How to become a CNA in South Dakota.
South Dakota requires 75 hours of nurse aide training, including 16 hours of supervised clinical practice. Then you pass the state exam through Headmaster and get listed on the nurse aide registry.
- 75
- Training hours
- 16
- Clinical hours
- Varies
- Exam fee
- 93
- Programs
Step by step
Five steps to your South Dakota certification
- 1
Meet the entry requirements
Board screens applications for misconduct; training programs must not enroll students with findings or convictions for abuse, neglect, or exploitation. No state fingerprint check for CNA registration found in official sources. Most programs also ask for photo ID, a TB test, and proof of immunizations.
- 2
Finish a state approved training program
South Dakota requires 75 training hours, including 16 hours of supervised clinical work. Only programs approved by the state qualify you for the exam.
See all 93 approved programs in South Dakota - 3
Pass the state competency exam
The exam has a written or oral knowledge test and a hands on skills test, run by Headmaster. Knowledge exam: 3 attempts total (first plus 2 retakes), then the instructor must give additional instruction. Skills checklist: each can be retaken 2 times.
- 4
Get listed on the nurse aide registry
Once you pass, your name goes on the South Dakota Board of Nursing CNA Registry (SD UAP). Employers check the registry before they hire you.
Search the SD registry - 5
Keep your certification active
Every 2 years; at least 12 hours of paid nursing or nursing related services in the preceding 2 years AND 12 hours of in-service education annually (must cover dementia management and abuse, neglect, exploitation, misappropriation reporting). Otherwise must pass knowledge exam and skills evaluation again.
Online classes
Online classroom allowed, with state conditions. Ask each program how its classroom hours are delivered. Skills lab and clinical hours are always in person.
Moving from another state
Registration by endorsement: completed a NATP of at least 75 hours, active CNA registration on another state's registry, no findings or convictions of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation. Apply online via sduap.org.
Paying for training
Vouchers, employers, grants, and scholarships cover nurse aide training in South Dakota.
CNA funding in South Dakota →South Dakota CNA requirements
- Credential
- Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Training hours
- 75 hours
- Clinical hours
- 16 hours
- Exam provider
- Headmaster
- Fee details
- Knowledge exam $45 per attempt (onsite, RN remote proctored, or audio version all $45; retake $45). Skills evaluation is done by the program's RN Skills Evaluator, no vendor fee published. Programs without an RN Skills Evaluator had to use the SDHCA/Headmaster skills exam until May 1, 2026. Students employed by a nursing facility cannot be charged for training or testing. $25 test review deposit; $35 refund processing fee. Board notes the knowledge exam contract will go to RFP, so the vendor may change.
- Retakes
- Knowledge exam: 3 attempts total (first plus 2 retakes), then the instructor must give additional instruction. Skills checklist: each can be retaken 2 times.
- Background check
- Board screens applications for misconduct; training programs must not enroll students with findings or convictions for abuse, neglect, or exploitation. No state fingerprint check for CNA registration found in official sources.
- Online classroom
- Online classroom allowed, with state conditions
- Regulator
- South Dakota Board of Nursing
Checked September 2026 against official state and exam provider sources: sdlegislature.gov, sdbon.org. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the state or your program before you pay.
Becoming a CNA in South Dakota, answered.
How many hours of training do you need to be a CNA in South Dakota?
South Dakota requires 75 hours of nurse aide training, including 16 hours of supervised clinical practice. Then you pass the state exam through Headmaster and get listed on the nurse aide registry.
Who gives the CNA exam in South Dakota?
Headmaster runs the South Dakota nurse aide competency exam.
Can you take CNA classes online in South Dakota?
Online classroom allowed, with state conditions. Skills lab and clinical hours are always in person.
I am a CNA in another state. Can I work in South Dakota?
Registration by endorsement: completed a NATP of at least 75 hours, active CNA registration on another state's registry, no findings or convictions of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation. Apply online via sduap.org.
How do you renew a CNA certification in South Dakota?
Every 2 years; at least 12 hours of paid nursing or nursing related services in the preceding 2 years AND 12 hours of in-service education annually (must cover dementia management and abuse, neglect, exploitation, misappropriation reporting). Otherwise must pass knowledge exam and skills evaluation again.
How do I pay for CNA training in South Dakota?
Workforce vouchers, employer sponsorship, state grants, and scholarships all pay for nurse aide training. A nursing home that hires you within a year of certification must reimburse your training costs under federal rules.
Start your training in South Dakota.
Compare approved programs, then get matched to funding that pays for it.