Utah LPC, CMHC & ACMHC Continuing Education Requirements
Utah counselors must complete 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LPC / CMHC / ACMHC license, including 6 hours of ethics law or technology and 2 hours of suicide prevention.
40
total hours / 2 years
6
ethics law or technology hours
2
suicide prevention hours
Biennial renewal · calculating the next statewide deadline
Utah LPC, CMHC & ACMHC requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 40 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: CE due by September 30 of even years. |
| Ethics Law or Technology | 6 hours required each cycle. |
| Suicide Prevention | 2 hours required each cycle. |
| Format limits | Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. |
| Format limits | Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. |
| Carryover | Up to 10 unused hours can carry into the next cycle. |
| New licensees | First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically. |
| Approved providers | Qualifying CE may be offered or sponsored by accredited university, governmental agency, national professional association, regional professional association, state professional association, and mental health agency and recognized associations in counseling, mft, social work, psychology, and psychiatry. |
| Provisional renewal | The board allows a provisional/conditional renewal for up to 6 months before full compliance is required. Utah has no formal 'conditional' renewal status. Licensees short on CE must request a hardship extension from DOPL before the renewal date; extensions are case-by-case (typically a few months) and are not automatically renewable. |
Limits on how the hours are earned
Board caps and floors on where the 40 hours can come from.
- home study / self-studymax 10 hrs
- home study / self-studymax 10 hrs
- carryovermax 10 hrs
Full board policy details
- At least 30 of the 40 hours must be live/interactive each cycle. Up to 10 hours may be completed via asynchronous self-study. Synchronous distance learning (live webinars/Zoom) clearly documented as real-time and interactive counts as live and is not subject to the self-study cap.
- Academic coursework yields 3 CE hours per semester credit (1.5 per quarter credit). Each CE clock hour requires a 50-minute block of instruction.
- COURSE REPEAT RESTRICTIONS: A licensee teaching/presenting may claim credit for the same course no more than two times per renewal cycle. Repeating the identical course as an attendee does not yield additional credit.
- LICENSE STATUS RULES: A license on inactive or retired status is exempt from CE during the inactive period. To reactivate, the licensee must document completion of current renewal CE requirements (typically the last cycle's 40 hours). The Division may impose additional CE before reentering practice for long-inactive licensees.
- CE waivers or extensions may be granted by the Division for medical hardship, humanitarian/ecclesiastical service, military service, presence in an area where CE is unavailable, or other reasonable cause. Written request must be submitted before the renewal deadline unless an emergency prevented timely filing. Extensions are not automatically renewable.
- Up to 15% of CE hours (approximately 6 hours of the 40) may be earned via qualifying unpaid volunteer clinical services, at a conversion of 1 CE hour per 4 hours of volunteer service.
- All CE activities (including teaching, presenting, publications, leadership/service, academic coursework, peer case consultations, and peer supervision observations) must still be approved, conducted, or sponsored by an approved provider type. 100% of CE hours must come from approved providers; there are no activity-based exemptions from the provider requirement.
- Pending DOPL rulemaking (OAR File No. 57656, filed April 15, 2026; comment period closed May 15, 2026) may produce minor amendments to R156-60.
We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your Utah LPC / CMHC / ACMHC record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Utah LPC / CMHC / ACMHC CE free →Utah LPC, CMHC & ACMHC CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Utah LPC / CMHC / ACMHC licensees need?
Utah requires 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LPC / CMHC / ACMHC license. Biennial cycle: CE due by September 30 of even years.
How many ethics hours are required for Utah LPC / CMHC / ACMHC licensees?
Of the total, 6 hours must be in ethics law or technology.
How often do Utah LPC / CMHC / ACMHC licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: CE due by September 30 of even years.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Utah LPC / CMHC / ACMHC licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, Utah requires 2 hours of suicide prevention.
Can Utah LPC / CMHC / ACMHC licensees complete CE online or by home study?
Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Is the first renewal different for new Utah LPC / CMHC / ACMHC licensees?
First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically.
Sources & verification
- State source
- Utah board rule
- Profession source
- NBCC continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- July 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.2
Reviewed against the Utah board source and refreshed from the compiled ruleset above. Methodology and disclaimer. Compliance data is for guidance only, not legal or board advice. Always confirm requirements with your licensing board before renewing. See something wrong? Report it →
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