Resources · Path to Licensure

Step-by-step licensure pathways in South Dakota.

South Dakota concentrates almost every behavioral-health board under the Department of Social Services, several administered by a contractor out of Pierre. Two structural quirks define the state: it uses stacked, two-tier clinical ladders in counseling (LPC then a separate LPC-MH) and addiction (CAC certification then LAC license), where the higher tier is its own credential with its own plan of supervision and exam; and several credentials whose titles read like “certifications” (Certified Social Worker, Certified Addiction Counselor) are in fact state-issued credentials. South Dakota DOES license behavior analysts (under the Board of Social Work Examiners), so that profession is included.

Want the one-line summary instead? See the South Dakota licensure overview →
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Professional CounselingAddiction & Substance Use CounselingSocial WorkMarriage & Family TherapyPsychologyBehavior Analysis

Professional Counseling

Prep for the NCMHCE / NCE →
LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

Required exam: National Counselor Examination (NCE), NBCC.

Scope: Independent practice of general professional counseling; does not by itself confer the mental-health clinical tier.
  1. EducationCACREP-accredited program, or a 48-semester-hour master’s in counseling from an accredited institution.
  2. Supervision / experience1,000 hours of direct client contact (up to 400 electronic) plus 100 hours of supervision and 900 hours of counseling-related activities; no hours count before the Plan of Supervision is approved (ARSD 20:68).
  3. ExamPass the NCE.
  4. ApplicationTwo steps via the Board: a Plan of Supervision, then the full licensure application.
LPC-MH

Licensed Professional Counselor – Mental Health

Required exam: National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), NBCC.

Scope: Higher clinical tier for independent mental-health counseling (clinical diagnosis and treatment); requires holding the LPC first.
  1. EducationValid LPC plus a CACREP program or a 48-hour master’s in counseling.
  2. Supervision / experience2,000 hours of direct client contact plus 100 hours of supervision; up to 1,000 contact and 50 supervision hours may carry over from the LPC plan if the supervisor was LPC-MH-qualified (ARSD 20:73).
  3. ExamPass the NCMHCE.
  4. ApplicationFile a separate LPC-MH Plan of Supervision, then the full licensure application.

Official Professional Counseling resources

Addiction & Substance Use Counseling

Prep for the MAC / NCAC exam →
CAC

Certified Addiction Counselor (state certification)

Required exam: IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) written examination.

Scope: State-certified addiction / substance-use counseling; the entry professional credential below the LAC. Issued by the Board of Addiction and Prevention Professionals (a state board), with the IC&RC exam.
  1. EducationBoard-approved addiction coursework covering the nine required content areas (no graduate degree mandated).
  2. Supervision / experienceSupervised work experience in the addiction-counselor domains, including supervised practical training in the twelve core functions.
  3. ExamPass the IC&RC ADC examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the CAC Application for Testing with transcripts and fee; trainee recognition (ACT) is available while accruing hours.
LAC

Licensed Addiction Counselor (state license)

Required exam: IC&RC written examination (advanced level for master’s-level applicants).

Scope: South Dakota’s highest BAPP addiction-counseling credential; master’s-level and supports independent practice.
  1. EducationMaster’s degree in a behavioral science field plus 21 semester hours of specialized addiction coursework (at least five graduate-level courses, grade C or higher).
  2. Supervision / experience2,000 hours of supervised work experience in the addiction-counselor domains, including at least 300 hours of supervised practical training in the twelve core functions (ARSD 20:80).
  3. ExamPass the IC&RC written examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LAC Application for Testing (or status upgrade from CAC) with transcripts and fee.

Official Addiction & Substance Use Counseling resources

Social Work

Prep for the ASWB exam →
SWA

Social Work Associate

Required exam: ASWB Associate examination (a lower passing score is allowed at this tier).

