South Dakota Instruction Permit and Driver's Ed: What the Course Changes and When It Matters

Driver's education is optional for a South Dakota instruction permit. An approved course can change a teen's licensing timeline and testing requirements.

For older permits issued before July 1, 2020, different historical holding-period rules applied. Current permits use the 275-day or 180-day structure explained below.

Is Driver's Ed Required for a South Dakota Instruction Permit?

Driver education is not legally required to get a South Dakota instruction permit. Completing an approved course after July 1, 2020 reduces your holding period from 275 to 180 days.

If I Complete Approved Driver's Ed After Getting My Permit, Can I Still Get the Shorter Holding Period?

An approved driver-education course can reduce a minor's instruction-permit holding period from 275 days to 180 days.

If you finish the approved course after permit issuance, have Driver Licensing confirm that the certificate has been applied to your record before relying on an earlier upgrade date.

Driver's Ed Benefits for South Dakota Permit Holders

A state-approved driver ed course with an 80 percent score on both written and drive portions can waive the road test and the knowledge test at the exam station. The vision test is still required.

• For the Permit:No course is needed. Pass the written knowledge test and you're done.
• [YES] For the License:A state-approved course with an 80%+ score within the last year can waive the drive test. The holding period impact depends on when your permit was issued.

If you are looking for online driver's ed in South Dakota, verify approval before paying: SD DPS says generic commercial online programs are not reviewed, approved, certified, or recognized for the holding-period reduction or test waivers.

A Rapid City parent assumed their teen's online course from a national provider would waive the drive test. The certificate was rejected at the Sioux Boulevard exam station - the course was not on the state's approved list, causing a three-week delay to schedule a state road test. Always verify provider approval before paying tuition.

Which South Dakota Driver's Ed Providers Actually Count?

Only SD DPS-approved courses qualify for any permit benefit. Generic online platforms do not count. Check the official approved school list at dps.sd.gov before enrolling anywhere.

• Public High School Courses:Automatically state-approved.
• Private Commercial Schools:Must appear on the Official Approved Commercial Driving Schools List. Check before enrolling.
• Home School Driver Education:Requires a submitted Parent Taught Driver Education Applicationand a state-approved curriculum.

Does an Out-of-State Driver's Education Course Count in South Dakota?

It can, but it is not automatic. South Dakota's Driver Education Coordinator may approve an out-of-state program if it meets the state's minimum requirements. Once approved, the course can reduce the current 275-day holding period to 180 days and may qualify for test waivers under the state's certificate rules.

Get the out-of-state course approved before relying on it for a shorter permit timeline or test waiver.

South Dakota Driver's Ed Certificate Requirements

Bring the original certificate from an SD-approved provider showing 80 percent or higher on both portions, completed within the last 12 months. Photocopies and digital screenshots are rejected.

• [YES] Certificate must come from an SD-approved provider - not a third-party national platform
• [YES] Score of 80% or higher on both the written and drive portions is required for the road test waiver. A valid driver's ed certificate from an approved course also waives the knowledge test at the driver exam station - the vision test is still required regardless.
• Course must have been completed within the last 12 months at time of application
• [YES] A photocopy or digital screenshot is not accepted - bring the original certificate

For full South Dakota permit eligibility rules and GDL requirements, see the South Dakota Learner's Permit guide on shoro.ai.