All South Dakota beauty licenses in one place. South Dakota uses NIC theory and practical exams via Prov — 75% to qualify. Cosmetology runs 1,500 hours (esthetics 600, barber 1,500, manicurist 400). Applicants also take a separate South Dakota State Laws exam. Annual renewal, no CE for practitioners. Regulated by the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission.
Prep for this state
South Dakota sits the NIC theory and practical papers through Prov at 75%, plus a separate South Dakota state laws paper our banks do not cover. Cosmetology runs 1,500 hours, esthetics 600, barbering 1,500 and manicuring 400, and renewal is annual with no continuing education for practitioners.
Practice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
Built for the NIC Candidate Information BulletinPractice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
Built for the NIC Candidate Information BulletinPractice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
Built for the NIC Candidate Information BulletinPractice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
Built for the NIC Candidate Information BulletinEvery question comes with a full rationale. When that isn’t enough — the concept is new, the wording is dense, you got it right by luck — tap Explain and the tutor talks you through it: why your answer was wrong, and what the right idea actually is. Ask it anything back, as many times as you need.
If English isn’t the language you learned this in, it teaches in yours, switched whenever you like. The questions stay in English, because that is how you will see them on exam day. Where enough candidates ask we translate the prep itself — so far Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Russian and Simplified Chinese, on the products that have it.
Included with every product · every question · 19 languages
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10 questions from the NIC cosmetology bank and 10 terminology cards from the decks — the same items, the same rationales, the same study modes you get after checkout. South Dakota tests on the NIC exam, so this is the exam you'll sit. No email, no signup.
South Dakota · Cosmetology
1,500 hours at a Commission-approved cosmetology school. NIC theory and practical exams via Prov plus a separate South Dakota State Laws exam. Annual birthday renewal. CE-free.
South Dakota uses NIC National Theory and Practical Examinations. NICPrep's cosmetology question bank is built from the NIC CIB — it covers the NIC portion; this state’s own component is tested separately. The Cosmetology Commission states a qualifying score of 75% on its exam page, though Prov reports the result itself as pass or fail rather than as a number.
South Dakota requires three exam components: NIC Theory, NIC Practical, and a separate South Dakota State Laws exam covering SD cosmetology statutes. The commission states one figure for all three: “An examinee must receive a score of 75% or greater in order to qualify for a license”. The SD Laws exam is NOT covered by NICPrep — NICPrep covers NIC theory and practical content only.
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Cosmo 1,500 · Esth 600 · Barber 1,500 · Nail 400 hours. Verify school at dlr.sd.gov/cosmetology.
Apply at dlr.sd.gov/cosmetology with proof of training, photo ID, and required fees.
Schedule at candidate.provexam.com. Three components: NIC written theory, NIC practical, and SD State Laws exam.
CE-free. Annual birthday renewal. Confirm current fees at dlr.sd.gov/cosmetology.
🇪🇸 NICPrep's cosmetology prep is also available in Spanish.
South Dakota · Esthetics
600 hours at a Commission-approved school. NIC esthetics theory and practical exams via Prov plus SD State Laws exam. Annual birthday renewal. CE-free.
South Dakota uses NIC National Esthetics Theory and Practical Examinations. NICPrep's esthetics question bank is built from the NIC Esthetics CIB — it covers the NIC portion; this state’s own component is tested separately. The Cosmetology Commission states a qualifying score of 75% on its exam page.
South Dakota · Barber
1,500 hours at a Commission-approved barber school. NIC Barber Styling theory and practical exams via Prov plus SD State Laws exam. Annual birthday renewal. CE-free.
South Dakota uses NIC Barber Styling Theory and Practical Examinations. NICPrep's barber question bank is built from the NIC Barber Styling CIB — it covers the NIC portion; this state’s own component is tested separately. The Cosmetology Commission states a qualifying score of 75% on its exam page, though Prov reports the result itself as pass or fail rather than as a number.
Ready to start studying? See pricing ↑
🇪🇸 NICPrep's barber styling prep is also available in Spanish.
South Dakota · Nail Technology
400 hours at a Commission-approved school. NIC Nail Technology theory and practical exams via Prov plus SD State Laws exam. Annual birthday renewal. CE-free.
South Dakota uses NIC National Nail Technology Theory and Practical Examinations. NICPrep's nail technology question bank is built from the NIC Nail Technology CIB — it covers the NIC portion; this state’s own component is tested separately. The Cosmetology Commission states a qualifying score of 75% on its exam page.
Ready to start studying? See pricing ↑
🇻🇳 NICPrep's nail technology prep is also available in Vietnamese.
South Dakota uses NIC exams via Prov and qualifies candidates at 75%. NICPrep is built from the NIC CIBs.
2026 CIB changes, domain study tips, and new-modality launches — a few emails a month, no spam.