
Nurse aides in Maine must obtain a listing on the Maine CNA Registry in order to work as certified nurse aides. As a prospective CNA, the only way to get listed on the registry is to provide proof of formal CNA training that meets the guidelines set forth by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Services (DLRS). Employers must verify a prospective employee’s standing on the Maine CNA Registry before extending an offer of employment. However, state and federal laws will let you work as a CNA for 4 months in a long-term care facility under the provisions of a temporary listing.
CNA Classes in Maine:
Certification Requirements
The DLRS requires licensed home health care agencies, long-term healthcare agencies, hospitals, adult day care programs, personal care agencies, and assisted living programs to prohibit employment to nurse aides not listed on the state registry. The prospective employee must have an active status on the registry, which indicates a CNA in good standing. Apart from maintaining a record of active CNAs, the registry responds to queries from employers and individual CNAs, uses an annotation system to identify denied and inactive CNAs to protect public health, provides support for CNAs, and identifies post-training opportunities for non-traditional CNAs.
Prerequisites to Training
Due to the nature of the work involved and the responsibilities entrusted to CNAs, all candidates must agree to a criminal background check (fingerprint method) before enrollment in state-approved training programs. You’ll also need to provide proof of a negative TB test, immunizations, and the results of a physical exam. You must also:
- Be at least 16 years old
- Provide documented proof of a minimum ninth-grade education if you do not have a high school diploma
- Have the ability to read and write English.
Maine’s Certified Nurse Aide Training Requirements
The State Board of Nursing in conjunction with the Department of Education monitors and approves programs that provide a minimum 180 hours of training. A Registered Nurse, by law, must supervise and present the course content. The board’s prescribed curriculum allocates 90 hours for classroom instruction, 20 hours for skills lab and 70 hours for supervised clinical practice. Program instructors cannot teach skills beyond the skills outlined in the curriculum.
Please refer to the list of state-accredited programs below to ensure you enroll in a program that meets the state’s requirements. The department has the right to refuse your application for testing if you do not graduate from a state-accredited program.
Cost of Training
There are many CNA training providers across Maine including several community colleges, universities, vocational schools, technical colleges and allied health institutes. The cost of training varies depending on the type of school and could fall anywhere between $400 and $1200. It’s crucial that you work out all the associated costs before enrolling in any program. Financial aid is available through a few programs for financially challenged individuals. Also, if you secure employment as a CNA within one year of certification, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement for your training costs.
Nurse Aide Testing
The state’s CNA competency test comprises of a two-part evaluation: the written or oral component and a skills demonstration test where you’ll have to demonstrate at least five learned skills. The Department of Education manages the testing centers through the Maine Career and Technical Education (CTE) division. There are 27 testing centers and regions.
Certification Costs
The state evaluation costs $45 for both the written and skills test.
Temporary Listing
Maine makes a temporary listing provision for CNAs to work for 4 months at a long-term healthcare facility. This temporary listing on the registry hinges upon your forwarding documented proof that you successfully completed an approved training program. Out-of-state CNAs can request the temporary listing pending completion of the Bridge Exam.
Out-of-State CNAs
If you’re an out-of-state CNA, you must submit the following to get listed on the Maine Nurse Aide Registry.
- The application for out-of-state CNAs
- Documented proof that you completed an approved out-of-state CNA training program
- Certificate with dates of training and number of clinical and classroom hours completed
- Documented proof that you successfully completed the out-of-state CNA evaluation
- Proof that you earned a minimum ninth-grade education
- Proof of employment for at least 32 hours per week for the last 3 years
- No criminal convictions and complaints that could prohibit employment within Maine.
Getting on the Registry
Once you submit an application for registry listing, it takes up to 30 days for approval and eventual placement. The administrators will send a letter of confirmation, and you can also visit the registry’s web-portal to confirm your placement online. To maintain your listing, you must complete a minimum 8 hours of employment every 2 years and renew your listing every 24 months. Employers will prohibit employment if there are disqualifying annotations attached to your listing.
Contact the Registry
Maine Nurse Aide Registry
Maine Department of Human Services – Division of Licensing & Certification
State House Station #11
442 Civic Center Drive
Augusta, ME 04330
Phone: (207) 287-9310
Fax: (207) 287-9325
State Approved CNA Programs in Maine:
Auburn, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Auburn Adult Education
Auburn Heights, Auburn, ME 04210
Phone: (207) 784-9220
Auburn Adult Education
77 Harris St, Auburn, ME 04210
Phone: (207) 333-6661
Augusta, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Augusta Adult & Community Ed
33A Union Street, Augusta, ME 04330
Phone: (207) 626-2470
Augusta, ME Freestanding CNA programs:
Capital Area Technical Center
40 Pierce Dr. Suite 1
Augusta, ME 04330
Phone: (207) 626-2475
Bangor, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Bangor Adult Education
885 Broadway, Bangor, ME 04401
Phone: (207) 941-6310
Bangor, ME Freestanding CNA programs:
United Technologies Center
200 Hogan Rd, Bangor, ME 04401
(207) 947-5296
Bath, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Bath Adult Education
800 High Street, Bath, ME 04530
Phone: (207) 443-8255
Bath, ME Freestanding CNA programs:
Bath Regional Career and Technical Center
800 High Street
Bath, ME 04530
Phone: (207) 443-8257
Biddeford, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Biddeford Adult Education
18 Maplewood Avenue, Biddeford, ME 04005
Phone: (207) 282-3883
Biddeford, ME Freestanding CNA programs:
Biddeford Regional Center of Technology:
10 Maplewood Ave.
Biddeford, ME 04005
Phone: (207) 282-1501
Boothbay Harbor, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Boothbay Region ACE
236 Townsend Ave, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538
Phone: (207) 633-3224
Brunswick, ME High Schools offering CNA programs:
Maine Region Ten Technical High School:
68 Church Road
Brunswick, ME 04011
(207) 729-6622
Bucksport, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Bucksport Adult Ed
66 Bridge St, PO Box 1341, Bucksport, ME 04416
Phone: (207) 469-2129
Calais, ME Colleges and Universities offering CNA programs:
Washington County Community College
One College Drive, Calais, ME 04619
Phone: (207) 454-1012
Calais, ME Freestanding CNA programs:
St. Croix Regional Technical Center
34 Blue Devil Hill, Suite 1
Calais, ME 04619
Phone: (207) 454-2581
Caribou, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Eastern Aroostook ACE
75 Bennett Dr, Caribou, ME 04736
Phone: (207) 493-4272
Caribou, ME Freestanding CNA programs:
Caribou Technology Center:
308 Sweden St Suite 1 Caribou, ME 04736
Phone: (207) 493-4270
Casco, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Crooked River Adult Education
1437 Poland Spring Rd, Casco, ME 04015
Phone: (207) 627-4291
Damariscotta, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Central Lincoln County Adult Education
767 Main St 1-A, Damariscotta, ME 04543
Phone: (207) 563-2811
Dexter, ME Freestanding CNA programs:
Tri-County Technical Center
14 Abbott Hill Road
Dexter ME 04930
Phone: (207) 924-7670
Fax: 207-924-5539
Dover-Foxcroft, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Piscataquis Valley AEC
48 Morton Ave, Suite M, Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426
Phone: (207) 564-6525
Ellsworth, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Ellsworth AEC
112 Boggy Brook Road, Ellsworth, ME 04664
Phone: (207) 667-6498
Ellsworth, ME Freestanding CNA programs:
