Mandated Reporter Training and Resources
This page provides information about the OCA’s Mandated Reporter Training for reporting child abuse and neglect and the associated Resource Library.
In August 2023, the OCA launched a Mandated Reporter Training with two learning paths, a general learning path suitable for all mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect in the Commonwealth and an educator learning path that covers issues particularly relevant to Massachusetts K-12 educators.
Key features include:
- The training is available free, online, and on-demand.
- The full-length General Training is available in Spanish (select your preferred language after registering).
- Each learning path includes one or more training modules and pre- and post-training quizzes. Learners received a completion certificate for each training.
- Organizations and school districts can create an account that allows them to assign staff to a specific learning path, track learner progress and results, and access each learner’s certificate of completion.
More detailed information about the training and setting up an account can be found at our Mandated Reporter FAQ.
Register for the training online at mandatedreportertraining.com.
Goals of the Training
The OCA’s Mandated Reporter Training is intended to:
- Assist mandated reporters to correctly identify instances of child abuse and neglect.
- Help mandated reporters differentiate neglect from poverty and consider the role that bias and cultural considerations can play in evaluating whether to make a report.
- Support the development of structured decision-making skills that will minimize potential over-reporting of families to the Department of Children and Families system.
The General Training provides an essential overview of the legal definitions, responsibilities, and protections associated with being a mandated reporter in Massachusetts. It is part of both the general and the educator learning paths.
The School Personnel Training provides additional training tailored to the unique situations in educational settings, especially for primary and secondary educational settings, and is only part of the educator learning path.
Resources and Refresher Training
In response to requests from our training users, in July 2026 the OCA launched a new, shorter General Refresher Training. This training is designed for learners who have previously completed the General Training, irrespective of which learning path they are on, and are looking to refresh key concepts.
The training platform also includes an online companion Resource Library that houses materials to help users learn more about the topics discussed in the training. It is available to anyone at any time, even if they have not registered for or completed the training. The Resource Library contains Massachusetts-specific information, including legal references, worksheets, and tip sheets created specifically to address issues relevant to mandated reporters.