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How to Become a Certified Nurse Aide in South Dakota

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(found 109 schools, updated in May 2017)

The Certified Nursing Assistant or Certified Nurse Aide assists the Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse and other healthcare professionals in hospitals, hospices, nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Many CNAs discover they truly enjoy providing healthcare services and decide to pursue a degree to become a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse. It is a rewarding career that offers people with a variety of medical needs the attention and basic services required to preserve the quality of life.

SHOW ME SCHOOLS

  • 6 Steps to Becoming a CNA in South Dakota
  • How to Keep CNA Certification Active in South Dakota
  • Salary and Job Outlook for CNAs in South Dakota
  • A List of Nearby or Bordering States

6 Steps to Becoming a CNA in South Dakota

The South Dakota State Board of Nursing (SDBON) is the government agency that is responsible for approving state-approved CNA training programs and maintaining the CNA State Registry. The Certified Nurse Aide falls in the category of Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) in South Dakota. The Nursing Aide must maintain active SD CNA Registry status but is not required to obtain a license.

Following are guidelines to assist people interested in achieving CNA status in South Dakota.

Step 1: Research and Choose Preferred State-Approved Schools

In South Dakota, the SDBON approves nurse aide training programs. The state requires a minimum of 75 hours of didactic and clinical training. It is very important to attend a state-approved program because the SDBON has reviewed the curriculum and made sure it meets minimum state and federal requirements.

There are approximately 107 state-approved CNA programs in South Dakota, but the number is not fixed. Always check current listings when looking for CNA classes in South Dakota to ensure all options are considered. The large majority of South Dakota CNA programs are offered at nursing homes and assisted living facilities. That is where the greatest need is found for Certified Nurse Aides as the population ages. There are a few non-nursing home facilities offering CNA programs. The Avera CNA Online Training Solutions Curriculum and We Care Online offer online coursework. The coursework is completed online, but the student must satisfy clinical training requirements.

CNA Classes in South Dakota by City

If you want to become a Certified Nurse Aide in South Dakota by taking one of the state-approved CNA programs in the state, check the following school table to find the best school near you. The data is updated in May 2017.

