Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist (CalMHSA) Exam Prep
2025/2026 | Updated Study Guide & Practice Questions
Adult - correct answeran individual who is 18 years of age or older.
Advocacy - correct answerinvolves providing patients and caregivers with the necessary
support and education to empower them to make informed decisions about their
healthcare journey. Advocates act as allies, ensuring that individuals feel supported and
guided, making their experience within the healthcare system as smooth and positive as
possible.
Beneficiary/Recipient - correct answeran individual who receives peer services through
a Medi-Cal program.
California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) - correct answerthe certifying
entity approved by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to certify
Peer Support Specialists, Peer Support Specialist training entities and Peer Support
Specialist continuing education providers.
Certification - correct answerindicates an individual has met the certification standards
for Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist.
Certifying Entity - correct answerindicates CalMHSA, the organization selected by
California counties, with a plan approved by the
Department of Health Care Services, to certify Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists and
approve training providers.
Code of Ethics - correct answera set of guidelines a certified Medi-Cal Peer Support
Specialist in California adheres to around their roles and responsibilities and levels of
responsibility in which they function professionally.
Consumer - correct answera person who is receiving mental health and/or substance
use disorder (behavioral health services) in a public county behavioral health delivery
system.
Continued Education - correct answerthe education a professional receives to further
develop their professional knowledge around best practices, updated laws and/or
specialized training.
Core Competencies - correct answerminimum knowledge base necessary to perform
role or job activities as a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist in California.
County Reciprocity - correct answerthe recognition of certified Medi-Cal Peer Support
Specialists by public county behavioral health plans.
,Culturally Appropriate Services - correct answera certified Medi-Cal Peer Support
Specialist is promoting engagement in a manner that best aligns with the cultural beliefs
and practices of the person they serve.
Dual Relationship - correct answera Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist's non-therapeutic
relationship with a recipient of care. It includes any activity identified as not allowed
within the Code of Ethics.
Grandparenting Process - correct answerthe process by which an individual who is
employed as a Peer on January 1, 2022, or prior to that date, is eligible to seek
certification as a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist so long as they meet the eligibility
criteria and successfully pass the state-approved exam (ended 6/30/2023).
Initial Certification - correct answerthe process for an applicant to become certified as a
Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist for the first time so long as they meet the eligibility
criteria and successfully pass the state-approved exam.
Lived Experience - correct answeran individual's first-hand experience with a mental
health and/or substance use challenges, including the process of recovery and
engagement of resiliency within that experience.
Medi-Cal - correct answerCalifornia's Medicaid health care program that includes a
variety of medical services for children and adults with a qualifying income or medical
condition.
Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist - correct answeran individual who is 18 years of age
or older, who has self-identified as having lived experience with the process of recovery
from mental illness, substance use disorder, or both, either as a consumer of these
services or as a parent or family member of the consumer, and who has been granted
certification under a county Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification program.
Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Services - correct answerculturally appropriate
services that promote engagement, socialization, recovery, self-sufficiency, self-
advocacy, development of natural supports and identification of strengths. Medi-Cal
Peer Support Specialist services include, but are not limited to, prevention services,
support, coaching, facilitation or education that is individualized and is conducted by a
certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist.
Natural Supports - correct answerthe personal connections to an individual's community
that enhances the quality of their life.
Out-of-State Reciprocity - correct answerthe recognition that an individual has received
certification for peer support from another state and they meet the qualifications
specified under the policies in this document.
, Peer - correct answerpersons who share similar understanding of experiences with
mental health and/or substance use challenges.
Peer Support Specialist - correct answerthis term is used interchangeably with Medi-Cal
Peer Support Specialist within the context of
this document.
Prevalent Languages - correct answera non-English language identified by the
California Department of Health Care Services as a threshold language under the
state's Medi-Cal programs.
Renewal - correct answermeeting 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 - correct answerprocess 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 - correct answeran individual's capacity to successfully meet life's
challenges, nurtured to have a sense of self- determination, mastery, and hope.
S
Self-advocacy - correct answerthe ability of an individual to effectively communicate,
convey, negotiate or assert his or her own interests, desires, needs and rights; it
involves making informed decisions and taking responsibility for those decisions.
Training Entity - correct answeran organization that has received approval from the
certifying entity to provide training for the Medi- Cal Peer Support Specialist certification
program.
Trauma Focused - correct answermaintaining 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 - correct answera certificate that is active, in good standing, and is not
expired, suspended, revoked or inactive.
Wellness - correct answerthe 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.
