Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Community Colleges $9.7 Million to Strengthen the Massachusetts Health Care Workforce
Thursday, April 24, 2025
BHCC will receive funding to support certified nursing assistant, Emergency Medical Technician, and other health care training programs
The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced that $9.7 million has been awarded through the Community College Nursing Grant to expand workforce training in critical health care professions across Massachusetts. This funding will support noncredit Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Medical Assistant training programs at each of the state’s 15 public community colleges, including Bunker Hill Community College, serving approximately 1,125 students in the state. Non-credit programs are designed to meet workforce demands quickly and efficiently, while providing individuals with practical, job-ready skills for upward mobility.
“As the daughter of a school nurse, I know how important it is to have experienced workers in the health care industry. These training programs will bolster the nursing pipeline to meet the workforce needs of employers in the medical field and the health care needs of patients across Massachusetts,” said Governor Maura Healey in her administration’s announcement of the grant. “This funding will help to break down barriers that far too many people face when trying to obtain credentials and certificates to advance their careers in health care.”
Read the Governor’s full announcement.
CNAs work on the front lines of patient care in hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities. BHCC’s CNA program consists of a single course and practicum completed in a partner health care setting. The course typically can be completed in 10 weeks. In the last two years, 50 students have entered BHCC’s CNA program, and the program has a 97% job placement rate.
“The CNA program is a great pathway into a high-demand career in healthcare leading to Patient Care Technician, Medical Assistant and more,” said Dean of Workforce and Economic Development Kristen McKenna. “This grant will not only help more students complete the CNA program, but it will also open more clinical training opportunities at health care sites. The most significant barrier to program completion is availability of clinical placement opportunities, and the Governor’s grant will help to widen the pathway into these careers for all.”
BHCC’s clinical partners include Boston Medical Center, MassGeneral Brigham, Tufts Medical Center, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, and many more.
Future noncredit evening classes are enrolling now, visit bhcc.edu for more information:
- June 2 - August 28 Monday and Thursday classes, 6-9 p.m. on BHCC's Chelsea Campus
- June 3 - August 29 Tuesday and Friday classes, 6-9 p.m., on BHCC’s Chelsea Campus
By investing in these programs, the Healey Administration is bolstering Massachusetts’ health care industry by developing a highly skilled workforce of CNAs, Medical Assistants, and other health care professionals. This funding will also create training and employment opportunities across the state, ensuring that individuals from diverse backgrounds have access to stable, well-paying careers in health care. Additionally, these programs will serve as a foundation for further education, providing learners with clear pathways to advance their careers and pursue higher levels of healthcare education in the future.
These non-credit training programs are designed to meet workforce demands more quickly than a college semester cycle, while providing individuals with job-ready skills that open opportunities for upward mobility. After participating in these health care training programs, residents can choose to use their learned skills to enter into the workforce or, thanks to MassReconnect and MassEducate, to continue their education and pursue for-credit programs tuition and fee free at community colleges.
Nursing is already a high-demand industry in Massachusetts and is only expected to grow over the next decade. According to Lightcast data, in February 2025, the four employers with the most job postings in Massachusetts were in the health care sector. Nationally, jobs for registered nurses are projected to grow six percent by the early 2030s, and in Massachusetts, it’s expected to be closer to nine percent.