Esthetician / South Dakota
2026 data South Dakota board official source

South Dakota Esthetician License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Specializes in skin care including facials and waxing.

What the South Dakota data shows for Estheticians

Becoming a licensed esthetician in South Dakota means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 1,500 training hours, a passing score on a state-approved exam, plus a background history check. South Dakota regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Cosmetology School".

Upfront cost is $75 on a 2-year cycle. Continuing education is not a listed requirement for this profession in South Dakota, so the annualized maintenance burden is lower than in states that mandate ongoing hours.

South Dakota evaluates out-of-state credentials case-by-case rather than through a published reciprocity list.

Licensing Ease Score

C-
Licensing Ease Score
53/100
Esthetician · 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
1,500 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee B+
$75
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in South Dakota

Education / Training Hours
Cosmetology School
1,500 hours
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$75
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Esthetician 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 Esthetician in South Dakota? ▼
South Dakota's requirements cover 1500 hours of education or training, a state exam, and an initial fee of $75. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as an Esthetician in South Dakota? ▼
To become a licensed esthetician in South Dakota, you must meet the state's requirements including 1500 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the South Dakota licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Esthetician license to South Dakota from another state? ▼
South Dakota doesn't publish a standing reciprocity policy for estheticians; each out-of-state application is reviewed on its own merits. Some professions fall under interstate compacts that ease portability regardless. The South Dakota licensing board can confirm what applies to your case.
Does South Dakota require a background check for Esthetician licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the esthetician licensing process in South Dakota. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.

Related Guides

What to do with this esthetician license

Esthetician in South Dakota is one requirement row in an esthetician-wide, 50-state comparison.

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.