2025 PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION EXAM | COMPLETE &
VERIFIED | FREQUENTLY TESTED QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE
SOLUTIONS (GRADED A)
8 Dimensions of Wellness according to SAMHSA - CORRECT ANSWER: Emotional,
Financial, Social, Spiritual, Occupational, Physical, Intellectual, and Environmental.
Cultural Humility Principles: - CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Lifelong commitment to
learning and critical self-reflection;
2. Desire to fix power imbalances within provider-client dynamic;
3. Institutional accountability and mutually respectful partnership based on trust.
Group Facilitation skills - CORRECT ANSWER: Peer Support Specialists can apply
basic group facilitation techniques, practice effective communication
skills and be non-judgmental. They can welcome new members and help existing
members transition
smoothly. They can encourage group sharing and disclosing using methods consistent
with the type
of group. They can support everyone in the group through good times and challenging
times
How do Peer Support Specialists create healing relationships? - CORRECT ANSWER:
Peer Support Specialists have the ability to create healing relationships based on
respect, compassion,
open and honest communication, active listening and cultural humility.
Person-Centered - CORRECT ANSWER: A person-centered approach is where the
person is placed at the center of the service and treated as a
person first.
What are co-occurring disorders? - CORRECT ANSWER: Diagnosis of two or more
disorders at the same time (dual-diagnosis) ex. Mental Health and Substance use
disorders
What are Peer Progress Notes for Medi-Cal billing? - CORRECT ANSWER: Written
documentation that describes an individual's progress toward achieving objectives that
are identified on a Care Plan.
What are the basic five stages in the recovery process? - CORRECT ANSWER: Pre-
Contemplation Not ready
Contemplation Getting ready
Preparation Ready
Action Making change
Maintenance Keeping up change
, What are the four dimensions that support recovery, according to SAMHSA? -
CORRECT ANSWER: Health, home, purpose, and community
What are the guiding principles of recovery as defined by SAMHSA? - CORRECT
ANSWER: Ten guiding principles of recovery as defined by the federal Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA).
1. Recovery emerges from hope
2. Recovery is person‐driven
3. Recovery occurs via many pathways
4. Recovery is holistic
5. Recovery is supported by peers and allies
6. Recovery is supported through relationships and social networks
7. Recovery is culturally based and influenced
8. Recovery is supported by addressing trauma
9. Recovery involves individual, family, and community strengths and responsibilities
10. Recovery is based on respect
What are the OARS tools in Motivational Interviewing? - CORRECT ANSWER: O
Open-ended questions invite others to "tell their story" in their own words without
leading them in a specific direction (as opposed to questions that can be answered yes
or no). Be cautious about asking too many questions as it can damage the peer
relationship.
A Affirmations are statements and gestures that recognize a person's strengths and
acknowledge behaviors that lead in the direction of positive change, no matter how
large or small.
R Reflections/ Reflective listening ensures that the person's words are interpreted
correctly and their inner wisdom is respected.
S Summaries are a type of reflective listening which helps to ensure that there is clear
communication between the speaker and listener. Summaries can provide a stepping
stone towards change.
Reflections/
What are Trauma-informed peer approaches? - CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Work at
healing our own trauma so that we can support others.
2. Assume that everyone has experienced trauma on some level. Use a trauma-
informed approach
with everyone.
3. Educate all staff and people being served about trauma
4. Ask "What happened to you?" rather than "What's wrong with you?"
5. Seek to understand the meaning people make of their experiences
6. Create a welcoming non-judgmental environment where people can consider new
coping
strategies
7. Give people choices, safety, and a voice and eliminate coercion
8. Honor people's culture, background, and individual needs
VERIFIED | FREQUENTLY TESTED QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE
SOLUTIONS (GRADED A)
8 Dimensions of Wellness according to SAMHSA - CORRECT ANSWER: Emotional,
Financial, Social, Spiritual, Occupational, Physical, Intellectual, and Environmental.
Cultural Humility Principles: - CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Lifelong commitment to
learning and critical self-reflection;
2. Desire to fix power imbalances within provider-client dynamic;
3. Institutional accountability and mutually respectful partnership based on trust.
Group Facilitation skills - CORRECT ANSWER: Peer Support Specialists can apply
basic group facilitation techniques, practice effective communication
skills and be non-judgmental. They can welcome new members and help existing
members transition
smoothly. They can encourage group sharing and disclosing using methods consistent
with the type
of group. They can support everyone in the group through good times and challenging
times
How do Peer Support Specialists create healing relationships? - CORRECT ANSWER:
Peer Support Specialists have the ability to create healing relationships based on
respect, compassion,
open and honest communication, active listening and cultural humility.
Person-Centered - CORRECT ANSWER: A person-centered approach is where the
person is placed at the center of the service and treated as a
person first.
What are co-occurring disorders? - CORRECT ANSWER: Diagnosis of two or more
disorders at the same time (dual-diagnosis) ex. Mental Health and Substance use
disorders
What are Peer Progress Notes for Medi-Cal billing? - CORRECT ANSWER: Written
documentation that describes an individual's progress toward achieving objectives that
are identified on a Care Plan.
What are the basic five stages in the recovery process? - CORRECT ANSWER: Pre-
Contemplation Not ready
Contemplation Getting ready
Preparation Ready
Action Making change
Maintenance Keeping up change
, What are the four dimensions that support recovery, according to SAMHSA? -
CORRECT ANSWER: Health, home, purpose, and community
What are the guiding principles of recovery as defined by SAMHSA? - CORRECT
ANSWER: Ten guiding principles of recovery as defined by the federal Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA).
1. Recovery emerges from hope
2. Recovery is person‐driven
3. Recovery occurs via many pathways
4. Recovery is holistic
5. Recovery is supported by peers and allies
6. Recovery is supported through relationships and social networks
7. Recovery is culturally based and influenced
8. Recovery is supported by addressing trauma
9. Recovery involves individual, family, and community strengths and responsibilities
10. Recovery is based on respect
What are the OARS tools in Motivational Interviewing? - CORRECT ANSWER: O
Open-ended questions invite others to "tell their story" in their own words without
leading them in a specific direction (as opposed to questions that can be answered yes
or no). Be cautious about asking too many questions as it can damage the peer
relationship.
A Affirmations are statements and gestures that recognize a person's strengths and
acknowledge behaviors that lead in the direction of positive change, no matter how
large or small.
R Reflections/ Reflective listening ensures that the person's words are interpreted
correctly and their inner wisdom is respected.
S Summaries are a type of reflective listening which helps to ensure that there is clear
communication between the speaker and listener. Summaries can provide a stepping
stone towards change.
Reflections/
What are Trauma-informed peer approaches? - CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Work at
healing our own trauma so that we can support others.
2. Assume that everyone has experienced trauma on some level. Use a trauma-
informed approach
with everyone.
3. Educate all staff and people being served about trauma
4. Ask "What happened to you?" rather than "What's wrong with you?"
5. Seek to understand the meaning people make of their experiences
6. Create a welcoming non-judgmental environment where people can consider new
coping
strategies
7. Give people choices, safety, and a voice and eliminate coercion
8. Honor people's culture, background, and individual needs
