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Is a South Dakota LPN license a compact (multistate) license?

In South Dakota, practical nurses are licensed as licensed practical nurse (LPN). Here is how the Nurse Licensure Compact treats a South Dakota LPN license, and how to tell whether yours is multistate.

Is a South Dakota LPN license a compact license?

It can be. The Nurse Licensure Compact covers LPN (licensed practical nurse (LPN)) licenses on the same terms as RN licenses. Because South Dakota is a compact state, a South Dakota LPN license can be single-state or multistate — only the multistate type carries compact privilege. Check which you hold on Nursys.

Last reviewed 2026-06-17

How the compact treats LPN licenses

The compact covers LPN/LVN licenses on the same terms as RN licenses — a multistate LPN license carries compact privilege across compact states, while a single-state LPN license is valid only where it was issued. South Dakota issues both types, so which one you hold matters.

LPN and LVN are the same credential

Most states, including South Dakota, use "licensed practical nurse (LPN)." Texas and California call the same credential an LVN (licensed vocational nurse). The compact covers LPN and LVN identically.

Verifying your South Dakota LPN license

Nursys QuickConfirm shows whether a LPN license is single-state or multistate, plus its status and expiration. For official requirements, go to the South Dakota Board of Nursing, or see our South Dakota verification guide.

Next-step checklist

  • Look your LPN license up on Nursys QuickConfirm (nursys.com).
  • Note whether it reads single-state or multistate.
  • If it is single-state, ask the South Dakota Board of Nursing about a multistate LPN license.
  • Confirm anything unclear directly with the South Dakota Board of Nursing.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. The Nurse Licensure Compact covers LPN/practical-nurse licenses on the same terms as RN licenses. Because South Dakota is a compact state, a South Dakota LPN license can be single-state or multistate.