StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in South Dakota

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$200
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
South Dakota Board of Nursing

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Graduate of a South Dakota Board of Nursing-approved practical nursing program, or eligible via the Board's LPN Licensure by Equivalency pathway, pass a criminal background check. SDBON licensure applications require a state and federal (DCI/FBI) fingerprint-based criminal background check; fingerprint cards and instructions are mailed to applicants by the Board after the application is received. [3]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. The SD Board of Nursing approves practical nursing education programs individually (see the Board's list of Board Approved Nursing Programs) and does not publish a single fixed clock/credit-hour figure for LPN programs on its public-facing pages. Applicants must be graduates of a Board-approved practical nursing program, or qualify via the Board's separate LPN Licensure by Equivalency pathway (for RN program non-completers or specific military education). Verified via archive snapshot 2025-12-12 (sdbon.org blocked direct automated access from this session). [1]

  3. 3

    NCLEX-PN

    Pass the NCLEX-PN (fee: $200). National NCLEX-PN registration fee paid directly to Pearson VUE/NCSBN, separate from any South Dakota Board of Nursing application fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to South Dakota Board of Nursing. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, South Dakota Board of Nursing issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for South Dakota.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] None specified
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $115
NCLEX-PN [2] $200

The SD Board of Nursing's own renewal-instructions page confirms a $115.00 renewal fee for both RN and LPN licenses (verified via archive snapshot 2025-12-12; sdbon.org blocked direct automated access from this session). A new-license application fee (commonly cited elsewhere as $100, or $125 with a temporary permit) is referenced across third-party nursing-license aggregator sites, but this agent could not locate the dollar figure stated directly on an accessible SDBON page or in South Dakota's administrative rules (ARSD 20:48, a JavaScript-rendered site not scrapable in this session), so it is left null per the no-guessing rule rather than cited from a non-official source.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

SD LPN licenses renew every two years on a biennial birth-date system (license expires the last day of the month following the licensee's birth month). South Dakota does not require continuing education contact hours for RN/LPN renewal; instead licensees must verify at least 140 hours worked in nursing in the preceding 12 months, or 480 hours in the preceding 6 years.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available. Participates in: Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).

South Dakota implemented the NLC on Jan. 19, 2018, confirmed on the compact commission's official member-jurisdiction list (NurseCompact.com / NCSBN NLC map, revised Sept. 6, 2023, retrieved 2026-07-10). Applicants who do not hold an NLC multistate license from a compact state may still apply for a South Dakota license by endorsement through the Board's Nurse Portal.

4 state-approved training providers in South Dakota — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $200
Total$200

Frequently asked questions

What exam do I need to pass to become an LPN in South Dakota?

You must pass the NCLEX-PN, administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of NCSBN. The national NCLEX-PN registration fee is $200.

How long after I pass the NCLEX will my South Dakota LPN license be issued?

Per the Board's own licensure page, once the Board receives your official NCLEX results, your new license is typically issued by 5:00 p.m. the next business day; you can then verify your active license on the Board's online verification site.

How often do LPN licenses need to be renewed in South Dakota?

LPN licenses renew every two years on a birth-date cycle. The renewal fee is $115.00. South Dakota does not require continuing education hours for renewal, but you must verify at least 140 hours worked in nursing during the prior 12 months (or 480 hours over the prior 6 years).

Does South Dakota participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)?

Yes. South Dakota has been an implemented NLC member since January 19, 2018, so nurses holding an NLC multistate license from another compact state may practice in South Dakota without obtaining an additional license.

Does South Dakota offer LPN licensure by equivalency?

Yes, but only for specific applicants: RN program graduates or partial completers who did not pass the NCLEX-RN after at least two attempts, or certain military-trained applicants. An LPN license issued by equivalency is valid only to practice in South Dakota and may not endorse into other states.

Sources

  1. [1] sdbon.org/rn_lpn/ — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] sdbon.org/NurseLicensure/NewRNLPN.asp — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] sdbon.org/NurseLicensure/RenewalApp.asp — accessed 2026-07-10