Hancock County Technical Center
112 Boggy Brook Rd.
Ellsworth, ME 04605
Phone: (207) 667-9729
Farmington, ME Freestanding CNA programs:
Foster Technology Center:
374 High Street
Farmington, ME 04938
Phone: (207) 778-3561
Farmington, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Farmington AEC
108 Fairbanks Road, Farmington, ME 04938
Phone: (207) 778-3460
Frenchville, ME Freestanding CNA programs:
St. John Valley Technology Center:
403 Main Street
PO Box 509
Frenchville, ME 04745
Phone: (207) 543-6606
Gardiner, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Gardiner AEC
GAHS, 40 West Hill Rd, Gardiner, ME 04345
Phone: (207) 582-3774
Gorham, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Gorham AEC
Gorham Middle School, 106 Weeks Rd, Gorham, ME 04345
Phone: (207) 222-1095
Gray, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Gray-NG AEC
GNG HS PO Box 1079, Gray, ME 04039
Phone: (207) 657-2520
Houlton, ME Freestanding CNA programs:
Region Two School of Applied Technology
P.O. Box 307
Houlton, ME 04730
Phone: (207) 532-9541
Lewiston, ME Freestanding CNA programs:
Central Maine Medical Center College of Nursing and Health Professions
70 Middle Street, Lewiston, ME 04240
Phone: (207) 795-2840
Lewiston Regional Technical Center
156 East Avenue Lewiston, ME 04240
(207) 795-4144
Helping Hands Trade School
571 Sabattus Street, Lewiston, ME 04903
Phone: (207) 872-9075
Lincoln, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Lincoln AEC
35 West Broadway, Lincoln, ME 04457
(207) 794-3004
Livermore Falls, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Jay AEC
19 Main St, Livermore Falls, ME 04239
Phone: (207) 897-6384
Lubec, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Lubec AEC
44 South Street, Lubec, ME 04652
Phone: (207) 733-8807
Madawaska, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Madawaska AEC
135 Seventh Ave, Madawaska, ME 04756
Phone: (207) 728-6314
Madison, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Madison AEC
55 Weston Avenue, Madison, ME 04950
Phone: (207) 696-3900
Mexico, ME Freestanding CNA programs:
Region 9, School of Applied Technology
377 River Road
Mexico, ME 04257
(207) 364-3764
Naples, ME Freestanding CNA programs:
Lake Region Vocational Center:
1879 Roosevelt Trail
Naples, ME 04055
207-693-3864
Norway, ME Freestanding CNA programs:
Region 11, Oxford Hills Technical School:
PO Box 313
Norway, ME 04268
Portland, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Portland AEC
1600 Forest Ave, Portland, ME 04103
Phone: (207) 775-0432
Portland, ME High Schools offering CNA programs
Portland Arts & Technology High School
196 Allen Avenue
Portland, ME 04103
Phone: (207) 874-8165
Rockland, ME High Schools offering CNA programs:
Mid-Coast School of Technology
1 Main Street
Rockland, ME 04841
(207) 594-2161
S. Paris, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Buckfield AEC
256 Main Street, S. Paris, ME 04281
Phone: (207) 743-8842
Sanford, ME Freestanding CNA programs:
Sanford Regional Technical Center
52 Sanford HS Blvd
Sanford, ME 04073
207-324-2942
Skowhegan, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Skowhegan AEC
61 Academy Circle, Skowhegan, ME 04976
Phone: (207) 474-7553
So Portland, ME Colleges and Universities offering CNA programs:
Southern Maine Community College
2 Fort Road, So Portland, ME 04106
Phone: (207) 741-5584
Sullivan, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
RSU 24 AEC
1888 US Highway 1, Sullivan, ME 04664
Phone: (207) 422-4794
Topsham, ME Adult Education Centers offering CNA programs:
Merrymeeting AEC
35 Republic Ave, Topsham, ME 04086
Phone: (207) 729-7323
Waldo, ME Freestanding CNA programs:
Waldo County Technical Center
1022 Waterville Rd, Waldo, ME 04915
Phone: (207) 342-5231
Waterville, ME Freestanding CNA programs:
Mid-Maine Technical Center
3 Brooklyn Ave Waterville, ME 04901
Phone: (207) 873-0102
Fax: (207) 873-7057
Wells, ME Colleges and Universities offering CNA programs:
York County Community College
112 College Drive, Wells, ME 4090
Phone: (207) 216-4342
Westbrook, ME Freestanding CNA programs:
Westbrook Regional Vocational Center
125 Stroudwater St, Westbrook, ME 04092
Phone: (207) 854-0820