How many hours do you need for a cosmetology license in South Dakota?

South Dakota requires 1,500 hours of approved training. That is more than 12 of the other jurisdictions tracked here and fewer than 13.

Is there a practical exam for the South Dakota cosmetology license?

Yes. South Dakota requires a hands-on practical examination in addition to the written examination.

How old do you have to be to get a cosmetology license in South Dakota?

You must be at least 18 years old.

SD Cosmetology licensing

South Dakota cosmetology license requirements and exam prep

Confirm South Dakota cosmetology training hours, exam requirements, official board sources and the matching Cosmetology practice app.

At a glance

South Dakota Cosmetology facts

License type: Cosmetologist
School hours: 1,500 hours
Written exam: Required
Practical exam: Required
Exam vendor: Prov
Passing score: 75%
Renewal cycle: 1 year
Minimum age: 18
Last verified: 2026-08-07

Checked against 2 official sources on 2026-08-07. Every figure on this page links to the document it came from.

Application path

What to verify before you apply

1Confirm the license categoryState boards may use different names for the same career path.
2Verify training and exam eligibilityCheck hours, application order, fees, IDs and vendor rules from official sources.
3Practice once your path is clearUse the state-aware course app for written-exam practice and weak-area review.

Exam details

Written and practical exam notes

Written exam

Status: Required
Passing score: 75%

Practical exam

Status: Required

Renewal and transfer

Renewal: 1 year

Still to verifyNot published in the cited sources: written question count, written time limit, written exam languages, practical time limit, continuing education, transfer terms. Verify the current board page or candidate bulletin before scheduling or applying.

Study path

How to use this South Dakota cosmetology guide

Verify the licensing path here, then use the course app for active recall, answer explanations, weak-area drills and timed written-exam practice.

Confirm eligibilityFinish 1,500 approved training hours before relying on exam practice as your only preparation step.
Prepare for the written examUse timed practice against the published written-exam structure: passing standard 75%. The cited sources name Prov as the exam vendor.
Plan hands-on practiceSouth Dakota requires a practical exam for this license, so do not let written-question practice replace service practice and kit/exam-day preparation.
Start the matching practice appBegin with the free questions, then unlock full access when your exam date is close enough that you will use the 90-day study window.

High-yield written topics

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Skin, nails and state lawBasic services outside hair plus scope, licensing and board-rule questions.

Practice Cosmetology questions

Official sources

Source links used for this guide

South Dakota Cosmetology Commission - Licensing Requirements ↗South Dakota Department of Labour and Regulation · Accessed 2026-08-07Training hours, Minimum age, Renewal cycle
South Dakota Cosmetology Commission - Examinations ↗South Dakota Department of Labour and Regulation · Accessed 2026-08-07Passing Score, Written exam, Exam vendor

South Dakota in context

What these South Dakota cosmetology rules mean for you

South Dakota requires 1,500 training hours for a cosmetology license. Of the 51 jurisdictions tracked here, 12 ask for fewer hours and 13 ask for more, against a range of 1,000 to 2,000 hours and a median of 1,500. Hour requirements matter beyond school cost: a license earned in a low-hour state is often harder to transfer into a high-hour one.

South Dakota requires both a written examination and a hands-on practical examination, so you need bench skills as well as theory. The examination is administered by Prov. The published passing standard is 75%.

South Dakota Cosmetology licensing questions

How many hours do you need for a cosmetology license in South Dakota?: South Dakota requires 1,500 hours of approved training. That is more than 12 of the other jurisdictions tracked here and fewer than 13.
Is there a practical exam for the South Dakota cosmetology license?: Yes. South Dakota requires a hands-on practical examination in addition to the written examination.
How old do you have to be to get a cosmetology license in South Dakota?: You must be at least 18 years old.
How often do you renew a South Dakota cosmetology license?: The renewal cycle is 1 year.

Verify before applying. Licensing rules, fees, providers, and exam formats can change. Use the linked board source as the final authority.