SHOW ME SCHOOLS

CityTypeProgram ProviderAddress
AberdeenNursing HomeAberdeen Health and Rehabilitation
www.aberdeenhealthandrehab.com
1700 North Highway 281
AberdeenNursing HomeAvera Mother Joseph Manor
www.avera.org
1002 North Jay Street
AberdeenNursing HomeBethesda Home of Aberdeen
www.bha.cc
1224 South High Street
AberdeenNursing HomeManorCare Health Services
www.heartland-manorcare.com
400 8th Avenue NW
AlcesterNursing HomeAlcester Care and Rehab Center
alcestercarerehab.com
101 Church Street
ArlingtonNursing HomeArlington Care & Rehab Center (Golden Living Center - Arlington)
www.goldenlivingcenters.com
120 Care Center Road
ArmourNursing HomeArmour Health & Rehab Center (Golden Living Center Armour)
www.goldenlivingcenters.com
106 Braddock
BeresfordNursing HomeBethesda of Beresford
www.bethesdasd.com
606 West Cedar
BowdleNursing HomeBowdle Healthcare
www.bowdlehc.com
8001 West 5th Street
BridgewaterNursing HomeDiamond Care Center
website
901 North Main Avenue
BristolNursing HomeSun Dial Manor, Inc.
sundialmanor.com
410 2nd Street
BrittonNursing HomeWheatcrest Hills
www.welcov.com
PO Box 939
BrookingsNon-Nursing Home BasedBrookings High School Career & Technical Education Center
www.brookings.k12.sd.us
530 Elm Avenue
BrookingsNon-Nursing Home BasedSouth Dakota Education Campus
www.sdedcampus.com
809 32nd Avenue, Suite 813
BrookingsNursing HomeNeighborhoods at Brookview
brookingshealth.org
2421 Yorkshire Drive
BrookingsNursing HomeUnited Living Community
unitedalive.com
405 1st Avenue
BryantNursing HomeBryant Parkview Care Center
parkviewcampus.com
303 West 6th Avenue
CanistotaNursing HomeGood Samaritan Society
www.good-sam.com
700 West Main Street
CantonNursing HomeGood Samaritan Society
www.good-sam.com
1022 North Dakota Street
CentervilleNursing HomeCenterville Care & Rehab
www.centervillecareandrehab.com
500 Vermillion Street
ChamberlainNursing HomeSanford Chamberlain Care Center
www.sanfordhealth.org
300 South Byron Boulevard
Clear LakeNursing HomeGood Samaritan Society - Deuel County
www.good-sam.com
913 Colonel Pete Street
CorsicaNursing HomeGood Samaritan Society
www.good-sam.com
455 North Dakota Avenue
De SmetNursing HomeGood Samaritan Society
www.good-sam.com
411 Calumet Avenue NW
Eagle ButteNursing HomeMedicine Wheel Village24266 1 Airport Road
Elk PointNursing HomePrairie Estates Healthcare Community
www.welcov.com
600 South Franklin
EstellineNursing HomeEstelline Nursing & Care Center
estellinesd.com
205 Fjerestad Avenue
EurekaNursing HomeAvera Eureka Health Care Center
www.avera.org
202 J Avenue
FaulktonNursing HomeFaulkton Senior Living (Faulkton Healthcare Center)
website
1401 Pearl Street
FlandreauNursing HomeRiverview Healthcare Community
www.welcov.com
611 East 2nd Avenue
FreemanNursing HomeOakview Terrace
www.freemanregional.com
510 East 8th Street
GettysburgNursing HomeAvera Oahe Manor
www.avera.org
700 East Garfield Avenue
GregoryNursing HomeAvera Rosebud Country Care
www.avera.org
300 Park Avenue
HighmoreNursing HomeHighmore Healthcare410 8th Street SE
Hot SpringsNursing HomeFall River Health Services
www.frhssd.org
1201 Highway 71 South
Hot SpringsNursing HomeSouth Dakota Veterans Home
website
2500 Minnekahta Avenue
HowardNursing HomeGood Samaritan Society
www.good-sam.com
300 West Hazel Avenue
HudsonNursing HomeHudson Care and Rehab720 Parkway
HuronNursing HomeSunquest Healthcare Center
np
1345 Michigan Avenue SW
IreneNursing HomeIrene Sunset Manor
www.avera.org
129 East Clay Street
KadokaNursing HomeKadoka Nursing Home605 Maple Street West
Lake AndesNursing HomeLake Andes Senior Living740 East Lake
LemmonNursing HomeFive Counties Nursing Home405 6th Avenue West
LennoxNursing HomeGood Samaritan Society
www.good-sam.com
404 East 6th Avenue
MadisonNursing HomeBethel Lutheran Home
www.bethelcommunity.com
1001 South Egan Avenue
MadisonNursing HomeMadison Care and Rehab Center (Golden Living Center - Madison)
www.goldenlivingcenters.com
718 NE 8th Street
MarionNursing HomeTieszen Memorial Home, Inc.
www.tieszenhome.com
312 East State Street
MarteyNon-Nursing Home BasedIhanktonwan Community College
www.iccoyate.com
PO Box 295
MartinNursing HomeBennett County Hospital & Nursing Home
www.bennettcountyhospital.com
102 Major Allen Street
MennoNursing HomeMenno-Olivet Care Center402 South Pine Street
MilbankNursing HomeSaint Williams Care Center103 North Viola Street
MillerNursing HomeGood Samaritan Society
www.good-sam.com
421 East 4th Street
MissionNon-Nursing Home BasedSinte Gleska University
www.sintegleska.edu
PO Box 105
MitchellNon-Nursing Home BasedDakota Wesleyan University
www.dwu.edu
1200 West University Avenue
MitchellNursing HomeAvera Brady Health & Rehab
aurorabrulehome.com
500 South Ohlman
MitchellNursing HomeFiresteel Healthcare Community
www.welcov.com
1120 East 7th Street
MobridgeNursing HomeGolden Living Center - Mobridge
www.goldenlivingcenters.com
1100 4th Avenue East
NemoNon-Nursing Home BasedBoxelder Job Corps USDAFS
website
22023 Job Corps Place
New UnderwoodNursing HomeGood Samaritan Society
www.good-sam.com
412 South Madison Avenue
ParkstonNursing HomeAvera Saint Benedict Health Center
www.avera.org
401 West Glynn Drive
PhilipNursing HomePhilip Health Services, Inc.
www.philiphealthservices.com
PO Box 790
PierreNursing HomeAvera Maryhouse Long Term Care
www.avera.org
717 East Dakota Avenue
PierreNursing HomeBHHC - Pierre Care and Rehab Center (Golden Living Center - Pierre)
www.goldenlivingcenters.com
950 East Park Street
PlatteNursing HomePlatte Care Center Avera
www.avera.org
601 7th Street
Rapid CityNursing HomeWesthills Village
www.westhillsvillage.com
255 Texas Street
Rapid CityNon-Nursing Home BasedBHHC Training Center (Black Hills, Bella Vista) (Golden Living Center)
www.goldenlivingcenters.com
809 South Street, Suite 105
Rapid CityNursing HomeWelcov Fountain Springs Healthcare Community
www.welcov.com
2000 Wesleyan Boulevard
Rapid CityAssisted LivingPeaceful Pines Senior Living
www.peacefulpinesseniorliving.com
1760 Tablerock Road
RedfieldNursing HomeEastern Star Home1220 West 12th Avenue
RedfieldNursing HomeBHHC - Redfield, Groton (Golden Living Center)
www.goldenlivingcenters.com
1015 East 3rd Street
RosholtNursing HomeNorth East Care and Rehabilitation, Inc.85th 1st Avenue East
ScotlandNursing HomeGood Samaritan Society
www.good-sam.com
130 6th Street
SelbyNursing HomeGood Samaritan Society
www.good-sam.com
4861 Lincoln Avenue
Sioux FallsNon-Nursing Home BasedLifeScape
www.lifescapesd.org
2501 West 26th Street
Sioux FallsNon-Nursing Home BasedSioux Falls Career and Technical Education Academy
website
4700 West Career Circle
Sioux FallsNon-Nursing Home BasedSoutheast Technical Institute
www.southeasttech.edu
2320 North Career Avenue
Sioux FallsNursing HomeAvera Prince of Peace
www.avera.org
4500 South Prince of Peace Place
Sioux FallsNursing HomeBethany Home Sioux Falls & Brandon
www.mybethanyhome.org
1901 South Holly Street
Sioux FallsNursing HomeGood Samaritan - Sioux Falls Center, Sioux Falls Village, Luther Manor
www.good-sam.com
401 West 2nd Street
Sioux FallsAssisted LivingPrimrose Retirement Communities
www.primroseretirement.com
7400 South Louise Avenue
SissetonNursing HomeCoteau des Prairies
www.cdphealth.com
205 Orchard Drive
SpearfishNon-Nursing Home BasedComfort KeepersPO Box 1267
SpearfishNursing HomeWelcov: David Dorsett Healthcare Community
www.welcov.com
1020 North 10th Street
SpearfishAssisted LivingSandstone Senior Living
website
2010 Windmill Drive
SturgisAssisted LivingWelcov Aspen Grove Assisted Living
www.welcov.com
2065 Moose Drive
SturgisNursing HomeSturgis Regional Senior Care949 Harmon Street
TrippNursing HomeGood Samaritan Society
www.good-sam.com
300 North Dobson Street
TyndallNursing HomeGood Samaritan Society
www.good-sam.com
2304 Laurel Street
VermillionNursing HomeSanford Vermillion Care Center
www.sanfordvermillion.org
125 South Walker Street
ViborgNursing HomePioneer Memorial Nursing Home
www.pioneermemorial.org
315 North Washington Street
WagnerNursing HomeGood Samaritan Society
www.good-sam.com
515 West Highway 46
WakondaNursing HomeWakonda Heritage Manor
www.avera.org
515 Ohio Street
WatertownOnline BasedLake Area Technical Institute
www.lakeareatech.edu
1201 Arrow Avenue
WatertownNursing HomeJenkins Living Center
www.jenkinslivingcenter.com
215 South Maple Street
WatertownNursing HomeBHHC - Watertown, Milbank, Clark, Lake Norden (Golden Living Center)
www.goldenlivingcenters.com
415 4th Avenue NE
WebsterNursing HomeBethesda Home
www.sanfordhealth.org
129 West Highway 12
Wessington SpringsNursing HomeWeskota Manor Avera
www.avera.org
608 1st Street NE
White LakeNursing HomeAurora Brule Nursing Home
aurorabrulehome.com
408 South Johnston Street
White RiverNursing HomeWhite River Health Care Center515 East 8th Street
Wichita, KSOnline BasedWe Care Online
wecareonlineclasses.com
4601 East Douglas, Suite 112
WilmotNursing HomeWilmot Care Center
www.sanfordhealth.org
501 4th Street
WinnerNursing HomeWinner Regional Healthcare Center
winnerregional.org
745 East 8th Street
WoonsocketNursing HomePrairie View Care Center
www.welcov.com
401 1st Avenue
YanktonOnline BasedAvera CNA Education and Staffing Online Training
www.avera.org
1000 West 4th Street, Suite 9
YanktonNursing HomeAvera Sister James Care Center (including Yankton Care Center)
www.avera.org
2111 West 11th Street
YanktonNursing HomeSouth Dakota Human Services Center
website
3515 North Broadway
Belle FourcheNursing HomeBelle Fourche Healthcare Community
www.welcov.com
2200 13th Avenue
GarretsonNursing HomePalisade Healthcare Community
www.welcov.com
920 4th Street
HuronNursing HomeViolet Tschetter Memorial Home
www.twsl.com
50 South 7th Street SE

