South Dakota Administration/Principal Certification
South Dakota principal certification requires a master’s degree, a state-approved principal preparation program, three years of K-12 school experience, and a passing score on the Praxis Administration and Supervision (5412) exam. The South Dakota Department of Education issues Administrative Certificates for K-12 Principal and School Superintendent preparation, each with its own degree and experience thresholds.
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South Dakota principal certification runs through the South Dakota Department of Education, not through a separate licensing board. Current administrative rules recognize two administrator preparation categories: K-12 Principal and School Superintendent. Each carries its own degree, coursework, and experience requirements, and you can add endorsements in additional areas once you’re certified if you meet the qualifications for each.
Use the links below to jump to education requirements, exam information, application steps, and renewal details for South Dakota administrator certification.
- Education requirements for principals and superintendents
- Certification exam requirements
- Experience and internship requirements
- How to apply for certification
- Renewing your certificate
- Background check requirements
Education Requirements for Principals and Superintendents
Principal Education Requirements
To qualify for South Dakota principal certification, you need a minimum of a master’s degree and completion of a state-approved program for school principal preparation, along with a valid South Dakota teaching certificate. The program must be approved specifically for principal preparation, not just an education degree in general, so check the South Dakota Department of Education’s administrator certification page before enrolling if you’re unsure whether a program qualifies.
Contact schools offering educational administration degree programs in South Dakota to compare principal preparation options and admission requirements before you apply.
Superintendent Education Requirements
Superintendent certification in South Dakota has two paths. The first requires an education specialist or doctoral degree along with a state-approved program for school superintendent preparation, currently offered through the University of South Dakota. Applicants should confirm current approved program availability directly with the South Dakota Department of Education, since this can change. The second path requires a master’s degree plus 15 graduate semester hours of coursework in a state-approved school superintendent preparation program. Most candidates without immediate access to the doctoral-level program pursue the second route.
Certification Exam Requirements
Both Principal and Superintendent certification require a passing score on the Praxis Administration and Supervision (5412), the current state-designated content test. This is the same exam regardless of which certification area you’re pursuing, so principal and superintendent candidates take identical exam content. Register for the exam through ETS and send your official score report directly to the South Dakota Department of Education as part of your application packet.
Experience and Internship Requirements
Principal Experience Requirements
Principal candidates need three years of verified K-12 school experience. At least one of those three years has to be classroom teaching or direct student services, as permitted under state rules. You’ll also need to complete an internship within your principal preparation program that covers the full range of principal responsibilities, with experience at both the elementary and secondary levels.
Superintendent Experience Requirements
Superintendent candidates need three years of school experience within grades PK-12, with at least one of those years in classroom teaching. Your preparation program will also include an internship covering the full range of job responsibilities a superintendent handles day-to-day, from budgeting to personnel decisions to board relations.
How to Apply for South Dakota Administrator Certification
Once you’ve met the education, exam, and experience requirements above, you’ll apply online for administrator certification. Application fees are paid online as part of the process. Alongside your application, send the following documents directly to the South Dakota Department of Education:
- Official college transcripts
- University Sign-Off form, completed by certification officials at your administrator preparation program
- Official Praxis Administration and Supervision (5412) score report
- Completed Verification of Experience form
Mail your documents to South Dakota Department of Education, Certification, 800 Governors Dr., Pierre, SD 57501. Once your application is processed, the department emails you a printable administrative certificate.
Renewing Your South Dakota Administrator Certificate
South Dakota administrator certificates are issued on a renewable cycle rather than as a one-time credential, so plan on completing continuing education requirements before your certificate expires. Renewal typically requires transcripted credits or approved continuing education hours completed during the certification period. This is separate from renewing your underlying South Dakota teaching certificate, which follows its own cycle. Confirm the exact renewal cycle length and current continuing education requirements with the South Dakota Department of Education before your certificate is set to expire, since these details are set by state rule and can be updated.
Background Check Requirements
South Dakota does not require a criminal history background check as part of the state certification process itself. That check happens later: the school district that hires you will run your fingerprints through a state and federal background check as a condition of employment. You’ll get more detail on that process once you’ve been hired, and it’s separate from anything you need to complete for the Department of Education to issue your certificate.
Keep in mind that certification and hiring are two different gates. You can hold a valid South Dakota administrator certificate without a job offer. However, a district still has to clear you through its own background check process before you can start work in a principal or superintendent role.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a teaching license before I can get principal certification in South Dakota?
Yes. Both principal and superintendent certification build on classroom teaching experience. You need at least three years of K-12 school experience, including at least one year of classroom teaching or direct student services as permitted under state rules, before you’re eligible.
Can I complete South Dakota’s superintendent preparation program online?
It depends on the path you choose. The 15-graduate-semester-hour route is offered through multiple state-approved programs, some of which are available online. The doctoral or education specialist route is currently offered through the University of South Dakota; confirm current program format and availability directly with the Department of Education.
What’s the difference between principal and superintendent certification requirements?
Principal certification requires a master’s degree and a state-approved principal preparation program. Superintendent certification requires either a doctoral or education specialist degree with a state-approved superintendent program, or a master’s degree plus 15 graduate semester hours in a state-approved superintendent program.
Do I need to pass a background check to apply for certification?
No. South Dakota does not run a criminal history background check as part of the certification application. Your future school district runs a state and federal background check as part of its hiring process.
Who do I contact with questions about South Dakota administrator certification?
Contact the South Dakota Department of Education Office of Teacher Quality at [email protected] or 605-773-3134 for questions about principal or superintendent certification.
- South Dakota recognizes two administrator preparation categories—K-12 Principal and School Superintendent —each with its own degree and experience requirements.
- Principal certification requires a master’s degree, plus a state-approved principal preparation program and three years of K-12 school experience, including one year of classroom teaching or direct student services.
- Superintendent certification has two paths — a doctoral or education specialist degree with an approved program, or a master’s degree plus 15 graduate semester hours in an approved superintendent program.
- The Praxis Administration and Supervision (5412) exam is required — for both principal and superintendent certification, with no separate exam for either track.
- Background checks happen at the district level—not during state certification —so budget time for that step once you’re hired.
Find accredited educational administration and principal preparation programs in South Dakota, including application requirements and licensing timelines for your certification path.
