Massachusetts General Laws Part I. Administration of the Government (Ch. 1-182) Ch. 17, § 2

At the time of appointment, the commissioner shall be a graduate of an accredited four-year college or university and shall have had (a) not less than eight years of administrative experience of which at least three years shall have been in the organization, management or delivery of health care services; or (b) a doctorate or other degree beyond the level of baccalaureate in the field of business, economics, education, government, law, medicine, psychology, public administration, public health, public policy, social work, urban planning, or a field substantially related to one or more of the foregoing, and not less than five years of administrative experience of which at least two years shall have been in the organization, management or delivery of health care services. For the purposes of this section administrative experience shall mean service in a management or supervisory capacity. The secretary of health and human services, with the approval of the governor, shall appoint the commissioner who shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary and may be removed by the secretary at any time, subject to the approval of the governor. The position of commissioner shall be classified in accordance with section forty-five of chapter thirty and the salary shall be determined in accordance with section forty-six C of said chapter thirty and, such commissioner shall devote his full time during business hours to the duties of his office. He shall be the executive and administrative head of the department.