Transfer Your Nursing License to South Dakota: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my nursing license transfer to South Dakota?
Yes — South Dakota participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN with a multistate license from another member state can work in South Dakota without applying for anything as long as they live in another compact state (moving here means applying by endorsement). Coming from a non-compact state, you apply to the South Dakota Board of Nursing by endorsement ($100 (endorsement application (ARSD 20:48:06:01); optional temporary permit $25; fingerprint background check fee paid separately)); the NCLEX is never repeated.
Moving to South Dakota from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
NLC member — multistate license honored
Whether you need to do anything at all depends on the license in your pocket. If you hold a multistate license and your primary residence stays in another compact state — a travel contract, a border commute, telehealth — South Dakota requires nothing from you. If you are actually moving to South Dakota, you are changing your primary state of residence, and that means an endorsement application to the South Dakota Board of Nursing to re-home your multistate license.
NLC member — a multistate license from another compact state is honored without an SD application unless South Dakota becomes the primary state of residence; $25 temporary permit available while endorsement is pending.
South Dakota requirements at a glance
| Exam | NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys |
|---|---|
| Fees | $100 (endorsement application (ARSD 20:48:06:01); optional temporary permit $25; fingerprint background check fee paid separately) |
| Processing time | board does not publish an endorsement processing timeframe; temporary permit available while the background check and endorsement are pending |
Comparing South Dakota with other states? Check RN endorsement requirements by state in the Endorsement Requirement Finder.
Step by step
- Confirm South Dakota's current requirements on the South Dakota Board of Nursing website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the South Dakota Board of Nursing (application linked on this page).
- 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
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into South Dakota:
Nearby states
Nursing license transfer into the states bordering South Dakota:
South Dakota for other professions
- Cosmetology / Barber in South Dakota
- Real Estate in South Dakota
- Contractor in South Dakota
- Teaching in South Dakota
- CPA / Accounting in South Dakota
- Electrician in South Dakota
- Plumber in South Dakota
- Engineering in South Dakota
- Pharmacy in South Dakota
- Physical Therapy in South Dakota
- Psychology in South Dakota
- Counseling in South Dakota
- Social Work in South Dakota
- Occupational Therapy in South Dakota
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the NCLEX to get licensed in South Dakota?
No. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys. No state requires a second NCLEX.
Is South Dakota in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes — South Dakota is an NLC member as of 2026-10-29. A multistate license from another member state is valid in South Dakota without any application, as long as your primary residence stays in a member state.
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)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com