PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION EXAM
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS – COMPLETE
STUDY GUIDE FOR 2026/2027 (SAMHSA-ALIGNED)
1. What are the 8 Dimensions of Wellness according to SAMHSA?
Correct Answer: Emotional, Financial, Social, Spiritual, Occupational,
Physical, Intellectual, and Environmental.
Rationale: The eight dimensions recognize wellness as a multidimensional
concept. Overall well-being involves emotional health, financial stability,
relationships and social connections, spirituality, meaningful work, physical
health, intellectual growth, and a safe and supportive environment.
2. What are the principles of Cultural Humility?
Correct Answer: Lifelong commitment to learning and critical self-
reflection; addressing power imbalances within the provider-client
relationship; and institutional accountability with mutually respectful
partnerships based on trust.
Rationale: Cultural humility is an ongoing process rather than a fixed level
of cultural knowledge. It requires continuous self-reflection, recognition of
power differences, openness to learning from others, and organizational
responsibility for respectful and equitable relationships.
, 3. What group facilitation skills should Peer Guidance Specialists
demonstrate?
Correct Answer: Effective communication, non-judgmental behavior,
welcoming new members, supporting transitions, encouraging appropriate
group sharing and disclosure, and guiding members through both positive
and challenging experiences.
Rationale: Effective group facilitation promotes psychological safety,
participation, respect, and productive communication. Peer Guidance
Specialists should support group interaction without dominating the group or
creating judgmental or unsafe dynamics.
4. How do Peer Guidance Specialists create healing relationships?
Correct Answer: By using respect, compassion, open and honest
communication, active listening, and cultural humility.
Rationale: Healing relationships are built through trust and respectful
interpersonal interactions. Active listening and honest communication help
individuals feel heard and understood, while compassion and cultural
humility support individualized and respectful peer relationships.
5. What is a person-centered approach?
Correct Answer: A person-centered approach places the person at the center
of services and treats the individual as a person first.
Rationale: Person-centered care focuses on the individual's needs,
preferences, values, strengths, and goals rather than defining the person
solely by a diagnosis, condition, or service need.
6. What are co-occurring conditions?
,Correct Answer: Two or more conditions occurring in the same individual
at the same time, such as a mental health condition and a substance use
condition.
Rationale: Co-occurring conditions require attention to both conditions
because they can influence one another. Recognizing both conditions
supports more comprehensive assessment, intervention, and recovery
planning.
7. What are Peer Progress Notes for Medi-Cal billing?
Correct Answer: Written documentation describing an individual's progress
toward objectives identified in an Intervention Plan.
Rationale: Progress notes provide documentation of services delivered and
the individual's progress toward established goals. Accurate documentation
supports continuity of care and appropriate billing and accountability
requirements.
8. What are the basic five stages in the healing process?
Correct Answer: Pre-contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action,
and Maintenance.
Rationale: These stages describe progression through behavioral change.
Individuals may move from not being ready to change, to considering
change, preparing for change, actively making changes, and maintaining
those changes over time.
9. What are the four dimensions that guide healing according to
SAMHSA?
Correct Answer: Health, Home, Purpose, and Community.
, Rationale: These four dimensions provide a broad framework for recovery
and wellness. They address physical and behavioral health, stable housing,
meaningful purpose, and supportive relationships and community
participation.
10. What are the guiding principles of healing as defined by
SAMHSA?
Correct Answer:
1. Healing emerges from hope.
2. Healing is person-driven.
3. Healing occurs via many pathways.
4. Healing is holistic.
5. Healing is guided by peers and allies.
6. Healing is guided through relationships and social networks.
7. Healing is culturally based and influenced.
8. Healing is guided by addressing trauma.
9. Healing involves individual, family, and community strengths and
responsibilities.
10. Healing is based on respect.
Rationale: SAMHSA's principles emphasize that healing is individualized,
multidimensional, culturally influenced, and supported by relationships,
hope, strengths, and multiple pathways. Recovery is viewed as an ongoing
process rather than a single destination.
11. What are the OARS tools in Motivational Interviewing?
Correct Answer: Open-ended questions, Affirmations,
Reflections/Reflective Listening, and Summaries.
