Certification Process
INITIAL CERTIFICATION | RENEWAL CERTIFICATION |ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION | ADDITIONAL ENDORSEMENT |
LAKOTA DAKOTA NAKOTA | NAME/ADDRESS CHANGES |
CONTACT
If you are applying for a South Dakota Teaching certificate, you will need to complete one of the following applications:
INITIAL CERTIFICATION
Educators who have never held a South Dakota teaching certificate must complete the online initial application.
Initial certification requires verification from an accredited university that the candidate has completed an approved education program.
Five-Year Certificate
To receive a five-year certificate candidates must:
- Have completed a teacher preparation program
- Have completed six credits within the past five years
- Have completed the required Praxis II tests
One-Year Certificate
Individuals may receive a one-year certificate if they have completed a teacher education program, but do not have the required six transcripted credits obtained in the past five years or required Praxis II tests.
Additional Paper Documents May Be Required
- Official transcripts showing the education degree and recent credits completed
- University sign-off verifying completion of the teacher education program
- Copy of Praxis II test scores
- Copy of teaching certificates from other states
- Verification of teaching experience in another state
- Documents supporting legal alien status for non-citizenship
- Copy of legal documents required for any criminal offense declared through the online initial application
- International academic credentials must be evaluated to ensure they are recognized in the United States
Additional Coursework Requirements
Once South Dakota certification is obtained, educators must complete:
- Human relations course
- South Dakota Indian studies course
RENEWAL CERTIFICATION
Educators who have a South Dakota teaching certificate (valid or lapsed) need to renew by completing the online renewal application.
Renewal Requirements
All educators are required to earn six credits for renewal purposes. The type of credit varies based on the educator’s highest degree:
--Bachelor’s degree – At least three credits must be transcripted; the remaining credits may be continuing education contact hours.
--Advanced degree or National Board Certification – These credits can be any combination of transcripted credits or continuing education contact hours.
- All certificates expire July 1
- Renewal application may be submitted after Jan. 1 of the year the certificate expires
- Once renewal application is submitted, credits may be earned for the next renewal
One-Year Option
- Educators that have not met renewal requirements may be eligible for a one-year extension to keep the certificate valid for one additional year.
Five-Year Option
- Educators who have met all certification requirements.
Ten-Year Option
- Educators who have completed an advanced degree (master's, specialist, doctorate) or National Board Certification may be eligible for a one-time 10-year certificate
- Ten years are based on the year the degree was completed
Additional Paper Documents May Be Required
- Official transcripts showing transcripted credits and/or new degree earned
- Copy of documents confirming continuing education contact hours
- Copy of newly obtained Praxis II test scores
ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION
Educators who want to add an authorization prior to renewal must complete the online authorization application.
This will NOT change the expiration date of your current certificate.
Additional authorizations are issued after an individual has completed a program or additional major such as administrator, school counselor or reading specialist through an accredited university.
Additional Paper Documents May Be Required
- Official transcripts to verify program completion or additional degree
- University sign-off form
- Copy of Praxis II test scores
ADDITIONAL ENDORSEMENT
Educators who want to add an endorsement by completion of coursework or Praxis II test prior to the renewal must complete the online endorsement application.
This will NOT change the expiration date of your current certificate.
Additional Paper Documents May Be Required
- Official transcripts to verify coursework
- Copy of Praxis II test scores
- Verification of experience in an accredited K-12 school
LAKOTA DAKOTA NAKOTA
Individuals with proficiency and certification recommendation for Lakota, Dakota and Nakota must complete the paper Lakota Dakota Nakota application.
Additional Paper Documents Required
- Official transcript to verify the Lakota language methods course
NAME/ADDRESS CHANGES OR DUPLICATE REQUEST
Educators needing to make changes to demographic information must complete the online name/address changes request.
Educators requesting a duplicate certificate must complete the online duplicate request application.
Additional Paper Documents May Be Required
-Personal check or money order for duplicate fee.
