Best Counseling Programs in Utah (2026)
Top CACREP-accredited counseling programs in Utah for 2026, with tuition, ACMHC and CMHC licensure requirements (Utah's unique title), the 3,000 supervised hours pathway, NCMHCE prep, and the Salt Lake City Silicon Slopes employer market.
Key Takeaways
- Utah uses a unique state license title: CMHC (Clinical Mental Health Counselor). No other state uses this exact terminology. Most use LPC, LMHC, or LPCC. For portability and Counseling Compact purposes, the Utah CMHC functions equivalently to an LPC or LMHC elsewhere.
- Utah has roughly three CACREP-accredited CMHC master's programs: University of Utah (MPCAC + CACREP online), Westminster University (Salt Lake City), and Utah Valley University (Orem). Note: BYU's MS is in Marriage & Family Therapy (COAMFTE-accredited, not CACREP), which leads to LMFT rather than CMHC. Utah State's CACREP-accredited program is in Rehabilitation Counseling, not CMHC.
- Utah uses a two-tier license structure. ACMHC (Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor) is the post-master's supervised credential. CMHC (Clinical Mental Health Counselor) is the independent practice license.
- Becoming a CMHC in Utah requires a 60-credit master's including a 700-hour graduate practicum/internship (240 direct), 3,000 supervised post-degree hours over a minimum of 2 years, 1,200 direct client care hours (for ACMHCs licensed on or after May 1, 2024), 100 hours of direct clinical supervision (25 must include direct observation), 2 hours of DOPL-approved suicide prevention training, and passing the NCMHCE.
- Utah is a Counseling Compact member (SB237, signed March 24, 2022) but is not yet operationally issuing privileges. As of May 2026, only Arizona, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Ohio are actively issuing Compact privileges. Once UT activates, UT CMHCs will gain practice portability across other member states.
- Intermountain Health and University of Utah Health dominate Utah's behavioral health employer market, particularly along the Wasatch Front. The Silicon Slopes corridor (Lehi, Draper, SLC) drives strong EAP and employer-sponsored behavioral health demand.
- The Utah Health Care Workforce Financial Assistance Program (HCWFAP) includes a Behavioral Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program (BHWLRP) sub-program for CMHCs in medically underserved areas. 3-year service commitment with 10% employer match required.
Utah is one of the more distinctive LPC-equivalent markets in the country, primarily because of the CMHC title. Utah is the only state that uses "Clinical Mental Health Counselor" as the licensure title. Every other state uses LPC, LMHC, LPCC, or another variation. For portability purposes the Utah CMHC functions equivalently to an LPC or LMHC, but the unique naming can confuse out-of-state employers and prospective Utah students alike.
The UT licensing path: complete a 60-credit master's from a CACREP-accredited program (including a 700-hour graduate practicum/internship with 240 direct client therapy hours), apply for ACMHC with the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Clinical Mental Health Counselor Licensing Board, accumulate 3,000 supervised post-degree hours over a minimum of 2 years (1,200 direct client care for post-May 2024 licensees, 100 supervision hours with 25 hours of direct observation), complete 2 hours of DOPL-approved suicide prevention training, and pass the NCMHCE. Total time from master's to CMHC: typically 2 to 3 years.
What makes Utah distinct beyond the CMHC title: the BYU dynamic. Brigham Young University runs a substantial MS in Marriage and Family Therapy (COAMFTE-accredited, not CACREP) that leads to LMFT rather than CMHC. This is a meaningful planning consideration for prospective students. If you want to practice in Utah as a CMHC, you cannot use BYU's MFT program as your master's pathway. The three CACREP-accredited CMHC options are University of Utah, Westminster, and Utah Valley. For students drawn to faith-integrated practice in LDS-majority Utah, the BYU MFT track can still make sense if you're willing to license as an LMFT rather than CMHC.
