CHC Practice Test

The Certified Health Coach (CHC) credential from the National Society of Health Coaches (NSHC) is open only to licensed medical professionals. This page gives you free practice sets grouped by coaching topic, worked explanations of sample questions, a study plan, and the main exam facts, each checked against the NSHC website. Our questions are written with AI tools for practice. They are not real exam items.

CHC Exam at a Glance

What changed for CHC in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Number of questions changed to 125 timed items (Part 1) + Skills Competency (Part 2) (previously 125 timed multiple-choice items + Skills Competency).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Delivery changed to Online, self-paced (previously Online, self-paced (Members Only Testing Area)).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Eligibility changed to Licensed medical professionals only for the CHC credential (previously Active clinical license required (RN, NP, PA, RD, PT, etc.)).^[2]
• Oct 25, 2026: Retake policy changed to Re-test after 30 days (previously Retest after 30 days; current membership required).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Testing window changed to Free attempt within 12 months of purchase (previously Free attempt must be used within 12 months of purchase).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Renewal changed to Re-test every 5 years (previously Re-test every 5 years; $545).^[1]

What the CHC is and how it works

According to National Society of Health Coaches, “Part 1 contains 125 items and is timed.”^[1]

The CHC is the health coach certification offered by the National Society of Health Coaches. NSHC states that only licensed medical professionals are eligible to receive the formal certification. NSHC decides which licenses count, so check your own license against its rules on nshcoa.com before you pay.

The program costs $875. That covers the training program, first-year membership and one free test attempt. The whole program is online and self-paced.

The assessment has Part 1 and Part 2. Part 1 contains 125 items and is timed. Part 2 is a Skills Competency assessment. The passing standard and the exact time limit are not in the facts we could verify, so read the current details on the NSHC FAQ page rather than relying on any other site, including this one.

You have 12 months from purchase to use the free attempt. If you do not pass, you may re-test in 30 days. The credential is valid for 5 years from the date you pass the exam. Recertification is done only by re-testing, not by collecting continuing education credit. NSHC can change any of these rules, and this page does not cover fees for extra attempts, so check with NSHC directly before you schedule.

Worked examples: how to reason through CHC questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: How does the autonomic nervous system's response relate to stress management coaching?

1. The nervous system is too complex for coaches to understand
2. Understanding fight-or-flight versus rest-and-digest responses helps coaches teach clients to activate relaxation responses
3. Nervous system education is only for medical professionals
4. The autonomic nervous system cannot be influenced by coaching techniques

Answer: B. Understanding fight-or-flight versus rest-and-digest responses helps coaches teach clients to activate relaxation responses

Explanation:

B is correct. The sympathetic branch drives fight-or-flight: faster heart rate, tense muscles, shallow breathing. The parasympathetic branch drives rest-and-digest. Coaches who understand this can explain why slow breathing, relaxation practice and good sleep routines calm the body, and can teach clients to use those tools on purpose.

A is wrong because coaches only need the basic idea, not detailed physiology. C is wrong because simple nervous system education is well within health coaching, and diagnosis or treatment is what stays outside it. D is wrong because breathing, mindfulness and lifestyle habits do shift the body toward the relaxation response.

Rule to remember: watch for answers that call a topic too complex or off-limits for coaches. Usually the right answer is the one that turns science into a practical skill the client can use.

Example 2

Question: Which technique reflects the client’s statement to show understanding and build trust?

1. Closed questioning
2. Goal setting
3. Reflective listening
4. Educational lectures

Answer: C. Reflective listening

Explanation:

C is correct. In reflective listening, the coach puts the client's words or feelings back in their own words. For example: "It sounds like evenings are when the cravings hit hardest." This shows the coach heard the client, checks that the coach understood, and invites the client to say more. That is how trust builds.

A is wrong because closed questions get short yes-or-no answers and don't show understanding. B is wrong because goal setting is a later step that depends on rapport already being there. D is wrong because lecturing puts the coach in charge and can make clients defensive, which is the opposite of motivational interviewing.

Rule to remember: if a question asks how to show understanding or build trust, pick the answer that reflects the client's own words back to them, not one that directs, teaches or decides for them.

Example 3

Question: Which sleep stage is most associated with physical restoration, immune function, and hormone release?

1. REM sleep
2. Stage 1 NREM
3. Stage 2 NREM
4. Stage 3 NREM (slow-wave sleep)

Answer: D. Stage 3 NREM (slow-wave sleep)

Explanation:

D is correct. Stage 3 NREM, also called slow-wave or deep sleep, is when the body does most of its physical repair. Tissue is rebuilt, immune function gets support, and growth hormone is released. This is why short or broken sleep often leaves people feeling physically run down.

A is wrong because REM sleep is mainly linked to dreaming, emotional processing and memory, not physical restoration. B is wrong because Stage 1 NREM is light, transitional sleep and easy to wake from. C is wrong because Stage 2 NREM is deeper than Stage 1 but still lighter than slow-wave sleep, and it is linked more with memory and sensory gating than with tissue repair.

Rule to remember: deep, slow-wave sleep restores the body, and REM supports the mind. When a question mentions repair, immunity or growth hormone, look for slow-wave sleep.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material. Your NSHC program is the main source for the exam, so work through it in order and take notes on the terms and models it stresses. Use our sets to check what you have learned, not to replace the program.

Practise the core coaching skills early. Do Behavior Change & Motivational Interviewing, Health Behavior Theories & Models and Client-Centered Health Planning & Communication first, because many questions in other topics depend on these ideas.

Then work by lifestyle area. Move to Nutrition, Physical Activity, Sleep, Stress Management and Chronic Disease Prevention. Finish with Wellness Assessment & Goal Setting, Ethics & Scope of Practice and Business & Program Development.

Review every miss. For each wrong answer, write down why the right option fits and what made the wrong one tempting. Repeat a set only after you have looked over those notes.

Before test day, confirm the current Part 1 timing and Part 2 requirements on the NSHC site, and make sure you are still inside your 12 months to use the free attempt.

Sources & last verified

1. National Society of Health Coaches — number of questions, retake policy, renewal, delivery (official source). “Part 1 contains 125 items and is timed.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
2. National Society of Health Coaches — exam fee, eligibility (official source). “The NSHC Health Coach Certification is $875, fully self-paced” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
3. National Society of Health Coaches — validity (official source). “The NSHC's health coach certification is valid for 5 years from the date the exam is passed.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.