The PEERiodical
April - June, 2026
A Quarterly Newsletter for Peer Support Specialists. Subscribe here.
See what’s new! Explore recent announcements, program developments, resources, and other updates from our team.
New CE Training Providers – Including Spanish
Are you a Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist (CMPSS) searching for continuing education courses that will count toward your certification renewal? Check out the newly approved CalMHSA CE Training Providers on our website.
¿Hablas español y necesitas cursos de educación continua? Tenemos nuevos proveedores de educación continua. Vea la información aquí.
Fee Waiver Update
To help reduce barriers for peers seeking to obtain and maintain certification, CalMHSA is proud to offer fee waivers that cover training, application, examination, and renewal costs. Since the beginning of 2026, CalMHSA is proud to have offered more than 2000 fee waivers to cover the cost of application fee, the 80-hour Core Competency Training, exam fee, and renewal fee, helping thousands of peers advance and sustain their certification journey.
Fee waivers for certification renewal are still available. Learn more on our fee waivers web page.
Discover helpful tips, resources, and reminders to help you navigate the certification process and beyond.
Prepaid Codes
Did you receive a prepaid code to cover your certification fee? Be sure to apply it to your application during the payment step. Purchasing or receiving a prepaid code does not automatically apply it to an application. To use the code, copy and paste it into the “Prepaid Code” field in the payment section to continue the certification application process.
Are you interested in helping someone cover their certification fees? You can purchase prepaid codes to gift to an individual pursuing certification by following these steps.
Stakeholder Meetings Open to the Public
Did you know we host quarterly informational meetings that are open to the public? These virtual meetings are held four times a year and provide updates, announcements, and information about the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification Program.
You can find upcoming meeting dates and the virtual meeting link at www.calmhsa.org/peer-certification/. We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming meeting.
Stay Up to Date on Announcements
To stay informed throughout the year, we highly encourage you to bookmark our website for future opportunities and important information under our Updates & Announcements column.
Have a tech challenge? We’re here to help you navigate common issues and keep your certification journey running smoothly. Check back each quarter for simple tips to troubleshoot like a pro!
How do I find my CMPSS certificate?
Visit our website and log in to your account. Once logged in, select “My Certificate” from the left-side menu of your dashboard. Your certificate is available for download at any time as a PDF file. You can also view the step-by-step instruction guide.
I’ve had a legal name change, now what?
If you’ve had a legal name change since becoming certified as a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist, you’ll need to update your certification. You can submit an official name change request through your account. Ensuring your certification reflects your current legal name is required. If you need support with this process, please contact us .
This peer-to-peer space offers real-life wisdom from other Peer Support Specialists — real talk from peers like you can make all the difference. To share your tips, advice, or words of encouragement, email us at peercertification@calmhsa.org.
Peer Hero Spotlight
Have you seen our Peer Hero campaign? If you know a CMPSS whose work, lived experience, leadership, compassion, or commitment has positively impacted others and reflected what it means to be a Peer Support Specialist, nominate them as a Peer Hero!
Simply complete the nomination form to recognize a CMPSS in your community as a Peer Hero. Stay tuned for future newsletters to see the Peer Hero spotlights.
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