CALMHSA MEDI-CAL PEER SUPPORT CERTIFICATION
EXAM 200 ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALE LATEST 2026 ALREADY GRADED A+
This comprehensive study guide features 200 unique, exam-style multiple-
choice questions with detailed rationales covering all essential topics for the
CalMHSA Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification exam. Key areas
include certification eligibility requirements (age, education, lived experience),
the 17 core competencies established by DHCS, the four specialization areas
(Parent/Caregiver/Family Member, Crisis Care, Unhoused, Justice Involved),
the 80-hour training curriculum, the 120-question Pearson VUE exam, Code
of Ethics requirements, continuing education (20 hours every 2 years,
including 6 hours of law and ethics), certification renewal, lapsed and expired
status, reciprocity for out-of-state applicants, and the roles of CalMHSA,
DHCS, and county programs in administering the certification process.
1. Which entity is currently the sole Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification
program for all opt-in counties in California?
A) Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)
B) California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA)
C) California Behavioral Health Directors' Association
D) Pearson VUE
Answer: B
Rationale: CalMHSA is the sole Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification
program for all counties opting in to provide Medi-Cal Peer Support Services in
California. DHCS sets the standards, but CalMHSA administers the certification
process .
2. What is the minimum age requirement to become a certified Medi-Cal Peer
Support Specialist?
A) 16 years old
B) 18 years old
C) 21 years old
D) 25 years old
,Answer: B
Rationale: According to Welfare and Institutions Code 14045.15, applicants must
be at least 18 years of age to qualify for Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist
certification .
3. A Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification is considered "lapsed" when it
is not renewed by the renewal due date. How long does a certification remain in
lapsed status before becoming "expired"?
A) 30 days
B) 6 months
C) 1 year
D) 2 years
Answer: C
Rationale: A certification is considered lapsed if not renewed by the renewal due
date and remains lapsed for up to one year. After one year, it becomes "expired" .
4. How many hours of continuing education (CE) must a Medi-Cal Peer Support
Specialist complete every two years to maintain certification?
A) 10 hours
B) 15 hours
C) 20 hours
D) 30 hours
Answer: C
Rationale: Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists must complete 20 hours of
continuing education every two years .
5. How many of the 20 required continuing education hours must be specifically in
law and ethics?
A) 2 hours
B) 3 hours
C) 6 hours
D) 8 hours
Answer: C
Rationale: The 20 hours of continuing education must include 6 hours specifically
focused on law and ethics .
6. What is the total duration of the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification
exam?
A) 1 hour
B) 2 hours
,C) 2.5 hours
D) 3 hours
Answer: C
Rationale: The PSSC Examination is a 2.5-hour proctored exam .
7. How many questions are on the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification
exam?
A) 80
B) 100
C) 120
D) 150
Answer: C
Rationale: The certification exam consists of 120 multiple-choice questions .
8. How many times can a candidate retake the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist
Certification exam within a 12-month approved timeframe?
A) Once
B) Twice
C) Three times
D) Unlimited
Answer: C
Rationale: Candidates are allowed to retake the examination up to three times in
the 12-month approved timeframe .
9. What is the "Grandparenting" process in the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist
certification?
A) The process by which training providers are approved
B) The process by which individuals employed as peers on or before January 1,
2022, may seek certification
C) The process by which out-of-state peers can get certified
D) The process by which CE hours are approved
Answer: B
Rationale: The grandparenting process allowed individuals employed as peers on
or before January 1, 2022, to seek certification if they met eligibility criteria .
10. Which of the following is NOT one of the four specialization areas for Medi-
Cal Peer Support Specialists?
A) Parent, Caregiver, Family Member Peer
B) Peer Services in Crisis Care
C) Peer Services for Veterans
, D) Peer Services for Justice Involved
Answer: C
Rationale: The four specialization areas are Parent/Caregiver/Family Member Peer,
Peer Services in Crisis Care, Peer Services for Unhoused, and Peer Services for
Justice Involved .
11. What are the 8 areas of focus for the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist
Certification exam?
A) Administrative, Behavioral Health, Interpersonal, Recovery, Advocacy,
Community, Resources, Crisis
B) Clinical, Medical, Legal, Financial, Social, Educational, Vocational, Spiritual
C) Administrative, Clinical, Legal, Recovery, Advocacy, Family, Resources, Crisis
D) Behavioral Health, Interpersonal, Recovery, Advocacy, Community Inclusion,
Resource Linkage, Crisis Management, Administrative Responsibilities
Answer: D
Rationale: The exam assesses knowledge based on 17 core competencies within 8
areas of focus: Administrative Responsibilities, Behavioral Health Foundations,
Interpersonal Skills, Recovery Support, Advocacy, Community Inclusion,
Resource Linkage, and Crisis Management .
12. Is passing the DHCS-approved certification exam a requirement for Medi-Cal
Peer Support Specialist certification?
A) No, work experience alone is sufficient
B) Yes, applicants must pass a DHCS-approved exam
C) Yes, but only for out-of-state applicants
D) No, only if the applicant has a GED
Answer: B
Rationale: Applicants must pass a certification exam approved by DHCS to receive
certification. The law (W&I Code 14045.15) explicitly requires this .
13. Can an applicant use life experience or work experience in place of a GED or
equivalent degree?
A) Yes, if they have 5+ years of experience
B) Yes, if they pass the exam
C) No, a GED or equivalent is required
D) Yes, if they are over 25 years old
Answer: C
Rationale: Per W&I Code 14045.15, applicants must have a General Education
Development (GED) or equivalent degree to qualify. Life or work experience
cannot replace this requirement .
