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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