CNA Regulatory Changes

The SD Board of Nursing (SDBON) has adopted new rules and will be the sole agency responsible for the regulation of of certified nurse aides (CNA); the new rules become effective September 8, 2025. 

Because the SDBON, the SD Department of Health's (DOH) division of Licensure and Accreditation, and the SD Healthcare Association have shared the regulatory responsiblities of CNAs over the years, the SDBON will be transitioning into the new rules over several months to avoid disruptions in the training and registration of CNAs.

The new rules include:

• Nurse Aide Training Program (NATP): 
  • Minimal changes, very similar curriculum content requirements that are currently required federally. The SDBON's website will provide NATP guides and examples for teaching the core curriculum content.
  • Will require use of current, approved teaching materials and books. Over the next months the SDBON will communicate with each NATP to develop and transition to new materials.
  • The SDBON will conduct renewal site visits, onsite or virtual, before renewal of the NATP; likely beginning January 2026. The SDBON will coordinate a mutually agreed upon time with the NATP Program Director for the site visit.
• Competency evaluation program (CEP), which consists of the CNA knowledge exam and skills evaluation: 
  • Knowledge Exam: the SDBON will continue to require passage of Headmaster's CNA knowledge exam; however, the SDBON must issue an RFP to comply with state requirements. Therefore, the national CNA test vendor may change depending on what company is awarded the future contract.
  • Skills Evaluation: the SDBON will be working with NATPs to implement the new Skills Evaluation process which will require the NATP Program Director to submit the skills evaluation forms to the SDBON. This transisiton will occur over many months, therefore, the SDBON will continue to accept Headmaster's Skills Test until the new Skills Evaluation process is fully implemented.
• Registry process, and complaints and discipline process:
  • The SDBON will begin taking complaints later in September; the full Board will make disciplinary decisions (similar to medication aide and RN/LPN).
  • The SDBON is currently in the process of hiring a new staff member who will be responsible for the discipline processes.
  • The SDBON's website will be updated to include CNA complaint and discipline processes. The SDBON will have a formal complaint form, however, the SDBON will continue to accept completed DOH complaint forms that a skilled facility is required to submit to the DOH. 

New Rules