60-Credit Master's Program | 5 Sequential Semesters
The CMHC Program is an accelerated, full-time master's program designed to be completed
in 5 sequential semesters.
Courses build on prior semesters as students develop competence across the program.
The CMHC Program is an accelerated, full-time master's program designed to be completed
in 5 sequential semesters.
Courses build on prior semesters as students develop competence across the program.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program | Utah Valley University
Additional Details:
Courses build on previous courses as students develop competence across the program. Subsequently, courses are only offered in the semester listed here. Students who do not enroll in the sequence of courses listed below will need to wait until the course is offered again to take (or retake) a course.
According to UVU policy, the maximum timeframe for completing this program is 4 years.
Face-to-face courses are held in either the afternoon (1:00-5:15 pm) or evening (5:30-9:30 pm) two times per week. Students can expect at least two in person classes, two hybrid classes and one online class per semester.
Practicum & Internship Details
Where your education comes to life — working with real clients in real settings
Build foundational counseling skills in a supervised clinical setting with individual and group clients.
Deepen your clinical skills across modalities — assessment, crisis intervention, case management, and therapy.
The program maintains relationships with community-based clinical sites throughout Utah and Salt Lake Counties and the surrounding region — including community mental health agencies, day treatment programs, counseling centers, and other clinical settings. You'll work closely with your faculty advisor and the Director of Clinical Education to find a site that aligns with your interests and training goals.
You'll receive dual-layer supervision throughout: on-site guidance from a qualified clinical supervisor at your placement, plus weekly faculty-led group supervision on campus. You're supported from both sides — learning from experienced clinicians in the field while processing your growth with faculty and peers.
Direct service includes assessment, crisis intervention, case management, and individual, group, family, and couples therapy. Supervision hours include individual, small group, and large group formats.
Student Support & Advising
Personalized guidance from orientation through graduation
Every student is paired with a dedicated faculty advisor when they enter the program. Your advisor stays with you from orientation through graduation — providing consistent, individualized support across your entire graduate experience.
Developing and reviewing your planned program of study
Systematic assessment of knowledge, skills, and dispositions
Guidance on clinical identity and career development
Help finding sites aligned to your goals
The CMHC program maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio, so faculty know you by name — not just by student ID. Because our faculty are active practitioners and supervisors, the mentorship you receive extends well beyond academic planning into real-world clinical guidance.
Essential guides for every stage of your CMHC journey
These handbooks outline program policies, clinical training expectations, and the resources available to you. Please review them early and refer back often.
Program policies, academic requirements, and student expectations
Practicum and internship guidelines, site requirements, and supervision policies
Reach out to your faculty advisor or the program office if you need help locating or interpreting any handbook content. Updated handbooks are posted at the beginning of each academic year.
What Happens After Graduation?
From UVU graduate to licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Utah
Complete all 60 credit hours with minimum grades met, accumulate 700 clinical hours through practicum and internship, pass required exit examinations, and successfully complete ongoing reviews of academic and clinical progress.
5 semesters full-time700 clinical hoursSubmit your application to the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL). Because UVU is CACREP-accredited, your transcripts are accepted without a course-by-course review. All applicants must meet DOPL requirements, including applicable background checks and criminal history reporting.
Associate license · Practice under supervisionRegister through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination. Official score reports must be sent directly to DOPL from NBCC. We recommend preparing during your final semester.
Administered at testing centers nationwideAs an ACMHC, accrue 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience, including at least 1,200 hours of direct client care and 100 hours of direct clinical supervision (25 of which must include direct observation).
Minimum 2 years post-graduation3,000 total hoursOnce all requirements are met — including 2 hours of continuing education in suicide prevention — submit your application to DOPL for your full Clinical Mental Health Counselor license.
Renew every 2 years · 40 CE hours required
Professional Resources
Resources to support your professional development beyond the classroom
Your counselor identity doesn't start at graduation — it starts now. These resources connect you to the ethical standards, professional organizations, and career supports that shape the field.
The ethical foundation for professional counseling practice
Utah DOPL — CMHC licensure requirements and application
Your professional association — a division of AMHCA for advocacy, networking, and CE opportunities
Federal loan repayment for behavioral health professionals in underserved areas
Join UMHCA (a division of AMHCA), familiarize yourself with the ACA Code of Ethics, and explore funding options early. These steps lay the groundwork for a strong professional identity long before you graduate.
