What Qualifications Do You Need to Be a Daycare Director in South Dakota?
South Dakota daycare directors must be at least 18 and meet one of six qualification routes: a bachelor's in education or human development, a two-year ECE degree, the CDA or a comparable credential, a child development technician diploma, a child-learning-philosophy certification plus 1 year of experience, or four years of experience in a center or school-age program.
The Department of Social Services administers the rules under ARSD chapter 67:42:17.
Directors counted in staff-child ratios complete 10 hours of annual training.
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At a glance
The South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS), Division of Child Care Services — Office of Licensing and Accreditation. Director rules sit in ARSD chapter 67:42:17.
At least 18 years old.
No single degree required: routes include a bachelor's in education or human development, a two-year ECE degree, a CDA or comparable credential, and a child development technician diploma — experience routes sit under Experience.
Four years in a center or school-age program is a route on its own; the certification route pairs 1 year of experience with a child-learning-philosophy certification.
A CDA or a credential comparable to it is one of the qualification routes.
10 hours of annual training for directors and providers of center and school-age programs counted in staff-child ratios.
Ways to qualify as a director in South Dakota
- Bachelor's in education or human developmentRequirement
One degree route: a bachelor's degree in education or human development is one of the qualification routes in ARSD 67:42:17:09.
- Two-year ECE degreeRequirement
A two-year early childhood education degree is a qualification route of its own.
- CDA or comparable credentialCredential
The national CDA — or a credential comparable to it — counts as one of the routes.
- Child-learning-philosophy certification plus 1 yearRequirement
A child-learning-philosophy certification paired with 1 year of experience is the combined route.
- Child development technician diplomaRequirement
A child development technician diploma is one of the qualification routes.
- Four years of experienceRequirement
Four years of experience in a center or school-age program qualifies on experience alone.
Who sets director rules in South Dakota?
South Dakota's director rules come from the Department of Social Services: the Division of Child Care Services and its Office of Licensing and Accreditation.
The operative rulebook is the consolidated child care licensing chapter, ARSD chapter 67:42:17, which took effect July 3, 2023.
Under the licensing law, DSS licenses day care centers — programs for 21 or more children — and group family day care homes for 13 to 20 children; those counts include children under six living in the home.
The rules call the director the program administrator, and they separate that role from the center's owner, who may be an agency, an institution, an organization or a person at least 18 years old.
What education and ECE credits does a South Dakota daycare director need?
South Dakota does not require one specific degree to direct a licensed program.
Under ARSD 67:42:17:09, a program administrator must be at least 18 years old and meet one of six qualification routes.
The education and credential routes are a bachelor's degree in education or human development, a two-year early childhood education degree, the CDA or a comparable credential, and a child development technician diploma.
A fifth route pairs a child-learning-philosophy certification with 1 year of experience, and the sixth is experience alone — four years in a center or school-age program.
Where you land depends on your transcript and your years in the field, and an individual employer may still set a higher bar in its job postings.
How much experience do you need to be a daycare director in South Dakota?
Experience can carry the whole qualification.
The rule's standalone experience route is four years of experience in a center or school-age program.
Experience also appears in the certification route, which pairs a child-learning-philosophy certification with 1 year of experience.
Our research did not capture how the four years are documented or whether part-time hours count, so put those questions to DSS's Office of Licensing and Accreditation before you rely on the route.
“Have four years of experience in a center or school-age program.”
Do you need a director credential or admin coursework in South Dakota?
The rules our research read list no state-issued director credential for South Dakota.
What they list is the CDA — the national Child Development Associate credential — or a credential comparable to it, as one of the qualification routes.
If you want to build toward the CDA, the state runs a training path for it: the SDCDA Training Program, offered through regional Early Childhood Enrichment sites, provides the 120 hours of formal training and mentorship the CDA requires.
Admin coursework is not named in the rules our research read as a separate route, and our research did not confirm whether it counts toward any route; ask DSS's Office of Licensing and Accreditation.
What training hours and renewal apply to South Dakota daycare directors?
ARSD 67:42:17:18 sets the annual number: each director and provider of center and school-age programs counted in staff-child ratios completes 10 hours of annual training, and CPR renewal does not count toward the hours.
The state's orientation and CPR rules are written for providers — the rule's term for the people giving direct care.
Providers finish orientation training in 13 areas within 90 days of hire and before caring for children unsupervised, hold pediatric CPR certification that includes a hands-on skills test, and complete pediatric first aid every five years.
If you direct and also work directly with children, ask DSS how those provider rules attach to your role.
Training itself runs through the same offices: DSS Child Care Services collaborates with five regional Early Childhood Enrichment sites that deliver licensing-required training, technical assistance and coaching to providers.
