- Plan for a trade exam.
Do you need a state license in South Dakota?
South Dakota licenses septic system work at the state level through the South Dakota Plumbing Commission, Department of Labor and Regulation. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Steps to get licensed in South Dakota
- Fill out the installer certification application, with your business name if you will offer the work as a business.
- Send it to the South Dakota Plumbing Commission in Pierre.
- Pass the certification test with 70 percent.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. On-site wastewater system installer certification.
South Dakota septic installer exams
Trade exam. A certification test from the Plumbing Commission. You need 70 percent.
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 one fee for this license. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Individual and Small On-Site Wastewater Systems Handbook (optional) | $40 |
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. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in South Dakota
- The state's onsite system rules are in ARSD chapters 74:53:01 and 20:53:12:03.
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 septic installation 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 Plumbing Commission, Department of Labor and Regulation and the official pages below, checked October 9, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.