Scope: Entry-level, title-protected social work practice.
  1. EducationBachelor’s degree in a non-social-work field, or an associate degree in human services from a board-approved program.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required for initial licensure.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Associate examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the application with transcripts (sent directly) and fees; schedule the exam with ASWB.
SW

Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Bachelors examination.

Scope: Generalist bachelor’s-level social work practice.
  1. EducationCSWE-accredited bachelor’s degree in social work.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required for initial licensure.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Bachelors examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the application with transcripts and fees.
CSW

Certified Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Masters examination.

Scope: Master’s / doctoral-level social work practice; the prerequisite for the CSW-PIP clinical tier.
  1. EducationCSWE-accredited master’s or doctoral degree.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required for initial CSW licensure.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Masters examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the application with transcripts and fees.
CSW-PIP

Certified Social Worker in Private or Independent Practice

Required exam: ASWB Clinical examination.

Scope: South Dakota’s highest social work credential; authorizes independent / private practice in a field of specialization such as psychotherapy.
  1. EducationHold a South Dakota CSW (CSWE-accredited master’s or doctoral degree).
  2. Supervision / experienceLicensed as a CSW for at least 2 years plus 2 years of supervised experience in the specialization, under a jointly filed supervision contract (supervisor evaluations every six months).
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Clinical examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the application with transcripts and supervision documentation.

Official Social Work resources

Marriage & Family Therapy

Prep for the National MFT Exam →
LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Required exam: AMFTRB National MFT Examination (delivered through PTC).

Scope: Independent practice of marriage and family therapy. There is no separately titled associate tier; pre-licensure status is the board-approved Plan of Supervision.
  1. EducationMaster’s or doctoral degree of at least 48 credit hours from a board-recognized accredited MFT program.
  2. Supervision / experience1,600 hours of direct client contact (up to 1,000 electronic) plus 100 hours of supervision; no hours count before the Plan of Supervision is approved (ARSD 20:71).
  3. ExamPass the AMFTRB examination.
  4. ApplicationFile a Plan of Supervision, then the full licensure application.

Official Marriage & Family Therapy resources

Psychology

Prep for the EPPP →
Licensed Psychologist

Licensed Psychologist

Required exam: EPPP (ASPPB) plus a South Dakota oral examination (75% to pass).

Scope: Independent practice of psychology — assessment, diagnosis, and treatment within competence. South Dakota licenses psychologists at the doctoral level only (no master’s tier).
  1. EducationDoctoral degree from a regionally accredited university or professional school, with at least three academic years of full-time graduate study (fully online programs do not qualify).
  2. Supervision / experienceA supervised pre-doctoral internship of at least 1,800 hours over no more than two consecutive years, plus one year of supervised post-doctoral practice before the license is issued.
  3. ExamPass the EPPP, then the South Dakota oral examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the application with transcripts from all graduate programs (sent directly) and fees; the Board authorizes EPPP registration after the file is approved.

Official Psychology resources

Behavior Analysis

Prep for the BCBA exam →
LBA

Behavior Analyst License

Required exam: Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examination, BACB (no separate state ABA exam).

Scope: Authorizes the practice of applied behavior analysis in South Dakota; layers on and requires maintaining current national BACB certification. Administered by the Board of Social Work Examiners under SDCL 36-38.
  1. EducationMaster’s or doctoral degree from an accredited institution (the BACB-required qualifying graduate degree); transcripts sent directly.
  2. Supervision / experienceMet through BACB certification (2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork or 1,500 hours concentrated); the state requires holding and maintaining current BACB certification in good standing.
  3. ExamPass the BACB BCBA examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the notarized Application for Behavior Analyst License with proof of current BACB certification sent directly from BACB, transcripts, and fees; annual renewal.

Official Behavior Analysis resources

All licenses

South Dakota licensing portals & background checks.

How to use this page. Each card shows the education, supervised experience, exam, and application steps for one South Dakota license, plus its scope of practice. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the official board before you apply. Verified against the official state boards in June 2026.

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