How to Become a School Counselor in Utah
To become a school counselor in Utah, you need a master’s degree in school counseling. You’ll also need program fieldwork, a 153 or higher on the Praxis Professional School Counselor (5422) test, a background check and the College and Career Readiness endorsement. Utah has no alternate route around that degree, and most programs take two to three years.
Utah Links
Utah’s schools are stretched thin. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommends one counselor for every 250 students. ASCA’s 2023-24 state data puts Utah’s ratio at nearly double that. (The 250:1 figure is a professional recommendation, not a staffing law.) Projections Central’s 2024-2034 projections show about 380 openings a year in Utah. They also project 21.3% growth in Utah, compared with 3.5% nationally for the same occupation and period. Those figures cover the broader category of educational, guidance and career counselors. Not every opening is in a K-12 school.
Explore the information below and learn how you can become a school counselor in Utah. Requirements can change. Confirm them with your program advisor or the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) licensing team at (801) 538-7740.
I’m a High School Graduate…
You’re at the start of a path that typically takes six to eight years. That’s four years for a bachelor’s degree, then two to three years for a master’s in school counseling. It’s a real commitment, but you don’t need to have everything figured out right now.
Step One:
Start your undergraduate degree. It doesn’t have to be in counseling. Psychology, sociology, education and social work are all common backgrounds, but your major isn’t a licensure requirement. What matters more is a strong GPA and experience working with young people before you apply to a master’s program.
Step Two:
Volunteer with youth-serving organizations while you’re in college. Time in schools or youth programs shows you whether this career actually fits. It also strengthens your graduate school application. Two places to start in Utah:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
- List of Utah school districts and schools. Contact schools near you to ask about observation or volunteer opportunities.
I have already earned a college degree…
If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you’re ready for the steps that lead directly to licensure.
Step One:
Earn a master’s degree in school counseling. That’s USBE’s wording, and Utah doesn’t offer an alternate pathway that skips this master’s-level preparation. Program titles vary. Some universities house school counseling inside a broader counseling or education degree. Check that the program is specifically designed for school counselor licensure.
A degree or license in clinical mental health counseling, social work or psychology doesn’t qualify you on its own. That doesn’t always mean starting from zero. At least one Utah university offers a license-only option for people with a clinical mental health counseling master’s or license. Ask programs what additional preparation they’d accept.
There are two routes to an eligible degree. The first is a USBE-approved program at a Utah university, which recommends you for licensure when you finish.
The second is an out-of-state or online program. It needs accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Another recognized accreditor also works if the program meets Utah’s Board-approved school counselor standards. USBE’s FAQ puts the job of confirming that on you, and USBE reviews it when you apply. Do that homework before you pay a deposit.
Most programs take two to three years, with afternoon, evening or online classes built around working adults. Tuition varies a lot between public universities and private or online programs. Compare the full program cost, not just the per-credit rate. If you want to study in Utah, start with the in-state programs on our Utah school counselor page.
Step Two:
Complete your program’s supervised fieldwork. USBE doesn’t publish a statewide hour minimum, so each Utah program sets its own. Most commonly require a 100-hour practicum followed by a 600-hour internship. Placements are typically in K-12 schools, with a licensed school counselor supervising.
Field placements generally require substantial daytime availability, and that’s the catch for working adults. Picture Jenna, a fourth-grade teacher in Ogden who planned to keep her classroom through the whole program. Evening coursework worked fine. The internship didn’t.
She needed a district willing to let her split her week between teaching and counseling. If you’re in a similar spot, start that conversation with your district a year ahead, not a month.
There’s another option worth asking about. Enrolled in a school counseling master’s program with a bachelor’s in hand? USBE allows a district to hire you as a counselor on an Associate Educator License. USBE describes it as a three-year license that can’t be renewed. You still need a district willing to hire you.
