How many CE hours do nurses need in South Dakota?

South Dakota does not require a set number of CE hours for RN renewal; nurses meet renewal through the board's continuing-competency requirements.

What are the mandatory CE topics in South Dakota?

Mandatory CE topics in South Dakota include: Practice Hours Verification.

What is the renewal cycle for nursing licenses in South Dakota?

Nursing licenses in South Dakota must be renewed every 2 years. The South Dakota Board of Nursing oversees license renewals.

What is the RN renewal fee in South Dakota?

The RN renewal fee in South Dakota is $115. Fees can change, so confirm the current amount on the South Dakota Board of Nursing portal before submitting.

When are nursing licenses due for renewal in South Dakota?

South Dakota nursing licenses are due on the nurse's birthday every two years.

Is South Dakota part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)?

Yes. South Dakota is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state, so an NLC multistate license allows practice in all compact states.

Does South Dakota require CE Broker for tracking continuing education?

No. South Dakota does not require CE Broker, though some nurses use it voluntarily to track CE across multiple states.

What license types does South Dakota regulate?

South Dakota regulates the following nursing license types: RN, APRN, LPN.

How many CE hours do LPNs need in South Dakota?

South Dakota does not require a set number of CE hours for LPN renewal; LPNs meet renewal through the board's continuing-competency requirements.

What does APRN renewal require in South Dakota?

The South Dakota Board of Nursing does not set a fixed CE-hour mandate for APRN renewal. The APRN renewal fee is $115. Your national certification renews separately with its certifying body on its own cycle.

What happens if you miss the license renewal deadline in South Dakota?

No formal grace period. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited. Reinstatement is required if the license lapses. The RN late-renewal fee is $25. If your license has lapsed, do not practice until your renewal is processed; confirm your status with the South Dakota Board of Nursing.

Field guide · License renewal

South Dakota RN License Renewal Requirements

Name: South Dakota Nursing License Renewal
Creator: RenewRN

Verified 2026-06-04

South Dakota Board of Nursing · 2-year renewal cycle

Verified against the South Dakota Board of Nursing · Last reviewed June 4, 2026 · How RenewRN verifies its data

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

As of 2026, South Dakota requires no continuing-education hours for RN renewal. The RN renewal fee is $115 every 2 years.

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Quick Facts

Renewal cycle	Every 2 years
Renewal deadline	On the nurse's birthday every two years
Total CE hours (RN)	No fixed CE-hour mandate
Renewal fee (RN)	$115
Compact state (NLC)	Yes, NLC member · check your eligibility
License types	RN, APRN, LPN
Typical pay	See South Dakota nurse salaries

South Dakota is one of the few states that does not require continuing education hours for nursing license renewal. Instead, the South Dakota Board of Nursing requires nurses to verify practice hours: at least 140 hours of nursing employment in any 12-month period, or 480 accumulated hours within the preceding 6 years. Licenses expire on the nurse's birthday every two years. South Dakota is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state, allowing multistate license holders to practice across all compact states.

Verified against the South Dakota Board of Nursing, last checked 2026-06-04. Found something off? Let me know.

South Dakota CE Audit Response Guide

Response deadline, retention rules, board address, and the rejections that get nurses dinged.

Read the full South Dakota RN License Renewal Guide

Step-by-step walkthrough, common mistakes, and tips for a smooth renewal

How to Renew Your South Dakota Nursing License

1Receive your renewal notification from the Board approximately 60 days before your license expiration date
2Log in to the South Dakota Board of Nursing online portal at sdbon.org
3Verify your personal and employment information is current
4Confirm that you meet the practice hours requirement (140 hours in any 12-month period or 480 hours in the preceding 6 years)
5Pay the $115 renewal fee
6Submit your renewal application before your license expiration date (your birthday)

Visit the South Dakota Board of Nursing website for the official renewal portal.

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How to Submit Your CE in South Dakota

You attest to your CE when you renew and keep your certificates; you only submit documents if the board audits you.

South Dakota does NOT require continuing education for RN renewal; competency is met by practice hours, which the nurse attests to at renewal. The nurse verifies at least 140 hours of nursing employment/practice in any 12-month period during the previous 6 years, OR 480 hours total during the previous 6 years; a nurse who cannot verify the hours must complete a Board-approved RN/LPN refresher course. No CE certificates, no CE Broker.

Where it happens: South Dakota Board of Nursing online renewal

www.sdbon.org

If South Dakota audits your CE

Practice-hours verification (no CE audit); the board may require verification of the 140/480 practice hours.

Verified 2026-07-03 against sdlegislature.gov. Always confirm with the board before relying on it.

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CE Hours by License Type

South Dakota ranks #41 of 51 for RN renewal burden, one of the lightest in the country.See the CE Burden Index

Type	CE hours	Renewal fee
RN	0 / 2 yrs	$115
APRN	0 / 2 yrs	$115
LPN	0 / 2 yrs	$115

CE deadline calculator Check if a course counts Compare all states

APRN renewal in South Dakota. The board is only one clock: your national certification and any DEA registration renew on their own cycles. Full South Dakota APRN renewal guide

CE Requirements

Category	Hours	Required	Types	Description
Practice Hours Verification	0	Required	RNLPN	Must verify at least 140 hours of nursing employment in any 12-month period, or an accumulated total of at least 480 hours within the preceding 6 years. No continuing education hours are required.
National Certification (APRN)	0	Required	APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP	APRNs must maintain current national certification in their area of specialty through an approved certifying body. CE requirements are determined by the certifying organization, not the state board.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs): South Dakota CNA renewal is handled by the state nurse-aide registry, not the Board of Nursing, and follows a work-hours / in-service model rather than the CE above. Check your state nurse-aide registry for CNA requirements.

