Returning to Nursing in South Dakota

Built by Keegan, a travel RN · verified against official board sources

Reinstatement and refresher requirements · Verified against the South Dakota Board of Nursing · 2026-06-04

The South Dakota RN reinstatement fee is $165, plus any back renewal fees. What else your return takes depends on how long the license has been lapsed: short lapses are paperwork and CE, long ones can add a refresher course.

Grace period: No formal grace period. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited. Reinstatement is required if the license lapses.

What your lapse length means in South Dakota

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Late renewal window (likely)	Renewal fee + late penalty (South Dakota: $25). Total is usually $100–$300 above the standard fee.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (South Dakota: $165) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (South Dakota: $165) + refresher course tuition ($500–$2,500) + back fees. Total usually $1,500–$4,000.
6 years lapsed	Deep lapse: refresher course + possible re-application	If reinstatement is allowed: $1,500–$4,500 (fees + refresher). If re-application is required: $300–$800 in application fees plus NCLEX retake costs.

Size your exact situation with the reinstatement calculator, which uses the same board data.

Reinstating usually means catching up on continuing education. Earn it cheaply: free CE in South Dakota.

Refresher course rules in South Dakota

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: South Dakota keys reentry to employment hours, not lapse length: any applicant for active licensure (renewal, reactivation, reinstatement, or endorsement) who has not been employed in nursing at least 140 hours in any 12 month period over the preceding 6 years must meet reentry standards, which are either 480 accumulated nursing hours in the preceding 6 years or a board approved refresher course. The rule counts nursing employment anywhere, so verified practice under another state's license satisfies it.
What it takes: A board approved refresher course of at least 160 course hours, including a minimum of 80 hours of theory and 80 hours of supervised clinical experience. Approved providers are South Dakota State University and Minnesota State Community and Technical College; courses are formal self paced independent study programs, and clinical placement is arranged with the refresher program.
Re-examination: South Dakota publishes no re examination requirement for reinstating a lapsed license; the reentry standard is satisfied by practice hours or the refresher course. The only NCLEX retake rule in the chapter applies to failing the initial licensure examination.

Reinstatement filing itself is administrative: a satisfactory explanation for the failure to renew, the fee, and evidence of employment status for the preceding 6 years. After 6 or more years lapsed or inactive without practice, the board may require sworn written evidence of completed reentry requirements (SDCL 36-9-47.1).

Source: South Dakota Administrative Rules 20:48:03 and SD Board of Nursing refresher page, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in South Dakota

1Stop practicing immediately if you haven't already.
2Pull your CE records together: every certificate, every approved provider.
3Submit the reinstatement application through the board portal.
4Pay reinstatement fee + any back renewal fees.
5Expect a fingerprint background check (most states require one at reinstatement).
6Plan for 2–8 weeks of processing before you can return to work.

Start at the source: South Dakota Board of Nursing or the online renewal portal.

South Dakota reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in South Dakota?: The South Dakota RN reinstatement fee is $165, plus any back renewal fees the board assesses. A refresher course, where required, adds tuition on top (typically $500 to $2,500 nationally). Confirm the current total with the South Dakota Board of Nursing before applying.
Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my South Dakota nursing license?: South Dakota keys reentry to employment hours, not lapse length: any applicant for active licensure (renewal, reactivation, reinstatement, or endorsement) who has not been employed in nursing at least 140 hours in any 12 month period over the preceding 6 years must meet reentry standards, which are either 480 accumulated nursing hours in the preceding 6 years or a board approved refresher course. The rule counts nursing employment anywhere, so verified practice under another state's license satisfies it. A board approved refresher course of at least 160 course hours, including a minimum of 80 hours of theory and 80 hours of supervised clinical experience. Approved providers are South Dakota State University and Minnesota State Community and Technical College; courses are formal self paced independent study programs, and clinical placement is arranged with the refresher program.
Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my South Dakota license back?: South Dakota publishes no re examination requirement for reinstating a lapsed license; the reentry standard is satisfied by practice hours or the refresher course. The only NCLEX retake rule in the chapter applies to failing the initial licensure examination.
Is there a grace period after my South Dakota license expires?: South Dakota's published rule: No formal grace period. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited. Reinstatement is required if the license lapses.. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.
How long does South Dakota license reinstatement take?: Short lapses usually process in 2 to 8 weeks once the application is complete. If a refresher course is involved, plan around the course length, often 3 to 9 months end to end. The South Dakota Board of Nursing publishes processing updates on its portal.

