South Dakota

South Dakota Licensing Overview

South Dakota licenses 32 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are about average when compared to other states. The state's licensing laws rank 27th in the nation. South Dakota licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Title Examiner (7 other).

On average, South Dakota requires $244 in licensing fees, 281 days of education and about 2 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry.

Which occupation in a South Dakota is the most regulated?

Out of the 32 occupations that require an occupational license in South Dakota, a license for Earth Driller, Water Well has the highest burden. A Earth Driller, Water Well license requires $200 in fees, 1 exams, 5 years experience, and no of education.

Which occupation in a South Dakota is the least regulated?

Out of the 32 occupations that require an occupational license in South Dakota, a license for Taxidermist has the lowest burden. A Taxidermist license requires $15 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in South Dakota is the most expensive?

An occupational license in South Dakota costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $2343 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in South Dakota is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in South Dakota costs the least for Coach, Head (High School Sports). A Coach, Head (High School Sports) license requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and 13 clock hours of education.

Which occupational license in South Dakota takes the most time to obtain?

In South Dakota, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Earth Driller, Water Well. It takes 1825 days (5 years) total. A Earth Driller, Water Well license requires $200 in fees, 1 exams, 5 years experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in South Dakota takes the least time to obtain?

In South Dakota, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Pest Control Applicator, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Title Examiner, Interpreter, Sign Language, Milk Sampler, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Taxidermist.

In South Dakota, which occupational licenses require exams?

In South Dakota, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Earth Driller, Water Well, Preschool Teacher, Public School, Athletic Trainer, Mobile Home Installer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Veterinary Technician, Barber, Cosmetologist, Shampooer, Massage Therapist, Pharmacy Technician, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Manicurist, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Emergency Medical Technician, Pest Control Applicator, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Title Examiner, Interpreter, Sign Language, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

South Dakota’s licensing laws for lower-income occupations are the 19th most burdensome. On average, its barriers to entry for these occupations are $198 in fees, 355 days of education and experience, and roughly two exams. Because South Dakota licenses fewer lower-income occupations than most states—32 of the 102 studied here—it ranks as only the 48th most broadly and onerously licensed state.

South Dakota licenses several occupations that are not licensed by other states, such as title examiners (licensed by six other states), sign language interpreters (21 others) and gaming dealers (27 others). Among those, sign language interpreters face particularly steep burdens. In South Dakota, they must complete an estimated 1,469 days of education—over a year more than the licensed-state average (1,088 days). And South Dakota’s license for water well earth drillers requires 1,825 days (five years) of experience, more than double the national average (837 days lost to education and experience) for the occupation.

The state also imposes burdens on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. For example, not only are South Dakota’s burdens for cosmetologists and barbers some of the steepest of their type in the nation, they are also much steeper than the state’s burdens for EMTs. The latter must complete just 150 hours (roughly 35 days) of education and pass two exams. But cosmetologists must complete 2,100 hours (roughly 490 days) of education and pass three exams, while barbers must demonstrate 1,500 hours of education and one year of experience (roughly 715 days total) and pass three exams. In 2017, South Dakota exempted hair braiders from the state’s cosmetology laws. It could expand opportunities by reducing or repealing its heavy licensing burdens for other lower-income occupations, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing them with less restrictive alternatives.

Burden Rank	Occupation	Number of States that License	Fees	Education/Experience (Days)	Education	Experience	Exams	Minimum Grade	Minimum Age
1	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	200	1825	None	5 years	1	0	0
2	Preschool Teacher, Public School	50	346	1460	4 years	None	2	0	0
3	Athletic Trainer	49	490	1460	4 years	None	1	0	0
4	Mobile Home Installer	37	435	1095	None	3 years	2	0	0
5	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	2343	730	2 years	None	1	12	0
6	Veterinary Technician	36	345	730	2 years	None	2	12	0
7	Barber	51	150	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	0	18
8	Cosmetologist	51	100	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	0	18
8	Shampooer	33	100	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	0	18
10	Massage Therapist	45	360	117	500 clock hours	None	1	12	18
11	Pharmacy Technician	44	154	117	500 clock hours	None	1	12	0
12	Makeup Artist	37	100	140	600 clock hours	None	2	0	18
12	Skin Care Specialist	51	100	140	600 clock hours	None	2	0	18
14	Manicurist	51	100	93	400 clock hours	None	2	0	18
15	School Bus Driver	51	186	1	4 clock hours	None	6	0	18
16	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	171	0	None	None	5	0	18
17	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	156	0	None	None	5	0	18
18	Truck Driver, Other	51	156	0	None	None	4	0	18
19	Emergency Medical Technician	51	98	35	150 clock hours	None	2	0	18
20	Pest Control Applicator	51	35	0	None	None	2	0	18
20	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	35	0	None	None	2	0	18
22	Gaming Cage Worker	30	111	0	None	None	0	0	21
22	Gaming Dealer	29	111	0	None	None	0	0	21
22	Gaming Supervisor	31	111	0	None	None	0	0	21
22	Slot Supervisor	29	111	0	None	None	0	0	21
26	Title Examiner	7	600	0	None	None	1	0	0
27	Interpreter, Sign Language	22	400	0	None	None	1	0	0
28	Milk Sampler	43	50	0	None	None	2	0	0
29	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	70	0	None	None	0	0	0
29	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	70	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	0	2	13 clock hours	None	0	0	0
32	Taxidermist	28	15	0	None	None	0	0	0

South Dakota Occupational Licensing

32 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

27th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$244