Athletic Trainer / South Dakota
2026 data South Dakota board official source

South Dakota Athletic Trainer License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Prevents and treats injuries for athletes. Requires BOC examination.

What the South Dakota data shows for Athletic Trainers

Becoming a licensed athletic trainer in South Dakota means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 2,581 training hours, a passing score on BOC Examination, plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. South Dakota regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree".

Budget $66 to get started, plus $62 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 50-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

For athletic trainers, the reciprocity picture is: Athletic Training Compact: adoption underway.

Licensing Ease Score

C-
Licensing Ease Score
53/100
Athletic Trainer · South Dakota

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
2,581 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee A-
$66
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden B
$31/yr
$62 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
25.0 hrs/yr
50 hours every 2 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in South Dakota

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree
2,581 hours
Exam Requirement
BOC Examination
Required
Initial License Fee
$66
Renewal Fee
$62
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
50 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Athletic Trainer All South Dakota licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with South Dakota licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Athletic Trainer in South Dakota? ▼
In South Dakota, the license path calls for 2581 education/training hours, a passing score on BOC Examination, and a $66 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as an Athletic Trainer in South Dakota? ▼
Certification as an athletic trainer in South Dakota means clearing the state's checklist: 2581 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The South Dakota licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Athletic Trainer license to South Dakota from another state? ▼
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for athletic trainers: Athletic Training Compact: adoption underway. Many occupations are additionally covered by interstate licensing compacts that ease cross-state moves. Check with the South Dakota licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does South Dakota require a background check for Athletic Trainer licensing? ▼
South Dakota does require a background check before issuing an athletic trainer license. What counts as disqualifying, and how it's reviewed, is up to the state licensing board.
What are the continuing education requirements for Athletic Trainer in South Dakota? ▼
To stay licensed as an athletic trainer in South Dakota, plan on 50 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $62.

Related Guides

What to do with this athletic trainer license

Athletic Trainer in South Dakota, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in an athletic trainer-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how South Dakota's athletic trainer requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Athletic Trainer in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state athletic trainer license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how South Dakota's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. South Dakota overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the South Dakota licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.