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Massachusetts vs South Dakota for RN Licensing

Total Fees
$465
MA
vs
$343
SD
Timeline
8-12 wks
MA
vs
2-4 wks
SD
Renewal Fee
$120
MA
vs
$115
SD

Side-by-Side Comparison

Category Massachusetts South Dakota
Total Fees $465 $343
Application Fee $230 $100
Exam Fee $200 $200
Processing Time 8-12 weeks 2-4 weeks
Renewal Cycle 2 years 2 years
Renewal Fee $120 $115
CE Hours 15 hrs N/A
NLC Compact Member Pending Yes

Key Differences

Cost

South Dakota is $122 cheaper for initial licensing fees.

Winner: South Dakota

Processing Speed

South Dakota processes applications in 2-4 weeks.

Winner: South Dakota

NLC Compact

South Dakota is an NLC compact state, allowing practice in 40+ states with one license.

Winner: South Dakota

Renewal Cost

South Dakota has lower renewal fees at $115 per cycle.

Winner: South Dakota

Category Winners

Lower Cost
South Dakota $343
vs Massachusetts ($465)
Faster Processing
South Dakota 2-4 wks
vs Massachusetts (8-12 wks)
Cheaper Renewal
South Dakota $115
vs Massachusetts ($120)

Massachusetts Board

Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing

Official Website →

South Dakota Board

South Dakota Board of Nursing

Official Website →

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