South Dakota beauty licenses

South Dakota cosmetology license requirements

Q: How do you get a nail technician license in South Dakota?

South Dakota calls it a Nail Technician License, issued by the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission. It takes 400 hours of training, NIC national written theory exam and South Dakota Laws and Rules exam, $120 in state fees. It renews every year, $45.

Q: How do you get an esthetician license in South Dakota?

South Dakota calls it an Esthetician License, issued by the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission. It takes 600 hours of training, NIC national written theory exam and South Dakota Laws and Rules exam, $120 in state fees. It renews every year, $45.

Q: How do you get a barber license in South Dakota?

South Dakota calls it a Registered Barber license, issued by the South Dakota Board of Barber Examiners. It takes 1,500 hours of training, written test and practical barber demonstration, $225 in state fees. It renews every year, $200.

To work as a cosmetologist in South Dakota you need a Cosmetologist License from the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission. It takes 1,500 hours of school and $120 in state fees. Exams: NIC national written theory exam and South Dakota Laws and Rules exam. Barbers, nail technicians and estheticians each need a license of their own, below. Every figure is quoted from the state's official pages, read on October 22, 2026.

Cosmetology hours: 1,500
Barber hours: 1,500
Nail tech hours: 400
Esthetics hours: 600

Licensed by the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission.How to apply License lookup The state's own words

Cosmetologist

South Dakota cosmetology license

License: Cosmetologist License
Issued by: The South Dakota Cosmetology Commission
Training: 1,500 hoursAbout 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: NIC national written theory exam and South Dakota Laws and Rules exam
Who can apply: 18 years or older, with Commission-approved education
State fees, first license: $120
Renewal: Every year, $45
Continuing education: Not stated

South Dakota's 1,500 hours are the same as the 1,500 hours of the middle state.

Barber

South Dakota barber license

South Dakota calls it the Registered Barber license.

License: Registered Barber
Issued by: The South Dakota Board of Barber Examiners
Training: 1,500 hours1,500 hours of education or equivalent credit hours at a board-approved barber school About 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: Written test and practical barber demonstration
Who can apply: 18 years or older
State fees, first license: $225
Renewal: Every year, $200
Continuing education: Not stated

South Dakota's 1,500 hours are more than the 1,250 hours of the middle state.

Nail technician

South Dakota nail technician license

License: Nail Technician License
Issued by: The South Dakota Cosmetology Commission
Training: 400 hoursAbout 3 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: NIC national written theory exam and South Dakota Laws and Rules exam
Who can apply: 18 years or older, with Commission-approved education
State fees, first license: $120
Renewal: Every year, $45
Continuing education: Not stated

South Dakota's 400 hours are more than the 350 hours of the middle state.

Esthetician

South Dakota esthetician license

License: Esthetician License
Issued by: The South Dakota Cosmetology Commission
Training: 600 hoursAbout 4 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: NIC national written theory exam and South Dakota Laws and Rules exam
Who can apply: 18 years or older, with Commission-approved education
State fees, first license: $120
Renewal: Every year, $45
Continuing education: Not stated

South Dakota's 600 hours are the same as the 600 hours of the middle state.

Doing lashes, lifts, waxing or threading? See which license South Dakota requires for each. Microblading or permanent makeup? See what South Dakota requires for it. Microneedling, peels, dermaplaning or lasers? See what an esthetician may do in South Dakota.

Moving here

Licensed in another state?

Cosmetology, nail technician and esthetician licenses: an active license in good standing from another state plus the South Dakota Laws & Rules exam; barbers transfer their license for a $150 fee.

Good to know in South Dakota

After passing the exam, a licensee may print a Provisional Work Authorization and work while the license is in the mail.
Students enrolled at a Commission-approved school may take the state board exam at any time, though the Commission encourages finishing 50% of education first.
Barber and barbershop licenses must be renewed each year by May 31.

Sources

What South Dakota's official pages say

Each figure above, in the words of the state's own pages, rules or statutes, read on October 22, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the board before you enroll or apply.

