South Dakota pharmacies
How many technicians can a pharmacist supervise in South Dakota?
In South Dakota, up to 3 registered pharmacy technicians may be on duty in a pharmacy for every pharmacist on duty, under ARSD 20:51:29:19.
South Dakota allows 3 technicians per pharmacist, certified or not.
Up to three registered pharmacy technicians on duty for every pharmacist on duty. Certification never changes the number, and the same three apply to every technician you schedule.
The rules
How South Dakota’s pharmacist-to-tech ratio works.
3 registered pharmacy technicians per pharmacist on duty at a time (ARSD 20:51:29:19)
Certification does not change the number. National certification is optional (ARSD 20:51:29:06), and a certified technician counts the same as any other registered technician.
Pharmacy interns: pharmacy interns do not count toward the technician limit
Exceptions: in a hospital, mail order or long-term care pharmacy the pharmacist-in-charge sets the ratio under 13 conditions (ARSD 20:51:29:19.02), and a telepharmacy remote site's technicians count inside the central pharmacist's 3 (ARSD 20:51:30:13)
South Dakota has one number. A pharmacy with one pharmacist on duty may have three registered technicians, and with two pharmacists on duty, six. A technician who has passed a national exam and one who has not take the same place, and the rule sets no separate limit for technicians in training or for any other tier.
Two settings work differently, and RxShift does not model either. In a hospital, mail order or long-term care pharmacy, the pharmacist-in-charge sets the ratio as long as 13 safeguards are in place (ARSD 20:51:29:19.02). RxShift cannot verify those safeguards, so it applies 3 at every location. At a telepharmacy, the technicians at a remote site count inside the central pharmacist’s 3 (ARSD 20:51:30:13). RxShift checks each location on its own and does not add a remote site’s technicians to the central pharmacist’s count.
South Dakota’s Board of Pharmacy can waive its rules under ARSD 20:51:14:05 to 20:51:14:07, effective August 16, 2026. Board staff told the Board in July 2026 that there are no ratio variances, so RxShift applies 3 and does not model a waiver.
For pharmacy interns, RxShift applies this: pharmacy interns do not count toward the technician limit. A pharmacist must be on duty to supervise them.
Read the official regulation
Last verified 2026-10-13
ARSD 20:51:29:19
Always verify against the South Dakota Board of Pharmacy’s current rule text before relying on it.
Check a shift against South Dakota’s rule in 30 seconds →
Questions
Common questions
What is the pharmacist-to-technician ratio in South Dakota?
In South Dakota, up to 3 registered pharmacy technicians may be on duty in a pharmacy for every pharmacist on duty, under ARSD 20:51:29:19.
Does certification change South Dakota's ratio?
No. National certification is optional for a South Dakota pharmacy technician (ARSD 20:51:29:06), and the ratio has no certification term, so a certified technician counts toward the 3 like any other registered technician. RxShift counts every technician the same way.
Do pharmacy interns count toward South Dakota's ratio?
RxShift applies this: pharmacy interns do not count toward the technician limit. A pharmacist must be on duty to supervise them.
Do the hospital, mail order, long-term care and telepharmacy exceptions change the ratio?
They can. ARSD 20:51:29:19.02 lets the pharmacist-in-charge of a hospital, mail order or long-term care pharmacy set the ratio there, as long as a list of 13 safeguards is in place. RxShift cannot verify those safeguards, so it applies 3 at every location. For a telepharmacy, ARSD 20:51:30:13 counts the technicians at a remote site inside the central pharmacist's 3. RxShift checks each location on its own and does not add a remote site's technicians to the central pharmacist's count.
Can a South Dakota pharmacy get a higher ratio by waiver?
South Dakota's Board of Pharmacy can waive its rules under ARSD 20:51:14:05 to 20:51:14:07, effective August 16, 2026. Board staff told the Board in July 2026 that there are no ratio variances. RxShift applies 3 and does not model a waiver.
Does South Dakota limit pharmacy shift length or require breaks?
We found no such limit. South Dakota's pharmacy statutes and Board rules, as read in October 2026, set no maximum shift length, no minimum rest between shifts and no required break for pharmacy staff.
Managing a South Dakota pharmacy?
See how RxShift applies South Dakota’s 3-per-pharmacist limit on every shift. About 20 minutes.