(1) An applicant for licensure as a clinical mental health counselor shall:

1. (a) submit an application on a form the division approves;
2. (b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 63J-1-504;

3. (c) produce certified transcripts evidencing completion of:

   1. (i) a master's or doctorate degree conferred to the applicant in:

      1. (A) clinical mental health counseling, clinical rehabilitation counseling, counselor education and supervision from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; or
      2. (B) clinical mental health counseling or an equivalent field from a program affiliated with an institution that has accreditation that is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; and
   2. (ii) at least 60 semester credit hours or 90 quarter credit hours of coursework related to an educational program described in Subsection (1)(c)(i);

4. (d) if required under federal law for any licensee as a clinical mental health counselor to qualify as an eligible professional under CMS rules for Medicare payment, document completion of:

   1. (i) not less than 3,000 hours of clinical supervision, which includes hours accrued under Subsection (1)(e); or
   2. (ii) not less than two years of clinical supervision;

5. (e) document successful completion of not less than 1,200 direct client care hours:

   1. (i) obtained after completion of the education requirements under Subsection (1)(c);
   2. (ii) subject to Subsection (1)(e)(iii), not less than 100 of which are direct clinical supervision hours under the supervision of a clinical supervisor;
   3. (iii) not less than 25 of which are direct observation hours; and
   4. (iv) not more than 25 of which are group supervision hours concurrently with more than one other applicant for licensure;
6. (f) document successful completion of not less than two hours of training in suicide prevention obtained after completion of the education requirements under Subsection (1)(c) via a course that the division designates as approved;

7. (g)

   1. (i) pass the examination requirement the division establishes by rule under Section 58-1-203; or

   2. (ii) satisfy the following requirements:

      1. (A) document at least one examination attempt that did not result in a passing score;
      2. (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;
      3. (C) submit to the division a recommendation letter from the applicant's direct clinical supervisor; and
      4. (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

8. (h)

   1. (i) consent to, and complete, a criminal background check, described in Section 58-1-301.5;
   2. (ii) meet any other standard related to the criminal background check described in Subsection (1)(h)(i), that the division establishes by rule in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act; and
   3. (iii) disclose any criminal history the division requests on a form the division approves.

(3) Notwithstanding Subsection (1)(c), an applicant satisfies the education requirement described in Subsection (1)(c) if the applicant submits documentation verifying:

1. (a) satisfactory completion of a doctoral or master's degree from an educational program in rehabilitation counseling accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs;
2. (b) satisfactory completion of at least 60 semester credit hours or 90 quarter credit hours of coursework related to an educational program described in Subsection (1)(c)(i); and

3. (c) that the applicant received a passing score that is valid and in good standing on:

   1. (i) the National Counselor Examination; and
   2. (ii) the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination.