# Foreign-trained dentist license in South Dakota

> South Dakota pathway signal for internationally trained dentists: Pathway unclear; verify with the board.

URL: https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/south-dakota

Last verified: 2026-07-08

Research confidence: medium

Educational summary only, not legal or immigration advice. Dental licensure rules change and the details vary; confirm current requirements directly with the South Dakota board before acting.

## Pathway

Statutorily open but discretionary/board-reviewed — verify with the Board. SDCL §36-6A-44 states: 'Any foreign-trained or any other graduate from a dental program not accredited by [CODA] may apply for a license to practice as a dentist,' and directs the Board to 'establish requirements to reasonably ensure that an applicant's training and education are sufficient for licensure.' Unlike TX/TN/SC/UT, SD does NOT categorically limit licensure to a CODA DDS/DMD or ADA specialty program; a non-CODA graduate may apply, with the Board determining sufficiency of training/education case-by-case. The published admin rule (ARSD 20:43:03:01) primarily details the CODA-accredited US dental school route, so the exact non-CODA requirements are not clearly codified — confirm directly with the Board.

## Required exams

National Board (JCNDE) — NBDE Parts I & II or the iNBDE; plus a board-approved clinical competency exam (patient-, simulation-, or manikin-based) — SD accepts ADEX (CDCA-WREB-CITA) and CRDTS+SRTA. (WREB retired Dec 31, 2022.) SD statutes/rules jurisprudence exam (min. 70%) required.

## Notes

Distinctive: SD statute expressly permits non-CODA/foreign-trained applicants to apply, with Board discretion over sufficiency of training. Whether a CODA GPR/AEGD residency (vs. a bridging DDS/DMD) satisfies this is not codified — the SD Legislature rules site is a JS app that could not be scraped; verify current 20:43:03 requirements and any bridging/residency expectations directly with the Board.

## Official board source

- South Dakota State Board of Dentistry: <https://www.sdboardofdentistry.org/>

## References

- Source 1: <https://www.sdboardofdentistry.org/>
- Source 2: <https://www.ada.org/en/resources/licensure>
- Source 3: <https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/20:43:03>
- Source 4: <https://law.justia.com/codes/south-dakota/title-36/chapter-06a/section-36-6a-44/>

## Related

- [Foreign-trained dentist licensure by state](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-licensure/index.html.md)
- [South Dakota dental license requirements](https://dentovio.com/dental-license-requirements/south-dakota/index.html.md)
- [South Dakota dental license reciprocity](https://dentovio.com/dental-license-reciprocity/south-dakota/index.html.md)
- [South Dakota dental licensure exams](https://dentovio.com/dental-licensure-exams/south-dakota/index.html.md)
- [South Dakota foreign-trained dentist residency pathway](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/south-dakota/residency-pathway/index.html.md)
- [Foreign-trained dentist licensure matcher](https://dentovio.com/tools/foreign-dentist-license-eligibility)