The College was established in 1891 as a nursing diploma school and was then named the Central Maine General Hospital Training School.
The first student was admitted on July 9, 1891, and on March 24, 1893, the first student graduated. A total of five (5) students graduated.
Until 1953, admissions to the College occurred at any time during the year. Since then, students have been admitted according to a standard academic calendar.
The College granted diplomas to its graduates until 1977, when Governor James B. Longley signed into law, L.D. 446, granting the College the authority to award an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Nursing.
In 1976, the name of the College was changed from Central Maine General Hospital School of Nursing to Central Maine Medical Center School of Nursing.
In 1978, Central Maine Medical Center School of Nursing became the first single entity, post-secondary nursing educational institution to become accredited by the Commission on Vocational-Technical Career Institutions of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.
In 2001, the College moved into its current facility at 70 Middle Street, Lewiston.
In 2008, the College was granted initial accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.
In 2010, the College added an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Radiologic Technology. The Clark F. Miller School of Radiologic Technology was established at Central Maine General Hospital in 1949 as the first Radiologic Technology program in Maine. The School of Radiologic Technology classroom and offices moved to the second floor of the College in 2009, and students began taking general education courses along with nursing students in the fall of 2010.
Coinciding with the addition of the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Radiologic Technology, the Mercy Hospital School of Radiologic Technology in Portland transitioned its 2-year certificate program to the College. This increased student capacity of the Radiologic Technology program from 26 to 46 students.
The Medical Imaging School offers the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Radiologic Technology, as well as advanced certificate programs in Computed Tomography (CT), Sonography, and Mammography.
On July 1, 2014, the name of the College was changed to the Maine College of Health Professions to better reflect the institution’s mission.
In the fall of 2017, MCHP earned approval to offer an RN to BSN degree, thereby becoming a baccalaureate institution.
In 2018, the College received NECHE approval to expand degree and advanced certificate programs in Nursing and Medical Imaging. The following programs were added: Associates in Health Science, Advanced Certificates in Sonography and Mammography, and a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) 1-year certificate program. MCHP offers the only Sonography, CT, and Mammography Programs in Maine.
In the spring of 2020, the College received CCNE accreditation for its RN to BSN program.
MCHP admitted its first students for the Bachelor of Science Degrees in Medical Imaging and Healthcare Administration in fall 2021. MCHP conferred the first BSMI degrees in May 2022.