Are you interested in a career in healthcare? The Community Learning Center's Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Training Program offers hands-on experience and education to help you start a career as a healthcare professional. The program is offered in partnership with Labouré College of Healthcare in Milton.
We have two learning tracks. One track is for people learning English and one is for people who are fluent in English. Both tracks provide the same programming.
The CNA Training Program provides:
- In-person classes and an online course
- Hands-on clinical experience
- Dual enrollment at Labouré College of Healthcare with free transportation to the college
- Alzheimer's / Dementia Care training
- Job readiness classes, support searching for and applying for jobs in healthcare
- Free registration for the Massachusetts State Nursing Exam to become state-certified nursing assistant
Program graduates earn:
- Home Health Aide (HHA) Certificate
- CPR/AED Certificate
- Nursing Assistant Training Program Certificate of Completion
Learning Tracks
CNA Training Program for English Language Learners
CNA Training Program for Fluent English Speakers
Questions? Contact Roselys Esteve at resteve@cambridgema.gov or call/text 857-267-3308.
Program for English Language Learners
Do I need a high school diploma to participate in the training program?
No, you do not need a high school diploma.
You need to have intermediate level English skills.
When does the program start?
We offer two sessions each year:
- The fall session starts in September and ends in January.
- The spring session starts in February and ends in June.
Can I take classes online?
Is the program free?
Yes. This program is free for participants.
CLC pays for all fees. Required materials are provided. This includes:
- Course materials
- Scrubs
- Transportation from Cambridge to Milton for clinical classes
- Exam fee to take the Massachusetts Nurse Aide Certification exam
- Access to a Chromebook to study
How long is the program?
The program is five months. If you enroll in the program, you must be able to attend for all five months.
The CNA prep classes meet on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Community Learning Center (5 Western Ave.) from 5 – 9 p.m.
The clinical classes meet on Thursdays at Labouré College in Milton from 4 – 9 p.m.
I don’t live in Cambridge. Can I still participate?
Yes. We give priority to people living in Cambridge, but you can also apply for the program if you live in one of these MetroNorth cities:
- Arlington
- Belmont
- Burlington
- Cambridge
- Chelsea
- Everett
- Malden
- Medford
- Melrose
- North Reading
- Reading
- Revere
- Somerville
- Stoneham
- Wakefield
- Wilmington
- Winchester
- Winthrop
- Woburn
If you don’t in one of these cities, you can find other CNA training programs through the MA Adult Education Help Desk.
Program for Fluent English Speakers
Do I need a high school diploma to participate in the training program?
No, you do not need a high school diploma.
When does the program start?
We offer one session each year in the spring. The session starts in early March and ends in mid-June.
Can I take classes online?
How long is the program?
The program is four months. If you enroll in the program, you must be able to attend for all four months.
The CNA prep classes meet on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Community Learning Center (5 Western Ave.) from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. The clinical classes meet on Thursdays at Labouré College in Milton from 9:30 a.m. -2:30 p.m.
Is the program free?
Yes. This program is free for participants.
CLC pays for all fees. Required materials are provided. This includes:
- Course materials
- Scrubs
- Transportation from Cambridge to Milton for clinical classes
- Exam fee to take the Massachusetts Nurse Aide Certification exam
- Access to a Chromebook to study
I don’t live in Cambridge. Can I still participate?
No, you must live in Cambridge to participate.
We give priority to members of the American-born Black community.
If you don’t live in Cambridge, you can find a CNA training program near you through the MA Adult Education Help Desk.
The Community Learning Center (CLC) also offers a CNA Training Program for people learning English.
The Community Learning Center’s CNA Training Program is funded through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education / MassSTEP