CONTACT
Paper documents should be mailed to:
Department of Education, Certification Office,
800 Governors Dr., Pierre, SD 57501
Questions can be directed to: certification@state.sd.us
INITIAL CERTIFICATION
Educators who have never held a South Dakota teaching certificate must complete the online initial application.
Initial certification requires verification from an accredited university that the candidate has completed an approved education program.
Five-Year Certificate
To receive a five-year certificate candidates must:
- Have completed a teacher preparation program
- Have completed six credits within the past five years
- Have completed the required Praxis II tests
One-Year Certificate
Individuals may receive a one-year certificate if they have completed a teacher education program, but do not have the required six transcripted credits obtained in the past five years or required Praxis II tests.
Additional Paper Documents May Be Required
- Official transcripts showing the education degree and recent credits completed
- University sign-off verifying completion of the teacher education program
- Copy of Praxis II test scores
- Copy of teaching certificates from other states
- Verification of teaching experience in another state
- Documents supporting legal alien status for non-citizenship
- Copy of legal documents required for any criminal offense declared through the online initial application
- International academic credentials must be evaluated to ensure they are recognized in the United States
Additional Coursework Requirements
Once South Dakota certification is obtained, educators must complete:
- Human relations course
- South Dakota Indian studies course
RENEWAL CERTIFICATION
Educators who have a South Dakota teaching certificate (valid or lapsed) need to renew by completing the online renewal application.
Renewal Requirements
All educators are required to earn six credits for renewal purposes. The type of credit varies based on the educator’s highest degree:
--Bachelor’s degree – At least three credits must be transcripted; the remaining credits may be continuing education contact hours.
--Advanced degree or National Board Certification – These credits can be any combination of transcripted credits or continuing education contact hours.
- All certificates expire July 1
- Renewal application may be submitted after Jan. 1 of the year the certificate expires
- Once renewal application is submitted, credits may be earned for the next renewal
One-Year Option
- Educators that have not met renewal requirements may be eligible for a one-year extension to keep the certificate valid for one additional year.
Five-Year Option
- Educators who have met all certification requirements.
Ten-Year Option
- Educators who have completed an advanced degree (master's, specialist, doctorate) or National Board Certification may be eligible for a one-time 10-year certificate
- Ten years are based on the year the degree was completed
Additional Paper Documents May Be Required
- Official transcripts showing transcripted credits and/or new degree earned
- Copy of documents confirming continuing education contact hours
- Copy of newly obtained Praxis II test scores
ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION
Educators who want to add an authorization prior to renewal must complete the online authorization application.
This will NOT change the expiration date of your current certificate.
Additional authorizations are issued after an individual has completed a program or additional major such as administrator, school counselor or reading specialist through an accredited university.
Additional Paper Documents May Be Required
- Official transcripts to verify program completion or additional degree
- University sign-off form
- Copy of Praxis II test scores
ADDITIONAL ENDORSEMENT
Educators who want to add an endorsement by completion of coursework or Praxis II test prior to the renewal must complete the online endorsement application.
This will NOT change the expiration date of your current certificate.
Additional Paper Documents May Be Required
- Official transcripts to verify coursework
- Copy of Praxis II test scores
- Verification of experience in an accredited K-12 school
LAKOTA DAKOTA NAKOTA
Individuals with proficiency and certification recommendation for Lakota, Dakota and Nakota must complete the paper Lakota Dakota Nakota application.
Additional Paper Documents Required
- Official transcript to verify the Lakota language methods course
NAME/ADDRESS CHANGES OR DUPLICATE REQUEST
Educators needing to make changes to demographic information must complete the online name/address changes request.
Educators requesting a duplicate certificate must complete the online duplicate request application.
Additional Paper Documents May Be Required
-Personal check or money order for duplicate fee.
CONTACT
Paper documents should be mailed to:
Department of Education, Certification Office,
800 Governors Dr., Pierre, SD 57501
Questions can be directed to: certification@state.sd.us