NBHWC Exam 2025: Complete Study Guide, Practice
Questions & Proven Strategies to Pass the National Board
for Health & Wellness Coaching Certification
Prepare for the NBHWC Exam 2025 with this complete study guide. Includes practice questions, exam
strategies, and competency-based review to help aspiring health and wellness coaches pass the National
Board for Health & Wellness Coaching Certification on their first attempt
• NBHWC exam
• NBHWC certification
• health and wellness coaching exam
• NBHWC practice test
Which of the following is the most appropriate response by the coach?
a) "How about you try a sleep study?"
b) "What could you change in your sleep environment?"
c) "Which option will you be able to sustain?"
d) "Would you be interested in hearing my ideas?" - ANSWER-c
A 63-year-old woman comes to the coach's office for her sixth session to work on weight loss. She has
type 2 diabetes, and her primary care provider wants her to lose at least 13.5 kg (30lbs). The client
describes herself as a caregiver for her family and says she has difficulty making time to exercise and
prepare nutritious meals. She says the needs of others get in the way of her action steps. Last week, she
walked for 20 minutes one day.
Which of the following is the most appropriate next step by the coach?
a) Ask the client to reflect on the time she walked
,b) Inquire about the client's support system for making changes
c) Remind the client why it is important for her to lose weight
d) Share her personal belief about the client's ability to succeed
e) Suggest the client make a more attainable action step - ANSWER-a
A 44-year-old woman speaks with the coach on the phone for her fourth session. Her goal is to transition
from her current job to start her own nutrition consulting business. During the last session, she set a goal
to contact three medical practices about her services. Today, she reports that she did not meet that goal.
When the coach explores what prevented her from meeting her goal, the client keeps referring to her
lack of marketing skills and experience. A section of their conversation is shown:
Client: I have known since the beginning that marketing my business was going to be the hardest part. I
am not comfortable putting myself out there, and I do not have any marketing experience.
Coach: It sounds like this is hard for you. You are not strong at marketing yourself yet. You are exploring
new horizons and finding your way. With each success, your belief in yourself will increase.
The coach's response best demo - ANSWER-b
A 28-year-old woman speaks with the coach on the phone for her third session. The client has a goal to
improve her health and appearance; she is not satisfied with her appearance due to weight gain. She
went through a difficult divorce five years ago which has left her feeling resentful and cautious about
relationships. She also "generally feels run down" because of work. Prior to this session, she took a
strengths assessment. Her top five strengths were fairness, creativity, integrity, humility, and prudence.
Her five lowest categories were perseverance, zest, bravery, capacity to love, and gratitude.
A 30-year-old woman speaks with the coach on the phone for her second session because she wants to
lose weight.
Which of the following is the most appropriate initial step by the coach to help the client create a vision
for optimal health?
a) Ask the client if she has ever lost weight before
b) Ask the client to begin journaling how she feels
, c) Ask the client to identify a specific goal
d) Ask the client to write down what she eats
e) Ask the client what would be possible if she lost weight - ANSWER-e
A 26-year-old man comes to the coach's office for his ninth weekly session. He was diagnosed with
metabolic syndrome 7 months ago. He has been working earnestly on his goal to decrease his BMI from
32 kg/m2 to less than 27 kg/m2. He made steady progress in the first 7 weeks, but his weight has
plateaued during the past 2 weeks. The client decided to further decrease his caloric intake by 200
calories daily. When the coach assesses the client's confidence about decreasing his caloric intake this
week, using a 10-point scale, in which 0 is "not at all confident" and 10 is "extremely confident", the
client rates his confidence a 6.
Which of the following is the most appropriate next step by the coach?
a) Brainstorm alternative actions for the client to achieve continued weight loss
b) Explore with the client what it would take to increase his confidence
c) Inquire about the client's accountability plan
d) Inquire if t - ANSWER-b
A 49-year-old woman speaks with the coach on the phone for her third session to improve her sleep
habits. Together, they have brainstormed steps she can take to improve her quality of sleep. A section of
their conversation is shown:
Coach: You have come up with some great options.
Client: Yes, I am surprised there are so many. I have already tried a few.
Coach: What did you find the most helpful?
Client: Waking without an alarm was nice, but I have to get up for work. Turning off electronics earlier
was difficult, but I saw the benefits. Establishing a routine bedtime was not as hard as I thought it would
be.
