South Dakota Nursing License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
South Dakota is a Nurse Licensure Compact state. RNs renew every 2 years with no continuing education hours required, and pass the NCLEX-RN.
Look up a South Dakota nursing license
The board's search shows license status, expiry date, and any public discipline. Nursys Quick Confirm is a free national check you can use as a second source.
South Dakota Board of Nursing · read 2026-09-02 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in South Dakota
South Dakota registered nurses renew every two years, on their birth date rather than a fixed month. An initial license expires on the licensee's birth date in the second calendar year after issuance, and each renewal after that follows the same two-year birth-date cycle, effective August 3, 2026. The board does not require continuing education hours for renewal. The profile does not state what happens if a license lapses.
Renewing a South Dakota RN license costs $115, compared with $100 for an initial license application. That renewal fee is separate from the cost of taking the NCLEX-RN examination and from the fingerprint-based state and federal criminal background check that applicants must complete through the state's Division of Criminal Investigation.
How much does a South Dakota RN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · South Dakota board fee schedule ↗ · read 2026-09-02
Moving to South Dakota: endorsement and temporary permits
South Dakota belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact. A registered nurse who already holds a multistate license from another compact state can practice in South Dakota without applying for a separate license, though obtaining a multistate license through South Dakota itself requires South Dakota residency and a Social Security number. A nurse whose license is not multistate, including one from a non-compact state, must apply for licensure by endorsement instead.
Licensure by endorsement requires a $100 application fee, evidence of employment status showing eligibility for practice hours, and a fingerprint-based state and federal criminal background check. South Dakota does not require a separate state jurisprudence or nursing law exam for endorsement applicants. The board does offer temporary permits. Nurses educated outside the United States must also complete a credential evaluation and, if their program was not taught in English, an English language proficiency exam.
Education and exam for an RN license in South Dakota
To become licensed as a registered nurse in South Dakota, an applicant must graduate from a nursing program approved by a state board of nursing. The board's materials do not distinguish among associate degree, diploma, or bachelor's degree programs when it comes to eligibility. Applicants must also pass the NCLEX-RN examination; the board does not require a separate state jurisprudence or nursing law exam.
What do RNs earn in South Dakota?
BLS OES May 2025 · 14,710 RNs employed in South Dakota · RN salary in South Dakota by city →
Nearby states
| State | Compact | Renewal | CE per cycle | Initial fee | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | Yes | Every 2 years | None | $100 | Verify |
| Iowa | Yes | Every 3 years | 36 hours | $143 | Verify |
| Minnesota | No | Every 2 years | 24 hours | $105 | Verify |
| Montana | Yes | Every 2 years | None | $100 | Verify |
| Nebraska | Yes | Every 2 years | 20 hours | $123 | Verify |
| North Dakota | Yes | Every 2 years | 12 hours | $125 | Verify |
| Wyoming | Yes | Every 2 years | — | $130 | Verify |
Official boards of nursing · read 2026-09-02
Sources
- South Dakota Board of Nursing ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee ruleshigh confidence
- sdbon.org/NurseLicensure/NewRNLPN.asp
- sdbon.org/NurseLicensure/RenewalApp.asp
- sdbon.org/NurseLicensure/ForeignEducated.asp
- sdbon.org/Additional%20resources%20licensure/NurseLicensureCompact.asp
- sdbon.org/laws-rules/NPA.asp
- sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/20:48:03
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 South Dakota RN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-02. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.