IC&RC PEER RECOVERY EXAMINATION CANDIDATE GUIDE |
CERTIFICATION PREP 2026 COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM –
DOMAIN-BASED QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES
DOMAIN 1: ADVOCACY
1. A Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) notices that a peer is being denied housing
because their landlord "does not accept tenants with a methadone
prescription." What is the most ethical action?
A. Advise the peer to stop taking methadone to get the apartment
B. Confront the landlord directly with legal threats
C. Provide the peer with information on fair housing laws and disability rights
D. Tell the peer to hide their prescription from the landlord
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Advocacy involves empowering the peer with information and
resources so they can practice self-advocacy rather than creating dependency. Fair
housing laws protect individuals taking prescribed methadone as a disability
accommodation .
2. Helping a peer fill out a job application, practice interview skills, and call
potential employers is an example of:
A. Clinical therapy
B. Instrumental support
C. Emotional support only
D. Affiliational support
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Instrumental (or tangible) support involves providing concrete, hands-
on assistance to help peers accomplish specific tasks. This differs from emotional
support, which focuses on feelings and encouragement .
,3. A PRS connects a peer to a local NA meeting and drives them on the first day
to help reduce anxiety. This is primarily:
A. Mentoring
B. Advocacy
C. Recovery coaching
D. Case management
CORRECT ANSWER: A
Rationale: Mentoring involves role modeling, sharing lived experience, and
helping peers navigate social situations to build sober social networks. The PRS is
actively guiding the peer into a recovery community .
4. A peer wants to vote but does not have a state ID or know where their polling
place is. The PRS helps them obtain an ID and look up voting locations. This is an
example of:
A. Clinical intervention
B. Systems advocacy
C. Case management only
D. Medical referral
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Systems advocacy involves helping individuals navigate complex
systems (voting, IDs, government services) to access their rights and entitlements.
This goes beyond individual support to address systemic barriers .
5. According to SAMHSA, which of the following is one of the four dimensions of
recovery?
A. Employment status
B. Home (stable and safe housing)
C. Legal compliance
D. Medical treatment completion
CORRECT ANSWER: B
, Rationale: SAMHSA's four dimensions of recovery are Health, Home, Purpose, and
Community. "Home" specifically refers to a stable and safe place to live .
6. A peer is struggling to find a job because of a past felony conviction. The
specialist helps the peer practice how to discuss their recovery during an
interview. This is an example of:
A. Vocational counseling
B. Skill building and empowerment
C. Legal representation
D. Clinical therapy
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Teaching interview skills and helping peers frame their recovery
narrative is an empowering approach. The PRS builds the peer's capacity to
advocate for themselves rather than doing it for them .
7. A PRS notices that local bus routes do not connect to the nearest outpatient
treatment center. The PRS organizes a community meeting and testifies before
the transit authority. This is:
A. Exceeding the scope of practice
B. Individual advocacy
C. Systems-level advocacy
D. An ethical violation
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Systems-level advocacy focuses on changing policies, laws, or systems
that create barriers to recovery. Working with the transit authority addresses a
systemic transportation barrier affecting many peers .
8. When a peer expresses interest in a recovery pathway that the specialist
personally disagrees with, the most appropriate action is to:
A. Explain why that pathway is ineffective based on personal experience
B. Redirect the peer to a pathway the specialist knows is successful
C. Support the peer's autonomy in choosing their own recovery path
D. Consult a clinical supervisor to override the peer's decision
CERTIFICATION PREP 2026 COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM –
DOMAIN-BASED QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES
DOMAIN 1: ADVOCACY
1. A Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) notices that a peer is being denied housing
because their landlord "does not accept tenants with a methadone
prescription." What is the most ethical action?
A. Advise the peer to stop taking methadone to get the apartment
B. Confront the landlord directly with legal threats
C. Provide the peer with information on fair housing laws and disability rights
D. Tell the peer to hide their prescription from the landlord
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Advocacy involves empowering the peer with information and
resources so they can practice self-advocacy rather than creating dependency. Fair
housing laws protect individuals taking prescribed methadone as a disability
accommodation .
2. Helping a peer fill out a job application, practice interview skills, and call
potential employers is an example of:
A. Clinical therapy
B. Instrumental support
C. Emotional support only
D. Affiliational support
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Instrumental (or tangible) support involves providing concrete, hands-
on assistance to help peers accomplish specific tasks. This differs from emotional
support, which focuses on feelings and encouragement .
,3. A PRS connects a peer to a local NA meeting and drives them on the first day
to help reduce anxiety. This is primarily:
A. Mentoring
B. Advocacy
C. Recovery coaching
D. Case management
CORRECT ANSWER: A
Rationale: Mentoring involves role modeling, sharing lived experience, and
helping peers navigate social situations to build sober social networks. The PRS is
actively guiding the peer into a recovery community .
4. A peer wants to vote but does not have a state ID or know where their polling
place is. The PRS helps them obtain an ID and look up voting locations. This is an
example of:
A. Clinical intervention
B. Systems advocacy
C. Case management only
D. Medical referral
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Systems advocacy involves helping individuals navigate complex
systems (voting, IDs, government services) to access their rights and entitlements.
This goes beyond individual support to address systemic barriers .
5. According to SAMHSA, which of the following is one of the four dimensions of
recovery?
A. Employment status
B. Home (stable and safe housing)
C. Legal compliance
D. Medical treatment completion
CORRECT ANSWER: B
, Rationale: SAMHSA's four dimensions of recovery are Health, Home, Purpose, and
Community. "Home" specifically refers to a stable and safe place to live .
6. A peer is struggling to find a job because of a past felony conviction. The
specialist helps the peer practice how to discuss their recovery during an
interview. This is an example of:
A. Vocational counseling
B. Skill building and empowerment
C. Legal representation
D. Clinical therapy
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Teaching interview skills and helping peers frame their recovery
narrative is an empowering approach. The PRS builds the peer's capacity to
advocate for themselves rather than doing it for them .
7. A PRS notices that local bus routes do not connect to the nearest outpatient
treatment center. The PRS organizes a community meeting and testifies before
the transit authority. This is:
A. Exceeding the scope of practice
B. Individual advocacy
C. Systems-level advocacy
D. An ethical violation
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Systems-level advocacy focuses on changing policies, laws, or systems
that create barriers to recovery. Working with the transit authority addresses a
systemic transportation barrier affecting many peers .
8. When a peer expresses interest in a recovery pathway that the specialist
personally disagrees with, the most appropriate action is to:
A. Explain why that pathway is ineffective based on personal experience
B. Redirect the peer to a pathway the specialist knows is successful
C. Support the peer's autonomy in choosing their own recovery path
D. Consult a clinical supervisor to override the peer's decision
