Taconic High students first to be tested at BCC
PITTSFIELD, MA — Berkshire Community College (BCC) has qualified to be a testing site for students taking the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) exam. The exam is administered by D&S Technologies, also known as Headmaster, which was recently awarded a contract to administer Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation knowledge and skill certification testing in Massachusetts.
"We are excited to offer this testing for Certified Nursing Assistants here at BCC, and our testing site can serve the whole county. There is an ongoing need in the Berkshires for CNAs, which are an integral part of the health care team," explained Lori Moon, BCC Dean of Nursing, who said the first students tested at BCC on June 21 – 22 were from Taconic High School. "We will keep adding testing dates to the calendar to try and meet the needs of those completing their training."
Previously, the Red Cross had tested CNA students at a location in the Berkshires, but the testing site moved to Springfield a few years ago, and the Red Cross eventually stopped offering testing for CNAs. After an unsuccessful run from another company, Headmaster stepped in — but the closest testing site was two hours away from BCC.
Once BCC was made aware of the travel requirements, Moon attended an information session with Headmasters and applied for BCC to be a testing site for the region.
We were just approved last month, and we already have two local RNs who are approved test observers and three more planning to go through the training this fall. Now that BCC is a testing site for the region, we can schedule days for anyone to test here when they complete their nursing assistant course in the Berkshires, not just BCC students.
BCC's CNA course is offered through the College's Workforce Development and Community Education program in partnership with Berkshire Health Systems. The CNA course is taught by licensed nurses with professional experience and includes classroom instruction, skills practice and clinical hours at a skilled nursing facility.
Sue Haughey, Taconic High School Instructor, Health Assisting Program, said, "I cannot thank BCC enough for stepping up to the plate when the need was recognized for a Central Berkshire CNA testing site." She called the previously required travel to eastern Massachusetts a "massive hurdle" for students and their families.
But now that testing is accessible at BCC, Haughey said, "high school students are able to immediately enter into the workforce as first-level health care workers, opening up numerous opportunities for them and helping to meet staffing demands in our local health care facilities."
The Headmaster testing model provides training program instructors and candidates the ability to schedule examination dates online. It also allows instructors to verify candidate training completion online, view online candidate test schedule information and access composite training reports.
BCC is now accepting applications for the CNA course beginning in fall 2023. For more information, email workforce@berkshirecc.edu or call 413-395-7545.