South Dakota Teacher Certification Guide

How to Become a Teacher in South Dakota

In order to receive South Dakota teacher certification, students must earn a bachelor's degree and complete a teacher education program from a college or university that is regionally accredited. Anyone interested in teaching in South Dakota must also enroll in and earn at least a C in a course on South Dakota Indian Studies. The state of South Dakota also requires students to complete a training program on suicide awareness and prevention. Students will need an official recommendation documenting that all courses and programs have been completed and all requirements for the teacher education program have been satisfied. Prospective teachers that have completed a degree program should apply for certification with the South Dakota Department of Education. The application package includes fees, official transcripts from any colleges or universities attended, and documentation that the student has passed all pedagogy assessments required by the state of South Dakota.

Educator Preparation Programs in South Dakota

The South Dakota Board of Education has identified standards that an educator interested in South Dakota teacher certification must meet. The Education Preparation Provider State Rules list specific requirements that prospective educators must meet prior to receiving certification to teach. To ensure that education program students meet these requirements, the South Dakota Board of Education has also identified specific standards for any teacher education program whose students will seek certification. These standards apply to institutions that offer both K-12 education and postsecondary education programs. In addition to meeting these requirements, an institution that awards education degrees must also receive accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, also known as CAEP.

Programs that meet these standards and requirements and have been approved by the South Dakota Department of Education are the teacher education programs at Augustana University, Black Hills State University, Dakota State University, Dakota Wesleyan University, Mt. Marty University, Northern State University, Oglala Lakota University, Sinte Gleska University, South Dakota State University, University of Sioux Falls, and the University of South Dakota. Teachers who complete a program at one of the approved institutions are also eligible for reciprocal certification in other states, although those other states may also have additional requirements for teaching candidates.

Prerequisite Coursework for South Dakota Teachers

Any student seeking acceptance into a teacher education program in South Dakota must satisfy all general education course requirements first. General education courses cover a variety of subjects and provide a foundation for further learning.

Students in South Dakota teaching education programs can expect to work in a variety of schools and settings during their time in the program. Field experiences provides prospective teachers the opportunity to observe classroom teachers and to participate in instructional decisions. During the final semesters of a teacher education program, prospective teachers complete a capstone course that includes a yearlong residency as a student teacher at local school district. To qualify for a student teaching position, students must meet GPA requirements, complete the Praxis II Content Exam in the applicable content area, and earn an acceptable score on the South Dakota certification content exam. South Dakota teaching require student teachers to complete the South Dakota state certification pedagogy exam during the semester of student teaching.

Required Praxis Tests (South Dakota Praxis Score Requirements)

South Dakota requires all teaching candidates to pass one of the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) tests or the PPAT Assessment. Prospective teachers must also pass the Praxis for the content area in which the candidate plans to teach.

Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Praxis Test in South Dakota

Students who would like to become a teacher in South Dakota must meet the state's Praxis test score requirements. Students can choose to take either the PLT Praxis Test or the PPAT Assessment. The PLT Praxis Practice Test asks test takers to demonstrate knowledge of principles related to the age and content area they have chosen. South Dakota teacher education students may also choose to take the PPAT Assessment. The PPAT Assessment requires test takers to demonstrate their content knowledge and how it applies to the classroom. This test includes four tasks with a writing component and the submission of artifacts. It also requires a video submission. The PLT includes multiple choice questions and constructed response questions. Both the PPAT and PLT are accepted by South Dakota, so students should choose the test that best fits their learning style and meets state requirements.

Praxis II: Subject Assessments

There are more than 90 different Praxis Subject Assessments. Students that want to enter the teaching field in South Dakota must pass a Praxis Subject Assessment in their chosen content field. The subject assessment tests gauge the test taker's knowledge of specific content as well as general education knowledge and teaching mastery. One example is the Praxis English Language Arts Content Knowledge. This test covers English and Language Arts content such as grammar and writing. South Dakota requires a passing score of 167 on this test. Another example of a subject assessment test is the Chemistry: Content Knowledge test. This test covers subject matter content. South Dakota requires a passing score of 135 on this assessment.