EXAM 200 ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALE LATEST 2026 ALREADY GRADED A+
This comprehensive study guide features 200 unique, exam-style multiple-
choice questions with detailed rationales covering all essential topics for the
CalMHSA Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification exam. Key areas
include certification eligibility requirements (age, education, lived experience),
the 17 core competencies established by DHCS, the four specialization areas
(Parent/Caregiver/Family Member, Crisis Care, Unhoused, Justice Involved),
the 80-hour training curriculum, the 120-question Pearson VUE exam, Code
of Ethics requirements, continuing education (20 hours every 2 years,
including 6 hours of law and ethics), certification renewal, lapsed and expired
status, reciprocity for out-of-state applicants, and the roles of CalMHSA,
DHCS, and county programs in administering the certification process.
1. Which entity is currently the sole Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification
program for all opt-in counties in California?
A) Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)
B) California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA)
C) California Behavioral Health Directors' Association
D) Pearson VUE
Answer: B
Rationale: CalMHSA is the sole Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification
program for all counties opting in to provide Medi-Cal Peer Support Services in
California. DHCS sets the standards, but CalMHSA administers the certification
process .
2. What is the minimum age requirement to become a certified Medi-Cal Peer
Support Specialist?
A) 16 years old
B) 18 years old
C) 21 years old
D) 25 years old
,Answer: B
Rationale: According to Welfare and Institutions Code 14045.15, applicants must
be at least 18 years of age to qualify for Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist
certification .
3. A Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification is considered "lapsed" when it
is not renewed by the renewal due date. How long does a certification remain in
lapsed status before becoming "expired"?
A) 30 days
B) 6 months
C) 1 year
D) 2 years
Answer: C
Rationale: A certification is considered lapsed if not renewed by the renewal due
date and remains lapsed for up to one year. After one year, it becomes "expired" .
4. How many hours of continuing education (CE) must a Medi-Cal Peer Support
Specialist complete every two years to maintain certification?
A) 10 hours
B) 15 hours
C) 20 hours
D) 30 hours
Answer: C
Rationale: Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists must complete 20 hours of
continuing education every two years .
5. How many of the 20 required continuing education hours must be specifically in
law and ethics?
A) 2 hours
B) 3 hours
C) 6 hours
D) 8 hours
Answer: C
Rationale: The 20 hours of continuing education must include 6 hours specifically
focused on law and ethics .
6. What is the total duration of the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification
exam?
A) 1 hour
B) 2 hours
,C) 2.5 hours
D) 3 hours
Answer: C
Rationale: The PSSC Examination is a 2.5-hour proctored exam .
7. How many questions are on the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification
exam?
A) 80
B) 100
C) 120
D) 150
Answer: C
Rationale: The certification exam consists of 120 multiple-choice questions .
8. How many times can a candidate retake the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist
Certification exam within a 12-month approved timeframe?
A) Once
B) Twice
C) Three times
D) Unlimited
Answer: C
Rationale: Candidates are allowed to retake the examination up to three times in
the 12-month approved timeframe .
9. What is the "Grandparenting" process in the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist
certification?
A) The process by which training providers are approved
B) The process by which individuals employed as peers on or before January 1,
2022, may seek certification
C) The process by which out-of-state peers can get certified
D) The process by which CE hours are approved
Answer: B
Rationale: The grandparenting process allowed individuals employed as peers on
or before January 1, 2022, to seek certification if they met eligibility criteria .
10. Which of the following is NOT one of the four specialization areas for Medi-
Cal Peer Support Specialists?
A) Parent, Caregiver, Family Member Peer
B) Peer Services in Crisis Care
C) Peer Services for Veterans
, D) Peer Services for Justice Involved
Answer: C
Rationale: The four specialization areas are Parent/Caregiver/Family Member Peer,
Peer Services in Crisis Care, Peer Services for Unhoused, and Peer Services for
Justice Involved .
11. What are the 8 areas of focus for the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist
Certification exam?
A) Administrative, Behavioral Health, Interpersonal, Recovery, Advocacy,
Community, Resources, Crisis
B) Clinical, Medical, Legal, Financial, Social, Educational, Vocational, Spiritual
C) Administrative, Clinical, Legal, Recovery, Advocacy, Family, Resources, Crisis
D) Behavioral Health, Interpersonal, Recovery, Advocacy, Community Inclusion,
Resource Linkage, Crisis Management, Administrative Responsibilities
Answer: D
Rationale: The exam assesses knowledge based on 17 core competencies within 8
areas of focus: Administrative Responsibilities, Behavioral Health Foundations,
Interpersonal Skills, Recovery Support, Advocacy, Community Inclusion,
Resource Linkage, and Crisis Management .
12. Is passing the DHCS-approved certification exam a requirement for Medi-Cal
Peer Support Specialist certification?
A) No, work experience alone is sufficient
B) Yes, applicants must pass a DHCS-approved exam
C) Yes, but only for out-of-state applicants
D) No, only if the applicant has a GED
Answer: B
Rationale: Applicants must pass a certification exam approved by DHCS to receive
certification. The law (W&I Code 14045.15) explicitly requires this .
13. Can an applicant use life experience or work experience in place of a GED or
equivalent degree?
A) Yes, if they have 5+ years of experience
B) Yes, if they pass the exam
C) No, a GED or equivalent is required
D) Yes, if they are over 25 years old
Answer: C
Rationale: Per W&I Code 14045.15, applicants must have a General Education
Development (GED) or equivalent degree to qualify. Life or work experience
cannot replace this requirement .
