Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Pathway to Utah Licensure for Internationally Trained Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor (ACMHC)

Information for internationally trained applicants seeking an Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor (ACMHC) license in Utah! This document outlines the requirements and steps you must take to apply through this pathway. Please read carefully and ensure you understand each requirement.

Requirements (Transcript Evaluation)

DOPL will have you fill out an educational requirement form to review your transcripts and course descriptions for specific subjects from your Master’s program. They will pay close attention to the following:

DSM: A course on the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
Ethics: A dedicated ethics course.
Practicum: Your transcripts must show at least 700 hours of practicum experience, of these 700 hours, at least 240 hours must involve providing clinical therapy directly to clients under the direction of an educational institution.

Once you are deemed eligible and have ideally completed all the requirements, submit your official Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor (ACMHC) application to the DOPL at https://commerce.utah.gov/clinical-mental-health-counseling/apply-for-a-license/associate-clinical-mental-health-counselor/. Ensure all required documentation and fees are included as per the application instructions.
Important Considerations:

Timeline: Processing times for international applications vary. Credential evaluation and DOPL review can take several weeks.
CMHC Licensure: After you receive your ACMHC license, you will need to complete approximately 3,000 hours of supervised experience by a licensed CMHC, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or psychologist. You must also pass the CMHC exam to qualify for your full CMHC license through the standard application process and work without supervision.

We appreciate your interest in becoming a licensed mental health counselor in Utah.

Do you have questions?

Read and understand the scopes of practice to learn if the license fits your experience.
Access our training resources at the Internationally-Trained Applicant Credentialing Program website.
Fill out our contact form and provide all necessary documents.
You can also email us at [email protected].