Massachusetts Child & Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) Training and Certification

MassHealth is in the process of developing the electronic Comprehensive Assessment System (eCAS) an electronic portal/application. The Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) Assessment will be completed within this application in the coming year. Additionally, the CANS Training and Certification Team has worked with MassHealth and clinical stakeholders to revise the current CANS Assessment with updated language and usability. Considering these upcoming changes and the training that will be needed, MassHealth is temporarily suspending the recertification requirement for current CANS Certified Assessors. For those not currently CANS trained and certified, the requirement to be trained and certified prior to the completion of a CANS Assessment remains.

Recertifications will be valid until March 2026 or until you begin to use the new CANS on the eCAS system. You will have time to recertify on the new CANS before you begin entering CANS on the eCAS system. The new system is scheduled to go live in 2026.