Licensed Professional Counselor / Utah
2026 data Utah board official source

Utah Licensed Professional Counselor License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

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Provides mental health counseling and therapy services.

What the Utah data shows for Licensed Professional Counselors

To practice as a licensed professional counselor in Utah, the state licensing board requires 2,784 documented education or training hours, a passing score on NCE (National Counselor Exam) or NCMHCE, and 2 years of supervised work experience. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under Utah's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree in Counseling".

Budget $114 to get started, plus $100 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 30 hours of continuing education are due every 2-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

For licensed professional counselors, the reciprocity picture is: Counseling Compact: 40+ states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
34/100
Licensed Professional Counselor · Utah

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
2,784 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee D
$114
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden C
$50/yr
$100 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
15.0 hrs/yr
30 hours every 2 years
Experience Required F
2 years
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Utah

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree in Counseling
2,784 hours
Exam Requirement
NCE (National Counselor Exam) or NCMHCE
Required
Initial License Fee
$114
Renewal Fee
$100
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
30 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years
Work Experience Required
2 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Licensed Professional Counselor All Utah licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Utah licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Licensed Professional Counselor in Utah? ▼
Utah's requirements cover 2784 hours of education or training, the NCE (National Counselor Exam) or NCMHCE exam, and an initial fee of $114. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Utah? ▼
Utah licenses licensed professional counselors who complete its requirements (2784 education hours, 2 years of experience) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Utah licensing board.
Can I transfer my Licensed Professional Counselor license to Utah from another state? ▼
Reciprocity for licensed professional counselors nationally works like this: Counseling Compact: 40+ states. Beyond that baseline, interstate compacts exist for many professions and may smooth a transfer into Utah. Verify the specifics with the Utah licensing board.
Does Utah require a background check for Licensed Professional Counselor licensing? ▼
Utah does require a background check before issuing a licensed professional counselor license. What counts as disqualifying, and how it's reviewed, is up to the state licensing board.
What are the continuing education requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor in Utah? ▼
To stay licensed as a licensed professional counselor in Utah, plan on 30 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $100.

Related Guides

What to do with this licensed professional counselor license

Licensed Professional Counselor in Utah, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a licensed professional counselor-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Utah's licensed professional counselor requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Licensed Professional Counselor in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state licensed professional counselor license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Utah's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Utah overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Utah licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.