CALMHSA Peer Support Certification Exam
Questions and Answers
Question 1
A peer, who has been to multiple substance use treatment facilities, asks their Peer
Support Specialist if a
specific program worked for them. What is an appropriate response for the Peer
Support Specialist to give?
A. Tell the peer about Narcotics Anonymous as it is the only way to stay sober in their
wellness journey.
B. Share what worked for the Peer Support Specialist while mentioning there are
multiple pathways to
recovery.
C. Ask what their substance of choice is so the Peer Support Specialist can decide
what facility would be
bes
Correct Answer
B. Share what worked for the Peer Support Specialist while mentioning there are
multiple pathways to
recovery.
Question 2
A consumer is seeking assistance in combating stigma through self-advocacy. What
action would the Peer
Support Specialist take?
A. Encourage the consumer to rely solely on support groups for empowerment.
B. Speak on behalf of the consumer without involving them in the process.
C. Work with the consumer to develop confidence in speaking up for themself.
Correct Answer
C. Work with the consumer to develop confidence in speaking up for themself.
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,Question 3
A consumer would like to support a neighborhood rally but has anxiety about
attending. They believe their
anxiety would not be an issue if they were accompanied by their Peer Support
Specialist. What action would
the Peer Support Specialist take?
A. Recommend the consumer practice breathing exercises.
B. Suggest the consumer stay home to avoid overstimulation.
C. Inform the consumer it is not worth the effort of people's time.
D. Participate in the activity as requested by the consumer.
Correct Answer
D. Participate in the activity as requested by the consumer.
Question 4
The consumer discloses a past trauma during their intake and asks for mental health
assistance. How should
the Peer Support Specialist respond?
A. Acknowledge the courage to openly share to gain better understanding of need.
B. Document the information shared and follow mandated reporting procedures.
C. Continue the intake process and report the information to the appropriate
treatment team member.
Correct Answer
A. Acknowledge the courage to openly share to gain better understanding of need.
Question 5
A consumer is frustrated because several different service providers are not
communicating well when it
comes to their care. How can the Peer Support Specialist support this consumer?
A. Encourage the consumer to request a team meeting so all staff can connect.
B. Assure the consumer that this lack of communication happens all the time.
C. Advise the consumer to change their therapist and psychiatrist.
D. Write a formal complaint to management on behalf of the consumer.
Correct Answer
A. Encourage the consumer to request a team meeting so all staff can connect.
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,Question 6
A consumer expresses they want to give the Peer Support Specialist a gift to show
their appreciation for the
help they have received. How would the Peer Support Specialist respond?
A. Accept the consumer's present if the purchased item is less than $25.
B. Ask the consumer to instead consider donating to a relevant charity.
C. Thank the consumer for their thoughtfulness before declining the gift.
D. Tell the consumer that is unnecessary since they are just doing their job.
Correct Answer
C. Thank the consumer for their thoughtfulness before declining the gift.
Question 7
A consumer has been spending the last few weeks joking around and not taking
group seriously. How would
the Peer Support Specialist support the consumer?
A. Tell the consumer this is not a laughing matter.
B. Request to be reassigned to a different consumer.
C. Encourage the consumer to look into a profession as a comedian.
D. Continue to stay focused on the consumer's recovery goals.
Correct Answer
D. Continue to stay focused on the consumer's recovery goals.
Question 8
A Peer Support Specialist works at an inpatient psychiatric unit. What is the purpose
of a Peer Support
Specialist self-disclosing their lived experience to a consumer in this setting?
A. Normalize their symptoms.
B. Encourage their compliance.
C. Inspire hope and possibility.
Correct Answer
C. Inspire hope and possibility.
Page 3 of 111
, Question 9
A consumer tells a Peer Support Specialist that they are struggling to create a plan for
managing future
behavioral health crises. What action would the Peer Support Specialist take to
support the consumer?
A. Refer the consumer to resources that can help with their planning.
B. Suggest the consumer visit their health care provider to create a plan.
C. Help the consumer come up with a plan together.
D. Create a plan for the consumer without assistance from them.
Correct Answer
C. Help the consumer come up with a plan together.
Question 10
A consumer with a history of depression tells the Peer Support Specialist they are
starting to experience
symptoms of an oncoming depressive episode. What action would the Peer Support
Specialist take to
support the consumer?
A. Advise consumer to speak to their doctor.
B. Share what medications for depression worked for the Peer Support Specialist.
C. Call the consumer's family for additional support.
D. Ask the consumer to think about what may be causing them to feel that way.
Correct Answer
A. Advise consumer to speak to their doctor.
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Questions and Answers
Question 1
A peer, who has been to multiple substance use treatment facilities, asks their Peer
Support Specialist if a
specific program worked for them. What is an appropriate response for the Peer
Support Specialist to give?