Step 2: Consider the Training Costs

Students who get training in Medicare or Medicaid funded nursing homes or assisted living facilities can work while completing training. In those situations, the training is free per requirements of the federal OBRA 87 law. The law says:

  • The nurse aide who is employed by a facility when nurse aide training begins cannot be charged for any portion of the program, including course materials
  • The nurse aide who is employed by a facility within 12 months of completing a Certified Nurse Aide training program will be reimbursed by the nursing facility

The student may be employed for up to four (4) months while training but must obtain registry status before the end of the four months.

Costs at educational facilities can vary. As of 2017, Southeast Tech Community College‘s CNA training program costs were $710. Students accepted into the Boxelder Job Corps Certified Nurse Assistant are not charged any fees, but they must live in campus dormitories while in the program. The We Care Online CNA course costs $290, but 50 hours of didactic learning is completed online and 40 hours of clinical training is completed at a long term care facility.

It is important to evaluate all the options before making a final decision. It is also advisable to check with school or program staff to ask if financial aid is available.

Step 3: Select a School and Ensure Prerequisites Are Met

To register for a CNA training program in South Dakota, the student needs to meet program prerequisites. They can vary slightly from school to school, but as a minimum will require:

  • Completing a school application
  • Completing a program application
  • Providing proof of having earned a High School diploma or GED
  • Passing a drug screen test
  • Passing a criminal background check

Step 4: Complete CNA Training

Every curriculum approved by the South Dakota Board of Nursing will include learning and training that is critical to doing a good job as a Certified Nursing Assistant. The areas of instruction and skills training include the following:

  1. Protecting the safety of residents, CNAs and other personnel
  2. Providing personal care to patients
  3. Infection control, including hand-washing techniques
  4. Care of patients with impairments
  5. Understanding the signs and stages of mental health
  6. Protecting resident rights
  7. Data collection of patient vital signs and other statistics
  8. Understanding the role and responsibilities of the nurse aide
  9. Effective verbal and non-verbal communication with patients or residents
  10. Older adult growth and development
  11. Basic nursing skills
  12. Understanding the disease process

Step 5: Take the CNA Examination

After completing the 75 hours of didactic and clinical training in a state-approved program, the Nursing Assistant will then take the Competency Evaluation Exam. In South Dakota, D&S Diversified Technologies dba Headmaster is under contract with the South Dakota Health Care Association to provide the CNA testing and scoring services. The employer or the CNA program staff will submit the student’s name for testing. The examination has two sections including a Knowledge/Oral Test and a Manual Skill Test.