Cosmetologist: license: “Cosmetologist License”
dlr.sd.gov
Cosmetologist: training hours: “Complete 1,500 hours of cosmetology education, as shown by transcript from a South Dakota school.”
dlr.sd.gov
“Cosmetologists must earn 1500 Commission approved education hours.”
dlr.sd.gov
Cosmetologist: exams: “Pass all required examinations: NIC national written theory and South Dakota Laws and Rules.”
dlr.sd.gov
Cosmetologist: who can apply: “Be 18 years or older, as shown by copy of driver’s license”
dlr.sd.gov
Cosmetologist: fees: “Pay $120 examination or reciprocity fee, which includes the first license.”
dlr.sd.gov
Cosmetologist: renewal: “The fee for cosmetologist, nail technician and esthetician license renewals is $45”
dlr.sd.gov
“Pay annual renewal fee, and late penalties when applicable.”
dlr.sd.gov
Barber: license: “entitled to a license or certificate of registration as a registered barber”
dlr.sd.gov
Barber: issued by: “The Governor shall appoint a Board of Barber Examiners”
dlr.sd.gov
Barber: training hours: “Each barber school offering a complete barber program, totaling 1500 hours, shall meet the following minimum curriculum requirements:”
sdlegislature.gov
“Completes fifteen hundred hours of education or equivalent credit hours in a barber”
dlr.sd.gov
Barber: exams: “Passes the written test and practical barber demonstration certified by the board.”
dlr.sd.gov
Barber: who can apply: “Is at least eighteen years old”
dlr.sd.gov
Barber: fees: “The fee for the initial barber license is two hundred twenty-five dollars and includes the cost of examination”
sdlegislature.gov
Barber: renewal: “For the annual renewal of a certificate of registration to practice barbering, the fee is two hundred dollars.”
sdlegislature.gov
“All barber and barbershop licenses must be renewed each year by May 31.”
dlr.sd.gov
Nail technician: license: “Nail Technician License”
dlr.sd.gov
Nail technician: training hours: “Complete 400 hours of nail technology education, as shown by transcript from a South Dakota school.”
dlr.sd.gov
“Nail Technicians must earn 400 Commission approved education hours.”
dlr.sd.gov
Nail technician: exams: “Pass all required examinations: NIC national written theory and South Dakota Laws and Rules.”
dlr.sd.gov
Nail technician: who can apply: “Be 18 years or older, as shown by copy of driver’s license”
dlr.sd.gov
Nail technician: fees: “Pay $120 examination or reciprocity fee, which includes the first license.”
dlr.sd.gov
Nail technician: renewal: “The fee for cosmetologist, nail technician and esthetician license renewals is $45”
dlr.sd.gov
“Pay annual renewal fee, and late penalties when applicable.”
dlr.sd.gov
Esthetician: license: “Esthetician License”
dlr.sd.gov
Esthetician: training hours: “Complete 600 hours of esthetics education, as shown by transcript from a South Dakota school.”
dlr.sd.gov
“Estheticians must earn 600 Commission approved education hours.”
dlr.sd.gov
Esthetician: exams: “Pass all required examinations: NIC national written theory and South Dakota Laws and Rules.”
dlr.sd.gov
Esthetician: who can apply: “Be 18 years or older, as shown by copy of driver’s license”
dlr.sd.gov
Esthetician: fees: “Pay $120 examination or reciprocity fee, which includes the first license.”
dlr.sd.gov
Esthetician: renewal: “The fee for cosmetologist, nail technician and esthetician license renewals is $45”
dlr.sd.gov
“Pay annual renewal fee, and late penalties when applicable.”
dlr.sd.gov
Licensed in another state: “If you hold an active Cosmetology, Esthetics, or Nail Technology license in good standing in another state, you may be eligible to receive a reciprocity license in South Dakota.”
dlr.sd.gov
“Pay $120 examination or reciprocity fee, which includes the first license.”
dlr.sd.gov
“pay the license transfer fee of $150.00”
dlr.sd.gov
Also good to know: “If you pass your examination, you will receive a ‘Provisional Work Authorization’ document that you can print and post at your workstation while you wait for your license to arrive in the mail”
dlr.sd.gov
Also good to know: “Students with an active enrollment status at a Commission approved school or college may take the State board examination at any time.”
dlr.sd.gov
Also good to know: “All barber and barbershop licenses must be renewed each year by May 31.”
dlr.sd.gov

Questions

South Dakota beauty licenses, answered

How many hours do you need for a cosmetology license in South Dakota?

1,500 hours of training for a Cosmetologist License. About 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate). South Dakota's 1,500 hours are the same as the 1,500 hours of the middle state.

How much does a cosmetology license cost in South Dakota?

The state's fees for a first Cosmetologist License are $120, and it renews every year, $45. School tuition is the much larger cost, and testing companies may charge their own exam fees.

How do you renew a cosmetology license in South Dakota?

The Cosmetologist License renews every year for $45. The pages we read do not state a continuing education requirement. Renew with the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission before the license expires.

How do you get a nail technician license in South Dakota?

South Dakota calls it a Nail Technician License, issued by the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission. It takes 400 hours of training, NIC national written theory exam and South Dakota Laws and Rules exam, $120 in state fees. It renews every year, $45.

How do you get an esthetician license in South Dakota?

South Dakota calls it an Esthetician License, issued by the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission. It takes 600 hours of training, NIC national written theory exam and South Dakota Laws and Rules exam, $120 in state fees. It renews every year, $45.

How do you get a barber license in South Dakota?

South Dakota calls it a Registered Barber license, issued by the South Dakota Board of Barber Examiners. It takes 1,500 hours of training, written test and practical barber demonstration, $225 in state fees. It renews every year, $200.

Can you transfer a cosmetology license from another state to South Dakota?

Cosmetology, nail technician and esthetician licenses: an active license in good standing from another state plus the South Dakota Laws & Rules exam; barbers transfer their license for a $150 fee. The fee is $120. Apply with the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission.

Do you need a separate license to open a salon in South Dakota?

Usually, yes: the business needs its own establishment license on top of each person's license. See what South Dakota requires to open a salon, with its fees, inspection and booth rental rules.

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