Which of the following is the most appropriate approach for this client?
Questions & Proven Strategies to Pass the National Board
for Health & Wellness Coaching Certification
Prepare for the NBHWC Exam 2025 with this complete study guide. Includes practice questions, exam
strategies, and competency-based review to help aspiring health and wellness coaches pass the National
Board for Health & Wellness Coaching Certification on their first attempt
• NBHWC exam
• NBHWC certification
• health and wellness coaching exam
• NBHWC practice test
Which of the following is the most appropriate response by the coach?
a) "How about you try a sleep study?"
b) "What could you change in your sleep environment?"
c) "Which option will you be able to sustain?"
d) "Would you be interested in hearing my ideas?" - ANSWER-c
A 63-year-old woman comes to the coach's office for her sixth session to work on weight loss. She has
type 2 diabetes, and her primary care provider wants her to lose at least 13.5 kg (30lbs). The client
describes herself as a caregiver for her family and says she has difficulty making time to exercise and
prepare nutritious meals. She says the needs of others get in the way of her action steps. Last week, she
walked for 20 minutes one day.
Which of the following is the most appropriate next step by the coach?
a) Ask the client to reflect on the time she walked
,b) Inquire about the client's support system for making changes
c) Remind the client why it is important for her to lose weight
d) Share her personal belief about the client's ability to succeed
e) Suggest the client make a more attainable action step - ANSWER-a
A 44-year-old woman speaks with the coach on the phone for her fourth session. Her goal is to transition
from her current job to start her own nutrition consulting business. During the last session, she set a goal
to contact three medical practices about her services. Today, she reports that she did not meet that goal.
When the coach explores what prevented her from meeting her goal, the client keeps referring to her
lack of marketing skills and experience. A section of their conversation is shown:
Client: I have known since the beginning that marketing my business was going to be the hardest part. I
am not comfortable putting myself out there, and I do not have any marketing experience.
Coach: It sounds like this is hard for you. You are not strong at marketing yourself yet. You are exploring
new horizons and finding your way. With each success, your belief in yourself will increase.
The coach's response best demo - ANSWER-b
A 28-year-old woman speaks with the coach on the phone for her third session. The client has a goal to
improve her health and appearance; she is not satisfied with her appearance due to weight gain. She
went through a difficult divorce five years ago which has left her feeling resentful and cautious about
relationships. She also "generally feels run down" because of work. Prior to this session, she took a
strengths assessment. Her top five strengths were fairness, creativity, integrity, humility, and prudence.
Her five lowest categories were perseverance, zest, bravery, capacity to love, and gratitude.
A 30-year-old woman speaks with the coach on the phone for her second session because she wants to
lose weight.
Which of the following is the most appropriate initial step by the coach to help the client create a vision
for optimal health?
a) Ask the client if she has ever lost weight before
b) Ask the client to begin journaling how she feels
, c) Ask the client to identify a specific goal
d) Ask the client to write down what she eats
e) Ask the client what would be possible if she lost weight - ANSWER-e
A 26-year-old man comes to the coach's office for his ninth weekly session. He was diagnosed with
metabolic syndrome 7 months ago. He has been working earnestly on his goal to decrease his BMI from
32 kg/m2 to less than 27 kg/m2. He made steady progress in the first 7 weeks, but his weight has
plateaued during the past 2 weeks. The client decided to further decrease his caloric intake by 200
calories daily. When the coach assesses the client's confidence about decreasing his caloric intake this
week, using a 10-point scale, in which 0 is "not at all confident" and 10 is "extremely confident", the
client rates his confidence a 6.
Which of the following is the most appropriate next step by the coach?
a) Brainstorm alternative actions for the client to achieve continued weight loss
b) Explore with the client what it would take to increase his confidence
c) Inquire about the client's accountability plan
d) Inquire if t - ANSWER-b
A 49-year-old woman speaks with the coach on the phone for her third session to improve her sleep
habits. Together, they have brainstormed steps she can take to improve her quality of sleep. A section of
their conversation is shown:
Coach: You have come up with some great options.
Client: Yes, I am surprised there are so many. I have already tried a few.
Coach: What did you find the most helpful?
Client: Waking without an alarm was nice, but I have to get up for work. Turning off electronics earlier
was difficult, but I saw the benefits. Establishing a routine bedtime was not as hard as I thought it would
be.
Which of the following is the most appropriate approach for this client?