CACREP-Accredited Counseling Programs in Utah
All 5 programs ranked in this guide, with tuition, format, and accreditation at a glance.
| # | School | In-State Tuition | Format | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Utah | ~$367/credit (~$22,020 total) | Online or once-weekly on-campus | |
| 2 | Westminster University | $461/credit (private, flat rate, ~$28,121 total at 61 credits) | On-campus | |
| 3 | Utah Valley University | ~$455/credit (~$27,755 total at 61 credits) | On-campus | |
| 4 | Utah State University (Rehab Counseling, NOT CMHC) | ~$535/credit (online flat rate, ~$32,635 total at 61 credits) | Online with statewide distance delivery | |
| 5 | Brigham Young University (MFT, NOT CMHC) | ~$425/credit (private, LDS-affiliated, ~$25,500 total at 60 credits) | On-campus |
University of Utah
In-State
~$367/credit (~$22,020 total)
Out-of-State
~$1,295/credit
Length
3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
800 hours field-based internship in final year
Concentrations
- MPCAC-accredited since 2018; CACREP-accredited online format effective February 2025 through March 2033
- Graduates back-dated to February 2023 count as CACREP grads (important for out-of-state portability)
- Located in Salt Lake City with placement access to University of Utah Health and Intermountain Health
- <strong>Most affordable CACREP/MPCAC CMHC option in Utah</strong> at $367/credit for in-state residents
- 800-hour field-based internship in final year (higher than CACREP minimum)
Westminster University
In-State
$461/credit (private, flat rate, ~$28,121 total at 61 credits)
Out-of-State
$461/credit (private, flat rate)
Length
3 years (61 credits)
Field Hours
700 (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Affordable private tuition at $461/credit flat rate (~$28,121 total)
- GRE not required
- Diverse practicum/internship sites including hospitals, prisons, wilderness therapy, and university counseling centers
- Located in Salt Lake City with strong Wasatch Front placement access
Utah Valley University
In-State
~$455/credit (~$27,755 total at 61 credits)
Out-of-State
~$1,265/credit
Length
5 semesters (61 credits)
Field Hours
600+ (CACREP minimums)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited MS in CMHC with accreditation through 2034 (long horizon)
- Located in Orem serving the Provo-Orem metro and Utah County
- 5-semester full-time completion track
- Affordable in-state public tuition compared to private Wasatch Front alternatives
- 600+ clinical hours required
Utah State University (Rehab Counseling, NOT CMHC)
In-State
~$535/credit (online flat rate, ~$32,635 total at 61 credits)
Out-of-State
~$535/credit (online flat rate)
Length
3 years (61 credits)
Field Hours
700 (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited Master of Rehabilitation Counseling (MRC), <strong>not CMHC</strong>
- 94% first-time CRC (Certified Rehabilitation Counselor) exam pass rate
- Online program with statewide distance delivery
- Graduates pursue CRC + Utah CMHC only if curriculum meets DOPL 60-credit content areas for CMHC (verify per applicant)
- Located in Logan but delivered fully online
Brigham Young University (MFT, NOT CMHC)
In-State
~$425/credit (private, LDS-affiliated, ~$25,500 total at 60 credits)
Out-of-State
~$425/credit (private, flat rate)
Length
2 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
500+ direct client hours required for LMFT licensure
Concentrations
- <strong>NOT CACREP and NOT CMHC pathway.</strong> BYU's MS is in Marriage and Family Therapy (COAMFTE-accredited), leading to LMFT licensure
- For students wanting CMHC in Utah, BYU is not the right pathway
- LDS-affiliated private university with faith-integrated curriculum
- Located in Provo with strong Wasatch Front LMFT placement network
- Listed here for transparency given BYU's prominence in Utah graduate education
ACMHC and CMHC Licensure Requirements in Utah
The licensing board, exam pathway, and supervised hours you'll need to practice independently.
Licensing Board
Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Clinical Mental Health Counselor Licensing Board
(801) 530-6628
Utah regulates CMHCs through the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Clinical Mental Health Counselor Licensing Board, under the Utah Department of Commerce.
