How to Become a Licensed Counselor in Utah
To become a licensed counselor in Utah, you need a master’s degree from a CACREP or CHEA-accredited program, passing scores on the NCE and NCMHCE exams, and 3,000 hours of supervised post-graduate experience. The process typically takes approximately five to seven years from the start of graduate school to full licensure as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC).
Mental health counselors in Utah work in community clinics, private practice, schools, and inpatient settings, and the state has a defined, step-by-step path to licensure. There’s an associate-level credential you hold while building your supervised hours, and a full license that lets you practice independently. Understanding how those two levels connect, and what’s required at each stage, is the starting point for planning your career. If you’re also considering social work licensure in Utah, that path follows a separate set of requirements through the same licensing body.
Utah’s Two Counseling Credentials: ACMHC and CMHC
Utah’s Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) issues two primary mental health counseling credentials. The Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor (ACMHC) is the supervised practice credential, meaning it’s what you hold while completing your post-graduate hours. The Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC) is a full license, which allows you to practice independently anywhere in the state.
There’s also a third credential, the Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor Extern (ACMHC Extern), issued to candidates who have a qualifying degree but are missing up to 12 credits of specific coursework. Most applicants won’t need it. But if you completed your graduate program out of state or in an adjacent field, it’s worth checking whether your coursework fully meets Utah’s requirements before applying.
Step 1: Complete Your Graduate Education
Utah requires a master’s or doctoral degree in mental health counseling, or an equivalent field, from a regionally accredited institution. You have two main routes to meet the education requirement.
The straightforward path is a degree from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Utah recognizes CACREP-accredited degrees in clinical mental health counseling, counselor education, and rehabilitation counseling. If your program is CACREP-accredited, your coursework automatically meets Utah’s requirements.
The alternative route is a degree from a program accredited by an organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), in a field equivalent to counseling. If you go this route, you’ll need to submit course descriptions or syllabi to demonstrate that your coursework covers Utah’s specific subject requirements. Plan on extra documentation and some additional processing time with the DOPL.
Either way, your program must include a supervised practicum of at least three semester hours and an internship of at least six semester hours, with a minimum of 900 hours of supervised clinical experience and 360 hours of direct client contact.
Step 2: Pass the NBCC Exams
Before applying for your ACMHC license, you’ll need passing scores on two exams administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE).
The NCE is a 200-question multiple-choice exam covering professional counseling fundamentals across eight content areas, including human development, group work, assessment, and career development. The NCMHCE uses 11 clinical case studies to assess your ability to perform assessments, diagnoses, and treatments across five practice domains. You can register for both through the NBCC website without prior DOPL authorization.
Step 3: Apply for Your ACMHC License
Once you’ve completed your graduate program and passed both exams, you’re ready to apply for your ACMHC license through the Utah DOPL. You can apply online at the DOPL Clinical Mental Health Counseling page. An application fee is required. Verify the current amount with DOPL before applying, as fees are subject to change. A criminal background check is also required.
Your ACMHC license is valid for three years. If you’re still working toward your supervised hours at the three-year mark, you can apply for an extension, but you’ll need to show you’re on track toward full licensure.
Step 4: Complete Your Supervised Experience
The supervised experience requirement is the most time-intensive part of the process. Utah requires 3,000 total hours of post-graduate supervised clinical practice, completed over a minimum of two years. The exact requirements depend on when your ACMHC license was issued.
| Requirement | ACMHC issued before May 1, 2024 | ACMHC issued May 1, 2024 or later |
|---|---|---|
| Total hours | 3,000 | 3,000 |
| Direct client care hours | 1,000 | 1,200 |
| Direct supervision hours | 75 | 100 (25 must include direct observation) |
Your supervisor must be a currently licensed mental health professional in Utah: a CMHC, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or registered psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who has held that license for at least two consecutive years. Keep detailed records of your hours as you go. The DOPL provides official supervision verification forms that your supervisor must complete when you apply for full licensure.
Step 5: Apply for Your CMHC License
Once you’ve completed your supervised hours, you have up to one year to apply for your CMHC license before your ACMHC credential expires. The application is submitted online through the Utah DOPL. You’ll need to submit official transcripts directly from your institution and have your supervisor complete the verification forms. A fee is required. Verify the current amount with DOPL before applying.
