§ 58-60-506 — Qualifications for licensure.

(1) Subject to Subsection (2), an applicant for licensure as master addiction counselor based on education, training, and experience shall:
(1)(a) submit an application on a form the division approves;
(1)(b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 63J-1-504;
(1)(c) document successful completion of not less than two hours of training in suicide prevention obtained after completion of the education requirements under Subsection (1)(d) via a course that the division designates as approved;
(1)(d) produce a certified transcript from an accredited institution of higher education that meets standards established by division rule under Section 58-1-203, verifying the satisfactory completion of:
(1)(d)(i) a doctoral or master's degree in:
(1)(d)(i)(A) substance use disorders or addiction counseling and treatment; or
(1)(d)(i)(B) a counseling subject approved by the division in collaboration with the board, which may include social work, mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychology, or medicine;
(1)(d)(ii) an associate's degree or higher, or 18 credit hours, in substance use disorder or addiction counseling and treatment from a regionally accredited institution of higher education;
(1)(e) if required under federal law for any licensee as a master addiction counselor to qualify as an eligible professional under CMS rules for Medicare payment, document completion of:
(1)(e)(i) not less than 3,000 hours of clinical supervision, which includes hours accrued under Subsection (1)(g); or
(1)(e)(ii) not less than two years of clinical supervision;
(1)(f) document successful completion of not less than 1,200 direct client care hours:
(1)(f)(i) obtained after completion of the education requirements under Subsection (1)(d)(ii);
(1)(f)(ii) subject to Subsection (1)(f)(iii), not less than 100 of which are direct clinical supervision hours under the supervision of a clinical supervisor;
(1)(f)(iii) not less than 25 of which are direct observation hours; and
(1)(f)(iv) not more than 25 of which are group supervision hours concurrently with more than one other applicant for licensure;
(1)(g) if the applicant for licensure produces a transcript described in Subsection (1)(d)(ii), evidence completion of an additional 200 hours of direct client care hours in substance use disorder or addiction treatment;
(1)(h) (1)(h)(i) pass the examination requirement the division establishes by rule under Section 58-1-203; or
(1)(h)(ii) satisfy the following requirements:
(1)(h)(ii)(A) document at least one examination attempt that did not result in a passing score;
(1)(h)(ii)(B) document successful completion of not less than 500 additional direct client care hours, not less than 25 of which are direct clinical supervision hours, and not less than five of which are direct observation hours by a clinical supervisor;
(1)(h)(ii)(C) submit to the division a recommendation letter from the applicant's direct clinical supervisor; and
(1)(h)(ii)(D) submit to the division a recommendation letter from another licensed mental health therapist who has directly observed the applicant's direct client care hours and who is not the applicant's direct clinical supervisor; and
(1)(i) (1)(i)(i) consent to, and complete, a criminal background check, described in Section 58-1-301.5;
(1)(i)(ii) meet any other standard related to the criminal background check described in Subsection (1)(i)(i), that the division establishes by rule in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act; and
(1)(i)(iii) disclose any criminal history the division requests on a form the division approves.
(2) In lieu of the requirements under Subsections (1)(d) through (i), an applicant for licensure as master addiction counselor may document current certification in good standing as:
(2)(a) a master addiction counselor by the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals;
(2)(b) a master addiction counselor by the National Board for Certified Counselors; or
(2)(c) an equivalent certification as under Subsections (2)(a) and (b), as determined in rule made by the division in collaboration with the board.
(3) An applicant for licensure as an associate master addiction counselor shall satisfy the requirements under Subsections (1)(a) through (c) and (i).
(4) Subject to Subsection (5), an applicant for licensure as an advanced substance use disorder counselor shall:
(4)(a) submit an application on a form the division approves;
(4)(b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 63J-1-504; and
(4)(c) (4)(c)(i) produce certified transcripts verifying satisfactory completion of:
(4)(c)(i)(A) a bachelor's degree or higher, from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning, in substance use disorders, addiction, or related counseling subjects, including social work, mental health counseling, marriage and family counseling, or psychology; or
(4)(c)(i)(B) two academic years of study in a master's of addiction counseling curriculum and practicum approved by the National Addictions Studies Accreditation Commission;
(4)(c)(ii) document completion of at least 500 hours of supervised experience while licensed as a substance use disorder counselor under this section, which the applicant may complete while completing the education requirements under Subsection (1)(c)(i); and
(4)(c)(iii) satisfy examination requirements established by the division in rule.
(5) An applicant for licensure as an advanced substance use disorder counselor may satisfy the requirements of Subsection (4)(c) by providing official verification of current certification in good standing:
(5)(a) (5)(a)(i) as a National Certified Addiction Counselor Level II (NCAC II) from the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP); or
(5)(a)(ii) as an Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (AADC), from the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium; or
(5)(b) of substantive equivalence to the certifications under Subsection (5)(a), as determined by division rule made in consultation with the board.
(6) In accordance with division rules, an applicant for licensure as a substance use disorder counselor shall produce:
(6)(a) certified transcripts from an accredited institution that:
(6)(a)(i) meet division standards; and
(6)(a)(ii) verify the completion of prerequisite courses established by division rules; and
(6)(b) documentation of the applicant's completion of a substance use disorder education program that includes:
(6)(b)(i) completion of at least 200 hours of substance use disorder related education;
(6)(b)(ii) included in the 200 hours described in Subsection (6)(b)(i), a minimum of two hours of training in suicide prevention via a course that the division designates as approved; and
(6)(b)(iii) completion of a supervised practicum of at least 200 hours.

Legislative History

Amended by Chapter 213, 2025 General Session; Amended by Chapter 443, 2025 General Session