• South Dakota Highlights

  • Average Elementary Teacher Salary: $35,370
  • Average Secondary Teacher Salary: $36,300
  • Teacher Salary vs. State Average: 106%
  • Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: 15
  • Years to Tenure: 3
South Dakota

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To become a certified teacher in South Dakota, you will need to fulfill all prerequisite coursework, teacher preparation, and testing requirements.

Our goal is to make this process as easy as possible, and we are dedicated to updating the site with new information on a regular basis. To stay up-to-date with the latest in teacher certification, please complete the form in the right sidebar.

Prerequisite Coursework

All states require that certified teachers at a minimum have a Bachelor’s degree. Additionally, some states have undergraduate credit hour requirements for certification in specialty areas. South Dakota, however, does not have any undergraduate credit hour requirements.

Teacher Preparation

Teacher preparation includes the completion of an accredited teacher education program.

Alternative Certification

Graduates of accredited colleges or universities whose bachelor’s degree was not in education, and who have not yet earned a traditional teaching certificate, can still receive an alternative teaching certificate by satisfying certain requirements. Information about alternative certification in South Dakota is coming soon!

Typically teacher education programs consist of a combination of curricula and fieldwork. The curricula often includes instruction on foundational knowledge and skills, pedagogy (or the art and science of teaching), and preparing students to research, design and implement learning experiences in their field of study. The fieldwork component can include field observations, student teaching, and an internship.

Teacher Certification Reciprocity

South Dakota will accept some teaching credentials from the following states. Contact the South Dakota Department of Education to inquire about your specific situation. Please see our interstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.

Alabama Arizona Arkansas California
Colorado Delaware Florida Georgia
Hawaii Idaho Illinois Kansas
Louisiana Maine Maryland Michigan
Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada
New Hampshire New Mexico New York North Carolina
North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon
Pennsylvania South Carolina Tennessee Texas
Utah Vermont Virginia Washington
West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Teacher Salary and Benefits

  • Incentives to teach in high-needs schools or shortage subject areas: South Dakota provides scholarships and signing bonuses
  • Policies in place that articulate elements of effective induction: South Dakota has limited to weak induction policies in place
  • Average Elementary Teacher Salary: The average elementary school teacher in South Dakota makes $35,370
  • Average Secondary Teacher Salary: The average secondary teacher in South Dakota makes$36,300
  • Teacher Salary vs. State Average Salary: The average teacher in South Dakota makes 106% of the salary of the average worker in South Dakota
  • Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: The average teacher in South Dakota receives 15 weeks of vacation per year
  • Number of Years to Tenure: South Dakota requires 3 years of teaching before a teacher is eligible for tenure

Required Tests

In order to become a certified teacher, you must satisfactorily complete the Basic Skill Test requirement and any Subject Area Competence assessments needed for your desired area of instruction.

Basic Skills Test

  • South Dakota does not require a basic skills test for student teaching or for certification

Subject Area Competence

Teacher Certification Information and Links