Verify a South Dakota Nurse—or Renew Before the Birthday Expiration
A South Dakota nursing-license search usually starts with one immediate question: Is this nurse legally authorized to practise today? Nurses have a different set of problems—finding the renewal date, understanding the unusual practice-hour rule, fixing a lapsed license or deciding whether a compact license already covers the job.
South Dakota does not use a single statewide RN/LPN renewal month. Licenses follow each nurse’s birthday cycle, renew every two years and require recent nursing practice rather than a fixed set of general continuing-education hours.
Use the Board’s Online Verification page to check an RN, LPN or APRN. Use the official Nurse Portal for renewal and applications. A nurse whose primary state of residence is another compact state may instead practise through a valid multistate privilege.
Verify an RN, LPN or APRN
Check license type, expiration, status, compact authority and available public details.
Renew an RN or LPN license
Renew before the birthday expiration and document qualifying recent nursing practice.
Reinstate before working
A license not renewed by the deadline lapses immediately; South Dakota has no ordinary grace period.
Use compact or endorsement
Determine whether a home-state multistate license already authorizes South Dakota practice.
Find a missing document
Check fingerprint, transcript, Nursys verification, certification and employment items.
Verify a nursing program
Review Board approval status and nursing accreditation before paying tuition.
South Dakota nursing-license rules that determine your next step
No automatic grace period: if the renewal and fee are not accepted by the expiration deadline, the license lapses. The nurse must stop practising and complete reinstatement before resuming nursing duties.
Expiration is personal
Each renewed license normally expires on the nurse’s second birthday after issuance, not on one statewide calendar date.
South Dakota uses recent practice
Active-status eligibility is based on recent employment or volunteer nursing hours, not a standard package of general CE courses.
An alternate six-year route exists
A nurse who does not have one 140-hour 12-month period may qualify with at least 480 accumulated nursing hours during six years.
South Dakota participates in the compact
Eligible South Dakota residents may hold one multistate RN or LPN license that authorizes practice in other compact states.
APRN authority remains state-specific
The Nurse Licensure Compact covers RN and LPN authority. APRN licensure and role requirements remain separate.
CNA and medication-aide records are separate
Nurse-aide and medication-aide registration use the South Dakota Unlicensed Assistive Personnel system rather than the RN/LPN renewal route.
Which South Dakota nursing service do you need?
Choose the closest situation. The result identifies whether you need verification, renewal, reinstatement, a refresher course, compact status, endorsement or an advanced-practice route.
Choose your situation
This helper does not access private Board records or submit an application.
How to verify a South Dakota nursing license
Use the Board’s Online Verification page for the state record and Nursys when interstate RN/LPN verification or compact-privilege confirmation is required.
Open official Online Verification
Public users do not need the nurse’s private renewal login.
Open South Dakota VerificationSearch by license number when available
A number reduces the risk of selecting another nurse with a similar name.
Match the profession
Confirm RN, LPN, CNP, CNM, CRNA or CNS rather than assuming all nursing authority is included in one record.
Read status and expiration together
An old license card or previous employer record cannot prove current authority.
Confirm multistate privilege where relevant
Use Nursys to determine the current home state, multistate status and any privilege restrictions.
Open Nursys QuickConfirmDocument when verification occurred
Employers should save the official source, result and date checked under their credentialing policy.
| Result or situation | What it means | Best next action |
|---|---|---|
| Active single-state license | The nurse has current South Dakota authority but no multistate privilege through that license. | Confirm the profession and expiration date. |
| Active multistate license | South Dakota is the home state and the RN/LPN meets current compact requirements. | Verify multistate status and privilege in Nursys. |
| Remote-state privilege | The nurse holds a multistate license issued by another compact home state. | Confirm the home-state license remains active and unencumbered. |
| Inactive | The nurse requested inactive status and does not have active South Dakota practice authority. | Complete reactivation before nursing practice. |
| Lapsed | The renewal deadline passed without successful renewal. | Stop practice and complete reinstatement. |
| Temporary permit | Time-limited authority was issued while an examination or endorsement process is pending. | Verify the permit’s termination date and limitations. |
Employer verification checklist
An RN or LPN compact privilege does not automatically include CNP, CNM, CRNA or CNS authority. Verify the advanced-practice credential separately.
How to renew a South Dakota RN or LPN license
Renewal follows the nurse’s birthday. The Board is required to provide notice at least 90 days before expiration, but the nurse remains responsible even when a notice is not received.
