The South Dakota Department of Education (DOE) oversees the teacher certification process in the state. The main steps for the traditional path to teacher certification in South Dakota are:
Continue reading to learn more about the traditional certification pathway in South Dakota.
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This section outlines the steps for becoming a first-time certified teacher in South Dakota via the traditional route. If you have a bachelor’s degree but haven’t completed a teacher preparation program, check out our guide to alternative teacher certification in South Dakota.
The first step to becoming certified as a teacher in South Dakota is to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university. The bachelor’s degree major will depend on the grade level and subject to be taught. All prospective teachers will also complete a teacher preparation program as part of the bachelor’s degree. The DOE offers a list of approved educator preparation providers (EPPs) on its website.
You can compare key metrics for state-approved teacher preparation programs on our South Dakota schools page. You can also read about two important accreditations to consider, institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation, on our teaching schools guide.
All South Dakota teachers must complete a student teaching placement, which must be verified via official transcripts submitted at the time of application. Approved EPPs will include a student teaching placement/field experience/practicum as part of the teacher preparation program. This practicum will place students in a classroom aligned with their desired certification level and/or subject under a Student Teacher Permit from the SD Department of Education.
Student teachers must complete a minimum of 10 weeks of supervised experience. K-12 teachers must complete experiences at two levels, while birth through grade three teachers must complete experiences at both the preschool and elementary levels.
Prospective teachers will need to pass the South Dakota state-designated tests before becoming certified. South Dakota requires the Praxis Pedagogy and Content exams for prospective teachers. The exams are administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) and the requirements vary by the content area and grade level to be taught. In addition, you will need to complete a three-hour course in South Dakota Indian Studies (SDIS) and a 60-minute course in suicide awareness and prevention training.
Once all steps have been completed, you can apply for your Professional Educator Certificate through the SD Educator Portal (my SD). You will need to create a mySD account to access the online application. The following documents will need to be submitted with the application:
Visit the DOE website for additional information on receiving an educator license in South Dakota.
South Dakota educators with at least five years of teaching experience may be interested in upgrading to an Advanced Teaching Certificate. To be eligible, they must either have an advanced degree in an education-related field or be certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).
Guide to Other Teaching PathwaysThe Professional Teaching Certificate must be renewed every five years, and it expires on July 1 of the year of expiration. At least six education-related credits are required to renew a teaching certificate, three of which must be transcripted or specialized learning experience hours and three of which must include continuing education contact hours or transcripted credits. You can also participate as a mentee or mentor in a state-approved mentor program for two years instead of accumulating education credits.
For more details on each of the paths to renewal, visit the SD Department of Education’s Teacher Renewal Requirements page.
Most endorsements in South Dakota can be added to a certificate through a state-designated test, completion of coursework, or a major in content. For example, to add 5th to 8th Grade English Language Arts endorsement, you can either take one of the associated ETS Praxis tests or with an English Language Arts major with at least 27 specific related credits. You can look up the requirements for adding any endorsement on the SD Department of Education’s Educator 411 website.
If you have completed an education preparation program at an accredited out-of-state school that led to certification as a K-12 teacher, you can apply to become a South Dakota educator through reciprocity. Applicants can apply using the Out-of-State Initial Application if, in addition to completing an educator preparation program, they meet one of the following scenarios:
More details about the reciprocity process are available on the SD Department of Education out-of-state reciprocity page. You can learn more about transferring a teaching certificate or license between states on our guide to certification reciprocity.
In addition to standard educator certification, the SD Department of Education offers certification in support and administrative areas, such as Education Specialist Certificates. It also offers Educator Permits that restrict the holder to the endorsement listed and are available only for specified areas. Some of these administrative credentials include:
More details on related education licenses can be found on the SD Department of Education website.
Growth in Teaching Jobs in SD through 2030 2 *
There were an estimated 137,823 students enrolled in South Dakota’s 697 K-12 public schools during the 2017-2018 school year. 3 Based on an estimated 9,833 teachers during the same time period, South Dakota had a student-to-teacher ratio of nearly 14:1. 3
Overall, job growth prospects for educators in South Dakota are lower than the national rates. Job growth for South Dakota preschool teachers is projected at 15% compared to 18.4% nationally; for elementary school teachers, 6.5% compared to 7.4% nationally; and for secondary school teachers, 6.3% compared to 13.7% nationally. 2 One category, middle school career and technical education teachers, is projected at 33.3% compared to 13.2% nationally. 2
The table below provides a detailed comparison of job growth prospects and salary levels for South Dakota teachers.
| Type | Number Employed in SD 4 | Average Annual Openings in SD 2 | SD Proj. Job Growth 2020-2030 2 | Average Annual Salary in SD 4 | 25th Percentile Wages in SD 5 | 75th Percentile Wages in SD 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers | 1,280 | 180 | 15% | $32,810 | $27,390 | $37,220 |
| Preschool Teachers, Special Education | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Kindergarten Teachers | 660 | 70 | 6.1% | $47,280 | $44,720 | $49,900 |
| Elementary School Teachers | 4,100 | 330 | 6.5% | $48,390 | $46,450 | $50,590 |
| Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Special Education | 820 | 60 | 5.6% | $49,540 | $46,800 | $50,900 |
| Middle School Teachers | 1,960 | 160 | 6.6% | $49,230 | $46,580 | $50,430 |
| Middle School Teachers, Special Education | 300 | 20 | 7.4% | $49,650 | $46,200 | $55,690 |
| Middle School Teachers, Career/Technical Education | 40 | 0 | 33.3% | $47,860 | $42,030 | $50,900 |
| Secondary School Teachers | 3,390 | 240 | 6.3% | $49,190 | $46,500 | $52,100 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Special Education | 470 | 40 | 6.7% | $49,820 | $46,600 | $54,830 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Career/Technical Education | 320 | 20 | 6.7% | $51,120 | $47,760 | $56,020 |
*The estimated job growth average is based on projections for mainstream kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school teachers. Projections for other categories, such as special education and career and technical education, may be higher or lower than the average.
South Dakota has teaching shortages in several key areas. According to the US Department of Education Teacher Shortage Area report for 2023-2024, South Dakota has designated the following deficits:
According to recent research, there were approximately 176 unfilled teaching positions in South Dakota during the 2021-2022 school year. 7 A further 298 teachers in the state were considered underqualified for their position, which includes teachers assigned to classrooms outside their certification field on a temporary or emergency basis. 7
Question: What are the requirements to become a high school teacher in South Dakota?
Answer: To become a high school teacher in South Dakota you must be certified through the state. A five-year certificate requires the completion of a bachelor’s degree and teacher preparation program. Candidates must also pass the Praxis exams required by the state.
Question: How do I become a substitute teacher in South Dakota?
Answer: South Dakota does not have statewide requirements for substitute teachers, nor does it license them. If you are interested in becoming a sub in South Dakota, you should check with your local school districts for requirements and information on the hiring process.
Question: How many private school teachers are in South Dakota?
Answer: According to recent data, there were 1,007 private school teachers in the state during the 2019-20 school year. 8 These teachers were responsible for educating South Dakota’s 11,563 students at its 80 private schools. 8