MEDI-CAL PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST
CALMHSA EXAM 2025/2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
Adult - ANS an individual who is 18 years of age or older.
Advocacy - ANS involves 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 - ANS an individual who receives peer services through a Medi-Cal
program.
California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) - ANS the 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 - ANS indicates an individual has met the certification standards for Medi-Cal
Peer Support Specialist.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Certifying Entity - ANS indicates 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 - ANS a 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 - ANS a person who is receiving mental health and/or substance use disorder
(behavioral health services) in a public county behavioral health delivery system.
Continued Education - ANS the education a professional receives to further develop their
professional knowledge around best practices, updated laws and/or specialized training.
Core Competencies - ANS minimum knowledge base necessary to perform role or job
activities as a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist in California.
County Reciprocity - ANS the recognition of certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists by
public county behavioral health plans.
Culturally Appropriate Services - ANS a 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 - ANS a 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.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Grandparenting Process - ANS the 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 - ANS the 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 - ANS an 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 - ANS California'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 - ANS an 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 - ANS culturally 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 - ANS the personal connections to an individual's community that enhances
the quality of their life.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
CALMHSA EXAM 2025/2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
Adult - ANS an individual who is 18 years of age or older.
Advocacy - ANS involves 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 - ANS an individual who receives peer services through a Medi-Cal
program.
California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) - ANS the 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 - ANS indicates an individual has met the certification standards for Medi-Cal
Peer Support Specialist.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Certifying Entity - ANS indicates 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 - ANS a 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 - ANS a person who is receiving mental health and/or substance use disorder
(behavioral health services) in a public county behavioral health delivery system.
Continued Education - ANS the education a professional receives to further develop their
professional knowledge around best practices, updated laws and/or specialized training.
Core Competencies - ANS minimum knowledge base necessary to perform role or job
activities as a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist in California.
County Reciprocity - ANS the recognition of certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists by
public county behavioral health plans.
Culturally Appropriate Services - ANS a 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 - ANS a 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.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Grandparenting Process - ANS the 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 - ANS the 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 - ANS an 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 - ANS California'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 - ANS an 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 - ANS culturally 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 - ANS the personal connections to an individual's community that enhances
the quality of their life.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
