South Dakota CNA Registry
Verify your certification status, check expiration dates, and find renewal information through the official South Dakota Nurse Aide Registry.
Visit Official Registry2 years
Renewal Period
At least 12 hours of paid CNA employment under licensed nurse supervision plus 24 hours of approved in-service training in the prior 24 months
Work Requirement
Yes
Accepts Reciprocity
Free
Online Lookup
How to Look Up Your South Dakota CNA License
Open the SDUAP verification page
Go to sduap.org/verify/ in any web browser. The verification portal is public, free, requires no login, and is available 24/7. The page is operated by the South Dakota Board of Nursing.
Select the search method
Choose to search by CNA registration number (fastest) or by the CNA's last name and first name. Partial name searches are supported.
Enter the search criteria and submit
Type the registration number or name into the appropriate field and click Search. The system returns matching active and inactive CNA records on the South Dakota registry.
Review the result and save the verification
The result displays the CNA's full name, registration number, registration status, expiration date, and any abuse/neglect/misappropriation findings. Save or print the page for your personnel file as documentation of the pre-employment registry check required by federal law.
About the South Dakota Nurse Aide Registry
The South Dakota Nurse Aide Registry is maintained directly by the South Dakota Board of Nursing (SDBON) through its Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (SDUAP) program. This is unusual: in most states, the Department of Health-not the Board of Nursing-operates the federally required CMS nurse-aide registry. South Dakota's model gives the same agency authority over both LPN/RN licensure and CNA registration, supporting consistent disciplinary practice across all three credentials.
Registry services-applications, renewals, endorsements, and public lookups-are delivered through the SDUAP portal at sduap.org, which is operated under SDBON oversight. The portal does not charge any state fee for initial registration, renewal, or interstate endorsement, making South Dakota one of the most affordable CNA pathways in the United States.
Competency testing is contracted to D&SDT-Headmaster through the TestMaster Universe (TMU) platform, with passing scores reported directly to SDBON for registry entry. The combined Headmaster testing fee of approximately $159.50 ($89 skills plus $70.50 written or $80.50 oral) is typically the largest fixed out-of-pocket cost for South Dakota candidates.
Contact Information
Official Website
https://www.sdbon.org/NursingAssistants/Index.aspPhone Number
(605) 362-2760Mailing Address
South Dakota Board of Nursing\n4305 South Louise Avenue, Suite 201\nSioux Falls, SD 57106
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CT
South Dakota CNA Testing Information
Testing Vendor
South Dakota uses D&SDT-Headmaster to administer the nurse aide competency evaluation. The exam consists of a written (or oral) knowledge test and a skills demonstration.
Visit D&SDT-HeadmasterTraining Requirements
South Dakota requires 75 hours, including 16 hours of pre-clinical instruction before direct resident contact. Training programs must be approved by the state.
Find South Dakota CNA ClassesSouth Dakota CNA Renewal Requirements
Renewal Period
South Dakota CNA certification is valid for 2 years from the date of initial certification or last renewal.
Work Requirement
You must perform at least At least 12 hours of paid CNA employment under licensed nurse supervision plus 24 hours of approved in-service training in the prior 24 months during your certification period to be eligible for renewal.
Employer Verification
Your employer verifies your work hours directly through the registry system. Keep your contact information current with your employer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a South Dakota CNA's registry status?
Use the SDUAP public verification page at sduap.org/verify/. Enter the CNA's name or registration number to confirm active status, expiration date, and whether any findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property have been entered. Federal regulations require facilities to check the registry before hiring and at each renewal.
What does it cost to apply or renew through the South Dakota registry?
Nothing. SDBON does not charge any state fee for initial CNA registration, biennial renewal, or interstate endorsement. Your only mandatory cost is the Headmaster testing fee of approximately $159.50 for new candidates, plus whatever tuition your training program charges (often free at long-term care facilities).
What is the renewal work requirement in South Dakota?
South Dakota requires at least 12 hours of paid CNA employment under the supervision of an RN or LPN in the 24 months prior to renewal, plus 24 hours of in-service training documented by your employer. Falling short of either requirement means you must retake the Headmaster competency exam to be reinstated to the registry.
Does South Dakota offer reciprocity from other states?
Yes. SDBON accepts free interstate endorsement applications through sduap.org/CNA/apply/endorse/ from CNAs in good standing on another state's registry whose training was at least 75 hours. SDBON verifies your status with your home-state registry; the process is free and typically completes within 2 to 4 weeks. No retesting is required for endorsement applicants in good standing.
Who administers the South Dakota CNA competency exam?
D&SDT-Headmaster, headquartered in Helena, Montana, is the SDBON's contracted testing vendor. Testing is delivered through Headmaster's TestMaster Universe (TMU) platform. The knowledge test costs $70.50 (written) or $80.50 (oral); the skills evaluation costs $89. Both portions must be passed within two years of training completion.
Are disciplinary findings shown on the South Dakota CNA registry?
Yes. Substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property appear in the public SDUAP verification record. SDBON also reports these findings to the federal Nurse Aide Registry Identifier system maintained by CMS, so they remain visible to other states that check the federal data.
South Dakota CNA Refresher Topics
Whether you are preparing to renew your South Dakota certification, brushing up before returning to work, or studying for the South Dakota Nurse Aide Registry reinstatement exam, these free guides cover the topics most commonly tested:
Patient Rights & HIPAA
OBRA '87 resident rights, mandatory reporting, advance directives — essential for any South Dakota CNA returning to active status.
Infection Control
Standard precautions, PPE protocols, and transmission-based precautions for South Dakota nurse aides working with vulnerable residents.
Safety & Emergencies
Fall prevention, RACE/PASS fire response, choking, and CPR — heavily tested on South Dakota CNA reinstatement exams.
Personal Care & Elimination
Bathing, peri-care, toileting, and incontinence management procedures used daily by South Dakota CNAs in long-term care.
Dementia & Cognitive Care
Validation therapy, sundowning, and de-escalation techniques for working with cognitively impaired residents in South Dakota.
Body Systems & Conditions
Recognizing strokes (FAST), hypoglycemia, pressure injuries, and CHF — essential clinical knowledge for active South Dakota CNAs.
Legal & Ethical Issues
Scope of practice, negligence, mandatory reporting, and professional boundaries — review essentials for any South Dakota CNA renewing certification.
Communication & SBAR
SBAR handoff, therapeutic responses, and adaptations for hearing- or vision-impaired residents — practical refreshers for South Dakota CNAs.
Data Collection & Reporting
Objective vs subjective documentation, pain scales, and what to report immediately — refresh the rules used daily by South Dakota CNAs.
End-of-Life Care
Hospice vs palliative care, recognizing signs of approaching death, and postmortem care — for South Dakota CNAs in long-term care settings.
Becoming a CNA in South Dakota?
See the step-by-step requirements to become a CNA in South Dakota, find approved training programs, or access free study materials.