Practice Examination Questions
Administration Responsibilities - correct answer
2025/2026 | Updated Study Guide & Practice Questions
Adult - correct answeran individual who is 18 years of age or older.
Advocacy - correct answerinvolves providing patients and caregivers with the necessary
support and education to empower them to make informed decisions about their
healthcare journey. Advocates act as allies, ensuring that individuals feel supported and
guided, making their experience within the healthcare system as smooth and positive as
possible.
Beneficiary/Recipient - correct answeran individual who receives peer services through
a Medi-Cal program.
California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) - correct answerthe certifying
entity approved by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to certify
Peer Support Specialists, Peer Support Specialist training entities and Peer Support
Specialist continuing education providers.
Certification - correct answerindicates an individual has met the certification standards
for Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist.
Certifying Entity - correct answerindicates CalMHSA, the organization selected by
California counties, with a plan approved by the
Department of Health Care Services, to certify Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists and
approve training providers.
Code of Ethics - correct answera set of guidelines a certified Medi-Cal Peer Support
Specialist in California adheres to around their roles and responsibilities and levels of
responsibility in which they function professionally.
Consumer - correct answera person who is receiving mental health and/or substance
use disorder (behavioral health services) in a public county behavioral health delivery
system.
Continued Education - correct answerthe education a professional receives to further
develop their professional knowledge around best practices, updated laws and/or
specialized training.
Core Competencies - correct answerminimum knowledge base necessary to perform
role or job activities as a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist in California.
County Reciprocity - correct answerthe recognition of certified Medi-Cal Peer Support
Specialists by public county behavioral health plans.
,Culturally Appropriate Services - correct answera certified Medi-Cal Peer Support
Specialist is promoting engagement in a manner that best aligns with the cultural beliefs
and practices of the person they serve.
Dual Relationship - correct answera Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist's non-therapeutic
relationship with a recipient of care. It includes any activity identified as not allowed
within the Code of Ethics.
Grandparenting Process - correct answerthe process by which an individual who is
employed as a Peer on January 1, 2022, or prior to that date, is eligible to seek
certification as a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist so long as they meet the eligibility
criteria and successfully pass the state-approved exam (ended 6/30/2023).
Initial Certification - correct answerthe process for an applicant to become certified as a
Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist for the first time so long as they meet the eligibility
criteria and successfully pass the state-approved exam.
Lived Experience - correct answeran individual's first-hand experience with a mental
health and/or substance use challenges, including the process of recovery and
engagement of resiliency within that experience.
Medi-Cal - correct answerCalifornia's Medicaid health care program that includes a
variety of medical services for children and adults with a qualifying income or medical
condition.
Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist - correct answeran individual who is 18 years of age
or older, who has self-identified as having lived experience with the process of recovery
from mental illness, substance use disorder, or both, either as a consumer of these
services or as a parent or family member of the consumer, and who has been granted
certification under a county Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification program.
Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Services - correct answerculturally appropriate
services that promote engagement, socialization, recovery, self-sufficiency, self-
advocacy, development of natural supports and identification of strengths. Medi-Cal
Peer Support Specialist services include, but are not limited to, prevention services,
support, coaching, facilitation or education that is individualized and is conducted by a
certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist.
Natural Supports - correct answerthe personal connections to an individual's community
that enhances the quality of their life.
Out-of-State Reciprocity - correct answerthe recognition that an individual has received
certification for peer support from another state and they meet the qualifications
specified under the policies in this document.
, Peer - correct answerpersons who share similar understanding of experiences with
mental health and/or substance use challenges.
Peer Support Specialist - correct answerthis term is used interchangeably with Medi-Cal
Peer Support Specialist within the context of
this document.
Prevalent Languages - correct answera non-English language identified by the
California Department of Health Care Services as a threshold language under the
state's Medi-Cal programs.
Renewal - correct answermeeting 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 - correct answerprocess 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 - correct answeran individual's capacity to successfully meet life's
challenges, nurtured to have a sense of self- determination, mastery, and hope.
S
Self-advocacy - correct answerthe ability of an individual to effectively communicate,
convey, negotiate or assert his or her own interests, desires, needs and rights; it
involves making informed decisions and taking responsibility for those decisions.
Training Entity - correct answeran organization that has received approval from the
certifying entity to provide training for the Medi- Cal Peer Support Specialist certification
program.
Trauma Focused - correct answermaintaining 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 - correct answera certificate that is active, in good standing, and is not
expired, suspended, revoked or inactive.
Wellness - correct answerthe 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.
Practice Examination Questions
Administration Responsibilities - correct answer
