Estimated wage-and-salary jobs
South Dakota State Guide
South Dakota massage therapy guide
Explore South Dakota massage licensing requirements, insurance considerations, continuing education, workforce data, and official resources, with dated official sources and scheduled review.
Statewide requirements and local rules are identified separately. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
South Dakota licensing
State massage therapist license required
South Dakota requires a massage-therapy license based on age, education, a national examination, professional-conduct review, and at least $250,000 in malpractice insurance.
The state credential does not displace generally applicable local business, zoning, building, or health requirements.
South Dakota requires a massage-therapy license based on age, education, a national examination, professional-conduct review, and at least $250,000 in malpractice insurance.
View the full South Dakota licensing record →- Regulator
- South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy
- Credential
- Licensed Massage Therapist
- Education
- 500 hours
- Renewal
- Licenses renew annually and share a September 30 expiration date.
Practice risk
Insurance considerations
South Dakota law and the current application require at least $250,000 in malpractice or professional liability coverage for licensure.
General information only—not legal, financial, or coverage advice.
Questions for an insurer
- Does the policy satisfy any state or local requirement that applies to this practice?
- Which modalities, locations, entities, and workers are covered?
- Are defense costs inside or outside the stated limits?
License renewal
Continuing education
Licensees complete 8 qualifying hours every two years. Any or all hours may be electronic, and initial-cycle hours are prorated under the board schedule.
Licensees retain proof and submit it every two years, including the 2024–2026 cycle at the 2026 renewal.
See detailed South Dakota renewal and CE requirements →Employment and wages
South Dakota workforce outlook
BLS May 2025 OEWS estimates 180 wage-and-salary massage therapist jobs in South Dakota; this is not a license count or practitioner census.
Median hourly wage
Projected percentage change
OEWS measures wage-and-salary jobs. Projections Central distributes state long-term occupational projections; its base and projected employment universe is not assumed to match OEWS.
BLS OEWS excludes self-employed workers, which is material in massage therapy.
South Dakota agencies and data
Official resources
The official education resource is a verified starting point, not a comprehensive directory.
Sources and updates
Reviewed July 28, 2026
Information was reviewed against the linked official and first-party sources. Next scheduled review: October 28, 2026.
Official authority and source list
- South Dakota Department of Health — Board of Massage Therapy
- South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy — Licensing Requirements
- South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy — Education, Training and Examination Requirements
- South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy — Continuing Education Requirements
- South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy — License Application, revised May 1, 2026
- South Dakota DOH — Licensing Board Statutes and Rules
- South Dakota Codified Laws Chapter 36-35 — Massage Therapists
Local business, zoning, facility, and professional rules may apply in addition to statewide requirements. Confirm current requirements with the responsible authority before acting.