August 21, 2026:
The South Dakota Driver Licensing exam station in Pierre will be open Saturday morning (Aug. 22, 2026) to help Commercial Driver License holders with a K restriction update their license before next week.
The Driver Exam Station will be open from 7am to noon. Drivers should bring all of their required documentation.
The K restriction limits CDL operators to traveling only within the boundaries of the state that issued their license, and often does not require a valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate or medical card. To align with federal law, South Dakota has changed its requirements so affected CDL holders must update their license status and maintain a valid medical card. Failure to complete the update by the new deadline of August 28, 2026, may result in a non-compliant CDL.
Other Driver Exam Stations that will be open from 7am-noon on Saturday are located in:
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Aberdeen
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Brookings
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Huron
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Rapid City
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Sioux Falls One-Stop Center
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Watertown
While a physical copy of a passed medical exam and current license will be temporarily accepted, drivers should not wait to get into compliance.
For more information, visit the Driver Licensing website at dps.sd.gov.
April 13, 2026:
Effective July 1, 2026, the State of South Dakota will adopt a federal regulation (49 CFR 391.11) that requires most Commercial Driver License holders to maintain a valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate– or medical card.
The new regulation removes the previous Excepted Intrastate (EA) state exception– identified by the “K” restriction– that allowed certain drivers to indicate they were not required to hold a medical card. CDL drivers must update their medical certification status with the South Dakota Driver Licensing Program before July 1, 2026, to keep their license valid. Drivers who don’t update their certification status by July 1 will have their CDL downgraded, though they may still retain a non-commercial license.
In addition to regular weekday hours, some South Dakota Driver Licensing Offices– including the one in Pierre– will open their exam stations on Saturdays so CDL holders with the EA designation can complete the required paperwork. The Saturday hours are only for CDL processing. The driver exam station in Pierre will be open:
- Saturday, April 18 – 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Saturday, April 25 – 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Farmers and Agriculture CDL holders with Excepted Interstate (El) status may still qualify under the following conditions:
- beekeepers,
- custom harvesters,
- government employees, and
- certain farm vehicle drivers and qualifying covered farm vehicle operators.
- (See the federal regulations for a full list of excepted categories.)
EI CDL drivers will need to go to the driver exam station before July 1 to remove the “K” restriction and receive a new license.
More information can be found on the Driver Licensing pages of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety website, SD.gov/dps.
Other Driver Exam Stations having Saturday hours for CDL processing are:
Brookings, Huron, Mitchell, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls One Stop
- Saturday, April 18 – 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Saturday, April 25 – 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Spearfish
- Monday, April 27 – 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
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