Nursing License from New York to South Dakota: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does South Dakota accept a New York nursing license?
A nursing license transfers from New York to South Dakota by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the South Dakota Board of Nursing, verify your New York license, and meet South Dakota's endorsement requirements. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys.
Verify this exact pair in the checker
Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
This direction has a silver lining. New York is outside the compact, so you have been carrying a single-state license — but South Dakota is a member. Endorse into South Dakota, establish it as your primary residence, meet the uniform licensure requirements, and the license you receive is multistate: one application turns into practice privileges across the whole compact.
What's different between New York and South Dakota
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into South Dakota. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
New York to South Dakota (this page): Licensure by endorsement.
South Dakota to New York (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from New York matter?
Coming from New York matters here: only 11 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into South Dakota.
The others get: compact multistate — already covered (39).
- NLC membership
New York is not in the NLC; South Dakota is an NLC member state.
Because they are not both active members, the NLC does not cover this move.
A multistate license issued by South Dakota does not cover practice in New York.
- Application fee
South Dakota lists $100 for an out-of-state applicant and New York lists $143 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Exam rules on record
South Dakota and New York carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- South Dakota (this move): NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys
- New York (the reverse move): NCLEX is not retaken; your out-of-state license is verified to NYSED through Nursys (or Form 3 if your state does not participate)
What changes, New York → South Dakota
| New York (current) | South Dakota (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| NLC status | Licensure by endorsement | NLC member — multistate license honored |
| Application fee | $143 (licensure and first registration fee (Form 1); NYSED's $35 limited permit is only for applicants who have never taken the NCLEX-RN, so it is not available to nurses already licensed by exam; NYSED RN checklists list no fingerprint background check) | $100 (endorsement application (ARSD 20:48:06:01); optional temporary permit $25; fingerprint background check fee paid separately) |
| Processing time | NYSED does not publish processing times for RN licensure applications | board does not publish an endorsement processing timeframe; temporary permit available while the background check and endorsement are pending |
| Licensing authority | New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions | South Dakota Board of Nursing |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — South Dakota sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm South Dakota's current requirements on the South Dakota Board of Nursing website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the South Dakota Board of Nursing (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Submit fingerprints on board-provided cards for a state and federal criminal background check through the SD Division of Criminal Investigation.
- Request license verification through Nursys from your original state of licensure.
- Show at least 140 hours of nursing employment in any 12-month period within the past 6 years, or meet reentry standards (480 hours over 6 years or a board-approved refresher course).
- Apply online through the SD Board of Nursing Nurse Portal.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Do I retake the NCLEX moving from New York to South Dakota?
No — the NCLEX transfers everywhere.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- SD Board of Nursing — New LPN/RN License Application ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- ARSD 20:48:06:01 — Fees required of registered nurses (amended effective 2026-08-03) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- ARSD 20:48:03:07 — Application for license by endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- ARSD 20:48:03:16 — Eligibility for active status licensure, reentry standards ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- NYSED Office of the Professions — RN Pathway #3 (licensed in another state) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- NYSED Office of the Professions — RN License Requirements ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- NYSED Office of the Professions — How do I apply for Licensure by Endorsement? ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
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