A. Tell the peer about Narcotics Anonymous as it is the only way to stay sober in their
wellness journey.
B. Share what worked for the Peer Support Specialist while mentioning there are
multiple pathways to
recovery.
C. Ask what their substance of choice is so the Peer Support Specialist can decide
what facility would be
bes
Correct Answer
B. Share what worked for the Peer Support Specialist while mentioning there are
multiple pathways to
recovery.
Question 2
A consumer is seeking assistance in combating stigma through self-advocacy. What
action would the Peer
Support Specialist take?
A. Encourage the consumer to rely solely on support groups for empowerment.
B. Speak on behalf of the consumer without involving them in the process.
C. Work with the consumer to develop confidence in speaking up for themself.
Correct Answer
C. Work with the consumer to develop confidence in speaking up for themself.
Page 1 of 111
,Question 3
A consumer would like to support a neighborhood rally but has anxiety about
attending. They believe their
anxiety would not be an issue if they were accompanied by their Peer Support
Specialist. What action would
the Peer Support Specialist take?
A. Recommend the consumer practice breathing exercises.
B. Suggest the consumer stay home to avoid overstimulation.
C. Inform the consumer it is not worth the effort of people's time.
D. Participate in the activity as requested by the consumer.
Correct Answer
D. Participate in the activity as requested by the consumer.
Question 4
The consumer discloses a past trauma during their intake and asks for mental health
assistance. How should
the Peer Support Specialist respond?
A. Acknowledge the courage to openly share to gain better understanding of need.
B. Document the information shared and follow mandated reporting procedures.
C. Continue the intake process and report the information to the appropriate
treatment team member.
Correct Answer
A. Acknowledge the courage to openly share to gain better understanding of need.
Question 5
A consumer is frustrated because several different service providers are not
communicating well when it
comes to their care. How can the Peer Support Specialist support this consumer?
A. Encourage the consumer to request a team meeting so all staff can connect.
B. Assure the consumer that this lack of communication happens all the time.
C. Advise the consumer to change their therapist and psychiatrist.
D. Write a formal complaint to management on behalf of the consumer.
Correct Answer
A. Encourage the consumer to request a team meeting so all staff can connect.
Page 2 of 111
,Question 6
A consumer expresses they want to give the Peer Support Specialist a gift to show
their appreciation for the
help they have received. How would the Peer Support Specialist respond?
A. Accept the consumer's present if the purchased item is less than $25.
B. Ask the consumer to instead consider donating to a relevant charity.
C. Thank the consumer for their thoughtfulness before declining the gift.
D. Tell the consumer that is unnecessary since they are just doing their job.
Correct Answer
C. Thank the consumer for their thoughtfulness before declining the gift.
Question 7
A consumer has been spending the last few weeks joking around and not taking
group seriously. How would
the Peer Support Specialist support the consumer?
A. Tell the consumer this is not a laughing matter.
B. Request to be reassigned to a different consumer.
C. Encourage the consumer to look into a profession as a comedian.
D. Continue to stay focused on the consumer's recovery goals.
Correct Answer
D. Continue to stay focused on the consumer's recovery goals.
Question 8
A Peer Support Specialist works at an inpatient psychiatric unit. What is the purpose
of a Peer Support
Specialist self-disclosing their lived experience to a consumer in this setting?
A. Normalize their symptoms.
B. Encourage their compliance.
C. Inspire hope and possibility.
Correct Answer
C. Inspire hope and possibility.
Page 3 of 111
, Question 9
A consumer tells a Peer Support Specialist that they are struggling to create a plan for
managing future
behavioral health crises. What action would the Peer Support Specialist take to
support the consumer?
A. Refer the consumer to resources that can help with their planning.
B. Suggest the consumer visit their health care provider to create a plan.
C. Help the consumer come up with a plan together.
D. Create a plan for the consumer without assistance from them.
Correct Answer
C. Help the consumer come up with a plan together.
Question 10
A consumer with a history of depression tells the Peer Support Specialist they are
starting to experience
symptoms of an oncoming depressive episode. What action would the Peer Support
Specialist take to
support the consumer?
A. Advise consumer to speak to their doctor.
B. Share what medications for depression worked for the Peer Support Specialist.
C. Call the consumer's family for additional support.
D. Ask the consumer to think about what may be causing them to feel that way.
Correct Answer
A. Advise consumer to speak to their doctor.
Page 4 of 111
