Getting a South Dakota nursing license by endorsement

Reviewed by Keegan, RN · ER & NICU travel nurse

Endorsement timeline, fees & requirements · Verified 2026-06-18

Not published. The board directs applicants to track status online.

South Dakota endorsement at a glance

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

How it works: South Dakota grants licensure by endorsement to an out-of-state RN holding a current active license elsewhere whose primary residence is not a compact state, or who needs a single-state South Dakota license.
Processing time: Not published. The board directs applicants to track status online.
Work while waiting: Yes. The board issues a non-renewable temporary permit valid for 90 days, once it has the online application, the temporary-permit application, the $25 fee, and the background-check fingerprint card.
Requirements: Nursys verification from the original state (or direct request for non-Nursys states), full fingerprints for a state and federal background check, and a verification of employment showing at least 140 hours in the past 12 months or 480 in the past 6 years. No state jurisprudence exam.
Fees: $100 endorsement application; optional $25 temporary permit.
Compact rules: South Dakota is a compact state. If your primary residence is a compact state and you hold a multistate license, that license already covers South Dakota practice with no application. If South Dakota is your primary residence, or your home state is non-compact, you must endorse.
Military spouse: An active-duty member or spouse subject to a military transfer to South Dakota gets expedited issuance with no fee under SDCL 36-1B.

Source: South Dakota Board of Nursing, RN/LPN by endorsement and military licensure, last checked 2026-06-18. Fees and timelines change; confirm with the board before you rely on a date.

Steps to endorse into South Dakota

1Check whether you even need South Dakota endorsement: if your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license may already cover you.
2Verify every nursing license you have held through Nursys (or the board's paper verification form for non-Nursys states).
3Complete the required criminal background check and fingerprinting.
4Submit the South Dakota Board of Nursing endorsement application and fee, plus any transcripts, state coursework, or jurisprudence exam the board requires.
5Apply for a temporary or interim permit if the state offers one and you need to work before the permanent license issues.

Start at the source: South Dakota Board of Nursing or the online licensing portal. Not sure if you even need to endorse? The compact eligibility quiz sorts compact privilege from a required license in two minutes.

South Dakota endorsement FAQ

How long does it take to get a South Dakota nursing license by endorsement?: Not published. The board directs applicants to track status online.
Can I work in South Dakota while my endorsement application is processing?: Yes. The board issues a non-renewable temporary permit valid for 90 days, once it has the online application, the temporary-permit application, the $25 fee, and the background-check fingerprint card.
Do I need a South Dakota license if I already hold a compact multistate license?: South Dakota is a compact state. If your primary residence is a compact state and you hold a multistate license, that license already covers South Dakota practice with no application. If South Dakota is your primary residence, or your home state is non-compact, you must endorse.
How much does South Dakota endorsement cost?: $100 endorsement application; optional $25 temporary permit.

Do I qualify for a compact multistate license?

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South Dakota endorsement at a glance

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

How it works: South Dakota grants licensure by endorsement to an out-of-state RN holding a current active license elsewhere whose primary residence is not a compact state, or who needs a single-state South Dakota license.
Processing time: Not published. The board directs applicants to track status online.
Work while waiting: Yes. The board issues a non-renewable temporary permit valid for 90 days, once it has the online application, the temporary-permit application, the $25 fee, and the background-check fingerprint card.
Requirements: Nursys verification from the original state (or direct request for non-Nursys states), full fingerprints for a state and federal background check, and a verification of employment showing at least 140 hours in the past 12 months or 480 in the past 6 years. No state jurisprudence exam.
Fees: $100 endorsement application; optional $25 temporary permit.
Compact rules: South Dakota is a compact state. If your primary residence is a compact state and you hold a multistate license, that license already covers South Dakota practice with no application. If South Dakota is your primary residence, or your home state is non-compact, you must endorse.
Military spouse: An active-duty member or spouse subject to a military transfer to South Dakota gets expedited issuance with no fee under SDCL 36-1B.

Source: South Dakota Board of Nursing, RN/LPN by endorsement and military licensure, last checked 2026-06-18. Fees and timelines change; confirm with the board before you rely on a date.

Steps to endorse into South Dakota

1Check whether you even need South Dakota endorsement: if your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license may already cover you.

2Verify every nursing license you have held through Nursys (or the board's paper verification form for non-Nursys states).

3Complete the required criminal background check and fingerprinting.

4Submit the South Dakota Board of Nursing endorsement application and fee, plus any transcripts, state coursework, or jurisprudence exam the board requires.

5Apply for a temporary or interim permit if the state offers one and you need to work before the permanent license issues.

South Dakota endorsement FAQ

How long does it take to get a South Dakota nursing license by endorsement?

Not published. The board directs applicants to track status online.

Can I work in South Dakota while my endorsement application is processing?

Yes. The board issues a non-renewable temporary permit valid for 90 days, once it has the online application, the temporary-permit application, the $25 fee, and the background-check fingerprint card.

Do I need a South Dakota license if I already hold a compact multistate license?

South Dakota is a compact state. If your primary residence is a compact state and you hold a multistate license, that license already covers South Dakota practice with no application. If South Dakota is your primary residence, or your home state is non-compact, you must endorse.

How much does South Dakota endorsement cost?

$100 endorsement application; optional $25 temporary permit.

Getting a South Dakota nursing license by endorsement

South Dakota endorsement at a glance

Steps to endorse into South Dakota

South Dakota endorsement FAQ

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Getting a South Dakota nursing license by endorsement

South Dakota endorsement at a glance

Steps to endorse into South Dakota

South Dakota endorsement FAQ

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