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Returning to Nursing in South Dakota

Reinstatement and refresher requirements · Verified against the South Dakota Board of Nursing · 2026-06-04

Grace period: No formal grace period. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited. Reinstatement is required if the license lapses.

What your lapse length means in South Dakota

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Late renewal window (likely)	Renewal fee + late penalty (South Dakota: $25). Total is usually $100–$300 above the standard fee.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (South Dakota: $165) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (South Dakota: $165) + refresher course tuition ($500–$2,500) + back fees. Total usually $1,500–$4,000.
6 years lapsed	Deep lapse: refresher course + possible re-application	If reinstatement is allowed: $1,500–$4,500 (fees + refresher). If re-application is required: $300–$800 in application fees plus NCLEX retake costs.

Size your exact situation with the reinstatement calculator, which uses the same board data.

Reinstating usually means catching up on continuing education. Earn it cheaply: free CE in South Dakota.

Refresher course rules in South Dakota

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: South Dakota keys reentry to employment hours, not lapse length: any applicant for active licensure (renewal, reactivation, reinstatement, or endorsement) who has not been employed in nursing at least 140 hours in any 12 month period over the preceding 6 years must meet reentry standards, which are either 480 accumulated nursing hours in the preceding 6 years or a board approved refresher course. The rule counts nursing employment anywhere, so verified practice under another state's license satisfies it.
What it takes: A board approved refresher course of at least 160 course hours, including a minimum of 80 hours of theory and 80 hours of supervised clinical experience. Approved providers are South Dakota State University and Minnesota State Community and Technical College; courses are formal self paced independent study programs, and clinical placement is arranged with the refresher program.
Re-examination: South Dakota publishes no re examination requirement for reinstating a lapsed license; the reentry standard is satisfied by practice hours or the refresher course. The only NCLEX retake rule in the chapter applies to failing the initial licensure examination.

Source: South Dakota Administrative Rules 20:48:03 and SD Board of Nursing refresher page, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in South Dakota

1Stop practicing immediately if you haven't already.

2Pull your CE records together: every certificate, every approved provider.

3Submit the reinstatement application through the board portal.

4Pay reinstatement fee + any back renewal fees.

5Expect a fingerprint background check (most states require one at reinstatement).

6Plan for 2–8 weeks of processing before you can return to work.

South Dakota reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in South Dakota?

The South Dakota RN reinstatement fee is $165, plus any back renewal fees the board assesses. A refresher course, where required, adds tuition on top (typically $500 to $2,500 nationally). Confirm the current total with the South Dakota Board of Nursing before applying.

Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my South Dakota nursing license?

South Dakota keys reentry to employment hours, not lapse length: any applicant for active licensure (renewal, reactivation, reinstatement, or endorsement) who has not been employed in nursing at least 140 hours in any 12 month period over the preceding 6 years must meet reentry standards, which are either 480 accumulated nursing hours in the preceding 6 years or a board approved refresher course. The rule counts nursing employment anywhere, so verified practice under another state's license satisfies it. A board approved refresher course of at least 160 course hours, including a minimum of 80 hours of theory and 80 hours of supervised clinical experience. Approved providers are South Dakota State University and Minnesota State Community and Technical College; courses are formal self paced independent study programs, and clinical placement is arranged with the refresher program.

Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my South Dakota license back?

South Dakota publishes no re examination requirement for reinstating a lapsed license; the reentry standard is satisfied by practice hours or the refresher course. The only NCLEX retake rule in the chapter applies to failing the initial licensure examination.

Is there a grace period after my South Dakota license expires?

South Dakota's published rule: No formal grace period. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited. Reinstatement is required if the license lapses.. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.

How long does South Dakota license reinstatement take?

Short lapses usually process in 2 to 8 weeks once the application is complete. If a refresher course is involved, plan around the course length, often 3 to 9 months end to end. The South Dakota Board of Nursing publishes processing updates on its portal.

Returning to Nursing in South Dakota

What your lapse length means in South Dakota

Refresher course rules in South Dakota

Steps to reinstate in South Dakota

South Dakota reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for South Dakota nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free

Returning to Nursing in South Dakota

What your lapse length means in South Dakota

Refresher course rules in South Dakota

Steps to reinstate in South Dakota

South Dakota reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for South Dakota nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free