South Dakota is one of the least populated states in the country, and its small-town feel is alluring to some travel nurses. Travel nurses who are outdoor enthusiasts enjoy South Dakota's unspoiled natural beauty and iconic attractions, including the Badlands and the Black Hills. Combine its vibrant environment with unique dining, shopping, entertainment and sporting events, and South Dakota offers one of the most active, yet laid-back environments for your next travel nursing assignment in South Dakota.
If this sounds great to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to your partners at Onward Healthcare who can guide you through every step of the licensing process. And, in some cases, we can even reimburse you for the fees associated with obtaining your nursing license. Don’t hesitate, reach out today!
Travel nursing jobs in South Dakota are plentiful at Onward Healthcare. Use our job search tool to search for high-paying travel nursing jobs within your specialty and desired location.
Apply for a South Dakota Nursing License
The first step in getting a nursing license in South Dakota starts with a visit to the South Dakota Board of Nursing website. Here, you will find everything you need to obtain your license--whether you are a new nurse or seasoned veteran.
There are a few types of applications:
- Endorsement
- Exam
- Renewal
- Reinstatement
Nurses who are already actively licensed will apply by endorsement and new graduates who haven’t obtained a state license will apply by exam. The fee for endorsement and exams is $100.
Renewal and reinstatement is for those holding South Dakota licenses that may be ready to expire or already lapsed. The state does issue temporary licenses for those needing to work immediately.
Temporary licenses will be issued when the following is received at the Board of Nursing office:
- Online application for licensure by endorsement or examination
- Completed Criminal Background Check cards and fee
- Nursing Education Information
- Completed application for a Temporary Permit and $25 fee
- NCLEX Registration (exam only)
- Photocopy of current license bearing an expiration date (endorsement only)
How to Renew Your License with the South Dakota Board of Nursing
You can easily renew your South Dakota nursing license by simply going online and filling out the renewal application form. The fee is $115.
To renew your license online you will need:
- Your first and last name as it appears on the renewal postcard that you received (If you did not receive a postcard, you may verify your current licensure information online.)
- Your social security number
- Your RN license number
- Employment verification – the number of hours you worked in the nursing profession (at least 140 hours in any 12-month period, or an accumulated total of at least 480 hours within the preceding 6 years)
- Your address as listed on your credit card statement
South Dakota Is a Compact Nursing State
South Dakota is proud to be a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state since 2001, and they also joined the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) in 2018. The compact authorizes a nurse licensed and residing in a Compact State (home state) to practice in other Compact (remote) States without obtaining additional licensure.
A nurse who resides in South Dakota and holds an unencumbered nursing license is granted a "multi-state privilege" to practice in any of the other Compact States. Likewise, a nurse who resides in and is licensed by another Compact State has a "multi-state privilege" to practice in South Dakota.
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