- Contractor: six years as a contractor, plumber or apprentice, with at least two years as a contractor or plumber, at 1,900 hours a year. Plumber: four years as an apprentice at 1,900 hours a year.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every year. Licenses expire December 31. Contractors, plumbers and third-year apprentices need 4 hours of continuing education each year, 2 of them on code.
Do you need a state license in South Dakota?
South Dakota licenses plumbing work at the state level through the South Dakota State Plumbing Commission. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Cities may set their own plumbing standards, inspections and fees, as long as they meet the state plumbing code.
South Dakota license types for plumbing work
South Dakota splits the work into 3 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Plumbing Contractor | Contract for plumbing work |
| Plumber | Licensed plumber |
| Third-year Apprentice Plumber | May work unsupervised on single family dwellings after passing an exam |
Steps to get licensed in South Dakota
- Register as an apprentice and work four years at 1,900 hours a year.
- Apply for the plumber's license with the application fee and pass the state exam.
- Work at least two more years to reach six years total.
- Apply for the plumbing contractor's license and pass the $100 contractor exam.
- Renew every year with 4 hours of continuing education.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Contractor: six years as a contractor, plumber or apprentice, with at least two years as a contractor or plumber, at 1,900 hours a year. Plumber: four years as an apprentice at 1,900 hours a year.
The license to apply for. Plumbing Contractor license.
South Dakota plumbing exams
Trade exam. Yes. State administered exams, held in Pierre by appointment and in Sioux Falls and Rapid City when enough applicants sign up.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in South Dakota
The board lists 3 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Contractor exam or re-exam | $100 |
| Plumber exam or re-exam | $100 |
| Third-year apprentice exam or re-exam | $50 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. Licenses expire December 31. Contractors, plumbers and third-year apprentices need 4 hours of continuing education each year, 2 of them on code.
Reciprocity. The commission may license nonresidents without an exam if their state's requirements are substantially equivalent and they were licensed by exam.
Good to know in South Dakota
- Homeowners can do plumbing on the home they own and live in without a license.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a plumber near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the South Dakota State Plumbing Commission and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how plumbing companies run on Koira.