South Dakota · verified 2026-07-29
Nursing home administrator license requirements in South Dakota.
How do I become a licensed nursing home administrator in South Dakota?
To become a licensed nursing home administrator in South Dakota, you need 60+ college semester hours, an Administrator-in-Training program of 240 hours, and the national NAB CORE of Knowledge and Nursing Home Administrator exams, plus this jurisdiction's own exam. The initial fee is about $490, and licenses renew with 40 continuing-education hours on a biennial cycle.
The detail
Every requirement, sourced and dated
- Board
- South Dakota Board of Nursing Facility Administrators Board source · checked 2026-07-29
- Education floor
- 60+ college semester hours At least an associate degree, verified by certified transcripts, is required as the education floor (ARSD 20:49:04:01). Board source · checked 2026-07-29
- Administrator-in-Training hours
- 240 hours
- 240 hours: Administrator-in-Training program: a minimum of 240 hours completed within 6 consecutive months, under a Board-approved preceptor, using the Board's internship manual and reporting forms (ARSD 20:49:01:01). South Dakota also accepts, in lieu of the AIT program within the preceding 4 years, a long-term healthcare administration practicum from an institution accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), with no separate hour count published in the rule for that alternative (ARSD 20:49:04:01).
- National NAB exams
- Required (CORE of Knowledge + Nursing Home Administrator) The computer-based Nursing Home Administrators Licensing Examination, or the Core of Knowledge Examination plus the corresponding Line of Service Examination (both administered by NAB), scaled passing score 113 (ARSD 20:49:03:01). Board source · checked 2026-07-29
- Separate state exam
- Required South Dakota requires its own state examination on the South Dakota Department of Health's nursing facility rules, 75% passing score, in addition to the national NAB exam; a $100 nonrefundable state exam fee applies (ARSD 20:49:03:01). Board source · checked 2026-07-29
- Initial license fee
- $490 $390 nonrefundable application fee (ARSD 20:49:04:01) plus a $100 nonrefundable South Dakota state examination fee (ARSD 20:49:03:01) equal $490. The national NAB examination fee is paid separately to NAB. Board source · checked 2026-07-29
- Renewal fee
- $390 $390 nonrefundable biennial renewal fee. Licensees renew by December 31 of each even-numbered year; active practice is not required to maintain the license (ARSD 20:49:08:01, 20:49:08:01.01). Board source · checked 2026-07-29
- Continuing education
- 40 hours per biennial cycle 40 hours minimum of continuing education directly related to nursing facility administration, health care, health care administration, or business administration, per 2-year renewal cycle (ARSD 20:49:08:03). Board source · checked 2026-07-29
- Reciprocity / endorsement
- by exam only Reciprocal licensure ($390 nonrefundable fee) requires a certified license verification from every other jurisdiction, an associate degree, an AIT program or CHEA-accredited practicum or 6 consecutive months as administrator of a licensed nursing facility, and passage of BOTH the national NAB exam and South Dakota's own state exam on Department of Health nursing facility rules; South Dakota does not waive its own exam for reciprocal applicants (ARSD 20:49:06:01). Board source · checked 2026-07-29
Statutes and rules: South Dakota Codified Laws Chapter 36-28 (Nursing Facility Administrators); Administrative Rules of South Dakota, Article 20:49. Figures change on the board's own schedule. Confirm against the board before you apply or pay.
Next step
Make it personal
- Get your checklist. The requirements wizard resolves South Dakota's requirements for your exact degree.
- Plan your hours. The AIT-hours tracker turns South Dakota's hour target into a finish date.
- Moving here from another state? The reciprocity checker reads South Dakota's endorsement rule.