Professional Licensure – South Dakota

Licensing Agency

South Dakota Secretary of State

Georgia Southern University is authorized to operate in South Dakota through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). 

Athletic Training 

State Board

South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners (Athletic Trainer)

Licensure Disclosure

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Science in Athletic Training program does meet educational requirements to qualify for Athletic Trainer licensure in South Dakota. Upon graduation eligible students must take and pass the Board of Certification Examination to obtain licensure in South Dakota.

Accounting

State Board

South Dakota Board of Accountancy

Distance Education Disclosure
Georgia Southern University is authorized to deliver the online Master of Accounting (WebMAcc) program in South Dakota through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

Exam & Licensure Requirements 

Applicants for the uniform CPA exam or CPA licensure in South Dakota must complete at least 150 semester hours of postsecondary education, including a baccalaureate or graduate degree in accounting at a regionally accredited institution. Of those, 24 hours must be in accounting, including elementary principles of accounting and at least one course in each of the following: intermediate or advanced accounting, auditing, taxation, and cost accounting. In addition, 24 hours must be in business courses. 

Licensure Disclosure

Coupled with an undergraduate accounting degree or an appropriate number of accounting courses, completion of either Georgia Southern University’s Master of Accounting program or Georgia Southern University’s online Master of Accounting (WebMAcc) program does meet educational requirements to apply for the uniform CPA exam and/or apply for a CPA license in South Dakota.

South Dakota requires the AICPA ethics exam to obtain a CPA license. Georgia Southern University’s Master of Accounting program meets the educational requirements for ethics education that prepare students to sit for the appropriate ethics exams.

Communication Sciences and Disorders 

State Board

South Dakota Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology

Licensure Disclosure 

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Science in Communication Sciences Disorders does meet educational requirements for Speech-Language Pathologist in South Dakota.

Education

State Board

South Dakota Department of Education

Distance Education Disclosure

Georgia Southern is authorized to offer the following online programs in South Dakota through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA): Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Education in Curriculum Instruction – Accomplished Teaching, Master of Education in Educational Leadership, Master of Education in Instructional Technology, Graduate Certificate in Instructional Technology, Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership, Graduate Certificate in School Library Media

Licensure Disclosure (Distance Education Programs)

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education does NOT meet educational requirements for Elementary Education teaching certification in South Dakota. 

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Arts in Teaching does NOT meet requirements for initial teaching certification in South Dakota.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction – Accomplished Teaching does NOT meet educational requirements for Curriculum and Instruction teaching certification in South Dakota.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Educational Leadership does NOT meet educational requirements for Tier 1 teacher/leader certification in South Dakota.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Instructional Technology, Concentration in Instructional Technology does NOT meet educational requirements for Instructional Technology teaching certification in South Dakota.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Instructional Technology, Concentration in School Library Media does NOT meet educational requirements for Instructional Technology teaching certification in South Dakota.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Graduate Certificate in Instructional Technology does NOT meet educational requirements for Instructional Technology teaching certification in South Dakota.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership does NOT meet educational requirements for Tier 1 teacher/leader certification in South Dakota.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Graduate Certificate in School Library Media does NOT meet educational requirements for School Library Media teacher/leader certification in South Dakota.

Licensure Disclosure (On-Campus Programs)

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education does NOT meet educational requirements for Health and Physical Education teaching certification in South Dakota. 

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education  does NOT meet educational requirements for Middle Grades Education teaching certification in South Dakota.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education does NOT meet educational requirements for Secondary Education teaching certification in South Dakota.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Special Education does NOT meet educational requirements for Special Education teaching certification in South Dakota.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Counseling Education, Concentration in School Counseling does NOT meet educational requirements for School Counselor certification in South Dakota.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Counseling Education, Concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling does NOT meet educational requirements for either National Certified Counselor (NCC) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) certification in South Dakota.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Education Specialist in School Psychology does NOT meet educational requirements for School Psychologist certification in South Dakota.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts, Art Education does NOT meet educational requirements for Art Education teaching certification in South Dakota.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Music in Music Education does NOT meet educational requirements for Music Education teaching certification in South Dakota.

Engineering

State Board

South Dakota Board of Technical Professions

Licensure Disclosure

State licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) is not required to work in the field of engineering. However, many employment opportunities require a PE license.

Georgia Southern’s Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering are EAC-ABET-accredited.

The minimum requirements for a PE license include completion of a BS degree in Engineering from an EAC-ABET accredited engineering program; successful completion of the Fundamental of Engineering (FE) Exam; successful completion of the Professional Engineer (PE) Exam; and 4-years of work experience as specified by the state’s licensing board.

