E
 Enroll Free
AMCA MHTC Certification • Nationally Recognized

MHT Certification in South Dakota

Launch your mental health career in South Dakota. Free training plus nationally recognized AMCA MHTC certification. 380+ job openings statewide.

$40,000Avg. Salary
380+Annual Openings
11%Job Growth
$650Total Cost
Start Free Training Today View SD Employers ↓
AMCA Accredited
100% Online
Self-Paced (8-12 Weeks)
All 50 States

How to Get MHT Certified in South Dakota

EHired's Open Access model removes financial barriers. Start learning immediately—pay only when you're ready to complete.

1

Enroll Free

Sign up online in 5 minutes. No application fee, no credit check.

$0
2

Learn Online

Complete 80 hours of self-paced coursework. 8-12 weeks typical.

$0
3

Complete Program

Finish coursework. Pay only when you're ready.

$650
4

Get Certified

Take AMCA MHTC exam online. 100 questions, 70% to pass.

Included

Top South Dakota MHT Employers

South Dakota's major healthcare systems and state facilities actively hire AMCA-certified MHTs.

Major Employers

Human Services Center

280 Beds

55+ MHT hires/year

Address: 3515 Broadway Ave, Yankton, SD 57078

Phone: (605) 668-3100

State psychiatric facility

Sanford Health

600+ Beds

50+ MHT hires/year

Address: 1305 W 18th St, Sioux Falls, SD 57105

Phone: (605) 333-1000

SD's largest system

Avera Health

500+ Beds

45+ MHT hires/year

Address: 3900 W Avera Dr, Sioux Falls, SD 57108

Phone: (605) 322-4500

Major regional system

Monument Health

370 Beds

30+ MHT hires/year

Address: 353 Fairmont Blvd, Rapid City, SD 57701

Phone: (605) 755-1000

Black Hills region

Additional Employers

Indian Health Service

35+ hires/year

Pine Ridge Rosebud reservations

Phone: (605) 226-7581

VA Sioux Falls

20+ hires/year

Federal VA benefits

Phone: (605) 336-3230

Avera Behavioral Health

25+ hires/year

Specialty psychiatric

Phone: (605) 322-4065

Volunteers of America Dakotas

20+ hires/year

Community behavioral health

Phone: (605) 334-1414

South Dakota MHT Salary Guide

AMCA certification adds $2,000-$4,000 to starting offers

Entry Level

$34,000

0-1 year exp.

Certified Avg

$40,000

AMCA MHTC

Experienced

$48,000

3-5 years

Top Earners

$55,000

+ benefits

Salary by South Dakota Region

{{region_rows}}
RegionSalary Range% Jobs

Career Advancement in South Dakota

MHT certification is your entry point to a rewarding career ladder

🎓

MHT

$34,000-$40,000

Entry Point

⭐

Lead MHT

$40,000-$48,000

2-4 Years

🏥

RN-Psych

$65K-$90K

BSN Degree

🎯

PMHNP

$110K-$140K

MSN/DNP

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about MHT certification in South Dakota

How much do certified MHTs make in South Dakota?
Certified MHTs in South Dakota earn $40,000 on average. Entry-level positions start at $34,000, while experienced MHTs can earn $55,000+. AMCA certification typically adds $2,000-$4,000 to starting offers.
Is MHT certification required in South Dakota?
South Dakota does not legally require MHT certification. However, major employers strongly prefer AMCA-certified candidates. Certification improves hiring priority, starting wages, and advancement opportunities.
How much does MHT certification cost?
Through EHired, MHT training is free to enroll and learn. The $650 program completion fee covers everything: coursework, AMCA exam registration, exam fee, certification processing, and digital certificate.
How long does MHT certification take?
EHired's self-paced program takes 8-12 weeks (80 hours coursework). The AMCA exam is 100 questions, 2 hours, 70% passing. Total timeline: 10-14 weeks.

South Dakota MHT Regulatory Information

State Requirements

  • • Licensure: Not required
  • • Certification: Preferred by employers
  • • Background Check: Required
  • • Education: High school diploma/GED

Regulatory Contact

SD DSS - Behavioral Health

Phone: (605) 773-5990

dss.sd.gov/behavioralhealth/

Why South Dakota for MHT Careers?

South Dakota's small population creates a tight MHT market with 380+ annual openings. Sioux Falls and Rapid City together concentrate 65% of positions. Human Services Center in Yankton employs 55+ MHTs with state benefits. Sanford Health and Avera Health dominate the market as competing regional systems. Rural South Dakota faces severe shortages—Indian Health Service and frontier facilities offer signing bonuses and housing. Cost of living is moderate with no state income tax.

Start Your Mental Health Career in South Dakota

Free to enroll. Free to learn. $650 to complete. AMCA MHTC certification included.

$0To Enroll
$0To Learn
$650To Complete
IncludedAMCA Cert
Enroll Now — It's Free to Start

No credit card required. Start learning immediately.

MHT Certification in Nearby States

{{nearby_state_links}}
← View All 50 States