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Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Welcome to the FAQ section for our the Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification Program! Here, we address common queries to provide clarity and assistance. As the program continues to evolve and improve, please be aware that details in this FAQ section may be subject to updates. We encourage you to revisit this page periodically for the latest information. Your commitment to our Certification Program is valued, and we are here to support you in navigating any changes effectively.

Application and Program Questions

How long does it take to get certified?

The certification process can vary depending on multiple factors. However, our certification page includes a general timeline that outlines the required steps, waiting periods, and important deadlines.

Why is it important to use my full legal name?

The Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification document will be issued under the applicant’s full legal name. The legal name used on the application will be used to generate the certification. For this reason, the spelling of your full first and last legal name must be accurate. A middle name is not required, you may or may not include your middle name, but if it is included, it must match what’s on your identification.

Program staff may ask for revisions to an application when the spelling of a full legal name does not match an applicant’s attached personal identification document (e.g., driver’s license, identification card, or passport).

Program staff may also ask for revisions when the required personal identification document is unreadable, expired, or invalid. The government-issued identification must be legible and valid to qualify. Identification that has expired or is unreadable will not be accepted. The document must include a picture of the applicant to qualify.

All candidates are required to provide a valid, government-issued photo ID. The first and last name on the ID must match the name on the certification application.

What if I do not have copies of my transcripts or diploma?

The California Mental Health Services Authority has identified the following available resources:
To obtain a transcript from a California public school, you will need to contact the school directly. If the school is closed, we suggest contacting the local school district or the County Office of Education for assistance.
To obtain a transcript from a California private school, contact the school or one of its
staff directly. Contact information for private schools may be obtained from the California School Directory, or from the Private School Directory data files, which are posted on the CDE Private School web page.
If the school is closed, you may contact Parchment, which is a private company that offers transcript recovery services. Please note that there is no guarantee that these contacts will have your records.
If you are unable to obtain your high school records and you’ve tried the recommendations mentioned above, you may want to consider taking a high school
equivalency test (HSET). More information about HSETs are available on the CDE High School Equivalency Tests (HSET) web page. 

Can the requirement for high school diploma or GED be waived?

No, this is a state requirement for certification.

The certifying entity does not have the authority to issue exceptions to the educational requirement for certification. Certification requirements are set by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).

Which counties are being represented by CalMHSA for their Certification program?

CMPSS Certification is issued on behalf of participating County Behavioral Health Plans as of 06/03/2025.

  1. Alameda 
  2. Amador 
  3. Butte 
  4. Calaveras 
  5. Contra Costa 
  6. Del Norte 
  7. El Dorado 
  8. Fresno 
  9. Glenn 
  10. Humboldt 
  11. Kern 
  12. Kings 
  13. Lake 
  14. Lassen 
  15. Los Angeles 
  16. Madera 
  17. Marin 
  18. Merced 
  19. Modoc 
  20. Mono 
  21. Monterey 
  22. Napa 
  23. Nevada 
  24. Orange 
  25. Placer 
  26. Riverside 
  27. Sacramento 
  28. San Benito 
  29. San Bernardino 
  30. San Diego 
  31. San Francisco 
  32. San Joaquin 
  33. San Luis Obispo 
  34. San Mateo 
  35. Santa Barbara 
  36. Santa Clara 
  37. Santa Cruz 
  38. Shasta 
  39. Sierra 
  40. Siskiyou 
  41. Solano 
  42. Sonoma 
  43. Stanislaus 
  44. Sutter 
  45. Yuba 
  46. Tehama 
  47. Trinity 
  48. Tulare 
  49. Ventura 
  50. Yolo 

Exam & Reasonable Accommodation Requests

In what languages is the certification exam available?

The certification exam is available in 10 languages:

  • English
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese
  • Farsi
  • Hindi
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Russian
  • Vietnamese
    exam

To take the exam in another language please select the “Language” option on the exam screen at the time of scheduling the exam.a screenshot reads "select exam language" and lists all available languages.

