What it takes to become a licensed nursing home administrator in South Dakota: the Administrator-in-Training (AIT) requirement, the exams, continuing education, and where to find an approved program or preceptor. Every figure below is cited to its official source.
| AIT requirement | 240 hrs |
|---|---|
| National exams | NAB Core of Knowledge + NHA Line of Service (both required) |
| State exam | Required, in addition to the NAB exams |
| Continuing education | 40 hours biennial |
| Official sources | doh.sd.gov · nabweb.org (state exam) |
Verified against the sources above, July 2026. Requirements change; the board's current published rule is always the final word.
South Dakota requires a minimum of 240 Administrator-in-Training (AIT) hours.
Compare this against every other jurisdiction on AIT Hours by State.
The interactive AIT Planner turns the South Dakota requirement into a live hours-allocation plan across all eleven department rotations, with a self-assessment that shapes where your hours go. No account needed.
Open the free AIT PlannerLicensure in every state runs through two national exams from NAB (the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards): the Core of Knowledge exam, 125 questions in 150 minutes, and the NHA Line of Service exam, 75 questions in 90 minutes. Both are computer-based, multiple choice, and delivered at Pearson VUE testing centers. We break down the structure in NAB Exam Format and the content in The Core Domains Explained.
South Dakota adds a state exam on top of the two NAB exams. State exams usually cover the state's own licensure rules and facility regulations; the board's candidate materials describe the current format and how to register. What these exams cover and how to prepare is in State NHA Exams Explained.
State associations: South Dakota Health Care Association · South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO). Association staff know which member facilities host AITs and which administrators precept, and many run their own AIT or licensure-prep programming.
For the full step-by-step on approaching facilities and preceptors, see How to Find an AIT Preceptor and an Approved Program.
These are the legal sources that govern nursing home administrator licensure in South Dakota. If your state requires a state exam, its questions are drawn from material like this, and the board's candidate information usually names the exact chapters to study.
Citations verified against official sources, July 2026. Provided for reference, not legal advice; the current official text governs. Mirrors are labeled where an official public link is not available.
South Dakota requires a minimum of 240 Administrator-in-Training (AIT) hours. Minimum 240 AIT hours served within six consecutive months, or a completed practicum in a regionally accredited higher education program. NAB exam plus a state exam on South Dakota nursing facility rules.
Candidates in South Dakota take the NAB Core of Knowledge exam and the NHA Line of Service exam, and South Dakota also requires a state exam. Confirm the current exam list with the state board before you apply.
Licensed administrators in South Dakota must complete 40 hours biennial of continuing education. CE rules change between renewal cycles, so verify the current requirement with the state board.
The state trade associations, South Dakota Health Care Association and South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO), are the other practical starting point: they run programs, know active preceptors, and can point you to member facilities that train AITs.
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