The school is not recruiting or enrolling students at this time.
Start Here for a New Health Care Career
Nurse aide training at the Lunder CareForce Institute will position you for a caregiving job with a local employer by providing training for students to become nurse aides and successful completion of the program allows them to take the state nurse aide exam. This hands-on training focuses on building the skills, confidence, and compassion you’ll need to thrive in real-world health care settings. No prior health care experience is required.
You will provide hands-on care to people in a variety of settings to support their quality of life. This includes helping them maintain dignity and comfort while you support their basic daily routines with bathing, dressing, meal prep, and room tidying help. You’ll check vital signs — things like temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate — document what you observe, and report any changes in health.
Certified nurse aides often go on to nursing careers as RNs and LPNs.
Many Students Study for Free
There are two paths to get started. You can interview with one of our employer partners, and if successful, your tuition will be paid in full and you will begin working for that employer as soon as you are eligible. (To view current employer partners, complete the form below.) Or, you can enroll directly and pay your own tuition and fees (currently $1,700), which will prepare you to take your new skills to a job you find on your own. Grant-funded opportunities may also be available. Students are not paid during class hours. If you need to work while participating in the program, you will need to work outside of class to commit to the program schedule. We offer both full-time and part-time schedules.
Earning Potential
According to nurse.org, certified nurse aides in Massachusetts earn an average of $19.77 per hour. Experienced CNAs can earn up to $23 per hour.
What You Get and How We Are Different
- Training from experienced teachers and a state-approved curriculum: You’ll learn in the classroom, get practice with simulations, and gain hands-on experience at the bedside. Lessons will include things like nutrition, movement and exercise, how to take vital signs, and oral health.
- Supplies: Laptop computers, text books, and uniforms are provided for use during program periods. These are distributed on the first day of classes.
- Help to thrive, no matter what: We understand that real-life challenges can make it hard for you to train for the career you want. We offer one-on-one support to help you overcome difficulties that might come up, like transportation, language skills, or technology.
- Preparation for a state exam: We will prepare you for the state nurse aide examination. Successful completion of the exam will result in certification as a nurse aide and placement on the Massachusetts Health and Human Services Licensed Professional Registry as a certified nurse aide (CNA).
- Continued help after you start working: We stay with you after you pass the exam to coach you to succeed on the job. Lunder CareForce Institute mentors will support you throughout your employment to help you grow.
- Support from a trusted community institution: The Lunder CareForce Institute is part of Hebrew SeniorLife, a national leader in senior living and health care, and a Boston-based nonprofit organization for over 120 years.
Upcoming Session Schedules and Locations
May 2026 Full-Time Program
- Runs Monday, May 4 through Monday, June 1
- Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (in person, Roslindale)
Location: In-person classes are held at Hebrew SeniorLife’s Roslindale Campus (1200 Centre Street, Boston, MA, 02131).
- Free parking
- Public transportation:
- Ride the MBTA Orange line to Forest Hills, and then take a private Hebrew SeniorLife shuttle directly to the Roslindale campus.
- The MBTA bus lines with stops near our campus include the #30, #34, #34E, #35, and #51.
Additional classes enrolling on an ongoing basis.
Do I Qualify?
No health care experience needed
- Requirements:
- Fluent English skills — verbal and written
- Age 16+ (parental consent required for minors)
- High school diploma or equivalent, or currently enrolled
- Reliable internet with audio, camera, and microphone
- Active health insurance for the duration of the program
- Additional background and medical screenings, which we can help you complete
- Empathy, compassion, and a desire to join a growing profession
Curriculum and Admissions Requirements
Learn more about student learning and program outcomes, holiday schedule and program policies.
Get Started by Completing the Form Below
Complete the form below to learn which employers are hiring and select your preference. And if you are interested in future employers, dates, schedules, or locations, please also complete the form below to stay in touch.
This project is funded by the Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly Workforce Success Grant (Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund FY’24-25 Appropriation). This grant initiative is administered by Commonwealth Corporation on behalf of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and the Workforce Skills Cabinet.