After approval, your CMHC license allows you to practice mental health counseling independently throughout Utah, including assessing, diagnosing, and treating mental and emotional conditions without supervision.
License Renewal and Continuing Education
Utah CMHC licenses expire on September 30 of even-numbered years and must be renewed every two years. To renew, you’ll need to complete 40 hours of continuing education related to your professional practice. At least six of those hours must cover ethics and laws governing counseling, and two hours must address suicide prevention. Up to 10 of your CE hours can be earned through online self-study courses. The remaining 30 must be completed through in-person courses or live interactive webinars.
Counseling Compact: Practicing Across State Lines
Utah is a member of the Counseling Compact. The multistate agreement allows fully licensed counselors to provide services in other member states without obtaining a separate license in each one. If you’re already licensed in another compact state and want to practice in Utah, or you hold a Utah CMHC and want to expand your practice to other states, the compact offers a more direct path than traditional licensure by endorsement. Counselors interested in addiction treatment can also explore substance abuse counseling certification in Utah, which follows a separate credentialing track through the DOPL.
Licensure by endorsement remains an option for counselors who don’t qualify through the compact. To apply, you’ll need documentation of an active license in good standing and at least 4,000 hours of clinical counseling experience in the three years before your Utah application.
Counselor Salary in Utah
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Utah earn a median annual salary of $71,890 as of May 2024. The salary range runs from roughly $42,210 at the 25th percentile to $94,630 at the 75th percentile, with top earners at the 90th percentile reaching $111,470. Where you fall in that range depends heavily on work setting, specialization, and whether you’re in private practice or a community agency.
The job outlook for this field in Utah is strong. Mental health and substance abuse social workers, a closely related category tracked by the BLS, are projected to grow 38.3% in Utah between 2022 and 2032, adding an average of 140 job openings per year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a licensed counselor in Utah?
Most candidates complete the process in approximately 5 to 7 years. A master’s program typically takes 2 to 3 years, and the supervised experience requirement adds at least 2 more years after that. If you’re working full-time in a clinical setting, the supervised hours often run concurrently with your early career work, keeping the timeline manageable.
Does Utah accept out-of-state counseling licenses?
Yes. Utah participates in the Counseling Compact, which allows eligible counselors licensed in other compact member states to practice in Utah. Outside the compact, you can apply for licensure by endorsement if you hold an active license in another state and have at least 4,000 documented clinical hours in the preceding three years.
What’s the difference between the ACMHC and CMHC in Utah?
The ACMHC is the supervised practice credential you hold while completing your post-graduate hours under a qualified supervisor. The CMHC is a fully independent licensee. You can’t skip the ACMHC stage. It’s a required step before CMHC licensure regardless of your experience.
Do I need a CACREP-accredited degree to get licensed in Utah?
Not necessarily. Utah accepts degrees from CACREP-accredited programs and from programs accredited by a CHEA-recognized institution, provided the coursework covers Utah’s specific content requirements. If your degree isn’t CACREP-accredited, you’ll need to submit course descriptions or syllabi for review, which can add time to the application process.
How many CE hours does Utah require for license renewal?
Utah requires 40 continuing education hours every two years. At least six hours must cover ethics and counseling laws, and two hours must address suicide prevention. Up to 10 hours can be completed via online self-study. The rest require in-person or live interactive formats.
Key Takeaways
- Two-stage licensure. You’ll hold the ACMHC credential during your supervised experience period, then apply for the full CMHC license once you’ve completed your hours.
- Two exams required. Utah requires passing scores on both the NCE and the NCMHCE before you can apply for your ACMHC license.
- 3,000 supervised hours. The post-graduate experience requirement changed in 2024. New ACMHCs (licensed on or after May 1, 2024) need 1,200 direct client care hours and 100 supervision hours within that total.
- Counseling Compact member. Utah’s membership simplifies multistate practice for fully licensed CMHCs.
- Strong salary and outlook. BLS data puts the median Utah counselor salary at $71,890, with strong projected growth through 2032.
Ready to find a counseling program in Utah? Explore degree options that meet Utah’s CACREP and CHEA requirements and are designed to prepare you for licensure.
2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Social Workers, Social and Human Services Assistants, Social and Community Service Managers, and Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed April 2026.