Question 1

South Dakota CNA Certification Overview

Accepted Answer

To become a Certified Nurse Aide in South Dakota, you must complete a state-approved CNA training program and pass the South Dakota Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation administered by Prometric on behalf of the South Dakota Department of Health.

South Dakota requires a minimum of 75 hours of CNA training, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice. Most approved programs meet or exceed this requirement.

The exam has two parts:
• A written (or oral) knowledge test: 70 multiple-cho

Question 2

South Dakota CNA Written Exam — What Is Tested

Accepted Answer

The South Dakota written exam uses the NNAAP format. All 70 questions come from six content areas:

• Physical Care Skills (45%) — bathing, grooming, feeding, transfers, positioning, catheter care, elimination
• Safety & Emergency Procedures (14%) — fall prevention, RACE fire protocol, Heimlich maneuver, seizure response
• Infection Control (14%) — handwashing, PPE donning and doffing order, isolation precautions
• Resident Rights (11%) — OBRA regulations, right to refuse care, privacy, abuse re

Question 3

South Dakota Prometric Testing Locations

Accepted Answer

The South Dakota CNA written exam is administered at Prometric testing centers in the state:

• Sioux Falls
• Rapid City
• Aberdeen
• Brookings
• Watertown
• Mitchell
• Huron
• Pierre

To find the nearest Prometric center and available exam dates, visit prometric.com and search for South Dakota nurse aide. Sioux Falls and Rapid City have the most testing availability.

Question 4

South Dakota CNA Skills Test — What to Expect

Accepted Answer

The clinical skills evaluation is held at a Prometric skills testing site. You will demonstrate 5 randomly selected skills before a trained evaluator.

Handwashing is evaluated with every skill — perform it at the start and end of each demonstration. Incomplete hand hygiene is the most common reason South Dakota candidates fail the skills evaluation.

Commonly tested skills include:
• Handwashing
• Measuring and recording blood pressure
• Providing perineal care for a female resident
• Transferr

Question 5

How to Prepare for the South Dakota CNA Exam

Accepted Answer

South Dakota's written exam first-attempt pass rate is approximately 70–75%.

1. Take a full diagnostic 70-question practice test before studying.
2. Prioritize Physical Care Skills — 45% of the exam.
3. Study Infection Control and Safety — PPE order and RACE protocol are frequently tested.
4. Run at least one full timed 90-minute practice test before exam day.
5. Target 80% on practice tests before your real exam.

CertPrepAcademy.com offers a free 70-question NNAAP practice test with 501 quest

Question 6

After You Pass — South Dakota Nurse Aide Registry

Accepted Answer

After passing both parts of the South Dakota exam, your name is added to the South Dakota Nurse Aide Registry maintained by the Department of Health. South Dakota employers must verify registry status before hiring nurse aides in licensed facilities.

Your South Dakota CNA certification is valid for 24 months. To maintain active status, you must work as a nurse aide for at least 8 hours for pay during each renewal period. Lapsed certifications require retaking the competency exam.

Registry stat

Free CNA Practice Test South Dakota — NNAAP Exam Prep Guide

South Dakota CNA Certification Overview

South Dakota CNA Written Exam — What Is Tested

South Dakota Prometric Testing Locations

South Dakota CNA Skills Test — What to Expect

How to Prepare for the South Dakota CNA Exam

After You Pass — South Dakota Nurse Aide Registry

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