Find free South Dakota CE. Verified, accredited and state-approved courses. No upsells. Browse free South Dakota nursing CE courses

Important Deadlines

Renewal Due: On the nurse's birthday every two years
Grace Period: No formal grace period. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited. Reinstatement is required if the license lapses.
Record Retention: The South Dakota Board of Nursing sets no fixed retention period, so keep your CE certificates in case of audit

Missed your South Dakota renewal deadline?

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

What to do if your South Dakota license lapsed

Important Notes

• South Dakota does not require continuing education hours for RN, LPN, or APRN license renewal
• Instead of CE, nurses must verify practice hours (140 hours in any 12-month period or 480 hours in 6 years)
• APRNs must maintain national certification in their specialty area
• Licenses expire on the nurse's birthday every two years
• South Dakota is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state
• The Board sends renewal notifications approximately 60 days before expiration
• This information is for guidance only. Always verify requirements with the South Dakota Board of Nursing.

CE Providers & Renewal

Approved CE Providers

ANCCState Board of Nursing

Renew Online

Late Fees & Reinstatement

Late Renewal Fees

RN: $25
LPN: $25

Reinstatement Fees

RN: $165
LPN: $165

Already lapsed? The South Dakota re-entry guide covers refresher rules, costs by lapse length, and the path back.

Getting your first South Dakota RN license

Background check: Fingerprint-based criminal background check required. Every applicant for RN licensure by examination must submit a full set of fingerprints on a board-provided card to obtain a state and federal criminal background check through the SD Division of Criminal Investigation, and a permanent license cannot issue until that check is complete.
Application fee: $100 (initial license by examination)
Temporary permit: Available. SDCL 36-9-31.1 and ARSD 20:48:03:08 allow the Board to issue a $25 temporary permit (title "R.N. App.") to a graduate of an approved program who is awaiting results of the first NCLEX exam they are eligible to take, valid until exam results are received or 90 days, whichever is first, and practice under it must be supervised by an RN.

Applies to new RN licensure by examination. Verified against the South Dakota Board of Nursing.

Full guide: how to get your first South Dakota RN license

CE Audit Information

South Dakota does not require continuing education for RN/LPN renewal (competency is met by employment or practice hours), so there is no CE record-retention requirement.

Frequently asked questions about South Dakota nursing renewal

How many CE hours do nurses need in South Dakota?: South Dakota does not require a set number of CE hours for RN renewal; nurses meet renewal through the board's continuing-competency requirements.
What are the mandatory CE topics in South Dakota?: Mandatory CE topics in South Dakota include: Practice Hours Verification.
What is the renewal cycle for nursing licenses in South Dakota?: Nursing licenses in South Dakota must be renewed every 2 years. The South Dakota Board of Nursing oversees license renewals.
What is the RN renewal fee in South Dakota?: The RN renewal fee in South Dakota is $115. Fees can change, so confirm the current amount on the South Dakota Board of Nursing portal before submitting.
When are nursing licenses due for renewal in South Dakota?: South Dakota nursing licenses are due on the nurse's birthday every two years.
Is South Dakota part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)?: Yes. South Dakota is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state, so an NLC multistate license allows practice in all compact states.
Does South Dakota require CE Broker for tracking continuing education?: No. South Dakota does not require CE Broker, though some nurses use it voluntarily to track CE across multiple states.
What license types does South Dakota regulate?: South Dakota regulates the following nursing license types: RN, APRN, LPN.
How many CE hours do LPNs need in South Dakota?: South Dakota does not require a set number of CE hours for LPN renewal; LPNs meet renewal through the board's continuing-competency requirements.
What does APRN renewal require in South Dakota?: The South Dakota Board of Nursing does not set a fixed CE-hour mandate for APRN renewal. The APRN renewal fee is $115. Your national certification renews separately with its certifying body on its own cycle.
What happens if you miss the license renewal deadline in South Dakota?: No formal grace period. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited. Reinstatement is required if the license lapses. The RN late-renewal fee is $25. If your license has lapsed, do not practice until your renewal is processed; confirm your status with the South Dakota Board of Nursing.

Sources & Board Resources

South Dakota Board of Nursing

https://www.sdbon.org/

Sources

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Type

CE hours

Renewal fee

0 / 2 yrs

$115

APRN

0 / 2 yrs

$115

LPN

0 / 2 yrs

$115

South Dakota RN License Renewal Requirements

Quick Facts

How to Renew Your South Dakota Nursing License

How to Submit Your CE in South Dakota

If South Dakota audits your CE

Get the South Dakota RN renewal checklist

CE Hours by License Type

CE Requirements

Important Deadlines

Important Notes

CE Providers & Renewal

Late Fees & Reinstatement

Getting your first South Dakota RN license

Frequently asked questions about South Dakota nursing renewal

Sources & Board Resources

Cite or embed this page

Other Nurse Licensure Compact states

Don't miss your South Dakota renewal

More for South Dakota nurses

South Dakota RN License Renewal Requirements

Quick Facts

How to Renew Your South Dakota Nursing License

How to Submit Your CE in South Dakota

If South Dakota audits your CE

Get the South Dakota RN renewal checklist

CE Hours by License Type

CE Requirements

Important Deadlines

Important Notes

CE Providers & Renewal

Late Fees & Reinstatement

Getting your first South Dakota RN license

Frequently asked questions about South Dakota nursing renewal

Sources & Board Resources

Cite or embed this page

Other Nurse Licensure Compact states

Don't miss your South Dakota renewal

More for South Dakota nurses