PEER RECOVERY SPECIALIST EXAM PAPER 2025/2026 QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔1.6
Believes in the importance of self-awareness and self-care :
*CPS understands the importance of self-evaluation, check-ins & self-care. They are
able to effectively engage in these activities and do so on a regular basis. - ✔✔IE.
CPS discuss & share information about self-awareness and self-care with the people
they support. They utilize self-disclosure to talk about their own self-care and how they
check-in with themselves in order to facilitate discussion of these topics with the people
they support.
✔✔1.7
Believes in lifelong learning and personal development:
* CPS recognizes that they always have the ability to continue to learn and grow. they
are interested in continuing to hone their skills, expand their education, and grow both
personally and professionally. - ✔✔IE.
CPS takes advantage of the training and educational opportunities as they arise. They
strive to ensure that any training they attend are presented with peer values in mind or
are relevant to their work in CPS. When engaging with educational opportunities that fall
out of their scope, CPS will find ways to apply the knowledge they've gained without
compromising their work or violating the CPS code of Ethics.
✔✔1.8
Believes that recovery is a foundation of well-being:
* CPS recognizes that recovery and well-being look different for everyone. They also
understand that engaging with self-defined recovery can be a solid base off of which
people can grow and develop their personal well-being. - ✔✔IE.
CPS works with people they are supporting to understand what well-being means and
looks like to each person. They discuss with them the role recovery can play as part of
wellbeing and support people in engaging with recovery if they choose
✔✔1.9
Believes that recovery is a process:
*CPS understands that recovery is non-linear and looks different for everyone. They
are able to recognize that each person will progress through recovery at their own pace
and will grow and learn through the choices they make along the way. - ✔✔IE:
CPS encourages the people they're supporting to explore and engage with recovery as
they see fit and at the pace, they set for themselves. They continue to provide support
even when they may disagree with choices being made and when setbacks may occur.
CPS support people in exploring what they can learn from setbacks and dow they can
continue to grow in their recovery in spite of them.
✔✔1.10
Believe in the healing power of healthy relationships:
,* CPS Value the impact that healthy relationships can have on people's overall health,
well-being, sense of security, etc
They validate each person's definition of what makes a relationship healthy and do not
set those parameters for one another. - ✔✔IE.
CPS works with people they're supporting in order for them to define what a healthy
relationship looks like. They support people in developing connections, establishing and
maintaining boundaries, and growing healthy relationships as defined by that person.
✔✔1.11
Believes and understands there is a range of views regarding mental health and
substance use disorder and their treatment, services, supports, and recovery.
*CPS believes in the concept of "cognitive liberty" or the ability for each person to make
meaning of their own experiences for themselves. They recognize that person's
interpretation of their own experiences is valid and do not attempt to push a specific
framework or viewpoint onto the with whom they work. - ✔✔IE.
CPS support and validate each person's unique understanding and approach to their
mental health and or substance use challenges and recovery. they also work to
challenge others' preconceived notions around these topics, engage in discussion
around the various viewpoints that exist, and advocate alongside the people they're
supporting their interpretation to be respected by everyone whom they receiving
support.
✔✔Domain 2 (indepth knowledge of Recovery) - ✔✔Domain 2: In-depth knowledge of
recovery
2.1 Knowledge of SAMHSA's definition of 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."
2.2 Knowledge of mental health and substance use disorders and their impact on
recovery
2.3 Knowledge of the basic neuroscience of mental health and addiction
2.4 Knowledge of stages of change and recovery
2.5 Knowledge that recovery and wellness involves the integration of the whole person
including spirituality; physical, vocational, and emotional health; sexuality; gender
identity; and community
2.6 Knowledge of trauma and its impact on the recovery process
2.7 Knowledge of person-centered care principles
2.8 Knowledge of strengths-based planning for recovery
2.9 Knowledge of the impact of discrimination, marginalization, and oppression
2.10 Knowledge of the impact of internalized stigma and shame
✔✔2.1
I knowledge of SAMHSA's definition of recovery:
" A process of change which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-
directed life, and strive to reach their full potential."
**CPS are familiar with SAMHSA's definition changes and grows, they stay up to date
with relevant information. - ✔✔IE.
