To receive a cosmetology license in South Dakota or a license in one of the other beauty practitioner disciplines in this state you have to attend a licensed school and complete the minimum required training hours before you can take the state’s board exams. These required training hours are specified by the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission. After you pass the exam you can apply for the license. The fee for the examination and initial license is $80. Additional fees for the examination may also apply.

Minimum required training hours

  • Cosmetologist license: 2100 hours
  • Esthetician license: 600 hours
  • Nail Technician license: 400 hours

Examinations are already stressful, but a lack of information or misinformation only adds unnecessary stress. The exams are administered by the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC).Therefore, we advise every applicant to carefully read the examination information on www.nictesting.org and contact the Board or NIC  if you have further questions.

 

Contact Information South Dakota Cosmetology Commission

Mailing Address

500 East Capitol
Pierre, SD 57501

Location:
221 West Capitol, Suite 101
Pierre, SD 57501

Phone: (605) 773-6193
Fax: (605) 773-7175

Email: cosmetology@state.sd.us

WebsiteForms

 

Cosmetology License Renewal

Cosmetology licenses in South Dakota are renewed every year on with the date printed on the license. The renewal fees are $20 for all beauty practitioner disciplines. South Dakota does not require continuing education (CE) hours are for individual license renewals.

 

Out-of-state license / Out-of-country license

Out of state

An out-of-state license does not automatically qualify you for a cosmetology license in South Dakota. But you qualify for licensure through endorsement. Please contact the commission for further questions.

Out of country

If you are from a foreign country and wish to apply for a South Dakota license, you must:

  • have a current, active license or certificate from your country. (If you do not, you must apply as a graduated student and any work credit will not be accepted.)
  • meet the minimum education requirements. You may add documented work credit hours to education hours (600 hours maximum for cosmetology; 250 hours maximum for esthetics; 100 hours maximum for nail technicians. For example, 1500 education hours + 600 work hours = 2100 hours.)
  • have your education evaluated by a professional education company and submit the report to the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission. (A list of evaluation companies can be found here).
  • complete required education hours from a South Dakota school (300 hours for cosmetology; 150 hours for esthetics; 60 hours for nail technicians). This education must include:
    • federal safety requirements (OSHA and FDA)
    • South Dakota safety and sanitation requirements (laws/rules)
    • United States product information
  • submit the following in English (any translations must be done by an official translator):
    • reciprocity application
    • copy of birth certificate or naturalization record
    • copy of high school education or GED
    • current photograph
    • work credit (if necessary)
    • education evaluation report mentioned above
    • proof of education from your South Dakota school
  • pay the required application and examination fees ($100)
  • take and pass the NIC national theory test, the NIC hands-on practical test and the South Dakota state laws/rules test from the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission

 


Disclaimer: We don’t guarantee the accuracy of the above information. Ultimately the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission determines license requirements and will provide you with all needed information. We are not affiliated with the Commission in any way. If you have questions or comments please contact us here. The information on this page was last updated on 9/25/2017.