2026 data South Dakota board official source

South Dakota Certified Public Accountant (CPA) License Requirements

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

Provides accounting and auditing services. Requires Uniform CPA Exam.

What the South Dakota data shows for Certified Public Accountant (CPA)s

Becoming a licensed certified public accountant (cpa) in South Dakota means clearing a defined set of hurdles: board-approved training, a passing score on Uniform CPA Examination, and 1 year of supervised work experience, 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 "Bachelors Degree with 150 credit hours".

Upfront cost is $86, with renewal running $78 on a 2-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 80-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: CPA mobility: practice rights in all 55 US jurisdictions.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
41/100
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · 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 C+
$86
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden B-
$39/yr
$78 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
40.0 hrs/yr
80 hours every 2 years
Experience Required F
1 year
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in South Dakota

Education / Training Hours
Bachelors Degree with 150 credit hours
Not specified
Exam Requirement
Uniform CPA Examination
Required
Initial License Fee
$86
Renewal Fee
$78
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
80 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years
Work Experience Required
1 year
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 Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in South Dakota?
In South Dakota, the license path calls for, a passing score on Uniform CPA Examination, and a $86 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in South Dakota?
Certification as a certified public accountant (cpa) in South Dakota means clearing the state's checklist plus 1 year of work experience, and a passing exam score. The South Dakota licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license to South Dakota from another state?
Reciprocity for certified public accountant (cpa)s nationally works like this: CPA mobility: practice rights in all 55 US jurisdictions. 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 Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensing?
A criminal background check is mandatory for certified public accountant (cpa) licensing in South Dakota. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in South Dakota?
Licensed certified public accountant (cpa)s in South Dakota must complete 80 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The renewal fee is $78.

What to do with this certified public accountant (cpa) license

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in South Dakota, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a certified public accountant (cpa)-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.