How to Become a Teacher in South Dakota
Here's how to become a teacher in South Dakota: you need a bachelor's degree, a state-approved teacher preparation program, passing scores on the state-designated test(s) tied to your endorsement, and a South Dakota Indian Studies course. The South Dakota Department of Education issues certificates, and several alternative routes exist if you already hold a degree in another field.
South Dakota's certification process runs through one office, the state Department of Education, but it has more moving parts than the "get a degree, pass a test" version most people expect. Here's what actually gets you into a classroom as you work toward becoming a teacher.
Choose What You Want to Teach
Start by deciding on a grade band or subject. Elementary, secondary, special education, and career/technical education all have different approved programs and different Praxis subject tests attached to them, so this decision shapes everything that follows. The South Dakota Department of Education maintains program and district information if you're still weighing options.
Earn a Bachelor's Degree and Complete an Approved Teacher Preparation Program
South Dakota requires a bachelor's degree plus a state Board-approved teacher preparation program in the area you want to teach. Most candidates complete both at once through a blended bachelor's/teacher-prep program. If you already have a degree in an unrelated field, a post-baccalaureate or alternative program gets you there instead. A school's certification advisor can point you to what's available.
Complete a Teacher Preparation Program
Programs combine coursework (teaching methods, classroom management, assessment, differentiated instruction) with fieldwork, usually classroom observation followed by a student-teaching placement under a mentor teacher. During student teaching, you'll plan lessons, manage a real classroom, and communicate with parents, not just observe.
Programs run online or on campus, and several institutions pair a master's degree with teacher preparation for those who want both credentials at once. Whichever format you choose, the program has to be approved for South Dakota certification to count.
Alternative Certification in South Dakota
If the traditional route doesn't fit, whether you already have a degree in another field or you need to start earning sooner, South Dakota runs several distinct alternative certification programs rather than a single one-size-fits-all path.
General Education Alternative Certification
The General Education Alternative Certification program, run by the Department of Education, covers grades 5-8 elementary assignments, secondary assignments, and K-12 areas such as music, physical education, and art. It combines on-the-job classroom training with mentorship, orientation, and required coursework in educational pedagogy and human relations, plus the state-designated test(s) tied to your specific endorsement.
CTE, Special Education, and Teach for America Alternative Certification
Beyond the general track, South Dakota also runs alternative certification programs for Career and Technical Education, for special education, and through Teach for America. Each has its own eligibility rules and application process, so check with the Department of Education for the one that matches your background and the area you want to teach.
Distance Delivery Alternative Certification Program
A partnership with the state's public universities lets secondary candidates complete coursework online while doing fieldwork in their own community. You apply directly through whichever partner university fits your schedule.
Pass Your State-Designated Test(s)
South Dakota's testing requirements vary by certificate, preparation route, and endorsement, so there's no single exam every candidate takes. Traditional-route candidates take a state-designated pedagogy test. Content-area testing is tied to your specific endorsement: many endorsements use a Praxis Subject Assessment, but others use a different state-designated test, including NOCTI for certain CTE endorsements. Some teacher prep programs also require passing scores before you can enter or exit the program, so confirm the exact test(s) your endorsement requires with your advisor or the Department of Education early, rather than waiting until you apply.
Separately, South Dakota requires a three-credit-hour South Dakota Indian Studies course for any educator new to the profession or coming from out of state, effective July 1, 2025.
Apply for Your South Dakota Teacher Certification
Application Requirements
To apply for an initial certificate through the South Dakota Department of Education, you'll need:
- A completed online initial application
- Official college transcripts verifying completion of an approved education program
- University sign-off confirming completion of the teacher education program
- Score reports for the state-designated test(s) required for your endorsement
Depending on your background, you may also need certificates from other states, verification of out-of-state teaching experience, documentation of legal alien status, records of any criminal offense disclosed on the application, or an evaluation of international academic credentials.
Contact Information
South Dakota Department of Education
800 Governors Dr #3
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-3134
Find a Teaching Job in South Dakota
Once you're certified, South Dakota's rural districts and persistent shortage areas mean openings are easier to find than in a lot of states. Teachers who meet state criteria can also apply for school loan deferment or forgiveness. If you're weighing options across state lines, see our guide to how to become a teacher in Minnesota as well.
Teaching in a Public School
South Dakota has ongoing shortages in art, technical education, English, health, music, physical education, science, and special education, from kindergarten through grade 12. To find open positions, candidates typically start with the Teacher Placement Service run by the Associated School Boards.
Teaching in a Private School
South Dakota has 86 private schools, generally with smaller class sizes and more rigorous curricula. Private schools aren't required to hire only licensed teachers, though most prefer to, and pay and benefits vary more widely than in the public system.
