- Ambulation and transfers
To become a PCA in Massachusetts, you must:
- Be at least 14.5 years old and have work authorization
- Understand and follow the care recipient’s instructions
- Be legally allowed to work in the US
- Complete the mandatory 3-hour PCA New Hire Orientation within six months of getting a job
As a PCA, you would be directly hired by the care recipient (or the PCA Consumer-employer). Because each PCA Consumer-employer is different, certification, licensing, and educational requirements may vary. They can also request a drug test, CORI, or SORI at their discretion.
In addition, you must complete 12 hours of continuing education (CE) training each year through a certified agency.
PCA State Benefits
As a state program, PCAs are eligible for government benefits such as:
- $15.75 base pay
- Earned sick leave
- Unemployment insurance
- Workers compensation
- Free training through the Home Care Training Benefit
Additionally, you can qualify for college tuition vouchers after one year of employment, even if you work part-time. You can also qualify for an opportunity to enroll in the CNA program after the same amount of time.
Become A Home Health Aide In Massachusetts
To work in Massachusetts, Home Health Aides (HHAs) must complete 75 hours of initial training (including 16 hours of practicum experience). HHAs must undergo supervised training and must complete several assessments. Before securing a job as an HHA, you will likely have to pass a background check and drug test.
As with most caregiver positions, you must have at least a high school diploma or GED, as well as other criteria before you begin any clinical internships. You can find HHA certification at various community colleges around the state, such as:
Bristol Community College
- 121 hours, including 18 hours of HHA training and other types of specialized training
- State-approved
- For those who want to work in nursing homes and hospitals
Cape Cod Community College
- 140-hour course, including 75 hours of classroom time and 65 hours of clinical experience
- For those who want to go to nursing school
Greenfield Community College
- For those who want to work in hospice, home care, private homes, and assisting living facilities
- 80 hours of classroom and clinical training
Massasoit Community College
- For those who are new to the home health field
- 100 hours of classroom and clinical training
- For those who want to become a homemaker, personal care homemaker, or HHA
North Shore Community College
- 100 hours of classroom and clinical training
Where To Find Massachusetts Caregiver Training
You can find many options for caregiver certification and training in Massachusetts, such as:
Horizon Learning Connection
- $700
- 10-week program
- Must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, and pass a tuberculosis skin test
- Phone: (617) 296-2700
Roxbury Community College
- $700
- 24-week program
- Must have a high school diploma or GED, pass a criminal background check, drug test, tuberculosis skin test, physical assessment, and be 18 years or older
- Phone: (617) 427-0060
Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School Nurse Assistant Training
- $800
- 14-week program
- Must pass a criminal background check, English competency assessment, and math competency test
- Phone: (978) 345-9200
- Email: guy_lauri@montytech.net
Boston Allied Health Training Center
- $800
- 4-week program
- Must pass an English, reading, and math competency assessments, TB test, and be 18 years old or older
- Phone: (617) 333-0195
- Email: agelin1@live.com
Home Care Plus School Division
- $800
- 3-week program
- Must pass a criminal background check, TB skin test, and have a high school diploma or GED
- Phone: (508) 747-0023
- Email: homecareplus@comcast.net
Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School
- $995.00
- 6-week program
- Phone: (508) 759-7711
Health Care Training Services
- $1,380.00
- 5-week program
- Must pass a pre-entrance assessment
- Phone: (508) 672-6800
International Healthcare Training And Services
- $1,060
- 3-week program
- Must pass a tuberculosis skin test, an English competency assessment, and be at least 16 years old
- Phone: (508) 222-8710
Holyoke Community College
- $2,800.00
- 7-week program
- Must have a high school diploma or GED, pass a criminal background check, drug screening, tuberculosis skin test, physical assessment, reading, math, and English competency tests
- Must be at least 18 years old and submit your fingerprints
- Phone: (413) 552-2496
Commonwealth Nursing Service
- $700
- 3-week program
- Must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or G.E.D., pass a criminal background check, drug test, tuberculosis skin test, and a physical exam
- Must submit fingerprints and complete comprehension assessments for reading, English, and math
- Phone: (978) 459-7771
Springfield Technical Community College
- $200
- 10-week program
- Must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or G.E.D., pass a criminal background check, drug test, tuberculosis skin test, and a physical exam
- Must submit fingerprints and complete comprehension assessments for reading, English, and math
Health And Home Care Training Center
- $895
- 4-week program
- Must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or G.E.D., pass a criminal background check, drug test, tuberculosis skin test, and a physical exam
- Must submit fingerprints and complete comprehension assessments for reading, English, and math
- Phone: (781) 222-5500
- Email: martha@homecaretrainingcenter.com
Healthy Living Center Of Excellence
The Healthy Living Center of Excellence provides workshops for formal and informal caregivers in Massachusetts. Visit their Workshop Schedule page to find upcoming events and programs near you.
MeetCaregivers
How do you make sure that you give your clients the best service possible? You take care of your employees first. And that is exactly what MeetCaregivers does.
If you are interested in working for us, learn more about us or submit your employment application. Or if you are a family caregiver and need extra assistance, we can help. Call 1 (888) 541-1136 or email info@meetcaregivers.com.
Sources
- “Become a PCA Today.” Mass.gov, www.mass.gov/service-details/become-a-pca-today.
- CareAcademy. Do You Know the Caregiver Training Requirements in Your State?, 3 Feb. 2018, blog.careacademy.com/do-you-know-the-caregiver-training-requirements-in-your-state.
- “How Do I Become a Paid Caregiver for a Family Member in Massachusetts?” Mass Care Link, 18 June 2020, masscarelink.org/faqs/how-do-i-become-a-paid-caregiver-for-a-family-member-in-massachusetts/.
- “Massachusetts Caregiver Training.” MyCNAjobs.com, www.mycnajobs.com/caregiver-training/massachusetts/.
- “Massachusetts Caregiver Training and Certified Nursing Aide School Directory.” Massachusetts Caregiver Training and Certified Nursing Aide School Directory – CaregiverList.com, www.caregiverlist.com/Massachusetts/caregivertraining.aspx.
- Study.com, study.com/massachusetts_home_health_aide_certificate.html.
- “Training Requirements of Assisted Living Residence Staff.” Mass.gov, www.mass.gov/info-details/training-requirements-of-assisted-living-residence-staff.