A provision in HB1149 shifts background check costs directly to individual athletic trainers—a detail many practice owners haven't yet factored into compliance budgets.
Most South Dakota health service owners who employ or contract with athletic trainers haven't heard about a specific cost buried in HB1149, the bill that adopts the athletic trainer licensure compact. But it affects anyone in the state operating an athletic training practice—and it's worth understanding before it takes effect.
Section 1 of HB1149 requires that any licensed athletic trainer seeking to participate in the interstate athletic trainer licensure compact must personally pay for their own state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background check. This is a mandatory compliance cost—not optional, not reimbursable through the compact, and not absorbed by the state licensing board.
The provision applies to every individual athletic trainer, whether they work as an employee, independent contractor, or sole proprietor. There is no exemption for trainers already licensed in South Dakota or those renewing existing credentials.
If you operate a health service in South Dakota that employs or contracts athletic trainers, this matters to you in several ways:
Direct costs: Any athletic trainer you hire or bring on as a contractor will need to cover fingerprinting and background check fees out of pocket before they can enter the compact. Those fees vary by vendor and jurisdiction but typically range from $50 to $150 per check.
Hiring decisions: If you're recruiting trainers from out of state, they'll face this cost upfront. Some candidates may expect employers to cover it as part of onboarding—a conversation worth having early.
Compliance timing: The provision is effective upon enactment with no sunset date specified. That means it's in effect now and will remain so indefinitely unless the legislature amends it.
The compact itself is designed to streamline licensure for athletic trainers across multiple states, reducing red tape for multi-state operations. But this background check provision creates a direct, non-negotiable expense for every individual trainer using it.
For small practices and sole proprietors, this is especially relevant. If you're the only athletic trainer in your operation and you want to work across state lines under the compact, you'll be paying for the background check yourself.
For larger health services with multiple trainers, the cumulative cost may be modest, but it's still a line item to budget for—particularly if you're hiring new staff or bringing on contractors who weren't previously licensed in South Dakota.
If you employ or contract with athletic trainers, review your hiring and onboarding policies now. Clarify internally whether your practice will cover these background check costs or whether trainers will be responsible. If you're recruiting, be transparent about this requirement early in conversations with candidates.
The bill's language is straightforward, but the practical impact depends on your practice size and hiring plans. Understanding the requirement now will help you budget and communicate clearly with staff and contractors.
Source: South Dakota HB1149, Section 1, Page 1. Effective upon enactment.