South Dakota Special Education Teacher Guide
Everything you need to know about becoming a special education teacher in South Dakota: licensing requirements, continuing education, salary data, and key resources. Whether you’re just starting out or renewing your license, this is your complete South Dakota guide.
How to Become a Special Education Teacher in South Dakota
Assistive technology for autism is just one of the many specialized areas special education teachers in South Dakota may support, alongside a certification process that includes some distinctive statewide requirements. Candidates need a bachelor’s degree from a state-approved teacher preparation program, a three-credit course in South Dakota Indian Studies (with a grade of C or higher), a course in suicide awareness and prevention, and passing scores on the Praxis Core, PLT, and a subject-specific exam. For special education specifically, candidates take either the Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood exam or the Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications exam, depending on grade level.
New teachers receive a five-year Professional Teaching Certificate, then may advance to the Advanced Certificate after five years of experience combined with a graduate degree or National Board Certification. NASET’s own autism assistive technology guide is a useful starting point for teachers building this specialization early in their careers.
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Continuing Education & License Renewal in South Dakota
South Dakota’s Professional Teaching Certificate renews every five years and expires on July 1 of the renewal year. Renewal requires six education-related credits: three transcripted or specialized learning experience hours, plus three continuing education contact hours or transcripted credits. Teachers can also satisfy this requirement by serving as a mentor or mentee in a state-approved mentor program for two years instead.
South Dakota doesn’t operate a state-level approval list for outside providers, so NASET course completion certificates are best submitted directly to your district for review as continuing education contact hours.
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Special Education Teacher Salary in South Dakota
Earning potential for South Dakota special education teachers varies by experience, location, and credentials:
- Average salary: $55,000–$65,000 per year
- Entry-level (0–3 years): around $44,000–$50,000
- Experienced (8+ years): up to $85,000–$90,000
- Key factors: district funding, special education endorsement, location within the state
South Dakota reports that special education elementary school teachers typically earn more than general elementary teachers without the endorsement, and pursuing board certification remains one of the more reliable ways to strengthen your case for career advancement.
IEPs in South Dakota
South Dakota’s Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, oversees IEP compliance statewide, and the Navigator Program, a partnership between the state and South Dakota Parent Connection, provides free, individualized guidance to parents and school professionals navigating the IEP process.
Assistive technology for autism covers a specific range of tools that IEP teams document based on individual need. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices support students who are nonverbal or have limited speech. Visual schedules and structured teaching supports help students anticipate transitions and reduce anxiety around unpredictable routines. Video modeling has also shown strong evidence for teaching daily living skills and building independence. DakotaLink, the state’s assistive technology program, can conduct individual evaluations and provide equipment loans so teams can trial a device before committing to it in the IEP.
NASET’s own autism assistive technology guide walks through these categories in more depth, and reviewing strong IEP models alongside examples of IEP goals and objectives can help teachers write goals that reflect the specific technology a student needs, rather than a generic accommodation line.
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Key Resources for South Dakto Special Education Teachers
State Resources:
- SD DOE — Office of Special Education Programs — state IEP guidance, the Navigator Program, and compliance resources
- South Dakota Parent Connection — South Dakota’s Parent Training and Information Center, offering training and advocacy resources for families and educators
- DakotaLink — South Dakota’s statewide assistive technology program, offering evaluations, equipment loans, and hands-on training
- Assessment in Special Education — NASET’s guide to evaluation and eligibility practices
- Complete State-by-State Special Education Teacher Guide
South Dakota Parent Connection’s annual Lighting the Way Conference draws more than 150 participants statewide and gives educators a strong complement to NASET’s own certification-focused coursework.
Advance Your Career With NASET
Wherever you are in your South Dakota special education career, NASET offers structured ways to keep growing. The Membership gives you year-round access to courses, downloadable classroom tools, and a community of practitioners navigating the same certification and classroom demands you are.
For those ready to formalize their expertise, The Board Certified Special Educator (BCSE) credential signals advanced mastery to administrators and districts alike, and it’s a meaningful differentiator when pursuing leadership roles or negotiating career advancement.
Both paths lead back to the same goal: helping South Dakota’s students with disabilities get the individualized support they’re entitled to, from educators equipped to provide it.
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