If I do not pass my exam, can I reuse the fee waiver to take it again?

No. Fee waivers and pre-paid voucher codes cover a one-time cost for the exam. Candidates interested in retaking the exam are required to pay for an exam retake.

Where can I find information on reasonable accommodations for taking the exam?

Information on our Reasonable Accommodation policy, instructions, and the request form can be found on our Exam Accommodation page.

When do I submit my reasonable accommodation request to take the exam?

Candidates may submit a reasonable accommodation request as soon as their application is approved. 

Please visit the Accommodations Page for more information and to access the request form.

Please note that processing of accommodation requests may take up to 30 days.

Do test takers need to scan the palm of their hand?

 Yes, palm vein pattern recognition is used at in-person test centers and to re-enter the testing room after breaks.
For more information, https://home.pearsonvue.com/documents/deliver-your-exam/palm-vein.aspx.

Do test centers provide ergonomic chairs?

Yes, in-person exam centers can provide an ergonomic chair, but an accommodation request must be submitted to CalMHSA prior to scheduling the exam appointment. Please see the Exam Accommodations page for more information.

Are snacks allowed during the exam?
No. Snacks are not allowed during the exam. However, there are two ‘snack(s)’ accommodations that can be requested with the Reasonable Accommodation Request form.
  1. SNACK – Access to snack, beverage, necessary medication, or medical devices outside the testing space when approved to leave that space.
  2. SNACKS – A snack is allowed in the testing room. Must be in a small, clear plastic baggie. Exam must be delivered in a separate room.
Candidates who are NOT approved for these accommodations are not permitted to have snacks in the testing room or access their lockers, even while on break.

Certificate Renewal and Continuing Education Hours

Do I have to renew my certification?

Yes, to maintain certification, renewal is required every two years. Applicants must complete twenty (20) hours of continuing education, inclusive of six (6) hours of law and ethics training, before submitting a renewal application and paying the renewal fee. Please review our Certification Renewal & Continuing Education (CE) Requirements page for detailed information.

Do out of state CE hours count for certification renewal?

Out of state training will be accepted as long as it follows the Certification Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements and taken from approved sources such as:

  • Training courses completed through accredited schools, including vocational education.
  • Training courses by professional certification and licensing boards (i.e., CAADE, CADTP, CAMFT, BBS, APA).
How do I submit proof of my CE hours in my renewal application?

You do not need to upload proof of attendance for CE hours when renewing your certification. Instead, you will sign an attestation (a statement confirming) that you completed the minimum required CE hours. Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists are required to keep records of their CE hours for at least two years in case of an audit. For detailed information, please visit our website’s Certification Renewal page.

Where can I take my CE courses?

CEUs can be taken through CalMHSA-approved training providers, county behavioral health departments, accredited schools, professional certification licensing boards and nationally recognized organizations such as SAMHSA. For detailed information, please visit our website’s “Certification Renewal” page. 

Can CalMHSA confirm whether a course satisfies the requirements for renewal?

CalMHSA cannot review courses for approval of continuing education hours for certification renewal. Each individual is responsible for reading our guidelines and determining eligibility. For details, and a quick course checklist, visit the Continuing Education Requirements page.

How do I know if a particular provider or course is approved for renewal?

If the CE course you are interested in meets the requirements listed on our Continuing Education Requirement page, it would qualify for renewal. Our team will not be reviewing individuals’ CEs to determine eligibility, as that is the responsibility and role of the peer. This review of eligibility excludes the instance of an audit, which may be conducted at random.  

How do I renew my Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification?

You will receive an email with instructions for renewal within 90 days of your certification expiration date. For step-by-step instructions on how to renew your certification, visit the How To: Certification Renewal page.

Why did I not receive an updated certificate after renewing?

You will not receive a new certificate upon renewal; however, your certification information will be immediately updated in our system and on our website’s Registry page, where you can view the status of your certification. 

Fee Waivers

Are there fee waivers available?

