Health & Wellness Coach Certifying Examination

BULLETIN OF INFORMATION
Health & Wellness Coach Certifying Examination
2022-2023
The Health & Wellness Coach Certifying Examination is a joint program of the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching and NBME.

Table of Contents

4

GENERAL INFORMATION

5

Introduction to the Health & Wellness Coach Certifying Examination

5

Content Categories

5

Test Delivery, Format, and Length

6

Scoring and Score Reporting

7

Examination Process and Deadlines 2022

8

Examination Process and Deadlines Spring 2023

9

Examination Process and Deadlines Summer 2023

10

Examination Process and Deadlines Fall 2023

11

ELIGIBILITY

12

Eligibility Verification

12

Eligibility Period

12

Eligibility Audit Process

13

APPLYING FOR THE TEST AND SCHEDULING YOUR TEST DATE

13

Steps in the Application Process

14

Fees

14

Fee Policy

16

Examinees Requesting Test Accommodations

16

Results of Application Review

16

Change in Eligibility Status

16

Policy on Retakes and Multiple Attempts

17

TEST ACCOMMODATIONS

18

EXAMINATION DAY

18

Testing Regulations and Rules of Conduct

19

Personal Belongings in the Testing Room

20

Admission to the Test

21

Security Procedures

21

Break Time

22

Starting and Completing the Test

Health & Wellness Coach Certifying Examination 2022 - 2023 Bulletin of Information

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Table of Contents

24

SCORING AND SCORE REPORTING

24

Score Reporting

24

Use Of Examination Data

24

Incomplete Scores

24

Score Verification

25

Score Validity

25

Anomalous Performance

26

SECURITY AND INTEGRITY OF THE HWC CERTIFYING EXAMINATION

26

Examinee Responsibilities

26

Communicating About A Security Concern

27

COMMUNICATING WITH THE HWC CERTIFYING

EXAMINATION PROGRAM

27

General Inquiries And Eligibility Application Information

IMPORTANT The purpose of this bulletin is to provide you with essential information about the policies and procedures for sitting for the Health & Wellness Coach Certifying Examination. NBHWC and NBME require that all applicants read the entire bulletin that is in effect at the time of their test administration.
Copyright © 2022 by NBME and the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). All rights reserved.

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General Information

The Health & Wellness Coach Certifying Examination is a joint program of NBME and the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC).
The National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) and NBME work collaboratively to implement standards leading to certification as a health & wellness coach. The credential enables those certified to provide evidence of their expertise and quality as competent health & wellness coaches. Further, the credential allows stakeholders such as health care professionals, patients, employers, and educators to identify practitioners who have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential to effective health and wellness coaching.

NBHWC
Incorporated in 2017, NBHWC is an independent, not-for-profit organization that supports the worldwide advancement of the field of health and wellness coaching by implementing a standard supported by a certification examination and research.

NBME®
NBME helps health professionals across the care continuum enhance and demonstrate their knowledge—both in school and while practicing. We offer a portfolio of products that include assessment tools for every stage of the medical school journey, high-quality licensing exams, and a range of products and services for health professionals and educators.

Health & Wellness coaches are responsible for skills and tasks associated with: • Activities that take place in the initial stages of the coaching process • Developing and maintaining the health and wellness coaching relationship • Activities that address the client’s evaluation and integration of progress • The professional behavior of coaches
These responsibilities are typically within the job descriptions of health and wellness coaches. For more information about the responsibilities of health and wellness coaches, visit: Job Task Analysis.
The credential will be granted in recognition of documented and verified work experience, education, and successful performance on the Health & Wellness Coach Certifying Examination (HWC Certifying Examination). Professionals who wish to obtain the credential must meet established eligibility criteria. Click here for a comprehensive list of exam application requirements.

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INTRODUCTION TO THE HEALTH & WELLNESS COACH CERTIFYING EXAMINATION (HWCCE)
This bulletin is intended for individuals who plan to sit for the HWCCE.
EXAMINATION COMMITTEES AND TEST MATERIALS
The objective of the HWCCE is to provide a measure of foundational knowledge, skills, tasks, and abilities essential to the practice of health and wellness coaching. Test items are developed by nationally recognized subject matter experts who are experienced as practitioners and educators in the field. Examination content draws on the results of a 2014 job task analysis and broadly represents the principles of health and wellness coaching, teaching, and practice.
CONTENT CATEGORIES
The following topics are included in the assessment:
• Coaching Structure • Coaching Process: Coaching Relationship/Communication/Techniques • Health & Wellness • Ethics/Legal (including Code of Ethics)
For additional information about the content outline for the HWC Certifying Examination, see www.nbme.org/pdf/hwc/HWCCE_content_outline.pdf
TEST DELIVERY, FORMAT, AND LENGTH
The HWCCE is administered using computer-based delivery via a network of NBME-approved Prometric test centers across the United States, its territories, and worldwide. To locate a Prometric test center, see https://www.prometric.com/test-takers/search/hwccp and choose “Locate a Test Center”.
The 4½-hour test session for each examination includes:
• A 15-minute tutorial • 150 questions in a multiple-choice format • 2 sections, 1 hour and 52 minutes each • A maximum of 15 minutes of total break time available for use between the test sections • A 15-minute post-test survey

