All candidates are required to fill out an application to take the certification exam. Click the Login/Register button above!
About the Certification Exam
The Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification exam is offered only by CalMHSA. To apply to become a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist, please select the ‘Register/Login’ button above to register an account and follow the application process to become eligible to take the exam.
The Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Exam is a 2.5-hour, 120-item multiple-choice exam. The exam is offered through live–online proctoring or in-person testing centers in California. The online exam is delivered through Pearson VUE’s online delivery system called OnVUE.
Approved candidates are authorized to take the certification exam up to three (3) times during the 12-month approval period. Each retake of the certification exam requires a new retake request and associated fees must be submitted on the CalMHSA certification website. You will be notified by CalMHSA on the status of your request. Please note CalMHSA’s processing time is up to 30-days from date of request.
Please visit Fee Schedule page for Exam fees.
Exam Development
As the certifying entity, CalMHSA is responsible for the development of the state-approved Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification Exam.
It is our policy to administer a valid, reliable, and sound examination. To assist with this process, CalMHSA contracted with the Human Resources Research Organization (HumRRO) for the development of a reliable Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification exam.
With input from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) identified by CalMHSA, and the community, HumRRO began by drafting a Knowledge and Job Skills statement list use to evaluate the job skills of peer workers. HumRRO facilitated a focus group the SMEs to gather feedback on the knowledge and job skills statements and additional information about the job-related responsibilities for peer workers. That feedback was used to create the Job Task Analysis Survey. The survey was launched to collect importance and frequency ratings of knowledge and job skills from Peer Supporters throughout California. Then, in a workshop with SMEs, HumRRO reviewed the aggregate survey ratings with SMEs and came to an agreement on the relative importance of job-related activity and finalized the information to guide the exam blueprint. This exam blueprint was the basis for the items and job knowledge items in the certification exam.