, CPS supports the people with whom they work in engaging with the various aspects of
recovery as defined by each person. Although they are knowledgeable regarding
SAMHSA's definition of recovery, they recognize each person's individual definition of
recovery as the most important one. CPS do not force SAMHSA's recovery definition on
the people they're working with at any time
✔✔2.2
Knowledge of mental health and substance use disorders and their impact on recovery:
*CPS have at least a basic understanding of various mental health and substance use
disorder. They recognize that labeling them mental health and substance use disorder
is just one framework or method of interpreting human experiences. - ✔✔IE.
CPS are knowledgeable about mental health and substance use disorders, they hold
space for each person to make meaning of their own experiences, particularly those
who do not find the framework of diagnoses and disorders to be beneficial. they utilize
their ability to recognize the impact that living with mental health and or substance use
challenges may have on a person's recovery to support the people with whom they're
working through navigating related potential pitfalls and "setbacks".
✔✔2.3
Knowledge of the basic neuroscience of mental health and addiction.
*CPS have at least a basic understanding of neuroscience behind mental health and
substance use challenges. They also have an understanding of physiological impact
these challenges may have on the body. - ✔✔IE.
CPS shares information related to the science behind mental health and substance use
challenges with the people they're supporting when requested. They are careful not to
utilize this information to explain away behavior or invalidate the experiences of the
people they're supporting.
✔✔2.4
Knowledge of stages of change and recovery.
*CPS have a knowledge of the stages of change framework and the ability to utilize it
effectively. - ✔✔IE.
CPS are able to meet each person they're supporting in whichever stage of change that
person may be in. They are able to tailor their approach to providing support to match
the stage that each person is in. They do so while being careful not to become
prescriptive of the way they provide services based solely on which stage of change
they feel the person they're supporting may be in
✔✔2.5
CPS knowledge that recovery and wellness involve the integration of the whole person
including spirituality; physical, vocational, and emotional health; sexuality; gender
identity; and community.
* Certified Peer Specialists recognize that recovery and wellness extend far beyond
mental health and substance use challenges. They understand that recovery and
WITH ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔1.6
Believes in the importance of self-awareness and self-care :
*CPS understands the importance of self-evaluation, check-ins & self-care. They are
able to effectively engage in these activities and do so on a regular basis. - ✔✔IE.
CPS discuss & share information about self-awareness and self-care with the people
they support. They utilize self-disclosure to talk about their own self-care and how they
check-in with themselves in order to facilitate discussion of these topics with the people
they support.
✔✔1.7
Believes in lifelong learning and personal development:
* CPS recognizes that they always have the ability to continue to learn and grow. they
are interested in continuing to hone their skills, expand their education, and grow both
personally and professionally. - ✔✔IE.
CPS takes advantage of the training and educational opportunities as they arise. They
strive to ensure that any training they attend are presented with peer values in mind or
are relevant to their work in CPS. When engaging with educational opportunities that fall
out of their scope, CPS will find ways to apply the knowledge they've gained without
compromising their work or violating the CPS code of Ethics.
✔✔1.8
Believes that recovery is a foundation of well-being:
* CPS recognizes that recovery and well-being look different for everyone. They also
understand that engaging with self-defined recovery can be a solid base off of which
people can grow and develop their personal well-being. - ✔✔IE.
CPS works with people they are supporting to understand what well-being means and
looks like to each person. They discuss with them the role recovery can play as part of
wellbeing and support people in engaging with recovery if they choose
✔✔1.9
Believes that recovery is a process:
*CPS understands that recovery is non-linear and looks different for everyone. They
are able to recognize that each person will progress through recovery at their own pace
and will grow and learn through the choices they make along the way. - ✔✔IE:
CPS encourages the people they're supporting to explore and engage with recovery as
they see fit and at the pace, they set for themselves. They continue to provide support
even when they may disagree with choices being made and when setbacks may occur.
CPS support people in exploring what they can learn from setbacks and dow they can
continue to grow in their recovery in spite of them.
