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SD · SLP licensure
Everything it takes to get your speech-language pathology license in South Dakota — the licensing board and application steps, the required Praxis 5331 exam and its 162 passing score, the Clinical Fellowship, fees, and renewal rules.
Required Praxis test
Praxis 5331 — Speech-Language Pathology
Passing score
162 (out of 200)
Format
132 multiple-choice questions · 150 minutes · computer-based
Registration
Register through ETS · $146 test fee · offered year-round
Every US state — including South Dakota — accepts the Praxis 5331 at the ASHA-set 162 cut score for SLP licensure. There is no separate state-specific SLP Praxis exam.
Licensing board
South Dakota's board issues a provisional license during the Clinical Fellowship and requires the Praxis 5331 at 162 for full licensure. School-based SLPs also hold DOE certification as a Speech-Language Pathologist.
Authoritative reference: ASHA state-by-state advocacy page for South Dakota →
The South Dakota SLP market
South Dakota licenses Speech-Language Pathologists through the South Dakota Department of Health, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Licensure Program. The state's small population means SLPs are concentrated in Sioux Falls and Rapid City, with rural and tribal communities relying heavily on traveling clinicians and telepractice. Praxis 5331 at the ASHA-aligned 162 cut score is required for licensure statewide.
BLS OES, South Dakota statewide (approximate range)
Passing score note: South Dakota accepts the standard ASHA-set 162 passing score on Praxis 5331; no separate state exam is required.
The South Dakota Department of Health issues the SLP license required for practice statewide, based on a CAA-accredited master's degree, documented clinical hours, and a passing Praxis 5331 score. The application process includes standard background check requirements administered by the state.
SLPs working in South Dakota public schools also need certification through the South Dakota Department of Education. The same Praxis 5331 score satisfies the exam requirement for the school certificate, but the application is filed separately from the Department of Health license.
South Dakota issues a temporary license allowing new graduates to complete the nine-month Clinical Fellowship under a South Dakota-licensed CCC-SLP supervisor. Given the limited number of practicing SLPs in some regions, fellows in rural or tribal-serving districts sometimes arrange supervision through Sioux Falls- or Rapid City-based clinicians using telepractice-supported models.
After completing CF requirements and submitting documentation to the Department of Health, fellows convert to a full, unrestricted South Dakota license.
Public schools are the largest employer of South Dakota SLPs, and many districts, particularly in western South Dakota and reservation communities, contract with regional special education cooperatives or telepractice companies to meet staffing needs. Indian Health Service facilities also hire SLPs to serve Pine Ridge, Rosebud, and other tribal communities.
Medical SLP positions are concentrated at Sanford Health and Avera Health in Sioux Falls and Monument Health in Rapid City, covering dysphagia, voice, and cognitive-communication therapy. Skilled nursing facilities across the state's rural communities also employ SLPs given South Dakota's significant elderly population outside its two largest cities.
South Dakota SLP licenses renew on a cycle set by the Department of Health, requiring a renewal fee and documentation of completed continuing education hours, most of which can be earned through ASHA-approved coursework and conferences.
SLPs holding the Department of Education school certificate must also track continuing education aligned with the state's educator recertification requirements, which run separately from the Department of Health's license renewal schedule.
A partial list of larger CAA-accredited programs. All programs listed prepare graduates to sit for Praxis 5331.
What Praxis passing score does South Dakota require?
South Dakota requires the ASHA-standard 162 passing score on Praxis 5331 for SLP licensure.
Do South Dakota school SLPs need certification beyond the Department of Health license?
Yes, school-based SLPs also need certification through the South Dakota Department of Education in addition to the Department of Health license.
Is telepractice common for South Dakota Clinical Fellows?
Yes. Given the limited number of SLPs in rural and tribal-serving areas, some fellows arrange telepractice-supported supervision through clinicians based in Sioux Falls or Rapid City.
What settings hire the most SLPs in South Dakota?
Public schools employ the largest share of South Dakota SLPs, often through regional special education cooperatives, while Sanford Health, Avera Health, and Monument Health are the state's largest medical employers.
