To become a math teacher in South Dakota, complete a bachelor’s degree through a state-approved educator preparation program, pass a Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching test and the Praxis math test for your endorsement, complete South Dakota Indian Studies, and apply to the Department of Education. Praxis Mathematics (5165, score 159) is accepted for every math endorsement.
Working out how to become a math teacher in South Dakota starts with one choice: the math endorsement you want. South Dakota has three, from 5th-8th Grade Math up to Secondary Advanced Mathematics, and that choice decides which Praxis math tests you can use. The South Dakota Department of Education’s Office of Educator Certification in Pierre issues every certificate, and the process runs in four steps.
- Complete an Approved Math Educator Preparation Program
- Pass the Praxis Exams South Dakota Requires
- Apply for Your South Dakota Teaching Certificate
- Renew and Advance Your Certificate
Step 1. Complete an Approved Math Educator Preparation Program
If you’re starting college, the most direct way to become a math teacher in South Dakota is a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from a state-approved program. The South Dakota Board of Education Standards approves preparation programs, and as of October 2026, nine colleges hold approval for a 5-12 Mathematics program on the Department of Education’s list of approved educator preparation providers. The math side of the degree typically covers:
- Calculus
- Linear algebra
- Statistics and probability
- Discrete mathematics
- Geometry
The education side covers how to teach that math. You’ll take courses in math teaching methods, lesson planning, classroom management and student assessment, and you’ll finish with a semester of student teaching in a South Dakota classroom.
South Dakota also requires a department-approved, three-credit South Dakota Indian Studies course, documented on an official college transcript with a grade of C or higher. Most South Dakota programs build it into the degree, and individual programs may add coursework of their own. The rules sit in ARSD 24:28, the state’s educator certification rules, which were amended effective September 8, 2026.
Already Have a Bachelor’s Degree? Two Routes
Career changers with a math, engineering or finance degree don’t need a second bachelor’s. Five of the approved providers run Certification Only programs, which add the education coursework and student teaching to the degree you already hold. Your college’s certification officer then recommends you for certification, the same as a traditional graduate.
The second route lets you teach while you finish. General Education Alternative Certification (ARSD 24:28:11) covers general education content areas like math in grades 5 through 12, but not grades K-4, early childhood or special education. You need a bachelor’s degree and a qualifying job offer, and the employing school must document that it tried and failed to hire a teacher with a professional or advanced certificate first. Your math endorsement comes from a passing Praxis content test, qualifying coursework or a content major.
The alternative certificate lasts one year and can be renewed twice, up to a three-year maximum. Each renewal depends on documented progress and your employer’s recommendation, so the three years aren’t automatic. To move to a Professional Teaching Certificate, you’ll need to:
- Complete the required transcripted education coursework with a C or higher (15 credits under the rules in place before September 2026, including South Dakota Indian Studies)
- Pass the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching test that matches your preparation level
- Take part in a mentoring program and follow the state’s code of professional ethics
- Get a sign-off from your employing school
The Department of Education is still updating its alternative certification guidance after the September 2026 rule changes, so confirm the current coursework list with the Office of Educator Certification at [email protected] or (605) 773-3134, press 1, before you accept an offer.
Step 2. Pass the Praxis Exams South Dakota Requires
South Dakota uses ETS Praxis tests, and you need two kinds: a pedagogy test and a math content test. South Dakota doesn’t require Praxis Core or any other basic skills test. According to the ETS South Dakota requirements page (checked October 2026), the math test depends on your endorsement:
| Math Endorsement | Praxis Tests Accepted | SD Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|
| 5th-8th Grade Math | Middle School Mathematics (5164) or Mathematics (5165), plus certain elementary mathematics tests | 157 (5164) or 159 (5165) |
| Secondary Intermediate Mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II) | Middle School Mathematics (5164) or Mathematics (5165) | 157 (5164) or 159 (5165) |
| Secondary Advanced Mathematics | Mathematics (5165) | 159 |
If you want to keep every option open, Praxis Mathematics (5165) counts for all three endorsements. Middle School Mathematics (5164) covers the first two. Each costs $130.
For the pedagogy test, ETS says to take the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) test that matches your preparation level. Each PLT costs $156.
| Pedagogy Test | Code | SD Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|
| PLT: Grades 5-9 | 5623 | 160 |
| PLT: Grades 7-12 | 5624 | 157 |
The same scores appear on the department’s state-designated test list (February 2026 edition). That list also identifies the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT, 5490) with a qualifying score of 35. Confirm with the Department of Education that PPAT works for your certification pathway before you register for it.
If you fall just short, South Dakota accepts Praxis Bridge for Mathematics (5165), Middle School Mathematics (5164) and PLT: Grades 7-12 (5624), effective September 1, 2026. Eligible candidates who tested between September 1, 2023, and August 31, 2026, were notified by ETS, according to the ETS South Dakota overview.
If you test in South Dakota and your Praxis profile has a South Dakota address, ETS sends your scores to the Department of Education automatically. If you test elsewhere or live out of state, select the South Dakota Department of Education (code 8112) as a score recipient, or your scores won’t reach the state.