Where the Shortages Are
The U.S. Department of Education's most recent Teacher Shortage Area list for South Dakota named these as ongoing shortage areas:
- Career and Technical Education, K-12
- ESOL, K-12
- Art and Music Education, K-12
- Language Arts, K-12
- Mathematics, K-12
- Health and Physical Fitness, K-12
- Science, K-12
- Social Studies, K-12
- Special Education, K-12
- World Languages, K-12
- Elementary Education, K-6
Teacher Employment by Grade Level in South Dakota
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here's how South Dakota's teaching workforce breaks down by grade level and salary, as of May 2025.
| Occupation | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,470 | $44,500 |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 610 | $49,410 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 4,290 | $50,130 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and CTE | 2,130 | $50,980 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and CTE | 3,360 | $51,050 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | 790 | $51,090 |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | 310 | $51,360 |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 500 | $54,810 |
Job growth tells a better story here than it does nationally. Projections Central estimates South Dakota's classroom teaching roles will all grow between 2024 and 2034, not decline: elementary is projected up 4.9%, middle school and kindergarten roughly 5%, and secondary 5.1%, each adding a few hundred openings a year as the state's teacher shortage keeps demand high.
| Occupation | Job Growth (2024-2034) | Avg. Annual Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers | 10.2% | 210 |
| Kindergarten Teachers | 5.0% | 80 |
| Elementary School Teachers | 4.9% | 340 |
| Middle School Teachers | 5.0% | 170 |
| Secondary School Teachers | 5.1% | 240 |
| Special Education Teachers, K-Elementary | 5.0% | 60 |
Continue Your Education and Professional Development
Ongoing professional development isn't just a box to check. Teachers who keep engaging with it tend to see it show up in their students' outcomes, and high-achieving students carry that forward well past the classroom. South Dakota's Department of Education points teachers toward its Calendar of Events for state and regional offerings, and toward national opportunities like the annual Beyond School Hours Conference. If you're not sure where to start, your district office is the fastest way to find what's available near you.
One requirement to know about once you're on the job: certified educators complete a one-hour suicide awareness and prevention training every five years. Since July 1, 2024, compliance is verified through district accreditation rather than through your individual certification or renewal, so it's your district's responsibility to track, but it's still worth confirming you're current.
Earn a Master's Degree for an Advanced Teaching Certificate
A master's degree isn't required to teach in South Dakota, but earning one in education or in your specific teaching subject makes you eligible for an Advanced Teaching Certificate, along with simplified renewal.
A standard Professional Teaching Certificate renews every five years by satisfying one of the following:
- Serving as a mentee in a state-approved mentor program for at least two of the past five years
- Serving as a mentor in a state-approved mentor program for at least two of the past five years
- Earning National Board certification or recertification within the past five years
- Completing at least six education-related credits, including at least three transcripted credits or specialized learning experience hours
After five years of experience, National Board certification or an advanced degree in an education-related field qualifies you to apply for an Advanced Teacher Certificate. That certificate simplifies renewal further - mentoring, National Board recertification, or six education-related credits of any kind, with no transcripted-hour requirement. Read more about the credit requirements in state rule.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, South Dakota elementary school teachers earned a median annual salary of $50,130 as of May 2025. That's the state's baseline occupational figure. What any individual teacher earns depends on district, region, and where they land on their district's own pay scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tests do I need to pass to become certified in South Dakota?
It depends on your route and your endorsement. Traditional-route candidates take a state-designated pedagogy test, and content-area testing is tied to the specific subject or grade band you're seeking, with some endorsements using Praxis and others using a different state-designated test. Your teacher prep program or the Department of Education can confirm the exact test(s) your endorsement requires.
Do I need a degree in education to teach in South Dakota?
Not necessarily. A bachelor's degree plus an approved teacher preparation program is the standard route, but if your degree is in an unrelated field, South Dakota's alternative and distance-delivery certification programs are built for exactly that situation.
What is South Dakota Indian Studies, and why does it show up in certification requirements?
It's a required three-credit-hour approved course covering the history and culture of South Dakota's nine Indian Reservations. Effective July 1, 2025, it applies to every certified educator who is new to the profession or coming to South Dakota from out of state, regardless of grade band or subject.
How long does South Dakota teacher certification last before renewal?
A standard Professional Teaching Certificate renews every five years. Earning an Advanced Teaching Certificate through National Board certification or an advanced degree simplifies that renewal further.
Can I transfer a teaching license from another state to South Dakota?
It depends on how you were originally certified. Reciprocity works differently for a traditional out-of-state preparation program than for an out-of-state alternative certification. Applicants coming from an alternative-certification background may need to show several years of recent teaching experience, for example, so bring your current certificate and transcripts and let the Department of Education tell you what your specific pathway requires.
Is there a teacher shortage in South Dakota?
Yes, particularly in special education, science, math, and world languages, along with several other subject areas. That shortage is also why Projections Central's job-growth numbers for South Dakota run positive across nearly every teaching role, unlike the national trend.
- Bachelor's degree plus approved program - the standard path requires both, usually completed together through a blended program.
- Testing varies by pathway - there's no single exam every candidate takes. Your specific test requirements depend on your route and endorsement.
- South Dakota Indian Studies is required for every new or incoming educator - the three-credit course applies to anyone new to the profession or moving in from out of state, effective July 1, 2025.
- Multiple alternative routes exist - General Education, CTE, Special Education, and Teach for America alternative certification all cover different assignments and eligibility.
- Job growth runs positive here - unlike the national trend, Projections Central shows South Dakota classroom teaching roles growing 4.9-5.1% through 2034.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, and Special Education Teachers. Job growth projections (2024-2034) are from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central. Figures reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2026.
Certification requirements are only half the decision - the other half is finding a preparation program that fits your timeline and budget. The sponsored programs on this page include options for candidates who already hold a degree in another field.