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SCORING AND SCORE REPORTING
Scoring for the HWC Certifying Examination is designed to ensure that all certification holders have demonstrated a minimum level of knowledge consistent with conducting safe and effective health and wellness coaching. This minimum level is based in part on the results of an item-byitem study of the examination by a panel of health and wellness coaching experts. Steps taken to support reliable and valid testing measures used in the assessment of candidates include:
• Test items in the certifying exam are developed by experts in health and wellness coaching in consultation with editors experienced in high-stakes assessments of health professionals.
• All test material is subject to rigorous review by subject matter experts for content and clarity.
• Examination items are evaluated using established statistical procedures consistent with best practices to ensure high quality test results.
• The passing score accounts for a level of expertise established in a standard setting study by a panel of health and wellness coaching experts.
Candidates who do not pass the examination may retake it in a future exam administration window. Please see the Policy on Retakes and Multiple Attempts section for more information. Reviewing the scoring feedback and using this information as guidance for future selfdevelopment is strongly recommended.
1. Candidates who pass the examination and are otherwise eligible will be deemed National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coaches (NBC-HWC), and will receive an electronic certificate from the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching within 8 weeks of receiving exam results.
2. NBC-HWCs will need to renew their certification by submitting an annual recertification fee of $75 and by providing evidence of 36 hours of continuing coaching education over a 3-year period.

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EXAMINATION PROCESS AND DEADLINES 2022

1

2

Meet all eligibility requirements to sit for the HWC Certifying

Examination

3

• Create candidate account on www.MyNBME.org

• Complete and submit online registration application;

pay eligibility application registration fee; indicate if test

accommodations will be requested

• Upload supporting eligibility application documents into

www.MyNBME.org

• If you are an individual with a disability under the

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and require

test accommodations to access the HWC Certifying

Examination, visit the Resources page at https://www.

nbme.org/examinees/health-wellness-coach-certifying-

exam for information on how to document a disability

and follow the instructions on the Request for Test

Accommodations form

4

If you requested test accommodations, upload your

completed Request for Test Accommodations form and all

supporting documentation into your Accommodation Case at

www.MyNBME.org

5

Receive application eligibility decision(s) by e-mail,

generally within 15 to 30 days after application submission. If

application is confirmed, Prometric scheduling permit will be

generated within approximately 5 days. If you requested Test

Accommodations, your scheduling permit will be on hold

until a decision has been reached.

6

Eligible candidates receive Prometric scheduling permits via

email, along with instructions for accessing permits via the

www.MyNBME.org online system.

7

Use Prometric scheduling permit to schedule test day

appointment at https://www.prometric.com/test-takers/

search/hwccp. If a test accommodation has been approved,

directions will be provided for scheduling a test day

appointment with the approved accommodation.

8

Sit for the HWC Certifying Examination

9

Retrieve your score report through the online system

Due dates for Fall 2022 examination Deadline: August 3, 2022 (5:00 pm EDT) May 16, 2022 (12:01 am EDT) through August 3, 2022 (5:00 pm EDT)
Deadline: August 3, 2022
15-30 days after application process is completed
Approximately 1 week after registration/eligibility application process/test accommodation review is completed Following receipt of scheduling permit: June 1, 2022 through September 15, 2022
October 20 – November 11, 2022
Approximately 8 weeks after close of test window

Health & Wellness Coach Certifying Examination 2022 - 2023 Bulletin of Information

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EXAMINATION PROCESS AND DEADLINES SPRING 2023 ADMINISTRATION
1

2

Meet all eligibility requirements to sit for the HWC Certifying

Examination

3

• Create candidate account on www.MyNBME.org

• Complete and submit online registration application;

pay eligibility application registration fee; indicate if test

accommodations will be requested

• Upload supporting eligibility application documents into

www.MyNBME.org

• If you are an individual with a disability under the

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and require

test accommodations to access the HWC Certifying

Examination, visit the Resources page at https://www.

nbme.org/examinees/health-wellness-coach-certifying-

exam for information on how to document a disability

and follow the instructions on the Request for Test

Accommodations form

4

If you requested test accommodations, upload your

completed Request for Test Accommodations form and all

supporting documentation into your Accommodation Case at

www.MyNBME.org

5

Receive application eligibility decision(s) by e-mail,

generally within 15 to 30 days after application submission. If

application is confirmed, Prometric scheduling permit will be

generated within approximately 5 days. If you requested Test

Accommodations, your scheduling permit will be on hold

until a decision has been reached.

6

Eligible candidates receive Prometric scheduling permits via

email, along with instructions for accessing permits via the

www.MyNBME.org online system.