Knowledge/Oral Test

This section has 75 questions that are selected from 9 major subject areas: such as safety, communication, infection control, basic rights, basic nursing skills and personal care, role and responsibility, physical health and illness, mental health and illness, the aging process and other areas. The student has 90 minutes to do the test and must get a minimum score of 75 percent.

Skill Test

This section of the test assesses three or four CNA skills including one mandatory task and two or three randomly selected ones. The mandatory skills tasks are toileting using a bedpan and emptying a urinary drainage bag.

The randomly chosen skills are selected from a list provided in the Headmaster’s Candidate Handbook. They include skills like abdominal thrust to address choking, ambulation with a cane or walker, ambulation with use of a gait belt, applying antiembolic stockings, taking patient vital signs, brushing resident teeth, changing an occupied bed, denture care, assisting with dining, measuring total fluid consumed, donning and removing gown and gloves, resident hair care, mouth care of a comatose resident and others. The student must get a minimum score of 75 percent on each skill.

Certification requirements require passing both exam parts. Headmaster provides test results to the South Dakota Health Care Association which then provides test results to the student and the employer. If the exam taker fails a Knowledge or Skill Test, the failed test will have to be retaken.

Step 6: Get Certified as a CNA in South Dakota

Completing CNA training and passing the competency evaluation exam is one path for earning CNA certification in South Dakota. The South Dakota Health Care Association maintains the South Dakota Nurse Aides Registry, and enters the nurse aide’s name after verification the student passed the exam.

There are other paths to becoming a CNA in South Dakota.

Active CNAs from Other States

Out of state Certified Nursing Assistants can request to be included on the South Dakota CNA Registry by submitting the CNA Interstate Endorsement Application to the South Dakota Board of Nursing.

Nursing Students

Nursing students who completed a Fundamentals of Nursing course – RN or LPN students who successfully complete a Fundamentals of Nursing course can request a waiver from the requirement to complete a 75-hour nurse aide training program. If approved, the student can take the CNA Competency Evaluation exam.

Equivalency of Education in Other Healthcare Fields

A Nurse Aide training program instructor can review the competence of students who were educated in other healthcare fields. This applies to a healthcare professional who is a physical therapist, EMT, respiratory therapist, occupational therapist, paramedic or medical assistant. The person has to enroll in a state-approved CNA training program, and the instructor determines the areas where the person needs additional training in order to meet state curriculum requirements. The instructor qualifies the person to take the competency evaluation test.

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How to Keep CNA Certification Active in South Dakota

Certified Nurse Aides in South Dakota must renew their CNA certification every two years. There are two requirements to renew CNA certification:

  1. Complete at least 12 hours of training each year, and
  2. Work as a paid CNA for at least 12 hours during the prior 24 months
The renewal request is done online and is processed after verification the minimum requirements are met.

Lapsed Certification

If the CNA has a lapsed certification but meets the two renewal requirements, the person can contact the SDBON to request certification reinstatement. A person with a lapsed certification cannot renew online. If someone with a lapsed certification cannot meet the annual training and paid employment requirements, the person will need to retrain and take the CNA state tests.

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Salary and Job Outlook for CNAs in South Dakota

Per the Department of Labor, the average annual CNA salary in South Dakota, as of May 2016, was $24,960 or $12.00 per hour. For the period 2014-2024, long term employment projections show a 7.8 percent increase in the number of CNA jobs. | See Job Openings

CNA Salaries in South Dakota

SD CNA SalariesEmpl.Hourly mean wageAnnual mean wageWage percent relative std. errorHourly 10th % wageHourly median wageHourly 90th % wageAnnual 10th % wageAnnual median wageAnnual 90th % wage
National144315013.29276500.29.6412.7818.22200402659037900
South Dakota586012.00249601.39.5411.4714.98198502386031160
Rapid City, SD75012.75265101.99.8811.9817.19205402491035750
Sioux Falls, SD197012.51260302.49.7811.8115.12203402457031450
East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area209011.40237002.19.2611.1014.42192502310029980
West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area100011.71243501.49.5411.3214.80198302355030790

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A List of Nearby or Bordering States

  • Iowa
  • Minnesota
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • North Dakota
  • Wyoming

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