Additional South Dakota Teacher Certification Requirements

In addition to passing the required tests and earning the relevant degrees, prospective South Dakota teachers have other requirements they must meet. The state of South Dakota requires background checks on all individuals that are hired by a school system. Part of that background check includes submitting fingerprints. This requirement applies to student teachers completing their year of residency requirements as well as full-time or part-time teachers.

South Dakota Teacher Licensing Application Steps

Educators that wish to teach in South Dakota should complete an Initial Educator Application. The Initial Educator Application is for educators that attended a teacher education program at an institution in South Dakota. The Out-of-State Initial application is for educators that attended an institution in a state other than South Dakota. Students that attended an institution outside of the U.S. should complete the Out-of-Country Initial Application. When completing an application, students must list the degrees they have earned, along with any endorsements, and pay the required fee. Students must upload certification that shows completion of an approved suicide awareness and prevention program and request a copy of official transcripts be sent to the South Dakota Department of Education. The application will also be sent to the student's institution for sign-off. Prospective teachers can log on to the application system to check the status of their application. It can take up to 10 weeks for the application to be approved.

South Dakota Teacher Certification Renewal

All educators that need to renew a South Dakota teacher certification must complete an approved suicide awareness and prevention program. Educators can apply to renew a Professional Teaching Certificate or an Advanced Teaching Certificate. Those new to the profession or those that are not eligible for an advanced teaching certificate should complete the Professional Teaching Certificate process. To be eligible for the advanced teaching certificate in South Dakota, an educator must have completed at least five years of teaching and hold a related advanced degree or have received National Board Certification. To renew a Professional Teaching Certificate, educators can do one of the following: complete six credit hours related to education, complete a state-approved mentorship program as a mentee or as mentor, or complete the National Board Certification process. To renew an Advanced Teaching Certificate, educators can do one of the following: complete six credit hours related to education, serve as a mentor in a state-approved mentorship program, or complete the National Board Certification process or renewal process.

South Dakota Alternative Teacher Certification Routes

South Dakota offers a route that prospective teachers can follow to receive teaching certification if they do not take the traditional route. In order to qualify for an alternative teacher certificate, license-seekers must hold a bachelor's degree in a field outside of education, have applied for and received an Alternative Preliminary Certificate from the South Dakota Board of Education, and have an offer of employment from a South Dakota school district. To receive an Alternative Preliminary Certificate, applicants must complete the application, provide proof of relevant experience and education, send in official transcripts, complete an approved course on suicide awareness and prevention, and pay the required fee. Coursework for the alternative teaching certificate covers subjects such as classroom management, psychology, and South Dakota Indian Studies. Anyone pursuing alternative teacher certification in South Dakota must also pass the relevant state-approved pedagogy exam. There are four alternative certification options available in South Dakota. They are the General Education path, the Career and Technical Education path, Teach for America, and Special Education. All of these options lead to a one year certificate that can be renewed up to two times.

South Dakota Credentials for Out-of-State Teachers

Teachers who do not currently live in South Dakota can obtain a license through reciprocity. Educators that hold a current teaching license in another state must complete the full South Dakota state-certification process, complete an approved suicide awareness and prevention program, and take a course on South Dakota Indian Studies. A provisional certificate can be used for one year while the South Dakota Indian Studies course is completed. No additional exams are required for teachers that have a current, valid teaching certificate from another state. If teachers would like to add endorsements to the existing teaching certificate, all South Dakota requirements must be met to earn the endorsement.

South Dakota Teacher Employment Outlook and Salary

South Dakota's teacher to student ratio is lower than surrounding states. Additional endorsements can raise a teacher's annual salary. For example, Special Education elementary school teachers make $1200 more per year than elementary school teachers without the Special Education endorsement. Salaries also vary slightly depending on the grade level that is taught. Years of experience and level of education can also influence teacher salary.