Earn a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology
Complete a graduate program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) — the near-universal requirement across US jurisdictions.
Pass the Praxis 5331 with a score of 162 or higher
The Speech-Language Pathology Praxis (5331) is the single national exam accepted by all state boards. 162 is the ASHA-set passing score and every state uses that same cut score.
Complete a Clinical Fellowship (CF)
A 36-week (9-month full-time equivalent) mentored clinical experience under a licensed CCC-SLP. Some states use their own name for it (California calls it the RPE) but the requirement is functionally equivalent.
Submit fingerprints and a background check
Standard across all state boards. Processing typically takes 2–6 weeks and must be completed before the license is issued.
Apply to the state licensing board
Send your Praxis score (ETS score report), transcripts, CF verification, and background clearance to the state board. Some states also require a jurisprudence exam on state SLP practice law.
For the complete list of Praxis tests accepted in South Dakota (including elementary, secondary, and content-area exams), see the official ETS state page.
** New Elementary Education Fundamentals Tests:** Buy any 3 Elementary Education Fundamentals tests (8002–8005) in a single order for $149.49 (save $87), or 4 in a single order for $199.52 (save $116). Discount applied in cart. # South Dakota Certifying State or National Agency Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Alberta College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists American Speech-Language-Hearing Association College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) National Association of School Psychologists Educator Preparation Program Requirement [GO](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/southdakota-tests.html) - [Required Tests](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/southdakota-tests.html) - [Overview](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Page-Show?cid=southdakota-overview) ## Tests Required by South Dakota State Agency South Dakota Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology South Dakota Department of Education Find your certification area below to determine which test(s) you need to take. For test preparation materials, select the “View test details” link. If you are ready to register, you may add up to 4 tests to your cart before continuing on to scheduling.  Important Notice South Dakota is now accepting the new Elementary Education Fundamentals tests (8006, 8003, 8004, 8005) for licensure in K-4th Grade and 5th-8th Grade certification areas. These tests are enabled with Praxis Steps modular testing capabilities, which allow candidates to take a full test and retake just the Step they did not pass, or to take one Step at a time and progress at their own pace. Full tests for 8003, 8004 and 8005 are available now; individual Steps will be available September 1, 2026. For 8006, the full test will be available August 31, but you can access the free Interactive Practice Test if you register now. Individual Steps for 8006 will be available in Spring 2027. ## Tests required for all licensure areas Beginning teachers and teachers without prior teaching experience must pass one of the _Principles of Learning and Teaching_(PLT) tests along with the appropriate content-specific test. ## Tests required for specific licensure areas ### See also links to other Praxis web pages and resources - [The Praxis® Tests Information Bulletin (PDF)](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-ets-praxisLibrary/default/dwce037ad4/pdfs/praxis-information-bulletin.pdf) - [Find Tests & Prep](https://praxis.ets.org/storehome.html) - [Schedule Your Test](https://praxis.ets.org/test-taker/register-process.html) - [Accommodations for Test Takers with Disabilities or Health-related Needs](https://praxis.ets.org/test-takers/disability-accommodations.html) - [Need Assistance](https://praxis.ets.org/contact.html)  For more information about educator requirements in South Dakota: - South Dakota: [Certification website](https://doe.sd.gov/certification/) Other Programs used in South Dakota [Previous](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/southdakota-tests.html#carousel-885b6c06628371627ae1a3ffc9) ## School Leadership Series Assess your knowledge for certification in school and district leadership [Learn more](https://www.ets.org/sls.html) ## ParaPro Assessment Demonstrate your knowledge and skills for classroom assistance [Learn more](https://www.ets.org/parapro.html) ## PPAT Measure your application of skills and knowledge in the classroom [Learn more](https://www.ets.org/ppat.html) [Next](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/southdakota-tests.html#carousel-885b6c06628371627ae1a3ffc9) ## Want to compare scores across states? [View scores requirements](https://praxis.ets.org/scores) 