NBHWC TEST | NATIONAL BOARD FOR
HEALTH & WELLNESS COACHING
(NBHWC) EXAM PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+ UPDATE 2026
A 54-year-old man is on his ninth coaching session and has been
working with a coach to manage his overall stress. He has made
steady progress each week incorporating several stress
management techniques such as deep breathing, keeping a
consistent morning schedule, and doing more enjoyable things on
the weekend such as reading. During his ninth session, he
indicates he is having trouble concentrating and doesn't feel like
eating much. When you ask how his reading on the weekends is
going to help manage his stress he indicates that reading is not
that fun for him anymore.
Which of the following is the appropriate next step for the coach?
a. Help the client explore other options for incorporating enjoyable
things on the weekend.
b. Refer the client to a mental health professional
c. Explore reasons why he may be having trouble concentrating
d. Reframe the situation and note all the amazing progress he has
made.
e. Affirm the client's strengths
,B
In session 2, the coach and the client decide to explore the
client's vision of his/her optimal health.
Coach: Have you ever thought about what your future might look
like?
Client: No not really.
Coach: What is your understanding about creating a vision?
Client: It's like setting some goals for the future.
Coach: It's kinda like that but more just creating a picture in your
head of what something may look like that you want to create for
yourself. Do you want to create a vision for your future health?
Client: That sounds good.
Coach: I would like you to close your eyes and sit quietly for a
minute. After a minute, I am going to guide you through an activity
where we look toward the future and try to visualize what that
looks like.
Client: So I keep my eyes closed the whole time?
Coach: Yep. I just want you to try to see in your mind what the
future might look like.
Client: O.K.
Coach: Are you ready and comfortable?
Client: Yes.
Which part of the above conversation exemplifies the coach
approach of honoring the client's autonomy. (Muth, 76)
,A. Exploring creating a vision during the second session
B. Asking permission to do the visualization activity
C. Asking open-ended questions
D. Guiding the visualization activity.
B
A client came to her first session, from their providers office, with
a list of their biometrics.
Blood pressure: 118/72mmHg
LDL: 175 mg/dl
Waist-to-hip ratio: 0.95
Physical activity: yoga, 60-minutes 3x per week and running, 30-
minutes 5x per week
A1C: 5.0%
Which of the following is most concerning as it increases her risk
for a heart attack?
A. Blood pressure
B. Cholesterol
C. Waist-to-hip ratio
D. Physical activity level
E. A1C
B
A 29-year-old man comes to his 4th coaching session ready to
discuss the progress he has made on getting more sleep overall
in the past two weeks. The following conversation ensues:
Client: I knocked my first goal out of the park.
, Coach: What does that feel like; knocking a goal out of the park?
Client: It feels incredible! I got 8 hours of sleep each day last
week. I slept 4 hours each night and the. Was able to sneak in
several power naps throughout the day and since they were
power naps they added up to an additional 4 hours.
Coach: Do you mean you took several naps the next day after
sleep 4 hours the night before and those naps totaled an
additional 4 hours.
Client: Yep! I took a 1.5 hour nap at 10am and then a quick 30
minute power nap at 2pm which counts for double the time since
it was a power nap and then another nap at 5pm for about 1.5
hours.
Coach: You can't do that. We know from sleep science
researchers that it is best if the 8 hours of sleep is continuous for
the most part. You need to try to sleep 8 hours in a row.
Client: Oh. So it doesn't even count then. Shoot, I totally thought I
made my goal.
What aspect of the conversation above would NOT be considered
the coach approach?
A. Asking what meeting the goal felt like
B. Not asking permission before giving advice
C. Talking 3 times as much as the client
D. Asking clarifying questions
B
A 40 year old man comes to the coach's office for his 11th session
to help him reach his goal of getting more and higher quality
HEALTH & WELLNESS COACHING
(NBHWC) EXAM PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+ UPDATE 2026
A 54-year-old man is on his ninth coaching session and has been
working with a coach to manage his overall stress. He has made
steady progress each week incorporating several stress
management techniques such as deep breathing, keeping a
consistent morning schedule, and doing more enjoyable things on
the weekend such as reading. During his ninth session, he
indicates he is having trouble concentrating and doesn't feel like
eating much. When you ask how his reading on the weekends is
going to help manage his stress he indicates that reading is not
that fun for him anymore.
Which of the following is the appropriate next step for the coach?
a. Help the client explore other options for incorporating enjoyable
things on the weekend.
b. Refer the client to a mental health professional
c. Explore reasons why he may be having trouble concentrating
d. Reframe the situation and note all the amazing progress he has
made.
e. Affirm the client's strengths
,B
In session 2, the coach and the client decide to explore the
client's vision of his/her optimal health.
Coach: Have you ever thought about what your future might look
like?
Client: No not really.
Coach: What is your understanding about creating a vision?
Client: It's like setting some goals for the future.
Coach: It's kinda like that but more just creating a picture in your
head of what something may look like that you want to create for
yourself. Do you want to create a vision for your future health?
Client: That sounds good.
Coach: I would like you to close your eyes and sit quietly for a
minute. After a minute, I am going to guide you through an activity
where we look toward the future and try to visualize what that
looks like.
Client: So I keep my eyes closed the whole time?
Coach: Yep. I just want you to try to see in your mind what the
future might look like.
Client: O.K.
Coach: Are you ready and comfortable?
Client: Yes.
Which part of the above conversation exemplifies the coach
approach of honoring the client's autonomy. (Muth, 76)
,A. Exploring creating a vision during the second session
B. Asking permission to do the visualization activity
C. Asking open-ended questions
D. Guiding the visualization activity.
B
A client came to her first session, from their providers office, with
a list of their biometrics.
Blood pressure: 118/72mmHg
LDL: 175 mg/dl
Waist-to-hip ratio: 0.95
Physical activity: yoga, 60-minutes 3x per week and running, 30-
minutes 5x per week
A1C: 5.0%
Which of the following is most concerning as it increases her risk
for a heart attack?
A. Blood pressure
B. Cholesterol
C. Waist-to-hip ratio
D. Physical activity level
E. A1C
B
A 29-year-old man comes to his 4th coaching session ready to
discuss the progress he has made on getting more sleep overall
in the past two weeks. The following conversation ensues:
Client: I knocked my first goal out of the park.
, Coach: What does that feel like; knocking a goal out of the park?
Client: It feels incredible! I got 8 hours of sleep each day last
week. I slept 4 hours each night and the. Was able to sneak in
several power naps throughout the day and since they were
power naps they added up to an additional 4 hours.
Coach: Do you mean you took several naps the next day after
sleep 4 hours the night before and those naps totaled an
additional 4 hours.
Client: Yep! I took a 1.5 hour nap at 10am and then a quick 30
minute power nap at 2pm which counts for double the time since
it was a power nap and then another nap at 5pm for about 1.5
hours.
Coach: You can't do that. We know from sleep science
researchers that it is best if the 8 hours of sleep is continuous for
the most part. You need to try to sleep 8 hours in a row.
Client: Oh. So it doesn't even count then. Shoot, I totally thought I
made my goal.
What aspect of the conversation above would NOT be considered
the coach approach?
A. Asking what meeting the goal felt like
B. Not asking permission before giving advice
C. Talking 3 times as much as the client
D. Asking clarifying questions
B
A 40 year old man comes to the coach's office for his 11th session
to help him reach his goal of getting more and higher quality
