South Dakota CNA Registry: Verify a Certification
Verify a South Dakota certified nursing assistant through the South Dakota Board of Nursing's UAP registry, using the official lookup linked on this page. The Board of Nursing maintains the registry for both CNAs and medication aides working in the state; registry numbers starting with A belong to CNAs, and numbers starting with M belong to medication aides. Federal law requires nursing facilities and home health agencies to check this registry before hiring any nurse aide, so employers in those settings cannot skip this step. If the online lookup does not resolve your question, call the Board of Nursing directly at (605) 362-2760.
Look up a South Dakota nurse aide
The official lookup shows whether a person is listed as an active nurse aide in South Dakota, and any finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation on record. It is free and public.
Official link checked 2026-09-01
How to verify a South Dakota CNA
Open the official lookup
Use the South Dakota lookup above. It is free and public.
Search by full legal name
A certification number narrows the result fastest. Try former or hyphenated last names if nothing comes up.
Read the status and findings
Active means the listing is current. A substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation bars work as a nurse aide.
What the lookup shows
A lookup works best with the aide's full legal name, plus a registry number if you have one (A-prefixed for CNAs, M-prefixed for medication aides). A result shows certification status and basic identifying details tied to that record. The registry also records substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property; anyone with such a finding cannot be employed as a nurse aide. This lookup is not a full employment or criminal background check.
South Dakota note: Registry numbers starting A = CNA, M = Medication Aide
South Dakota registry at a glance
- Run by: South Dakota Board of Nursing (UAP registry)
- Phone: (605) 362-2760
- Training: 75 hours, 16 of them clinical
- Federal floor: 75 hours, 16 supervised practical
- Lapse rule: a listing lapses after 24 consecutive months without paid nursing work
- Not included: a registry check is not a criminal background check
What CNAs earn in South Dakota
Typical annual CNA pay in South Dakota · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
BLS OES May 2025 · CNA salary in South Dakota by city →
Renewal, lapses, and moving to South Dakota
Certification follows the federal 24-month renewal cycle: a CNA who has not performed paid nursing-aide work within that period lapses off active status. A lapsed certification usually means retesting is required to become active again, since federal rules do not allow renewal based on time alone without qualifying work. Aides moving into South Dakota from another state also go through the registry, typically through reciprocity or endorsement rather than starting training over. South Dakota's specific renewal documentation, verification steps, and endorsement requirements are set by the Board of Nursing, so confirm details by calling (605) 362-2760.
Keep your certification active
CNA work in South Dakota, by the numbers
South Dakota employed about 6,860 certified nursing assistants as of BLS May 2025 figures, earning a median wage of $38,800 a year, or $18.65 an hour. That is roughly $3,460 below the national median CNA salary of $42,260. Pay has grown substantially over the past decade, up about 66.4 percent from a $23,320 median in 2015. South Dakota's training requirement matches the federal floor: 75 total hours, including 16 hours of supervised clinical practice, under state rule ARSD 44:74:02:15, with a 1:8 student-to-instructor ratio during clinical hours. Nationally, CNA and home health aide occupations are projected to add about 196,200 annual openings between 2025 and 2035, a sign of steady demand even in smaller-workforce states like South Dakota.
Registries in nearby states
Each state runs its own registry. An aide who worked in another state may be listed there too, and employers must check every state where they believe the aide has worked.
Questions about the South Dakota registry
- How do I look up a CNA license in South Dakota?
- Use the official South Dakota UAP registry lookup linked on this page, run by the South Dakota Board of Nursing. Search by the aide's full name, and use the registry number if you have one (A-prefixed numbers are CNAs, M-prefixed numbers are medication aides). If the online tool does not give you a clear answer, call the Board of Nursing at (605) 362-2760.
- I passed my CNA exam. How long until I appear on the registry?
- You are added to the registry after your exam results and required paperwork have been processed by the Board of Nursing. Exact timing varies and is not published as a fixed number of days. If a reasonable amount of time has passed and you still do not appear, contact the registry directly at (605) 362-2760 to check your status.
- What if I search and can't find someone?
- A no-result search does not prove someone is uncertified. Try variations of the name, including maiden names, hyphenated names, or a middle initial, since the lookup matches on exact name entries. If you still cannot find a record after trying alternate spellings, call the Board of Nursing at (605) 362-2760 to confirm status directly.
- How often does a South Dakota CNA certification need to be renewed?
- Under the federal baseline, a nurse aide certification is tied to a 24-month cycle and requires qualifying paid nursing-aide work within that period to stay active. South Dakota administers renewal through the Board of Nursing's UAP registry, so confirm current renewal steps and documentation by calling (605) 362-2760.
- How many hours of training does a CNA need in South Dakota?
- South Dakota requires 75 total hours of nurse aide training, including 16 hours of supervised clinical practice, matching the federal minimum. This standard is set under state rule ARSD 44:74:02:15, with a required 1:8 ratio of students to instructor during clinical hours.
- How do I update my name or address on the registry?
- Contact the South Dakota Board of Nursing directly at (605) 362-2760 to update your name or address on the UAP registry. Updates are routine, but the exact process and any required documentation are set by the registry, so it is best to ask them directly rather than guess.