What makes Utah distinct is the CMHC license title. Every other state uses LPC, LMHC, LPCC, or another variation. Utah is the only state that uses "Clinical Mental Health Counselor" as the licensure title. For portability purposes the Utah CMHC functions equivalently to an LPC or LMHC, but the unique naming creates confusion when Utah graduates apply for licensure in other states.
You'll move through two stages in UT. First, the ACMHC (Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor), the post-master's supervised credential. Second, the full CMHC (Clinical Mental Health Counselor), the independent practice license earned after 3,000 supervised hours and passing the NCMHCE.
Utah-specific items: ACMHCs licensed on or after May 1, 2024 must complete 1,200 direct client care hours and 100 supervision hours (25 with direct observation). Those licensed before May 2024 are grandfathered at 1,000 direct client care and 75 supervision hours. Utah also requires 2 hours of DOPL-approved suicide prevention training before licensure.
Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor
Supervised post-master's counseling practice while accumulating hours toward CMHC
Hours
N/A
Duration
Associate
Exam: No exam at ACMHC; NCMHCE required for CMHC
Clinical Mental Health Counselor (Utah-unique title)
Independent clinical practice, mental health diagnosis and treatment, private practice, third-party billing
Hours
3,000
Duration
2 years minimum (25 supervision hours must include direct observation; 2 hrs DOPL suicide prevention training required)
Exam: NCMHCE
Utah offers endorsement for licensees of substantially equivalent jurisdictions via DOPL endorsement application. Utah is a Counseling Compact member via SB237, signed March 24, 2022, but is not yet actively issuing/receiving Compact privileges as of May 2026. Only Arizona, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Ohio are actively issuing Counseling Compact privileges. Once UT activates, UT CMHCs will gain practice portability across other member states. Important for out-of-state portability: Utah's unique CMHC title may create paperwork friction with other states' boards; CACREP accreditation is the safest portability hedge.
Counselor Salary in Utah
BLS state median wages by counseling specialty, with national comparison and top-paying metros.
Utah counselor salaries run close to the national median. The BLS Utah OEWS estimates reflect Salt Lake City's wage premium driven by the Silicon Slopes tech sector and Intermountain Health/University of Utah Health demand. Salt Lake City-Murray MSA has an all-occupations mean hourly wage of $33.38 (above the U.S. average), suggesting counselor wages run at or slightly above national median in the Wasatch Front.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
National median: $59,190
Top metro: $62,140 (Salt Lake City)
Mental Health Counselors (excluding substance abuse)
National median: $59,610
Top metro: $61,420 (Salt Lake City)
Marriage and Family Therapists
National median: $63,780
Top metro: $65,820 (Salt Lake City)
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors (School Counselors)
National median: $64,210
Top metro: $68,940 (Salt Lake City)
Utah Counseling Job Market and Workforce
Major employers, mental health shortage context, and loan repayment programs that erase debt for service.
Utah's behavioral health workforce is concentrated along the Wasatch Front (Salt Lake City, Provo-Orem, Ogden-Clearfield) with severe shortages in rural Eastern Utah (Uintah Basin, San Juan, Emery, Carbon counties) and Southern Utah (Garfield, Kane, Wayne). The Silicon Slopes tech corridor (Lehi, Draper, SLC) drives strong EAP and employer-sponsored behavioral health demand.
Major employers include Intermountain Health (formerly Intermountain Healthcare, the largest health system in the Intermountain West with extensive behavioral health programs across the Wasatch Front), University of Utah Health, HCA MountainStar Healthcare, Steward Health Care, Valley Behavioral Health, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, the Utah State Hospital (Provo), VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, the Salt Lake County Division of Behavioral Health Services, and a growing private group practice sector concentrated in Salt Lake County, Utah County, and Davis County.
Three workforce dynamics shape practice in UT:
CMHC title portability friction: Utah's unique CMHC title can create paperwork friction when applying for licensure in other states. CACREP accreditation is the safest portability hedge for graduates planning to leave Utah.
LDS / faith-integrated practice: Utah's LDS-majority population creates demand for faith-integrated counseling, particularly along the Wasatch Front. BYU MFT graduates and CACREP CMHC graduates both serve this market, though licensure pathways differ.