✔✔1.10
Believe in the healing power of healthy relationships:
,* CPS Value the impact that healthy relationships can have on people's overall health,
well-being, sense of security, etc
They validate each person's definition of what makes a relationship healthy and do not
set those parameters for one another. - ✔✔IE.
CPS works with people they're supporting in order for them to define what a healthy
relationship looks like. They support people in developing connections, establishing and
maintaining boundaries, and growing healthy relationships as defined by that person.
✔✔1.11
Believes and understands there is a range of views regarding mental health and
substance use disorder and their treatment, services, supports, and recovery.
*CPS believes in the concept of "cognitive liberty" or the ability for each person to make
meaning of their own experiences for themselves. They recognize that person's
interpretation of their own experiences is valid and do not attempt to push a specific
framework or viewpoint onto the with whom they work. - ✔✔IE.
CPS support and validate each person's unique understanding and approach to their
mental health and or substance use challenges and recovery. they also work to
challenge others' preconceived notions around these topics, engage in discussion
around the various viewpoints that exist, and advocate alongside the people they're
supporting their interpretation to be respected by everyone whom they receiving
support.
✔✔Domain 2 (indepth knowledge of Recovery) - ✔✔Domain 2: In-depth knowledge of
recovery
2.1 Knowledge of SAMHSA's definition of 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."
2.2 Knowledge of mental health and substance use disorders and their impact on
recovery
2.3 Knowledge of the basic neuroscience of mental health and addiction
2.4 Knowledge of stages of change and recovery
2.5 Knowledge that recovery and wellness involves the integration of the whole person
including spirituality; physical, vocational, and emotional health; sexuality; gender
identity; and community
2.6 Knowledge of trauma and its impact on the recovery process
2.7 Knowledge of person-centered care principles
2.8 Knowledge of strengths-based planning for recovery
2.9 Knowledge of the impact of discrimination, marginalization, and oppression
2.10 Knowledge of the impact of internalized stigma and shame
✔✔2.1
I knowledge of SAMHSA's definition of recovery:
" A process of change which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-
directed life, and strive to reach their full potential."
**CPS are familiar with SAMHSA's definition changes and grows, they stay up to date
with relevant information. - ✔✔IE.
, CPS supports the people with whom they work in engaging with the various aspects of
recovery as defined by each person. Although they are knowledgeable regarding
SAMHSA's definition of recovery, they recognize each person's individual definition of
recovery as the most important one. CPS do not force SAMHSA's recovery definition on
the people they're working with at any time
✔✔2.2
Knowledge of mental health and substance use disorders and their impact on recovery:
*CPS have at least a basic understanding of various mental health and substance use
disorder. They recognize that labeling them mental health and substance use disorder
is just one framework or method of interpreting human experiences. - ✔✔IE.
CPS are knowledgeable about mental health and substance use disorders, they hold
space for each person to make meaning of their own experiences, particularly those
who do not find the framework of diagnoses and disorders to be beneficial. they utilize
their ability to recognize the impact that living with mental health and or substance use
challenges may have on a person's recovery to support the people with whom they're
working through navigating related potential pitfalls and "setbacks".
✔✔2.3
Knowledge of the basic neuroscience of mental health and addiction.
*CPS have at least a basic understanding of neuroscience behind mental health and
substance use challenges. They also have an understanding of physiological impact
these challenges may have on the body. - ✔✔IE.
CPS shares information related to the science behind mental health and substance use
challenges with the people they're supporting when requested. They are careful not to
utilize this information to explain away behavior or invalidate the experiences of the
people they're supporting.
✔✔2.4
Knowledge of stages of change and recovery.
*CPS have a knowledge of the stages of change framework and the ability to utilize it
effectively. - ✔✔IE.
CPS are able to meet each person they're supporting in whichever stage of change that
person may be in. They are able to tailor their approach to providing support to match
the stage that each person is in. They do so while being careful not to become
prescriptive of the way they provide services based solely on which stage of change
they feel the person they're supporting may be in
✔✔2.5
CPS knowledge that recovery and wellness involve the integration of the whole person
including spirituality; physical, vocational, and emotional health; sexuality; gender
identity; and community.
* Certified Peer Specialists recognize that recovery and wellness extend far beyond
mental health and substance use challenges. They understand that recovery and