Step Three:
Pass the Praxis Professional School Counselor (5422) test. USBE requires Utah program completers to score 153 or higher. That cut score is Utah’s own, and other states set different ones. Registration and score reporting are covered on the certification page.
Step Four:
Complete a fingerprint background check through USBE. Create an account in the Utah Schools Information Management System (USIMS) first. Then get fingerprinted at a Utah LiveScan site, or mail a fingerprint card if you’re applying from out of state. USBE says background checks from other states can’t be shared with it. Plan on a new one even if you’ve cleared one elsewhere. The USBE background check page has current instructions.
Step Five:
Apply for your license. Your university submits a recommendation for licensure, and you accept your Professional Educator License in USIMS. You’ll also complete the Utah Educator Ethics Review within one year of applying. It’s an online review, not a test.
One requirement you won’t find in most other states: the College and Career Readiness (CCR) endorsement. It was formerly called the CCR Certificate. USBE’s 2026 CCR guide says that starting in 2026-27, every Utah school counselor must hold it to be fully qualified. USBE says Utah program graduates from 2021 onward are recommended for it by their university.
If you finish an out-of-state or online program, you’ll complete the CCR components USBE requires. That includes a USBE Canvas course, on the timeline tied to your license. Full exam and CCR details are on the Utah school counselor certification page.
I’m a certified counselor from another state…
You won’t start over, but it isn’t a simple credential swap either. You’ll apply through USBE’s License Equivalency Review, and USBE decides which Utah license you receive. Expect a new Utah fingerprint background check, even if you’ve cleared one at home. You’ll also need to meet Utah’s CCR requirements within the timeframe USBE sets.
Your preparation has to meet Utah’s school counselor standards. That means a CACREP-accredited program or one that meets the Board-approved Utah standards.
License types, application steps and timelines are on our Utah school counselor certification page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do you need to be a school counselor in Utah?
USBE requires a master’s degree in school counseling, and Utah doesn’t offer an alternate pathway that skips it. Degrees and licenses in clinical mental health counseling, social work or psychology don’t qualify on their own. In-state programs need USBE approval, and out-of-state or online programs need CACREP or an accreditor meeting Utah’s standards.
How long does it take to become a school counselor in Utah?
Most people finish the master’s in two to three years, depending on full-time or part-time enrollment. Starting from high school, add a four-year bachelor’s degree. The full path typically runs six to eight years.
Can I work while completing a school counseling master’s in Utah?
For coursework, usually yes. Fieldwork is harder, because placements generally require substantial daytime availability in schools. Some students solve that by working as a counselor on an Associate Educator License while enrolled. USBE describes it as a three-year, nonrenewable license.
How many fieldwork hours do Utah school counseling programs typically require?
USBE doesn’t set a statewide hour minimum. Utah programs commonly require a 100-hour practicum followed by a 600-hour internship. Placements are typically in K-12 schools with a licensed school counselor supervising. Confirm the exact hours with your program before you enroll.
Can I use an online school counseling program to get licensed in Utah?
Yes, if it’s CACREP-accredited or accredited by another recognized body that meets Utah’s standards. USBE says verifying that is your responsibility, so check before you enroll. You’ll also complete Utah’s CCR components after graduating.
- The degree is required: USBE requires a master’s in school counseling. LPC, LCSW and clinical mental health credentials don’t qualify on their own.
- Check accreditation yourself: Out-of-state and online programs need CACREP accreditation or an accreditor meeting Utah’s standards.
- Fieldwork hours come from your program: Most Utah programs require about 100 practicum and 600 internship hours and substantial daytime availability.
- CCR endorsement required: Starting in 2026-27, USBE requires every Utah school counselor to hold it to be fully qualified.
- Steady openings: Projections Central projects about 380 Utah openings a year and 21.3% growth for 2024-2034.
Comparing programs? If you’re staying in Utah, choose a USBE-approved program, which handles your licensure recommendation. If you’re looking out of state or online, confirm accreditation before you enroll. Budget time for the CCR coursework after graduation, too.
