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State rules · SD

South Dakota: who may do what, and how to check a license

License lookups for the boards that cover spa and med spa treatments in South Dakota, and what official sources say on five questions — each with its source and the date we checked.

2 official sources on 2 of 5 topics · 4 boards · 3 official lookup sites · checked Sep 14, 2026

These are research summaries of official sources, checked on the dates shown. They are not legal advice, rules change, and the linked source controls. City and other municipal rules, including a local business license or zoning, can also apply. This page is the state board only. Confirm with the board.

How to check a license in South Dakota

Ask the person treating you for their license type and number, then search the board that issued it. A title like “injector” or “specialist” isn’t a license type, so a board lookup won’t list it.

Medical board

South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners

Open the license lookupBoard’s website

Checked Sep 14, 2026

Nursing board

South Dakota Board of Nursing

Open the license lookupBoard’s website

Checked Sep 14, 2026

Physician assistant board

South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners

Open the license lookupBoard’s website

Checked Sep 14, 2026

Cosmetology & esthetics board

South Dakota Cosmetology Commission

Open the license lookupBoard’s website

Checked Sep 14, 2026

What to look for on the lookup

  • The name matches. The person treating you, spelled the way they gave it. Ask for any other name they’ve been licensed under.
  • The license type matches what you were told. RN and LPN are different licenses, as are physician and physician assistant, or esthetician and cosmetologist.
  • The status says active. Note words like expired, lapsed, inactive, suspended, restricted or probation — and what they apply to.
  • The expiration date hasn’t passed. Some lookups show it; some only show status. If neither is clear, the board can confirm.
  • Any public discipline or board orders. If the lookup lists actions, orders or conditions, open them and read what they say.

Every board’s lookup looks a little different. If something is unclear, contact the board.

Match a claimed credential to the right board in South Dakota

What official sources say in South Dakota

Where we found an official statement, you’ll see our plain summary, the source, how binding that kind of source is, and when we checked. Where we didn’t, you’ll see the question to ask the place instead.

These are research summaries of official sources, checked on the dates shown. They are not legal advice, rules change, and the linked source controls. City and other municipal rules, including a local business license or zoning, can also apply. This page is the state board only. Confirm with the board.

We found official statements on 2 of 5 topics. Not located yet: who may inject botox and fillers; who may own a med spa; who may operate lasers and ipl. Not located means we have nothing official to show you — it says nothing about what is allowed.

Who may inject Botox and fillers

Not found yet

We haven’t found an official statement on this for South Dakota yet.

That doesn’t tell you whether something is allowed or not — only that we have no official statement to show you.

Ask the place

“Who will inject me, what license do they hold, and which clinician examined me, ordered this and supervises them?”

Check it with the board

“Who may inject botulinum toxin or dermal filler here — which licenses, after what exam or order, and under what supervision?”

Put this to the board, or search its rules and position statements for it. Its answer, with a date, is what settles it — not the place’s.

Who decides

Usually the medical board, and the nursing board for nurses.

On file for South Dakota: South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners, South Dakota Board of Nursing.

Who may own a med spa

Not found yet

We haven’t found an official statement on this for South Dakota yet.

That doesn’t tell you whether something is allowed or not — only that we have no official statement to show you.

Ask the place

“Who owns this practice, and who is its medical director?”

Check it with the board

“Must a practice offering medical aesthetic services be owned by, or employ, a licensed physician — and must it name a medical director?”

Put this to the board, or search its rules and position statements for it. Its answer, with a date, is what settles it — not the place’s.

Who decides

Usually the medical board, sometimes alongside state health or business law.

On file for South Dakota: South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners.

Who may operate lasers and IPL

Not found yet

We haven’t found an official statement on this for South Dakota yet.

That doesn’t tell you whether something is allowed or not — only that we have no official statement to show you.

Ask the place

“Who operates the laser or IPL device, what license or certification do they hold, and who supervises them?”

Check it with the board

“Is cosmetic laser or IPL use the practice of medicine here, may it be delegated, to whom, and under what supervision or certification?”

Put this to the board, or search its rules and position statements for it. Its answer, with a date, is what settles it — not the place’s.

Who decides

Usually the medical board; some states also involve the nursing or cosmetology board.

On file for South Dakota: South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners, South Dakota Board of Nursing, South Dakota Cosmetology Commission.

IV hydration and drips

Official source found

The South Dakota Board of Nursing says RNs and LPNs may give elective IV therapy/hydration, including vitamins, minerals or electrolytes, but must have a medical order from an authorized medical provider. The provider is expected either to review the client's history and assess them, or to set out in a written protocol the assessment the nurse must perform. LPNs may do only listed IV tasks under supervision, and nurses may not prescribe, order or procure the drugs.

Source: Elective IV Infusion and Medication Therapy Guidelines (South Dakota Board of Nursing)

Board guidance — may not be bindingPublished or effective Nov 16, 2023Checked Sep 14, 2026

Still ask the place: “Who assesses me and orders what goes in the bag, and who places the IV — under which license?”

What estheticians may do

Official source found

South Dakota limits esthetics to noninvasive skin care confined to the nonliving cells of the outermost skin layer (stratum corneum). Practices must be superficial, may not treat medical disorders, and may never alter, cut or damage living cells. The Commission's scope document also states that hair removal by lasers is not allowed and that microdermabrasion requires 16 hours of education first.

Source: Scope of Practice in South Dakota Cosmetology (as of July 3, 2017)

Board guidance — may not be bindingPublished or effective Jul 3, 2017Checked Sep 14, 2026

Still ask the place: “What license does the person doing this hold, and does that license cover this treatment?”

Sources

The official documents above, once each. Rules change; the linked source controls, and the date is when we last opened it.

  1. Elective IV Infusion and Medication Therapy Guidelines (South Dakota Board of Nursing)Board guidance — may not be binding · checked Sep 14, 2026
  2. Scope of Practice in South Dakota Cosmetology (as of July 3, 2017)Board guidance — may not be binding · checked Sep 14, 2026

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