Silicon Slopes EAP demand: The Lehi/Draper/SLC tech corridor drives strong employer-sponsored behavioral health and EAP demand. Private practice rates in Salt Lake County and Utah County have grown sustainably with the tech sector expansion.
Loan Repayment & Scholarship Programs
Utah Health Care Workforce Financial Assistance Program (HCWFAP): Administered by Utah Office of Primary Care and Rural Health. Includes a Behavioral Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program (BHWLRP) sub-program for CMHCs in medically underserved areas. 3-year service commitment with 10% match required from employer site.
NHSC Loan Repayment Program: Federal program. CMHCs are eligible at NHSC-approved sites in UT Mental Health HPSAs. Up to $50,000 for 2 years full-time service or $25,000 for half-time. Utah administers a parallel NHSC State Loan Repayment Program match.
NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce LRP: Up to $75,000 over 3 years for CMHCs at SUD-focused NHSC sites. Strong fit for CMHCs working in Utah's opioid crisis response.
Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): CMHCs employed at Utah state agencies, county behavioral health, VA Salt Lake City, Intermountain Health nonprofit affiliates, and other qualifying nonprofit health systems all qualify for federal PSLF after 10 years of qualifying payments under an income-driven repayment plan.
How to Choose a Counseling Program in Utah
Decision factors that actually matter, not generic checklist filler.
Choosing a counseling program in Utah comes down to two main questions: CMHC vs LMFT pathway (since BYU offers MFT, not CMHC), and which of the three CACREP CMHC options (University of Utah, Westminster, Utah Valley) fits your location and budget. Utah's small set of CACREP programs makes the decision unusually focused.
If you want CMHC (the Utah equivalent of LPC/LMHC): Choose University of Utah, Westminster, or Utah Valley. These are the three CACREP-accredited CMHC programs in the state. Avoid BYU MFT (different licensure pathway leading to LMFT, not CMHC).
If you want LMFT instead of CMHC: BYU's MS in Marriage and Family Therapy (COAMFTE-accredited, not CACREP) is the prestige LMFT pathway in Utah. Just be clear this is not a CMHC route.
If you want the most affordable in-state public option: University of Utah at $367/credit (~$22,020 total) is the most affordable CACREP/MPCAC CMHC program for Utah residents. Utah Valley at ~$455/credit is the next most affordable.
If you want online flexibility: University of Utah's online format (CACREP-accredited February 2025 through March 2033) is the strongest online option. Utah State's online program is rehabilitation counseling, not CMHC.
If you want Salt Lake City placement: University of Utah and Westminster both serve the SLC metro with established placement networks at University of Utah Health, Intermountain Health, and HCA MountainStar.
If you want Provo-Orem / Utah County placement: Utah Valley University (Orem) is the primary feeder into the Utah Valley behavioral health network.
If you want rural Utah / Eastern Utah / Southern Utah placement: University of Utah's online program serves statewide. NHSC and Utah BHWLRP loan repayment leverage is strongest in these rural shortage counties.
If you plan to leave Utah after graduating: Choose CACREP-accredited programs (not COAMFTE-only). Utah's unique CMHC title can create paperwork friction when applying for licensure in other states; CACREP accreditation is the safest portability hedge.
Related Pages
Best Online Counseling Programs
National ranking of the top CACREP-accredited online counseling programs
Best Online Master's in Psychology
If you're still weighing psychology vs counseling at the master's level
Counselor Career Guide
What CMHCs, LPCs, and LMHCs actually do day-to-day
MSW Programs in Utah
If you're weighing the social work pathway instead
Counseling Programs by State
Compare counseling programs across all 50 states
Sources
- CACREP, Directory of Accredited Programs
- Utah Division of Professional Licensing, Clinical Mental Health Counselor
- Utah DOPL, Apply for CMHC License
- Utah License Verification
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS Utah Estimates
- NBCC, National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)
- Utah Health Care Workforce Financial Assistance Program
- Counseling Compact, Member States