Check the exact expiration date
Use the live verification record instead of calculating from memory.
Check Current ExpirationConfirm active-status practice eligibility
Identify the employer or volunteer record that proves the 140-hour or 480-hour route.
Open the official Nurse Portal
Use the account and identifying information connected to the current license.
Open Nurse PortalUpdate profile and answer every question
Review name, contact details, practice history, primary state of residence and disclosure questions.
Pay the current renewal amount
The current RN/LPN biennial renewal total is $115.
Verify the updated record
Do not assume that a receipt alone proves renewal. Confirm the new expiration and active status online.
Renewal frequency
RN and LPN licenses renew every two years.
Notice timing
The Board provides at least 90 days’ notice before expiration.
Current fee
The RN/LPN biennial renewal amount is currently $115.
No fixed general CE package
Recent nursing practice—not general CE hours—is the ordinary active-status test.
A payment, form or online transaction completed after the filing deadline is not an ordinary late renewal. The license lapses and must be reinstated.
The first renewal after initial licensure occurs on the licensee’s birthday. A courtesy period bridges initial issuance to that first birthday renewal.
South Dakota’s 140-hour and 480-hour nursing-practice rules
South Dakota does not require a fixed number of ordinary CE contact hours for RN or LPN renewal. Instead, it asks whether the nurse has recently worked or volunteered in nursing.
| Your practice history | Does it meet the route? | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| At least 140 hours in one 12-month period during the last six years | Yes, this is the ordinary active-status standard. | Employer or volunteer verification showing role, dates and hours. |
| No single 140-hour year, but at least 480 total hours during six years | Yes, the accumulated-hours reentry option may be used. | Records from all relevant employers or nursing volunteer organizations. |
| Fewer than 480 total hours during six years | No. | Complete a South Dakota Board-approved nursing refresher course. |
| No nursing practice for six or more years | Reentry standards apply. | Contact the Board before renewal, endorsement, reactivation or reinstatement. |
| Employment outside bedside care | It may count when the work fits South Dakota’s definition of nursing practice. | A clear job description and employer verification. |
| Volunteer nursing work | It may count when it is genuine nursing practice. | Verification from the supervising organization. |
Buying a CE package does not replace missing practice
Generic online CE certificates do not independently satisfy South Dakota’s active-status employment requirement.
Use more than one employer when needed
The 480-hour option can be documented across qualifying nursing jobs or volunteer roles during the six-year period.
Check before the renewal window
A nurse who needs a refresher course should not wait until the final weeks before expiration.
The Board can request evidence supporting the practice declaration. Keep employer names, dates, job titles, supervisor contacts and approximate hours available.
APRNs must also maintain any national certification required for their role. National certifiers may impose their own CE and practice requirements even though South Dakota does not set a fixed general RN/LPN CE total.
Reinstate a lapsed South Dakota RN or LPN license
A license lapses when it is not renewed by the expiration deadline. Reinstatement requires a written explanation, recent-practice evidence and the required fees.
Stop practising immediately
An application or payment does not retroactively authorize work performed while the license is lapsed.
Download the current reinstatement instructions
Use the South Dakota Board form rather than a general renewal screen.
Open Official Reinstatement FormComplete employment verification
Document at least 140 hours in a 12-month period or 480 hours during the preceding six years.
Check whether a new background check applies
A South Dakota resident originally licensed before July 2006 may need the Board’s criminal-background-check packet when reinstating.
Pay renewal and reinstatement fees
The current published amount is $115 renewal plus $50 reinstatement, for a $165 total before any administrative fine.
Verify the restored status before returning
Wait until the official public record shows valid active authority.
Administrative fine when nursing work occurred on a lapsed license
| Length of lapse | Published administrative fine | Important context |
|---|---|---|
| 90 days or less | $0 | Renewal and reinstatement requirements still apply. |
| 91–365 days | $100 | Applies under the Board’s published lapsed-practice schedule. |
| 366–730 days | $200 | Separate from renewal and reinstatement fees. |
| 731 days or more | $300 | Longer inactivity can also trigger reentry requirements. |
Contact the Board when any nursing duties were performed after expiration. Do not omit lapsed-practice information from the reinstatement application.