Completion of Georgia Southern’s Bachelor of Science Programs in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Manufacturing Engineering meet the educational requirements to begin the licensure process in South Dakota by providing the coursework necessary to sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination. Software Engineering does not have a specific PE examination. It is typically recommended that candidates sit for their FE exam toward the end of their senior year, or soon after graduation.

Georgia Southern’s embedded Surveying-Geomatics certificate meets the educational requirements to apply for professional land surveyor license (PLS) in South Dakota.

Geology 

Licensure Disclosure

South Dakota does not require Professional Geologist licensure or registration.

Interior Architecture and Design

South Dakota does not require NCIDQ certification to be employed as an Interior Designer. 

Medical Laboratory Science 

Distance Education Disclosure

Georgia Southern is authorized to offer the online Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science, MLT to BSMLS and Fast Track Degree Completion program in South Dakota. through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

Licensure Disclosure 

Licensure is not required to work in a medical laboratory in South Dakota.

Nursing 

State Board

South Dakota Board of Nursing

Distance Education Disclosure

Georgia Southern is authorized to offer the following online programs in South Dakota through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA):  RN-BSN and Master of Science in Nursing.

Georgia Southern is NOT authorized to deliver the online Doctor of Nursing Practice, Post-BSN to DNP, or Post-MSN APRN Certificate (Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, or Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) programs in South Dakota. Students must be physically located in South Carolina or Georgia to enroll in any DNP or Post-MSN APRN Certificate program at Georgia Southern. 

Licensure Disclosure

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s on-campus Bachelor of Science in Nursing program does meet the educational requirements for Registered Nurse licensure in South Dakota.

Completion of the online DNP, Post-BSN to DNP, or Post-MSN APRN Certificate (Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, or Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) programs meets educational requirements to sit for national specialty certifications in the chosen advanced practice specialty track and to apply for an APRN license (Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) in South Dakota. Georgia and South Carolina residents with a valid South Dakota RN license or an eNLC license can apply for APRN licensure in South Dakota upon graduation, but students cannot live in South Dakota while taking online DNP or Post-MSN APRN Certificate classes. 

Physical Therapy

State Board

South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners (Physical Therapy)

Licensure Disclosure

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program does meet educational requirements for Physical Therapist licensure in South Dakota. Upon completion, eligible students must also pass the National Physical Therapist Examination, which is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Additional testing, background clearance, and other requirements may also need to be met prior to applying for admission through the South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners (Physical Therapy)

Psychology

State Board

South Dakota Board of Psychologist Examiners

Licensure Disclosure

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Science in Psychology does meet educational requirements for Board Certified Behavior Analyst licensure in South Dakota. Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Certification (before becoming licensed): To earn your Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Certification via “Pathway 1,” which is offered in the Georgia Southern Department of Psychology, you must: a) Earn a Master’s degree from an Association of Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) verified program, b) Obtain 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork, and c) Pass the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) BCBA Certification Exam. The MS – Psychology (Behavior Analysis Concentration) degree provides the Association of Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) verified coursework. In addition, through some elective course options, students could begin accruing supervised field work hours, however, it is not guaranteed that 2,000 may be earned while enrolled in the program. The BACB BCBA Certification Exam would be taken after students complete the MS – Psychology (Behavior Analysis Concentration) degree, and is scheduled directly through the BACB. For more information about pathways toward earning the BCBA certification, please visit this website: https://www.bacb.com/bcba/ 

In South Dakota, you must be a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), and may need to meet other requirements specified by the South Dakota Department of Social Services to earn licensure. Information pertaining to this may be found at the following link: https://dss.sd.gov/licensingboards/socialwork/abacommittee.aspx 

Information about US Behavior Analyst Licensure via the BACB may be found at: https://www.bacb.com/u-s-licensure-of-behavior-analysts/

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology does meet education requirements for psychologist licensure in South Dakota. To qualify for licensure, students must have courses in the following specific content areas:  Research, Ethical and legal standards, Supervision, Biological aspects of behavior, Cognitive and affective aspects of behavior, Social aspects of behavior; cultural and individual diversity, Psychological measurement per research methodology, Individual differences in behavior, Professional standards and ethics.

Radiologic Sciences 

Distance Education Disclosure

Georgia Southern University is authorized to offer the online Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences, RT to BSRS Bridge Degree Completion program in South Dakota through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

Licensure Disclosure

South Dakota is a non-licensure state for radiographers and credentialing by the ARRT is sufficient for practice in most-settings.

Respiratory Therapy

State Board

South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners

Distance Education Disclosure

Georgia Southern University is authorized to offer the online Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy, RRT to BS Career Ladder Degree Completion in South Dakota through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

Licensure Disclosure

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy program does meet educational requirements to qualify for Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) licensure in South Dakota

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s online Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy, RRT to BS Career Ladder Degree Completion  does meet educational requirements to qualify for Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) licensure in South Dakota.