South Dakota CNA Requirements 2026
To become a certified nursing assistant in South Dakota, you must complete a state-approved training program of at least 75 hours, pass a two-part competency evaluation, and be listed on the South Dakota Nurse Aide Registry. The South Dakota Board of Nursing and the Department of Health jointly oversee the certification process.
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South Dakota certifies nursing assistants through a training-and-exam process managed by the South Dakota Board of Nursing (SDBON) and the Department of Health (DOH). Before you can work as a CNA in the state, your name must appear on the South Dakota Nurse Aide Registry, and getting there requires completing an approved program and passing a standardized competency evaluation.
On this page:
- Training Requirements
- Competency Exam
- Application Process
- Maintaining Your Certification
- Endorsement for Out-of-State CNAs
Training Requirements
Prospective CNAs must complete a training program approved by the South Dakota Board of Nursing. Approved programs are at least 75 hours in total and must include at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice. The SDBON maintains a list of approved programs, organized by type, on its website.
Program formats vary. Some are based in nursing homes, where both classroom instruction and clinical hours take place in the same facility. Others deliver the didactic portion in a school or office setting and arrange clinical hours separately. Online options exist for the theoretical component, but clinical hours cannot be completed online.
Several categories of applicants may qualify for a training waiver:
- Nursing students: Students currently enrolled in an SDBON-approved LPN or RN program can apply for a training waiver if they have completed Fundamentals of Nursing with a grade of C or better. Approved students still must pass the competency exam. Students in an RN program can review RN licensure in South Dakota for the full licensing path.
- Licensed nurses: Individuals who hold an active LPN or RN license in any state may be exempt from both the training program and the competency exam. Applicants with any disciplinary history will have their eligibility reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the SDBON. For those considering the step up from CNA, see LPN requirements in South Dakota.
- Other healthcare providers: EMTs, respiratory therapists, medical assistants, and similar credentialed providers must enroll in an approved CNA program, but an instructor may waive specific portions of the curriculum if the applicant has already demonstrated proficiency in those areas.
CNAs who plan to advance to an RN credential later can review bridge programs that let CNAs advance to an RN license without starting from scratch.
Competency Exam
The South Dakota CNA competency evaluation is administered by D&SDT-Headmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies LLP, dba Headmaster LLP) and consists of two separate parts. Both must be passed to earn certification.
Knowledge evaluation: This portion is offered in written or oral format. The oral option is available for candidates who have difficulty with written English. A passing score is 75% or higher. The candidate handbook published by D&SDT-Headmaster includes a content outline and sample questions.
Skills evaluation: Candidates are observed performing five simulated nursing assistant tasks. Hand washing is always the first task. The remaining four are randomly selected from a larger pool that includes skills such as positioning a resident in bed, taking vital signs, and performing an abdominal thrust. Candidates must successfully complete all critical elements of each selected skill in accordance with D&SDT-Headmaster testing standards.
Test results are reported to the facility or sponsoring organization. A candidate who passes both evaluations will be added to the South Dakota Nurse Aide Registry. A candidate who fails one portion must retake only that portion. Current testing fees and the candidate handbook are listed on the D&SDT-Headmaster website.
Application Process
The application path depends on your training background.
Standard candidates who completed an approved 75-hour program apply for the competency exam through D&SDT-Headmaster. In many cases, the school or sponsoring facility will coordinate registration on the candidate’s behalf. The South Dakota Health Care Association (SDHCA) can also assist with exam registration inquiries and can be reached at (800) 952-3052.
Nursing students and licensed nurses seeking waivers apply through the SDBON using the CNA Training Waiver Application, available on the SDBON website. LPN and RN students must submit transcripts showing a grade of C or better in Fundamentals of Nursing. Licensed LPNs and RNs must provide their license number, the state of licensure, and the license expiration date.
Once you pass the competency evaluation, your name is added to the South Dakota Nurse Aide Registry. Registry records, renewals, and verification can be accessed through the SDBON’s SDUAP system.
Maintaining Your Certification
South Dakota CNA certifications must be renewed every two years. To qualify for renewal, you must have completed at least 12 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related services during the preceding 24 months and at least 12 hours of in-service education each year (24 total hours over the two-year certification period). Renewal can be completed online through the SDUAP system on the SDBON website.
If your certification has lapsed, contact the SDBON for reinstatement options. CNAs called to active military duty may request a renewal exemption, which extends six months after discharge.
Endorsement for Out-of-State CNAs
A CNA who is currently listed on another state’s registry and is in good standing may be eligible to transfer that certification to South Dakota through endorsement. There is no fee for a South Dakota CNA endorsement.
To apply, download the Endorsement Application from the SDBON website. Complete the top section yourself, then forward the form to the state where you were originally certified. That state’s registry will verify your standing and return the completed form to South Dakota. The SDBON website links to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) directory of CNA registries, which includes contact information for every state.
Note that CNAs transferring from Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New York, or North Carolina should send the completed form directly to the South Dakota CNA Registry rather than the originating state’s board. (Editor: verify this list against the current SDBON endorsement application before publishing, as state-specific routing instructions may have changed.)
While your endorsement application is being processed, you may work in a South Dakota facility for up to 60 days. You must provide documentation that you completed a training program and competency evaluation in your original state, as well as proof that you have worked as a CNA within the past 24 months.
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who oversees CNA certification in South Dakota?
The South Dakota Board of Nursing (SDBON) and the Department of Health (DOH) jointly manage CNA certification in the state. The SDBON maintains the Nurse Aide Registry and handles training waivers, endorsements, and licensure for nurses seeking CNA exemptions. D&SDT-Headmaster administers the competency evaluations under contract.
Can I work as a CNA while my application is pending?
If you are applying through endorsement from another state, you may work in a South Dakota facility for up to 60 days while waiting to be added to the registry. Standard applicants completing the training-and-exam process should not practice as a CNA until their name appears on the South Dakota Nurse Aide Registry.
What happens if I fail part of the competency exam?
You only need to retake the portion you did not pass. If you fail the knowledge evaluation, you retake the knowledge evaluation. If you fail the skills evaluation, you retake it. There is no requirement to repeat both. Check the D&SDT-Headmaster candidate handbook for retake scheduling and any applicable fees.
How do I verify my CNA certification status?
CNA registry verification in South Dakota is done through the SDUAP system on the SDBON website at sdbon.org. You can check your certification status, update contact information, and complete renewals through the same system.
Does South Dakota participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
South Dakota is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), but the compact applies to RN and LPN licenses, not CNA certification. CNA endorsement is handled separately through the SDBON’s endorsement process described above.
Key Takeaways
- 75 hours of training required — Programs must be approved by the SDBON and include at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice.
- Two-part competency exam — Candidates must pass both a knowledge evaluation (written or oral) and a hands-on skills assessment, each with a minimum score of 75%.
- Waivers are available — Nursing students, licensed nurses, and other healthcare providers may qualify to skip part or all of the training program.
- Renew every two years — Active certification requires renewal through the SDUAP system, at least 12 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related work during the preceding 24 months, and 12 hours of in-service education per year.
- Endorsement from other states is possible — CNAs in good standing in another state’s registry can transfer to South Dakota at no cost, with up to 60 days to work while processing is underway.
Find state-approved CNA training programs in South Dakota and review program options, locations, and application requirements.