CALMHSA MEDI-CAL PEER SUPPORT ACTUAL EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
adult - an individual who is 18 years of age or older
prevalent languages - a non-English language identified by the California Department of
Health Care Services as a threshold language under the state's Medi-Cal programs.
recertification - meeting the requirements set forth in this policy for renewal of one's
Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification. The recertification occurs in two-year
intervals.
recovery - a process of change through which individuals improve their health and
wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential. This process of
change recognizes cultural diversity and inclusion and honors the different routes to
resilience and recovery based on the individual and their cultural community.
resiliency - an individual's capacity to successfully meet life's challenges, nurtured to
have a sense of self-determination, mastery and hope.
training entity - an organization that has received approval from the Certifying Entity to
provide training for the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification program.
trauma focused - maintaining awareness of the impact traumatic experiences may have
on an individual and the influence this trauma may have on the choices they make in
their life.
valid certificate - a certificate that is active, in good standing, and is not expired,
suspended, revoked or inactive.
wellness - the conscious and deliberate process of creating and adapting patterns of
behavior that lead to improved health in the following dimensions: emotional, financial,
social, spiritual, educational/occupational, physical, intellectual, and environmental.
What is the goal of the harm reduction model for substance use challenges? - Key:
Decreased overdose risk and improved access to systems of care
KSA Dimension: 2. Behavioral Health Foundations
KSA: 2.4. Be familiar with recovery approaches and peer support techniques specific to
individuals with substance use challenges.
Rationale: The key is correct because per the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA), research has demonstrated that a harm reduction
approach for individuals with substance use challenges substantially reduces the risk of
overdose death and promotes linkages to care.
, 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? - Key:
Continue to stay focused on the consumer's recovery goals.
KSA Dimension: 3. Interpersonal Skills
KSA: 3.5. Practice self-awareness to ensure that the individual's resiliency and recovery
remain the focal point of the peer support relationship.
Rationale: This is the best option as it refocuses on the consumer's needs and wants.
A consumer is frustrated because several difference service providers are not
communicating well when it comes to their care. How can the Peer Support Specialist
support this consumer? - Key: Encourage the consumer to request a team meeting so
all staff can connect.
KSA Dimension: 4. Recovery Support
KSA: 4.11. Provide individuals with tools or knowledge to support a self-driven
perspective in collaboration with other service providers.
Rationale: This option encourages consumer to self-advocate for their needs and wants
with their care team.
A consumer tells a Peer Support Specialist that they have a lot of situational stress that
is not a result of their diagnosis. What action would the Peer Support Specialist take in
supporting the consumer? - Key: Assist the consumer in developing a wellness plan to
address their concerns.
KSA Dimension: 4. Recovery Support
KSA: 4.6. Utilize specific tools and models (e.g., harm reduction, mindfulness) to assist
individuals in creating their own wellness and recovery plans.
Rationale: This is a correct response because it utilizes a specific model to help the
consumer build the right tools to use in the scenario.
A Peer Support Specialist is working with a consumer with severe mental illness who
has been in inpatient treatment for several months. Prior to a treatment team meeting,
the consumer says to the Peer Support Specialist, "I don't know why I'm even going.
They are just going to keep me here anyway." Which action would the Peer Support
Specialist take to encourage self-advocacy? - Key: Model an effective action by sharing
a time when the Peer Support Specialist assertively communicated their own needs and
desires.
KSA Dimension: 5. Advocacy
KSA: 5.1. Promote self-advocacy to help individuals establish personal needs, goals,
and objectives as their focal points of rehabilitation, resiliency, recovery, and wellness.
Rationale: The correct answer differentiates itself from other distractors because it is
directly related to competency 2 (the role of advocacy). Here, the peer specialist is
modeling self-advocacy through social learning by directly stating how they self-
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
adult - an individual who is 18 years of age or older
prevalent languages - a non-English language identified by the California Department of
Health Care Services as a threshold language under the state's Medi-Cal programs.
recertification - meeting the requirements set forth in this policy for renewal of one's
Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification. The recertification occurs in two-year
intervals.
recovery - a process of change through which individuals improve their health and
wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential. This process of
change recognizes cultural diversity and inclusion and honors the different routes to
resilience and recovery based on the individual and their cultural community.
resiliency - an individual's capacity to successfully meet life's challenges, nurtured to
have a sense of self-determination, mastery and hope.
training entity - an organization that has received approval from the Certifying Entity to
provide training for the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification program.
trauma focused - maintaining awareness of the impact traumatic experiences may have
on an individual and the influence this trauma may have on the choices they make in
their life.
valid certificate - a certificate that is active, in good standing, and is not expired,
suspended, revoked or inactive.
wellness - the conscious and deliberate process of creating and adapting patterns of
behavior that lead to improved health in the following dimensions: emotional, financial,
social, spiritual, educational/occupational, physical, intellectual, and environmental.
What is the goal of the harm reduction model for substance use challenges? - Key:
Decreased overdose risk and improved access to systems of care
KSA Dimension: 2. Behavioral Health Foundations
KSA: 2.4. Be familiar with recovery approaches and peer support techniques specific to
individuals with substance use challenges.
Rationale: The key is correct because per the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA), research has demonstrated that a harm reduction
approach for individuals with substance use challenges substantially reduces the risk of
overdose death and promotes linkages to care.
, 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? - Key:
Continue to stay focused on the consumer's recovery goals.
KSA Dimension: 3. Interpersonal Skills
KSA: 3.5. Practice self-awareness to ensure that the individual's resiliency and recovery
remain the focal point of the peer support relationship.
Rationale: This is the best option as it refocuses on the consumer's needs and wants.
A consumer is frustrated because several difference service providers are not
communicating well when it comes to their care. How can the Peer Support Specialist
support this consumer? - Key: Encourage the consumer to request a team meeting so
all staff can connect.
KSA Dimension: 4. Recovery Support
KSA: 4.11. Provide individuals with tools or knowledge to support a self-driven
perspective in collaboration with other service providers.
Rationale: This option encourages consumer to self-advocate for their needs and wants
with their care team.
A consumer tells a Peer Support Specialist that they have a lot of situational stress that
is not a result of their diagnosis. What action would the Peer Support Specialist take in
supporting the consumer? - Key: Assist the consumer in developing a wellness plan to
address their concerns.
KSA Dimension: 4. Recovery Support
KSA: 4.6. Utilize specific tools and models (e.g., harm reduction, mindfulness) to assist
individuals in creating their own wellness and recovery plans.
Rationale: This is a correct response because it utilizes a specific model to help the
consumer build the right tools to use in the scenario.
A Peer Support Specialist is working with a consumer with severe mental illness who
has been in inpatient treatment for several months. Prior to a treatment team meeting,
the consumer says to the Peer Support Specialist, "I don't know why I'm even going.
They are just going to keep me here anyway." Which action would the Peer Support
Specialist take to encourage self-advocacy? - Key: Model an effective action by sharing
a time when the Peer Support Specialist assertively communicated their own needs and
desires.
KSA Dimension: 5. Advocacy
KSA: 5.1. Promote self-advocacy to help individuals establish personal needs, goals,
and objectives as their focal points of rehabilitation, resiliency, recovery, and wellness.
Rationale: The correct answer differentiates itself from other distractors because it is
directly related to competency 2 (the role of advocacy). Here, the peer specialist is
modeling self-advocacy through social learning by directly stating how they self-
