Professional Engineer (PE) / South Dakota
2026 data South Dakota board official source

South Dakota Professional Engineer (PE) License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

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Provides engineering services to the public. Requires FE + PE exams.

What the South Dakota data shows for Professional Engineer (PE)s

South Dakota's path to professional engineer (pe) licensure runs through board-approved instruction, 4 years of supervised work experience, and a passing score on FE Exam then PE Exam before applicants younger than 18 can be licensed. South Dakota folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Bachelors Degree in Engineering".

Budget $109 to get started, plus $101 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. Maintaining the license requires 30 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

On reciprocity, professional engineer (pe)s should know: NCEES model law: recognized in most states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
33/100
Professional Engineer (PE) · 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 N/A
N/A
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee D
$109
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden C
$51/yr
$101 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
15.0 hrs/yr
30 hours every 2 years
Experience Required F
4 years
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in South Dakota

Education / Training Hours
Bachelors Degree in Engineering
Not specified
Exam Requirement
FE Exam then PE Exam
Required
Initial License Fee
$109
Renewal Fee
$101
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
30 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Not Required
Minimum Age
18 years
Work Experience Required
4 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Professional Engineer (PE) 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 Professional Engineer (PE) in South Dakota? ▼
South Dakota requires, passing an exam (FE Exam then PE Exam), and an initial fee of $109.
How do I get certified as a Professional Engineer (PE) in South Dakota? ▼
Certification as a professional engineer (pe) in South Dakota means clearing the state's checklist plus 4 years of work experience, and a passing exam score. The South Dakota licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Professional Engineer (PE) license to South Dakota from another state? ▼
Reciprocity for professional engineer (pe)s nationally works like this: NCEES model law: recognized in most states. Beyond that baseline, interstate compacts exist for many professions and may smooth a transfer into South Dakota. Verify the specifics with the South Dakota licensing board.
Does South Dakota require a background check for Professional Engineer (PE) licensing? ▼
There's no state-level background-check requirement for professional engineer (pe) licensing in South Dakota; some employers choose to screen candidates anyway.
What are the continuing education requirements for Professional Engineer (PE) in South Dakota? ▼
To stay licensed as a professional engineer (pe) in South Dakota, plan on 30 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $101.

Related Guides

What to do with this professional engineer (pe) license

Professional Engineer (PE) in South Dakota, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a professional engineer (pe)-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.