7

Use Prometric scheduling permit to schedule test day

appointment at https://www.prometric.com/test-takers/

search/hwccp. If a test accommodation has been approved,

directions will be provided for scheduling a test day

appointment with the approved accommodation.

8

Sit for the HWC Certifying Examination

9

Retrieve your score report through the online system

Due dates for First 2023 examination Deadline: January 9, 2023 (5:00 pm EST) December 1, 2022 (12:01 am EST) through January 9, 2023 (5:00 pm EST)
Deadline: January 9, 2023
15-30 days after application process is completed
Approximately 1 week after registration/eligibility application process/test accommodation review is completed Following receipt of scheduling permit: December 15, 2022 through March 7, 2023
March 6 – March 22, 2023
Approximately 8 weeks after close of test window

Health & Wellness Coach Certifying Examination 2022 - 2023 Bulletin of Information

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EXAMINATION PROCESS AND DEADLINES SUMMER 2023 ADMINISTRATION
1

2

Meet all eligibility requirements to sit for the HWC Certifying

Examination

3

• Create candidate account on www.MyNBME.org

• Complete and submit online registration application;

pay eligibility application registration fee; indicate if test

accommodations will be requested

• Upload supporting eligibility application documents into

www.MyNBME.org

• If you are an individual with a disability under the

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and require

test accommodations to access the HWC Certifying

Examination, visit the Resources page at https://www.

nbme.org/examinees/health-wellness-coach-certifying-

exam for information on how to document a disability

and follow the instructions on the Request for Test

Accommodations form

4

If you requested test accommodations, upload your

completed Request for Test Accommodations form and all

supporting documentation into your Accommodation Case at

www.MyNBME.org

5

Receive application eligibility decision(s) by e-mail,

generally within 15 to 30 days after application submission. If

application is confirmed, Prometric scheduling permit will be

generated within approximately 5 days. If you requested Test

Accommodations, your scheduling permit will be on hold

until a decision has been reached.

6

Eligible candidates receive Prometric scheduling permits via

email, along with instructions for accessing permits via the

www.MyNBME.org online system.

7

Use Prometric scheduling permit to schedule test day

appointment at https://www.prometric.com/test-takers/

search/hwccp. If a test accommodation has been approved,

directions will be provided for scheduling a test day

appointment with the approved accommodation.

8

Sit for the HWC Certifying Examination

9

Retrieve your score report through the online system

Due dates for Second 2023 examination Deadline: May 11, 2023 (5:00 pm EDT) April 17, 2023 (12:01 am EDT) through May 11, 2023 (5:00 pm EDT)
Deadline: May 11, 2023
15-30 days after application process is completed
Approximately 1 week after registration/eligibility application process/test accommodation review is completed Following receipt of scheduling permit: April 27, 2023 through July 6, 2023
July 10 – July 26, 2023 Approximately 8 weeks after close of test window

Health & Wellness Coach Certifying Examination 2022 - 2023 Bulletin of Information

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EXAMINATION PROCESS AND DEADLINES FALL 2023 ADMINISTRATION
1

2

Meet all eligibility requirements to sit for the HWC Certifying

Examination

3

• Create candidate account on www.MyNBME.org

• Complete and submit online registration application;

pay eligibility application registration fee; indicate if test

accommodations will be requested

• Upload supporting eligibility application documents into

www.MyNBME.org

• If you are an individual with a disability under the

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and require

test accommodations to access the HWC Certifying

Examination, visit the Resources page at https://www.

nbme.org/examinees/health-wellness-coach-certifying-

exam for information on how to document a disability

and follow the instructions on the Request for Test

Accommodations form

4

If you requested test accommodations, upload your

completed Request for Test Accommodations form and all

supporting documentation into your Accommodation Case at

www.MyNBME.org

5

Receive application eligibility decision(s) by e-mail,

generally within 15 to 30 days after application submission. If

application is confirmed, Prometric scheduling permit will be

generated within approximately 5 days. If you requested Test

Accommodations, your scheduling permit will be on hold

until a decision has been reached.

6

Eligible candidates receive Prometric scheduling permits via

email, along with instructions for accessing permits via the

www.MyNBME.org online system.

7

Use Prometric scheduling permit to schedule test day

appointment at https://www.prometric.com/test-takers/

search/hwccp. If a test accommodation has been approved,

directions will be provided for scheduling a test day

appointment with the approved accommodation.

8

Sit for the HWC Certifying Examination

9

Retrieve your score report through the online system

Due dates for Third 2023 examination Deadline: September 14, 2023 (5:00 pm EDT) August 14, 2023 (12:01 am EDT) through September 14, 2023 (5:00 pm EDT)
Deadline: September 14, 2023
15-30 days after application process is completed
Approximately 1 week after registration/eligibility application process/test accommodation review is completed Following receipt of scheduling permit: August 29, 2023 through November 6, 2023
November 6 – November 30 , 2023
Approximately 8 weeks after close of test window

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