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS – COMPLETE
STUDY GUIDE FOR 2026/2027 (SAMHSA-ALIGNED)
1. What are the 8 Dimensions of Wellness according to SAMHSA?
Correct Answer: Emotional, Financial, Social, Spiritual, Occupational,
Physical, Intellectual, and Environmental.
Rationale: The eight dimensions recognize wellness as a multidimensional
concept. Overall well-being involves emotional health, financial stability,
relationships and social connections, spirituality, meaningful work, physical
health, intellectual growth, and a safe and supportive environment.
2. What are the principles of Cultural Humility?
Correct Answer: Lifelong commitment to learning and critical self-
reflection; addressing power imbalances within the provider-client
relationship; and institutional accountability with mutually respectful
partnerships based on trust.
Rationale: Cultural humility is an ongoing process rather than a fixed level
of cultural knowledge. It requires continuous self-reflection, recognition of
power differences, openness to learning from others, and organizational
responsibility for respectful and equitable relationships.
, 3. What group facilitation skills should Peer Guidance Specialists
demonstrate?
Correct Answer: Effective communication, non-judgmental behavior,
welcoming new members, supporting transitions, encouraging appropriate
group sharing and disclosure, and guiding members through both positive
and challenging experiences.
Rationale: Effective group facilitation promotes psychological safety,
participation, respect, and productive communication. Peer Guidance
Specialists should support group interaction without dominating the group or
creating judgmental or unsafe dynamics.
4. How do Peer Guidance Specialists create healing relationships?
Correct Answer: By using respect, compassion, open and honest
communication, active listening, and cultural humility.
Rationale: Healing relationships are built through trust and respectful
interpersonal interactions. Active listening and honest communication help
individuals feel heard and understood, while compassion and cultural
humility support individualized and respectful peer relationships.
5. What is a person-centered approach?
Correct Answer: A person-centered approach places the person at the center
of services and treats the individual as a person first.
Rationale: Person-centered care focuses on the individual's needs,
preferences, values, strengths, and goals rather than defining the person
solely by a diagnosis, condition, or service need.
6. What are co-occurring conditions?
,Correct Answer: Two or more conditions occurring in the same individual
at the same time, such as a mental health condition and a substance use
condition.
Rationale: Co-occurring conditions require attention to both conditions
because they can influence one another. Recognizing both conditions
supports more comprehensive assessment, intervention, and recovery
planning.
7. What are Peer Progress Notes for Medi-Cal billing?
Correct Answer: Written documentation describing an individual's progress
toward objectives identified in an Intervention Plan.
Rationale: Progress notes provide documentation of services delivered and
the individual's progress toward established goals. Accurate documentation
supports continuity of care and appropriate billing and accountability
requirements.
8. What are the basic five stages in the healing process?
Correct Answer: Pre-contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action,
and Maintenance.
Rationale: These stages describe progression through behavioral change.
Individuals may move from not being ready to change, to considering
change, preparing for change, actively making changes, and maintaining
those changes over time.
9. What are the four dimensions that guide healing according to
SAMHSA?
Correct Answer: Health, Home, Purpose, and Community.
, Rationale: These four dimensions provide a broad framework for recovery
and wellness. They address physical and behavioral health, stable housing,
meaningful purpose, and supportive relationships and community
participation.
10. What are the guiding principles of healing as defined by
SAMHSA?
Correct Answer:
1. Healing emerges from hope.
2. Healing is person-driven.
3. Healing occurs via many pathways.
4. Healing is holistic.
5. Healing is guided by peers and allies.
6. Healing is guided through relationships and social networks.
7. Healing is culturally based and influenced.
8. Healing is guided by addressing trauma.
9. Healing involves individual, family, and community strengths and
responsibilities.
10. Healing is based on respect.
Rationale: SAMHSA's principles emphasize that healing is individualized,
multidimensional, culturally influenced, and supported by relationships,
hope, strengths, and multiple pathways. Recovery is viewed as an ongoing
process rather than a single destination.
11. What are the OARS tools in Motivational Interviewing?
Correct Answer: Open-ended questions, Affirmations,
Reflections/Reflective Listening, and Summaries.