Fee waivers are available for a limited time and are offered on a first-come first-first served basis. Availability is subject to change. For more information and updates regarding fee waivers and their availability, please visit: https://www.capeercertification.org/fee-waiver-2026/.

Training providers may also offer fee waivers. Please contact training providers directly to inquire about availability and eligibility.

Do fee waivers expire?

Yes. Fee waivers issued by CalMHSA expire 12-months from the date of approval or when the candidate’s certification application expires, whichever comes first.  Please log into your application to view your application expiration date.

Here are the steps to verify your expiration date: 

  1. Log into your application portal at https://app.capeercertification.org/dashboard.
  2. Navigate to “My Certification Application” on the left-hand side of the dashboard.
  3. Navigate to the Application Status box on your application to find the “Application Valid Thru” date. This is your application expiration date, and both your application and fee waiver(s) will expire on the same date. 
Can I transfer my fee waiver(s) to someone else? 

No. Fee waivers are not transferable. 

Can I get an extension for my fee waiver?

Generally speaking, there are no extensions for the fee waivers. Fee waivers issued by CalMHSA are possible due to time-limited funding. 

I received a fee waiver from my training providers/employer, do those fee waivers expire?

Fee Waiver codes purchased from CalMHSA may be verified on our fee waiver section here. For questions about fee waivers provided by your training provider or employee, we suggest contacting them for questions. 

I received a fee waiver from my employer/agency, what happens if I don’t use the fee waiver?

We kindly ask that you contact the employer/agency who issued the fee waiver to you for this question.  

How many times can I take the certification exam using the fee waiver?

The fee waiver covers a one-time cost for the exam. 

If I do not pass my exam, can I reuse the fee waiver to take it again?

No. The fee waiver covers a one-time cost for the exam. Candidates interested in retaking the exam are required to pay for an exam retake. 

How do I know what costs are covered by my fee waiver?

You can view the fee waiver type on the “Fees” page. Enter the fee waiver/prepaid code in the search bar and view the coverage it offers.

For fee waivers issued by other agencies, please contact that agency directly.  

How do I know if I was issued a fee waiver?

CalMHSA fee waivers are available upon request at the time of payment, if funding is available. Candidates can select the “Apply for Fee Waiver” button when prompted to pay. If funds are available, the fee waiver will automatically be applied to the application.

Additionally, you can log into your application and see the status of your application and fee waiver.

I received a fee waiver from CalMHSA and have taken my training, how do I schedule my exam?

Candidates must log into their application and upload a copy of their training certificate. CalMHSA will review the training certificate and email you with information on next steps within 30 days from the time the certificate was uploaded. Please monitor your email regularly for updates.

CDCR Questions

My family member is currently incarcerated. How do I know if they passed their exam?

For confidentiality purposes, CalMHSA is unable to disclose information regarding an applicant’s status to anyone other than the applicant.

There is a public registry of Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists that individuals are added to after successfully passing the exam. Please note that it may take 7–14 days after passing the exam for an individual to appear in the registry.

How do I apply if I took my training while incarcerated?

You will need to create an account and application to be eligible for the exam. You can find information on the application process on the “How to Apply” page. 

I obtained my certification while incarcerated. Do I need to do anything now that I am no longer in a carceral setting?

Congratulations on obtaining your certification! Please reach out to the team at PeerCertification@calmhsa.org so we can update your account information. 

Where do I find my educational documents from when I was incarcerated?

People formerly incarcerated at CDCR or DJJ can request a copy of their education transcripts online. Please visit https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/rehabilitation/request-transcripts-and-certificates/ for more information. 

Training Provider Questions

Can CalMHSA-approved training provider facilitators receive CEs for training they facilitate?

YES! CalMHSA allows each training to be used as a one-time credit towards the training provider CEs for certification renewal.

How do I apply to become a CalMHSA-approved training provider?

Please see our Become A Training Provider page and apply during the appropriate training type open cycle.

Does my curriculum need to be ready before I apply to become a training provider?

Yes, we expect all policies/procedures and curriculum to be ready at the time of application submission.