CHC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CHC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A client recovering from intense athletic training reports poor sleep and muscle soreness. What sleep-related coaching strategy supports recovery? → Prioritize 8–10 hours of sleep and add a short daytime nap
2. Beneficence as an ethical principle in health coaching means: → Actively working to promote the client's well-being and best interests
3. When a health coach stores client session notes digitally, the primary ethical obligation is to: → Ensure notes are password-protected and stored securely to maintain confidentiality
4. A client drinks coffee at 4 PM and reports trouble sleeping. What should a health coach explain about caffeine? → Caffeine has a half-life of about 5–6 hours and can delay sleep onset
5. What is 'sleep debt' in the context of health coaching? → The cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep over time
6. What is a common coaching approach for encouraging long-term behavior change? → Establishing SMART goals
7. Which of the following is a violation of a health coach’s ethical responsibilities? → Prescribing dietary supplements
8. What validated tool is commonly used to assess a client's readiness to change health behaviors? → Stages of Change (Transtheoretical Model)
9. Which legal structure provides the most personal liability protection for a solo health coaching practice? → Limited Liability Company (LLC)
10. What is the primary purpose of a coaching agreement or contract with a client? → To establish roles, responsibilities, boundaries, confidentiality, and payment terms
11. Which outcome measurement tool is most commonly used in health coaching programs to track client self-efficacy? → General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE)
12. A health coach wants to track program effectiveness over time. Which metric best demonstrates behavior change progress? → Client's self-reported adherence to agreed-upon wellness actions between sessions
13. Which acronym summarizes the core skills of motivational interviewing? → OARS
14. In Social Cognitive Theory, which concept refers to an individual's belief in their ability to successfully perform a specific behavior? → Self-efficacy
15. Which goal-setting framework is most commonly used in health coaching? → SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)
16. What is the primary goal of motivational interviewing? → Elicit client’s own motivation for change
17. According to the Transtheoretical Model (TTM), which stage describes a person who has no intention to change their behavior within the next six months? → Precontemplation
18. Which substance is most likely to fragment sleep architecture even though it initially induces drowsiness? → Alcohol
19. What does informed consent involve in a health coaching relationship? → Giving the client all relevant details before starting
20. A health coach wants to expand services to corporate wellness. What is the FIRST step in developing a corporate program? → Conduct a needs assessment with HR stakeholders to identify employee health priorities
21. In the Transtheoretical Model, which process of change involves substituting healthier behaviors for problem behaviors? → Counterconditioning
22. How many hours of sleep per night does the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommend for adults? → 7–9 hours
23. What is the ethical principle of non-maleficence as it applies to health coaching? → Avoiding actions that could harm the client
24. Which factor is most important in stress management for chronic disease prevention? → Practicing mindfulness regularly
25. Which pricing model charges a recurring monthly fee for ongoing coaching services? → Retainer model
26. Which marketing approach is most aligned with the ethical standards of a CHC-certified health coach? → Sharing evidence-based information and authentic client success stories (with permission)
27. Which evidence-based stress reduction technique is a health coach qualified to teach? → Guided relaxation, deep breathing exercises, and basic mindfulness practices
28. The Theory of Planned Behavior proposes that the most immediate predictor of behavior is: → Behavioral intention
29. A health coach is developing an online group coaching program. Which platform feature is MOST important for maintaining client confidentiality? → Password-protected access and secure data storage
30. Which strategy best supports client retention in a health coaching practice? → Consistently celebrating small wins and maintaining accountability between sessions