Maine CNA Requirements and Approved CNA Programs

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

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