South Dakota multistate license and compact-practice guide
South Dakota is a Nurse Licensure Compact member. The compact applies to RN and LPN/VN practice—not separate APRN authority.
| Your residence and license | Authority in South Dakota | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota is primary residence + SD multistate RN/LPN | Active home-state and multistate authority when all requirements remain met. | Renew through South Dakota and keep residence evidence current. |
| Another compact state is primary residence + active multistate license | Remote-state compact privilege may authorize practice. | Verify the home-state multistate license in Nursys. |
| Primary residence is a noncompact state | No home-state compact privilege. | Apply for a South Dakota single-state license when required. |
| Moving permanently to South Dakota | South Dakota becomes the new home state after the residence change. | Apply for a South Dakota license and provide qualifying residence evidence. |
| South Dakota license is encumbered | Multistate eligibility or privilege can be affected. | Read the official status and any orders before practice. |
| Need APRN practice | RN compact privilege can satisfy the RN prerequisite, but not APRN licensure. | Obtain and maintain the separate South Dakota APRN credential. |
A nurse may hold only one home-state multistate license at a time. A permanent move between compact states requires a new home-state application.
South Dakota RN and LPN licensure by endorsement
Apply by endorsement when a separate South Dakota license is required. The Board reviews current licensure, original qualifications, recent practice and criminal-history information.
Check compact authority first
A valid home-state multistate license may already authorize practice in South Dakota.
Open the Board’s RN/LPN application route
Use the current Board portal and instructions for endorsement.
Open RN/LPN Licensing PageOrder original-state verification
Use Nursys when the issuing jurisdiction participates; otherwise follow the issuing board’s direct-verification method.
Order Nursys VerificationComplete the Board-directed fingerprint process
Endorsement applicants must submit fingerprints for state and federal criminal-history checks.
Document recent nursing practice
Use the 140-hour, 480-hour or refresher-course route when active-status evidence is required.
Verify issuance before the first shift
Application payment is not practice authority. Confirm the license or temporary permit.
Endorsement fee
The current RN or LPN endorsement fee is $100.
Temporary permit fee
The current fee for an eligible RN or LPN temporary permit is $25.
Permit limit
An endorsement temporary permit may not be valid for more than 90 days.
Background check
A permanent license cannot be issued until the required criminal-history check is complete.
Do not upload a photocopy of another state’s license as a substitute for primary-source verification. The issuing board or Nursys must provide the required verification.
First-time examination applicants may receive a supervised applicant permit while awaiting the first examination result. The permit becomes invalid when the applicant is notified of the result.
South Dakota CNP, CNM, CRNA and CNS renewal rules
Advanced-practice credentials renew on a biennial cycle tied to RN authority or the second birthday rule. Current national certification remains central to renewal.
| APRN role | Renewal requirement | Practical point |
|---|---|---|
| Certified nurse practitioner | Unencumbered South Dakota RN license or compact RN privilege, current national certification and required renewal filing. | The population focus appears in the verification database. |
| Certified nurse midwife | Unencumbered RN authority, current national certification and biennial renewal. | Out-of-hospital birth practice has additional Board requirements. |
| Certified registered nurse anesthetist | RN renewal plus evidence of meeting NBCRNA recertification requirements. | CRNA licensure renews at the same time as the RN license. |
| Clinical nurse specialist | RN renewal plus current role-specific national certification unless legally exempt. | CNS licensure renews with the RN license. |
| CNP/CNM with fewer than 1,040 prior hours | Approved collaborative agreement for the first 1,040 licensed practice hours. | The agreement can be retired after verified completion of the required hours. |
| APRN practising under another state’s RN compact privilege | South Dakota APRN license remains required. | The RN privilege satisfies RN authority only, not the advanced-practice license. |
CNP/CNM examination permit
A temporary applicant permit expires 120 days after issuance and may be renewable under the examination route.
CNP/CNM endorsement permit
A temporary endorsement permit expires after 120 days and is not renewable.
Initial collaborative period
New CNP and CNM licensees without 1,040 recent licensed practice hours need the Board-approved collaborative route.
National-certification renewal has its own deadlines and continuing-education rules. A current South Dakota RN license alone does not keep an advanced-practice credential active.
