CNA Certification in South Dakota

How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in South Dakota

To become a CNA in the state of South Dakota requires the candidate to determine a few things. First, are they eligible for enrollment in a program approved by the South Dakota Department of Health? Secondly, if they are, do they qualify for testing and not training? Finally, are they eligible to take the exam through D&S Diversified Technologies in order to be listed on the registry?

To determine if the candidate is eligible for enrollment in a program is simple, and determining this is the first thing that must be done.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility for a certified nursing assistant certification program in South Dakota requires that the candidate meet the following list of criteria:

They are at least 18 years of age;They have passed a health exam that included a TB test and drug screening;They can provide evidence of up to date immunizations;They can deliver proof of high school graduation or a GED equivalent; andThey can undergo a criminal background and fingerprint check without any disqualifying issues appearing.

Applying for CNA Certification in South Dakota

If they pass this list of requirements they can then consider if they need training. There are some exceptions to this rule in South Dakota, including:

Those who can use a ” Request for Consideration of Equivalency of Education for Individuals Educated in Other Healthcare Fields” – a form available at the D&S Diversified Technologies website;Those who are nursing students; andThose who have a lapsed certification that is less than 24 months old.

Should training be required, the state makes a complete list of authorized providers available. Certified nursing assistant certification in South Dakota requires at least 75 hours of training with at least 16 hours in clinical work.

Costs

The CNA certification programs in South Dakota require around $600 to $1000 for tuition, but some candidates can get their training through their employers and also get testing for free. There are reimbursement options for those who are hired within 12 months of training if they are employed in a Medicare approved facility.

The testing fees vary, but the tests always include written and skills sections. There are 75 multiple choice questions, and five randomly selected skills required.

The costs for testing currently are:

Both: $152.50
Skills only: $85
Written only: $67.50

FAQ

To adequately prepare for CNA certification in South Dakota is simple and involves using all of the available study guides as well as a thorough review of the training done. The following issues do not appear on the tests, but are very useful to those taking training or seeking CNA certification in South Dakota:

If you fail the state exam (either part) three times, you have to enroll again in a state approved CNA training program in South Dakota before being allowed to re-test;Renewing the license for CNA certification in South Dakota can be done online through the Board of Nursing and requires the Nurse Aide Registry Renewal Form;The CNA certification expires after two years and must be renewed. This requires that a CNA has worked in their professional capacity for a minimum of eight paid hours during the last twenty-four months;A candidate can work for a nursing facility for 120 days during their approved CNA training, but they must test and license in that time or be reassigned to different duties that are not related to CNA work.

Helpful Resources around the Web

South Dakota Board of Nursing
4305 South Louise, Suite 201
Sioux Falls, SD 57106
Phone: 605-362-2760
Web: http://doh.sd.gov/boards/nursing/

HEADMASTER
3310 McHugh Lane
Helena, MT 59602
Phone: 800-393-8664
Web: www.hdmaster.com