“Each director and provider of center and school-age programs counted in staff-child ratios shall complete ten hours of annual training.”
Is there an assistant director or designee rule in South Dakota?
Our research found the qualification routes attach to one role, the program administrator, and no separate assistant-director or designee qualification in ARSD chapter 67:42:17.
The rulebook does separate the administrator from the center's owner: an owner may be an agency, an institution, an organization or a person at least 18 years old, while the program administrator is the person who must meet the qualification routes.
If a center plans for a second-in-command to act in the director's place, which qualifications apply is a question for DSS's Office of Licensing and Accreditation.
How does South Dakota track director training and credentials?
For professional development, South Dakota's career lattice for people working with children is Pathways to Professional Development.
It recognizes people working with children from birth through age 12 for their education and training, so a degree, a CDA or annual clock hours have a recognized place as you move up.
Our research did not confirm whether South Dakota requires registry membership for directors; ask DSS what it expects when you apply.
Does South Dakota offer coaching or support for daycare directors?
Yes — DSS runs the Director 360 Support Program, which gives child care directors monthly coaching through the regional ECE offices and the Office of Licensing and Accreditation.
DSS describes it as personalized monthly support with guided coaching for early childhood leaders.
For a director new to the role, it is support from the same agency that administers the licensing rules.
“Through personalized monthly support, this program empowers early childhood leaders with guided coaching”
What This Page Does, and Doesn’t, Cover
This page summarizes the South Dakota licensing rules, agency pages and other sources listed below, as read for this state-by-state daycare director requirements series, current as of October 2026. It is not a substitute for the instructions the South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS), Division of Child Care Services — Office of Licensing and Accreditation publishes. For the rest of the picture in South Dakota, see daycare teacher requirements in South Dakota, quality rating system (QRIS) in South Dakota, daycare licensing steps in South Dakota, and childcare director pay in South Dakota.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a degree to be a daycare director in South Dakota?
No. The qualification routes in ARSD 67:42:17:09 include four years of experience in a center or school-age program as a route on its own, alongside a bachelor's degree in education or human development, a two-year ECE degree, a CDA or comparable credential, a child development technician diploma, and a child-learning-philosophy certification paired with 1 year of experience.
How many training hours does a South Dakota daycare director need each year?
Directors and providers of center and school-age programs who are counted in staff-child ratios complete 10 hours of annual training under ARSD 67:42:17:18.
CPR renewal does not count toward those hours.
Licensing-required training and coaching are delivered in part through the five regional Early Childhood Enrichment sites DSS works with.
Can you be a daycare director in South Dakota without a CDA?
Yes.
The CDA or a comparable credential is one of six qualification routes, not the only one.
You can also qualify through a bachelor's degree in education or human development, a two-year ECE degree, a child development technician diploma, a child-learning-philosophy certification with 1 year of experience, or four years of experience in a center or school-age program.
Who regulates daycare directors in South Dakota?
The South Dakota Department of Social Services does, through its Division of Child Care Services and the Office of Licensing and Accreditation.
Director qualifications sit in the consolidated licensing chapter ARSD 67:42:17, which took effect July 3, 2023.
DSS also runs the Director 360 coaching program for directors.
Do assistant directors in South Dakota need the same qualifications as directors?
Our research did not find a separate assistant-director qualification in ARSD chapter 67:42:17.
The qualification routes attach to the program administrator, and the rules separate that role from the center's owner, which may be an agency, institution, organization or a person at least 18.
Ask DSS's Office of Licensing and Accreditation what applies to a second-in-command.
More South Dakota Resources
Sources
- South Dakota Legislature — Child Care Licensing Rules (administrative rules portal) (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- South Dakota Legislature — Child Care Licensing Rules (center ownership) (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- South Dakota Legislature — Child Care Licensing Rules (provider minimum age) (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- South Dakota Legislature — Child Care Licensing Rules (annual training) (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- South Dakota Legislature — Child Care Licensing Rules (orientation training) (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- South Dakota Legislature — Child Care Licensing Rules (pediatric CPR and first aid) (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- South Dakota Legislature — child care licensing statutes (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- South Dakota DSS — Child Care Quality Initiatives (Pathways, Director 360) (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- South Dakota DSS — SDCDA Training Program (CDA preparation) (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- South Dakota DSS — Early Childhood Enrichment (ECE) sites (retrieved 2026-10-05)
Sourced from the documents listed above. Verified October 2026. This is career and employer information, not licensing or legal advice. Confirm current rules with the South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS), Division of Child Care Services — Office of Licensing and Accreditation.