Hair Braider / South Dakota
2026 data South Dakota board official source

South Dakota Hair Braider 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

Natural hair styling and braiding. One of the most debated licensing requirements.

What the South Dakota data shows for Hair Braiders

South Dakota sets the entry bar for hair braiders at 1,500 training hours and a passing score on a state-approved exam. A background check is a standard part of the process. The credential is administered under South Dakota's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Cosmetology School".

Upfront cost is $75 on a 2-year cycle. There's no continuing-education mandate tied to this profession in South Dakota, which keeps the long-run cost of staying licensed lighter than in CE-heavy states.

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
Hair Braider · 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 Hair Braider 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 Hair Braider in South Dakota? ▼
In South Dakota, the license path calls for 1500 education/training hours, a passing exam score, and a $75 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Hair Braider in South Dakota? ▼
Certification as a hair braider in South Dakota means clearing the state's checklist: 1500 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The South Dakota licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Hair Braider license to South Dakota from another state? ▼
There's no published blanket reciprocity rule for hair braiders in South Dakota - applications from other states are reviewed individually. Interstate licensing compacts cover many occupations and may still apply. Reach out to the South Dakota licensing board for the current process.
Does South Dakota require a background check for Hair Braider licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for hair braider licensing in South Dakota. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.

Related Guides

What to do with this hair braider license

Hair Braider in South Dakota is one requirement row in a hair braider-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.