Step 3. Apply for Your South Dakota Teaching Certificate
You apply through the SD Educator Portal. A new teacher receives a Professional Teaching Certificate, which is valid for five years. Under ARSD 24:28:05:01, the initial application fee is $60 and nonrefundable. Before you submit, have these ready:
- An official transcript showing your conferred degree and the South Dakota Indian Studies course
- Your college certification officer’s verification that you completed the approved program
- Passing Praxis scores for your PLT and math content test
Request your math endorsement on the application. The department doesn’t add endorsements automatically, so check that the endorsement you tested for appears on the certificate you receive. Adding an endorsement later, or requesting an endorsement analysis, costs $50.
Two requirements come with the job rather than the application. Under SDCL 13-10-12, anyone over 18 hired by an accredited school district goes through a state and federal fingerprint background check. The district submits your fingerprints to the Division of Criminal Investigation before you start, and DCI forwards them to the FBI if no disqualifying state record turns up. You can start on a temporary basis while results are pending, and the district may pay the fees. Student teachers are checked too, by an accredited school district. Under SDCL 13-42-71, you must also complete at least one hour of approved youth suicide awareness and prevention training before you begin employment, and every five years after, and give the completion certificate to your school.
Already certified in another state? South Dakota offers reciprocity for teachers who completed an approved program elsewhere. If you’re coming from next door, compare North Dakota’s math teacher certification requirements with the steps on this page. If you haven’t taken South Dakota Indian Studies, you can receive a certificate with provisional status. It expires on the first June 30 after it’s issued and can be renewed once, for one more year.
Once you’re certified, the Associated School Boards of South Dakota runs a Teacher Placement site that connects applicants with districts. Before you compare offers, check what math teachers earn in South Dakota.
Step 4. Renew and Advance Your Certificate
Your certificate expires on June 30 of its fifth year, and you renew it through the Educator Portal with a $60 fee. The Department of Education’s renewal page links the current rules (ARSD 24:28:17).
To renew a standard five-year teaching certificate, you complete one of these within the five years:
- Six education-related renewal credits, at least three of them transcripted college credits
- At least two years as a mentee or a mentor in a state-approved mentor program
- National Board Certification or recertification
If you hold an advanced certificate or a master’s degree or higher, the six credits don’t need to include three transcripted ones. Fifteen approved continuing education contact hours count as one renewal credit.
Expiration and invalid status are separate. Your certificate expires on June 30. If you haven’t met the renewal requirements by October 1 of that year, it moves to invalid status, and renewing then costs an extra $100 on top of the renewal fee. Don’t read the gap between June 30 and October 1 as permission to keep teaching: check your status in the Educator Portal and with your district before the school year starts.
After five or more years of teaching, you can move up to an Advanced Teaching Certificate if you hold an advanced degree in an education-related field or National Board Certification. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards offers separate mathematics certificates for early adolescence and for adolescence and young adulthood, so pick the one that matches the grades you teach.
For renewal credits and colleagues in your subject, look at the South Dakota Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the state’s NCTM affiliate, which hosts a conference each February and a symposium each summer. Compass, a division of Black Hills Special Services Cooperative, offers professional development courses, and the South Dakota Education Association provides resources for teachers statewide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to pass Praxis Core to teach math in South Dakota?
No. South Dakota doesn’t require Praxis Core or any basic skills test. You need a Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching test that matches your preparation level and the Praxis math test for your endorsement.
Which Praxis math test should I take for South Dakota?
Praxis Mathematics (5165), qualifying score 159, is accepted for all three math endorsements, including Secondary Advanced Mathematics. Middle School Mathematics (5164), qualifying score 157, is accepted for the 5th-8th Grade Math and Secondary Intermediate Mathematics endorsements.
Can I teach math in South Dakota without an education degree?
Yes, if you hold a bachelor’s degree. You can complete a Certification Only program at an approved college, or teach under General Education Alternative Certification once a school offers you a job. The alternative certificate lasts one year and can be renewed twice, based on documented progress and your employer’s recommendation, while you finish the education coursework and pass the PLT.
When does a South Dakota teaching certificate expire?
A standard certificate is valid for five years and expires on June 30 of the fifth year. If the renewal requirements aren’t met by October 1 of that year, it moves to invalid status, which adds a $100 fee to renewal. You renew with six education-related credits, two years in a state-approved mentor program, or National Board Certification.
How much does South Dakota math teacher certification cost?
The initial application fee is $60. ETS charges $130 for Praxis Mathematics (5165) or Middle School Mathematics (5164) and $156 for a PLT test. The fingerprint background check is handled through your hiring district, which may pay the fees.
- Two tests, no Core: You pass a PLT (5623 at 160 or 5624 at 157) and a math test, and Praxis 5165 at 159 covers every math endorsement.
- Endorsement drives the math test: Middle School Mathematics (5164) at 157 works for 5th-8th Grade Math and Secondary Intermediate Mathematics, but not Secondary Advanced Mathematics.
- One state-specific course: South Dakota Indian Studies is a three-credit, department-approved course with a C or higher, and out-of-state teachers can finish it under provisional status.
- Degree holders have options: Certification Only programs and General Education Alternative Certification both skip a second bachelor’s degree.
- Know the two dates: Certificates expire June 30 of the fifth year and move to invalid status if renewal isn’t complete by October 1.
If you already hold a degree in math or a related field, the program choice comes down to whether it lets you keep working while you finish the education coursework. The schools listed here include online options that fit around a full-time job.