Certified Health Coach (NBC-HWC) Practice
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2025 Q&A
| Instant Download Pdf
1. A health coach primarily helps clients by:
A. Giving detailed medical treatment plans
B. Diagnosing barriers and prescribing solutions
C. Facilitating self-discovery and behavior change
D. Tracking vital signs and evaluating disease states
Answer: C
Health coaches support self-directed change, not medical treatment
or diagnosis.
2. Motivational interviewing is best described as:
A. A confrontational approach to encourage compliance
B. Guiding clients to resolve ambivalence
C. Providing persuasive arguments for behavior change
D. A directive method for correcting inappropriate behaviors
Answer: B
Motivational interviewing helps clients explore and resolve
ambivalence regarding change.
3. A coach asks, “What strengths helped you overcome challenges
in the past?” This is an example of:
A. Closed questioning
B. Agenda setting
C. Strengths-based coaching
D. Directive coaching
,Answer: C
Strengths-based coaching highlights clients’ past successes to
support new behavior change.
4. The “O” in the OARS framework stands for:
A. Objectives
B. Open-ended questions
C. Options
D. Outcomes
Answer: B
OARS includes Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflections, and
Summaries.
5. A client says, “I want to exercise more but I’m always tired.” This
is an example of:
A. Change talk
B. Sustain talk
C. Summarizing
D. Goal attainment
Answer: B
Sustain talk expresses resistance or reasons not to change.
6. The primary purpose of a coaching agreement is to:
A. Outline the coach’s preferred behavior-change model
B. Establish roles, responsibilities, and boundaries
C. Provide legal authorization to give health advice
D. Ensure medical compliance
Answer: B
, The coaching agreement clarifies expectations and boundaries for the
relationship.
7. Which of the following best demonstrates reflective listening?
A. “Why didn’t you try harder?”
B. “Tell me more about that.”
C. “So you’re feeling discouraged because progress is slow.”
D. “You should set a better goal.”
Answer: C
Reflection involves restating or paraphrasing client meaning and
emotion.
8. SMART goals should be:
A. Short, Meaningful, Actionful, Reasonable, Timed
B. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound
C. Strategic, Motivational, Active, Realistic, Tested
D. Simple, Marketable, Affordable, Reliable, Timed
Answer: B
SMART goals help clients create clear, measurable plans for behavior
change.
9. A coach’s primary ethical responsibility is to:
A. Ensure clients comply with physician recommendations
B. Operate within their scope and maintain confidentiality
C. Correct unhealthy behaviors immediately
D. Monitor medical conditions
Answer: B
Ethics emphasize scope of practice and confidentiality.
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2025 Q&A
| Instant Download Pdf
1. A health coach primarily helps clients by:
A. Giving detailed medical treatment plans
B. Diagnosing barriers and prescribing solutions
C. Facilitating self-discovery and behavior change
D. Tracking vital signs and evaluating disease states
Answer: C
Health coaches support self-directed change, not medical treatment
or diagnosis.
2. Motivational interviewing is best described as:
A. A confrontational approach to encourage compliance
B. Guiding clients to resolve ambivalence
C. Providing persuasive arguments for behavior change
D. A directive method for correcting inappropriate behaviors
Answer: B
Motivational interviewing helps clients explore and resolve
ambivalence regarding change.
3. A coach asks, “What strengths helped you overcome challenges
in the past?” This is an example of:
A. Closed questioning
B. Agenda setting
C. Strengths-based coaching
D. Directive coaching
,Answer: C
Strengths-based coaching highlights clients’ past successes to
support new behavior change.
4. The “O” in the OARS framework stands for:
A. Objectives
B. Open-ended questions
C. Options
D. Outcomes
Answer: B
OARS includes Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflections, and
Summaries.
5. A client says, “I want to exercise more but I’m always tired.” This
is an example of:
A. Change talk
B. Sustain talk
C. Summarizing
D. Goal attainment
Answer: B
Sustain talk expresses resistance or reasons not to change.
6. The primary purpose of a coaching agreement is to:
A. Outline the coach’s preferred behavior-change model
B. Establish roles, responsibilities, and boundaries
C. Provide legal authorization to give health advice
D. Ensure medical compliance
Answer: B
, The coaching agreement clarifies expectations and boundaries for the
relationship.
7. Which of the following best demonstrates reflective listening?
A. “Why didn’t you try harder?”
B. “Tell me more about that.”
C. “So you’re feeling discouraged because progress is slow.”
D. “You should set a better goal.”
Answer: C
Reflection involves restating or paraphrasing client meaning and
emotion.
8. SMART goals should be:
A. Short, Meaningful, Actionful, Reasonable, Timed
B. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound
C. Strategic, Motivational, Active, Realistic, Tested
D. Simple, Marketable, Affordable, Reliable, Timed
Answer: B
SMART goals help clients create clear, measurable plans for behavior
change.
9. A coach’s primary ethical responsibility is to:
A. Ensure clients comply with physician recommendations
B. Operate within their scope and maintain confidentiality
C. Correct unhealthy behaviors immediately
D. Monitor medical conditions
Answer: B
Ethics emphasize scope of practice and confidentiality.