South Dakota nursing application, renewal and reinstatement fees
Board fees are nonrefundable. NCLEX, Nursys and criminal-background-check charges may be separate.
| Transaction | Current published amount | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| RN licensure by examination | $100 | NCLEX registration is paid separately. |
| LPN licensure by examination | $100 | NCLEX-PN registration is separate. |
| RN or LPN endorsement | $100 | Nursys and background-check charges may be additional. |
| RN or LPN temporary permit | $25 | Available only when the applicant meets the permit requirements. |
| RN or LPN biennial renewal | $115 | Includes the base renewal amount and statutory nursing-program/workforce assessments. |
| RN or LPN reinstatement | $165 total | $115 renewal plus $50 reinstatement, before any administrative fine. |
| Verification to another jurisdiction | $25 | Use Nursys where appropriate. |
| Inactive RN or LPN status | $10 | Inactive status does not authorize practice. |
| Name change | $10 | Submit legal documentation as directed. |
| Duplicate original license | $20 | Online verification is usually better for current status. |
| CNP or CNM initial / endorsement | $100 | RN authority, certification and fingerprint requirements also apply. |
| CNP or CNM temporary permit | $25 | Duration and renewability differ for examination and endorsement applicants. |
| CNP or CNM biennial renewal | $95 | The underlying RN license or compact privilege must also remain valid. |
| CRNA biennial renewal | $95 | Separate from the RN renewal amount. |
Recheck the official fee rule or current application immediately before payment. Criminal-background-check, Nursys and examination vendors may change their separate charges.
Check a South Dakota nursing application without starting again
Application delays usually involve documents controlled by another source: a nursing school, original licensing board, Nursys, national certifier or criminal-history agency.
Use the original Nurse Portal account
A duplicate application or profile can separate new documents from the active file.
Open Nurse PortalIdentify the exact application type
Separate examination, endorsement, RN/LPN, CNP, CNM, CRNA and CNS requirements.
Check each primary-source item
Confirm transcript, original-state verification, certification and fingerprint status individually.
Verify who must send the document
Your own uploaded copy may not replace a record that must come directly from a school or licensing authority.
Provide a precise status message
List the document, sending organization, date sent and delivery method.
Verify issuance before work begins
Use Online Verification to confirm the actual license or temporary permit.
| Pending item | What to check | Correct next action |
|---|---|---|
| Transcript | Whether the nursing school sent an official record showing completion and degree. | Ask the registrar for the exact sending date and destination. |
| Original-state verification | Whether the original jurisdiction participates in Nursys. | Order Nursys verification or use the board-to-board form. |
| Fingerprint packet | Whether the correct Board cards, authorization and payment were returned. | Contact the Board before replacing or resubmitting prints. |
| Practice verification | Whether employment dates and hours satisfy the 140-hour or 480-hour route. | Have the employer complete the required verification. |
| National certification | Whether the APRN certifier sent current role-specific verification. | Contact the national certifying organization. |
| Name mismatch | Whether the portal, transcript, verification and identity records use the same legal name. | Submit the legal name-change documentation. |
“I submitted a South Dakota _____ nursing application on _____. My application or license reference is _____. The outstanding item is _____. It was sent by _____ on _____ using _____. Please confirm whether it has been matched and identify the exact remaining requirement.”
The Board does not guarantee one processing time for every application. Criminal history, foreign education, missing practice evidence and delayed source documents can extend review.
Place a South Dakota license on inactive status—or reactivate it
Inactive status preserves a Board record but does not permit nursing practice. Reactivation requires the current renewal process and recent-practice evidence.
Choosing inactive status
- Submit the Board’s written request.
- Pay the current $10 inactive-status fee.
- Do not practise nursing under the inactive license.
- Check how inactive status affects multistate authority.
Returning to active status
- Submit the reactivation or renewal application.
- Pay the current biennial renewal amount.
- Provide practice evidence for the preceding six years.
- Complete reentry requirements after six or more inactive years.
Do not use inactive status as a temporary practice credential. Orientation, telehealth, volunteer nursing and paid clinical duties still require valid active authority.
An APRN reactivating an inactive license must also show current national certification and valid RN authority.
Verify a South Dakota nursing program before enrolling
Board approval and national nursing accreditation are related but different. Check both, along with the exact campus and degree pathway.
Open the current approved-program list
The official document identifies practical, associate, baccalaureate and advanced-practice programs.
Open Approved Nursing ProgramsMatch the exact program
Confirm the institution, campus and whether the pathway leads to LPN, ADN-RN, BSN or APRN eligibility.
Read the Board approval status
“Full” and “interim” approval are not the same. Read the current entry rather than relying on old marketing copy.
Check nursing accreditation
Verify ACEN, CCNE or CNEA status and its current review period separately.
