Free South Dakota CNA Exam Prep
South Dakota Certified Nurse Aide
Prepare for the South Dakota CNA exam without spending hundreds on expensive prep courses. Free study guides, practice questions, flashcards, and related exam resources.
Quick Facts
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South Dakota CNA: Study Roadmap
Follow this path to organize your exam preparation
Complete 75-Hour SD Board-Approved Training
Complete the Board-approved 75-hour program: 16 initial theory/skills hours, 43 further theory/practical hours, and 16 supervised practical hours.
Basic Nursing Skills, Data Collection & Personal Care (24 of 80)
The largest knowledge-exam area: core CNA care tasks, vital signs and measurements, observation and reporting, and personal care.
Physical Health, Role and Responsibility (18 of 80)
Physical Health and Illness (10 questions) and Role and Responsibility (8): care for functionally impaired residents, restorative services and scope of practice.
Infection Control, Mental Health and Safety (21 of 80)
Infection Control, Mental Health and Illness, and Safety are 7 questions each: hand hygiene, PPE, dementia and behavior changes, fall prevention and emergencies.
Rights, Communication and Aging (17 of 80)
Basic Rights (6), Communication and Interpersonal Skills (6) and Aging Process (5).
Skills Evaluation Practice
Practice all commonly performed skills with your instructor. A qualified RN evaluates four assigned forms from the Board's pool of 22 during the skills lab or at the end of training; the Board scores critical items.
Can You Take the South Dakota CNA Exam?
Check if you meet the basic eligibility requirements
- •Standard route: complete a Board-approved nurse aide training program of at least 75 hours.
- •Curriculum: 16 initial theory/skills hours before direct client contact; 43 additional theory/supervised practical hours; 16 supervised practical hours in a nursing facility or comparable setting.
- •Complete the Board application and required misconduct affidavit, approved skills evaluation, and Headmaster knowledge examination.
- •Knowledge: 80 questions, 60 minutes, 75% passing score; onsite and RN remotely proctored options plus optional audio.
- •Skills: four assigned checklists from the Board's pool of 22; RN evaluator submits completed forms for Board scoring of critical items.
- •Biennial renewal by birth date requires 12 paid nursing-service hours in the preceding two years and 12 in-service education hours in each year, including required dementia and reporting content.
- •Endorsement requires application, misconduct affidavit, and evidence of active CNA registration in another state; transfer is not automatic.
South Dakota CNA Quick Facts
Time to Get Licensed
Instructor confirms training in South Dakota TMU before knowledge-exam scheduling; the handbook allows two years from training completion to test. Verify current event and identification instructions.
From start to license in hand
Exam Provider
D&SDT-Headmaster (knowledge exam) and Board-approved RN Skills Evaluators (skills), for the South Dakota Board of Nursing
Retake Policy
Two knowledge retakes are allowed after the first failure, at USD 45 each. After a third failure, the instructor provides additional instruction. The handbook allows two years from training completion to test. The skills rule allows two re-evaluations of a failed skill.
Total Cost Breakdown
Free South Dakota CNA Prep Tools
Reported exam pass rate: The cited sources do not publish a statewide candidate pass rate; program-approval performance thresholds are not candidate pass rates.. These figures describe exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep user outcomes. Check the exam sponsor’s website for published statistics.
528+ Practice Questions
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AI Tutor Explains Mistakes
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Independent Study Resources
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What You'll Study
10 chapters covering the exam topics in this guide
Chapter 1: South Dakota CNA Credential & Regulatory Standards
3 sections
Chapter 2: Resident Rights, Ethics & Person-Centered Care
3 sections
Chapter 3: Communication & Interpersonal Skills
3 sections
Chapter 4: Infection Prevention & Control
3 sections
Chapter 5: Safety, Emergency Procedures & Body Mechanics
4 sections
Chapter 6: Data Collection & Vital Signs
3 sections
Chapter 7: Personal Care & Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
4 sections
Chapter 8: Physical Health, Nutrition & Restorative Care
4 sections
Chapter 9: The Aging Process & Geriatric Health Conditions
3 sections
Chapter 10: Mental Health, Cognitive Impairments & Dementia Care
3 sections
South Dakota CNA Exam Details
South Dakota Certified Nurse Aide
Administered by South Dakota Board of Nursing (knowledge exam by D&SDT-Headmaster; skills evaluation by a Board-approved RN Skills Evaluator)
Exam Content Breakdown
Based on the official South Dakota Board of Nursing (knowledge exam by D&SDT-Headmaster; skills evaluation by a Board-approved RN Skills Evaluator) content outline
Developmental tasks and changes associated with the aging process
Core CNA care tasks, measurements, data collection, reporting and personal care
Residents' legal rights, the CNA's role in protecting them, and promoting independence
Verbal, nonverbal and written communication, including sensory considerations
Causes and prevention of infection, hand hygiene, PPE and standard precautions
Mental states, cognitive impairment, behavior changes and mental well-being
Personal care and accommodations for functionally impaired residents
Scope of practice, restorative services and the CNA's role in the workplace
Resident and staff safety, fall prevention, emergencies and body mechanics
What's Included
10 Chapters
Complete exam coverage
Practice Quizzes
With detailed explanations
Free to Start
No credit card required
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What's Next After the South Dakota CNA?
After passing the South Dakota CNA, you can pursue these career paths
CNA
Study general nurse aide care through the national CNA resource; working in another state requires that state's application and registry rules, rather than an automatic multistate privilege.
NCLEX-PN
Pursue approved practical nursing education and state licensure eligibility before NCLEX-PN; South Dakota CNA registration alone does not authorize LPN practice.
NCLEX-RN
Pursue approved registered nursing education and state licensure eligibility before NCLEX-RN; CNA work can provide care experience but does not replace the nursing program.
South Dakota CNA Exam FAQ
Official South Dakota Board of Nursing (knowledge exam by D&SDT-Headmaster; skills evaluation by a Board-approved RN Skills Evaluator) Resources
Verify information with these official sources
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