IAHC Business and Ethics in Health Coaching 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A health coaching business model that charges clients per session rather than for a package is called:
- Retainer model
- Pay-as-you-go or session-based pricing (Correct answer)
- Group coaching flat rate
- Sliding scale model
Correct answer: Pay-as-you-go or session-based pricing
Session-based pricing allows clients to pay individually per session, offering flexibility but typically lower revenue predictability than package or retainer models.
Question 2: IAHC recommends health coaches have a written coaching agreement with clients primarily to:
- Comply with IRS requirements for self-employment
- Clarify expectations, scope, boundaries, and policies to protect both parties (Correct answer)
- Meet state licensing requirements for health professionals
- Establish liability for health outcomes
Correct answer: Clarify expectations, scope, boundaries, and policies to protect both parties
A written coaching agreement sets clear expectations about session structure, confidentiality, cancellation policies, and the non-clinical nature of coaching.
Question 3: Under IAHC ethical standards, a health coach should continue their professional development by:
- Only attending IAHC annual conferences
- Pursuing ongoing education, supervision, and staying current with evidence-based health research (Correct answer)
- Completing a one-time certification and relying on initial training
- Reading only popular health and wellness books
Correct answer: Pursuing ongoing education, supervision, and staying current with evidence-based health research
IAHC requires continuing education (CE) for credential renewal, reflecting the commitment to evolving best practices and evidence-based coaching.
Question 4: Which business strategy is most aligned with IAHC coaching ethics when a coach wants to expand reach?
- Offering medical diagnoses as part of a premium package
- Developing group coaching programs that maintain client confidentiality and boundaries (Correct answer)
- Selling proprietary supplements as part of every coaching package
- Claiming clinical credentials not yet obtained
Correct answer: Developing group coaching programs that maintain client confidentiality and boundaries
Group coaching can extend reach ethically if confidentiality norms are established and professional boundaries are maintained within the group setting.
Question 5: When an IAHC coach sells nutritional supplements to their coaching clients, the primary ethical concern is:
- Tax implications of combined income streams
- Conflict of interest that may compromise objective, client-centered guidance (Correct answer)
- Violation of supplement labeling laws
- Lack of liability insurance for product sales
Correct answer: Conflict of interest that may compromise objective, client-centered guidance
Selling products to clients creates a conflict of interest that can bias coaching recommendations and compromise the coach's primary obligation to the client's wellbeing.
Question 6: What does 'scope of practice' mean for an IAHC-certified health coach in the US?
- The geographic area in which the coach is licensed to operate
- The defined boundaries of what health coaches are trained and authorized to do (Correct answer)
- The number of clients a coach can see each week
- The types of insurance plans a coach can bill
Correct answer: The defined boundaries of what health coaches are trained and authorized to do
Scope of practice defines the specific activities, services, and roles that a health coach is trained and ethically permitted to perform, distinguishing coaching from clinical practice.
IAHC Business and Ethics in Health Coaching 2
A health coaching business model that charges clients per session rather than for a package is called: