⚠️ Important: This comparison is based on published state licensing requirements and may not reflect recent changes. Reciprocity and transfer rules change frequently and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis by state licensing boards. This tool is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Always contact South Dakota Board of Nursing directly to confirm current transfer requirements before submitting any applications or fees.

Transfer Your CNA License: Nebraska → South Dakota

Everything you need to know about transferring your cna license from Nebraska to South Dakota

Reciprocity Available

Accepts out-of-state licenses

Requirements Comparison

Requirement	Nebraska (NE)	South Dakota (SD)
Education Requirements●	No specific education requirement; must be at least 16 years old. Ages 16-17 may assist but cannot independently use mechanical lifts (must be 18)	No specific education requirement mandated by state
Exam Requirements	Provider: Nebraska Health Care Learning Center (NHCLC)	Provider: D&S Diversified Technologies LLP dba Headmaster LLP; test scheduling coordinated via SDHCA (LuAnn Severson, 605-339-2071)
Experience Requirements	Not available	Not available
Fees	training program fee: $500-$1,200; competency exam fee: $100; state registration fee: $0; total initial fees: $100; confidence: high; sources: https://nehca.org/NEHCA/NEHCA/Educate/DCS.aspx; https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/pages/nurse-aide.aspx	training program fee: $500–$1,200; competency exam fee: $177.50; state registration fee: $0; background check fee: $30; total initial fees: 177.5; confidence: high; sources: https://www.cnalicense.org/by-state/south-dakota/
Renewal / CE Requirements●	Period: 2 years (continuous); Fee: $0	Period: 2 years (24-month period); Fee: $0 (no fee mentioned on official renewal page)

Data verified as of 2026-04-14. Requirements may have changed since verification.

Key Differences

South Dakota accepts out-of-state cna licenses via reciprocity/endorsement.
Education differs: Nebraska requires "No specific education requirement; must be at least 16 years old. Ages 16-17 may assist but cannot independently use mechanical lifts (must be 18)" while South Dakota requires "No specific education requirement mandated by state".
Renewal differs: Nebraska — Period: 2 years (continuous); Fee: $0; South Dakota — Period: 2 years (24-month period); Fee: $0 (no fee mentioned on official renewal page).

Next Steps

1
Contact the destination state board to confirm current transfer/reciprocity requirements. Visit South Dakota Board of Nursing →
2
Request credential verification from Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services — this often takes 4–8 weeks. Visit Nebraska board →
3
Gather required documentation (education transcripts, experience logs, exam scores).
4
Submit your application to South Dakota Board of Nursing.

These steps are general guidance based on common transfer processes. Your state may have a different process. Always follow the instructions provided by your state licensing board.

South Dakota Licensing Board

Board: South Dakota Board of Nursing
Website: https://www.sdbon.org/NursingAssistants/Index.asp
Phone: 605-362-2760

Contact South Dakota Board of Nursing to confirm current transfer requirements →

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GetLicenseMap is a research tool and does not provide legal, financial, or professional licensing advice. Licensing requirements vary by state and change frequently. Verify all information directly with your state licensing board before making licensing decisions.

Requirements Comparison

Requirement	Nebraska (NE)	South Dakota (SD)
Education Requirements●	No specific education requirement; must be at least 16 years old. Ages 16-17 may assist but cannot independently use mechanical lifts (must be 18)	No specific education requirement mandated by state
Exam Requirements	Provider: Nebraska Health Care Learning Center (NHCLC)	Provider: D&S Diversified Technologies LLP dba Headmaster LLP; test scheduling coordinated via SDHCA (LuAnn Severson, 605-339-2071)
Experience Requirements	Not available	Not available
Fees	training program fee: $500-$1,200; competency exam fee: $100; state registration fee: $0; total initial fees: $100; confidence: high; sources: https://nehca.org/NEHCA/NEHCA/Educate/DCS.aspx; https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/pages/nurse-aide.aspx	training program fee: $500–$1,200; competency exam fee: $177.50; state registration fee: $0; background check fee: $30; total initial fees: 177.5; confidence: high; sources: https://www.cnalicense.org/by-state/south-dakota/
Renewal / CE Requirements●	Period: 2 years (continuous); Fee: $0	Period: 2 years (24-month period); Fee: $0 (no fee mentioned on official renewal page)

Data verified as of 2026-04-14. Requirements may have changed since verification.

Key Differences

South Dakota accepts out-of-state cna licenses via reciprocity/endorsement.

Education differs: Nebraska requires "No specific education requirement; must be at least 16 years old. Ages 16-17 may assist but cannot independently use mechanical lifts (must be 18)" while South Dakota requires "No specific education requirement mandated by state".

Renewal differs: Nebraska — Period: 2 years (continuous); Fee: $0; South Dakota — Period: 2 years (24-month period); Fee: $0 (no fee mentioned on official renewal page).

Next Steps

Contact the destination state board to confirm current transfer/reciprocity requirements. Visit South Dakota Board of Nursing →

Request credential verification from Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services — this often takes 4–8 weeks. Visit Nebraska board →

Gather required documentation (education transcripts, experience logs, exam scores).

Submit your application to South Dakota Board of Nursing.

These steps are general guidance based on common transfer processes. Your state may have a different process. Always follow the instructions provided by your state licensing board.

Transfer Your CNA License: Nebraska → South Dakota

Reciprocity Available

Requirements Comparison

Key Differences

Next Steps

South Dakota Licensing Board

Prepare for Your Licensing Exam

Related Pages

Transfer Your CNA License: Nebraska → South Dakota

Reciprocity Available

Requirements Comparison

Key Differences

Next Steps

South Dakota Licensing Board

Prepare for Your Licensing Exam

Related Pages