Ask about NCLEX results and program changes
South Dakota rules use a minimum 75% first-time pass-rate standard during the Board’s measuring periods.
Get total cost and clinical details in writing
Include tuition, equipment, background checks, clinical travel, graduation rules and refund policies.
A general college accreditation statement does not prove that the specific nursing program has current South Dakota Board approval.
South Dakota Board of Nursing phone, email and address
Use Online Verification and the Nurse Portal first. For a case-specific question, identify the license type, application, document and date sent.
Licensure, renewal, compact, application and practice questions.
Use a clear subject line and do not email unnecessary sensitive information.
Confirm that the specific form may be faxed before sending it.
Central Time, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
Sioux Falls, SD 57106-3115.
Board notices, forms, practice guidance, meetings and education resources.
“I am contacting the South Dakota Board of Nursing about my _____ license or application. My license or application reference is _____. The online record currently shows _____. The document named _____ was sent by _____ on _____ using _____. Please confirm whether it has been received and identify the exact remaining action.”
Call before travelling. An office visit does not guarantee same-day document matching, background-check completion, renewal or license issuance.
South Dakota Board of Nursing FAQ
How do I verify a South Dakota nursing license?
Use the South Dakota Board of Nursing Online Verification page. Search by license number when possible and review the profession, status, expiration and compact information.
How often does a South Dakota RN or LPN license renew?
RN and LPN licenses renew every two years on the nurse’s birthday cycle.
When does the Board send a renewal notice?
South Dakota law requires the Board to provide renewal notice at least 90 days before expiration. The nurse remains responsible even if the notice is not received.
How much is South Dakota RN or LPN renewal?
The current published biennial RN and LPN renewal amount is $115.
Does South Dakota require CE hours for RN or LPN renewal?
South Dakota does not require a fixed package of general CE hours for ordinary RN or LPN renewal. It uses recent nursing-practice requirements instead.
What is the 140-hour nursing-practice rule?
An RN or LPN can meet active-status eligibility by documenting at least 140 hours of nursing employment or qualifying volunteer work in any 12-month period during the preceding six years.
What is the 480-hour alternative?
A nurse without a qualifying 140-hour 12-month period may meet the reentry standard by documenting at least 480 accumulated nursing hours during the preceding six years.
What if I do not have 480 recent nursing hours?
The nurse must complete a refresher course approved by the South Dakota Board before qualifying for active-status licensure.
Does South Dakota have a renewal grace period?
No ordinary grace period applies. A license not renewed by the deadline lapses and must be reinstated before practice resumes.
How much does RN or LPN reinstatement cost?
The current published total is $165: the $115 renewal amount plus a $50 reinstatement fee, before any applicable administrative fine.
Can I work while a reinstatement application is pending?
No. Wait until the official verification record shows valid active authority.
Is South Dakota a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes. Eligible South Dakota residents may hold a multistate RN or LPN license, and nurses from other compact home states may practise through a valid multistate privilege.
Does the compact cover APRN practice?
No. The compact covers RN and LPN/VN authority. South Dakota APRN licensure must be obtained and maintained separately.
How much is RN or LPN endorsement?
The current South Dakota RN or LPN endorsement fee is $100, excluding Nursys and criminal-background-check costs.
How long can an RN or LPN endorsement temporary permit last?
A South Dakota endorsement temporary permit may not be valid for more than 90 days.
What do CNP and CNM licensees need for renewal?
They need valid RN authority, current role-specific national certification, the required affidavit and the current biennial renewal filing and fee.
What is the 1,040-hour CNP or CNM requirement?
An applicant without 1,040 licensed CNP or CNM practice hours during the preceding five years must use an approved collaborative agreement for the first 1,040 South Dakota practice hours.
How do I check an application status?
Use the original South Dakota Nurse Portal account and check the application, then confirm transcripts, Nursys verification, fingerprints, practice evidence and certification items.
What is the South Dakota Board of Nursing phone number?
The main Board phone number is (605) 362-2760. The Board email is sdbon@state.sd.us.
South Dakota sources used for this guide
Forms, fees, portal instructions and Board policies can change. Recheck the applicable official source before submitting an application, renewal, reinstatement or payment.
For employers and public users
Use live Online Verification, match the person and role, confirm status and expiration, and verify multistate authority through Nursys where relevant.
For nurses and applicants
Track the birthday expiration yourself, keep recent-practice evidence ready, use the official Nurse Portal and never work while a license is inactive or lapsed.