What's included in the price of an ADHD assessment?
Quick answer
At Finding Focus, the ADHD assessment fee (starting at $399 CAD) covers your clinical evaluation with a licensed Canadian nurse practitioner or clinician, including a DSM-5-TR-based, CADDRA-aligned diagnostic interview, review of your questionnaires and history, and a clear, documented diagnosis outcome. Prescriptions, the medication itself, therapy, and ongoing follow-up care are typically billed separately. Inclusions vary between providers, so always confirm exactly what your fee covers before you book.
Your assessment fee covers the clinical evaluation and a documented diagnosis
The core of any ADHD assessment fee is the clinical evaluation itself, the time a qualified clinician spends understanding your symptoms, history, and how ADHD traits affect your daily life, and then reaching a clear conclusion. At Finding Focus, that evaluation is led by a licensed Canadian nurse practitioner or clinician, follows DSM-5-TR criteria, and is aligned with CADDRA (the Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance) guidelines, so the outcome is a properly documented clinical diagnosis rather than a quiz score.
When you pay for an assessment with Finding Focus, the fee generally includes everything needed to reach and explain a diagnostic decision:
- A structured diagnostic interview with a licensed Canadian nurse practitioner or clinician, conducted online and built around DSM-5-TR criteria.
- Review of your standardized questionnaires and rating scales, alongside your relevant personal, medical, and (where applicable) developmental history.
- Screening for overlapping conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or sleep difficulties, that can mimic or accompany ADHD, so the conclusion accounts for the full picture.
- A clear diagnostic outcome, whether or not you meet the criteria for ADHD, explained directly by your clinician.
- Next-step guidance on what your results mean and the treatment and support options available to you afterward.
In other words, the price buys you a complete, clinician-led assessment and a documented answer. You can read more about how the evaluation works on our ADHD testing and diagnosis page, or see exactly what's quoted on the pricing page.
Medication, therapy, and ongoing care are usually billed separately
An assessment fee is for the assessment, it is not an all-in package for everything that may follow a diagnosis. The most common point of confusion is medication: the assessment establishes whether ADHD is present, but prescriptions, medication-management appointments, and the medication itself at the pharmacy are separate costs. Controlled stimulant prescribing also follows provincial rules, so your clinician will explain what applies to your situation rather than promising any specific prescription.
| Item | Part of the assessment fee? |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic interview and clinical evaluation | Yes |
| Review of questionnaires and history | Yes |
| Diagnosis outcome explained by your clinician | Yes |
| Prescription and medication-management visits | No, separate |
| The medication itself (pharmacy cost) | No, separate |
| Therapy such as CBT or DBT and counselling | No, separate |
| Follow-up and ongoing monitoring appointments | No, separate |
| Forms like the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) or accommodation letters | Often separate, confirm |
If you're diagnosed, that result can flow into a personalized treatment plan, medication management, CBT/DBT and other psychotherapy, work or school accommodations, Disability Tax Credit (DTC) forms, and expedited psychiatry referrals, but each of these is its own service with its own cost. For a sense of what the medication portion typically runs, see how much ADHD medication costs in Canada. Budgeting for these separately up front means there are no surprises after your diagnosis.
At Finding Focus, assessments start at $399 with transparent, up-front pricing
Finding Focus shows pricing up front so you know what you're paying before you commit. Online ADHD assessments start at $399 (CAD) for the clinician-led evaluation and diagnosis described above. Affordable payment plans are available, and if you already have an ADHD diagnosis, you can receive 50% off your initial consultation, useful if you're re-establishing care or need updated documentation rather than a first-time diagnosis.
That transparency matters because private assessment costs vary widely across Canada. The table below puts the assessment fee in context (figures for other pathways are general and approximate):
| Pathway | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Finding Focus online assessment | From $399 (CAD) | Transparent pricing; payment plans available |
| Private psychologist | ~$2,000–$4,000+ | Often multi-session, lengthy testing |
| Private psychiatry | ~$3,500+ | Usually requires a referral |
| Public system (provincial health plan) | Covered, but limited access | Wait lists often many months, sometimes 1–2 years or longer |
The aim is accessible and affordable ADHD care across Canada, diagnosis in hours, not weeks, without the long public wait lists that can stretch one to two years or more. Adult assessments are available nationally; youth assessments for ages 12–17 are currently available in Ontario only. For a fuller cost breakdown, see how much an ADHD assessment costs in Canada.
Confirm exactly what's included before you book
Because inclusions differ between providers, the single most useful thing you can do is ask a few specific questions before paying. Use this checklist when comparing options:
- Ask what the quoted fee includes, the diagnostic interview, the documented diagnosis, and any post-assessment summary or explanation.
- Check whether a prescription or a first medication appointment is part of the fee or booked and billed separately.
- Confirm the cost of follow-up visits, refills, and ongoing monitoring so you can budget for the months after diagnosis.
- Ask whether forms, Disability Tax Credit, or work and school accommodation letters, carry an additional charge.
- Confirm you'll receive an itemized receipt you can submit to insurance or a health spending account.
- If cost is a barrier, ask about payment plans or the 50% discount on the initial consultation for people who already have an ADHD diagnosis.
Common questions
Related questions, answered
No. The assessment fee covers your clinical evaluation and diagnosis. Prescriptions, medication-management appointments, and the cost of the medication itself at the pharmacy are billed separately. Controlled stimulant prescribing also follows provincial rules, so your clinician will discuss what applies to your situation rather than guaranteeing a specific prescription.
At Finding Focus, your assessment includes a documented diagnostic outcome that your clinician explains to you. If you need additional copies, more detailed reports, or specific forms such as Disability Tax Credit paperwork or accommodation letters, ask whether those carry a separate charge before you book, since this varies between providers.
Most providers, including Finding Focus, can issue an itemized receipt for your assessment. Whether it's reimbursed depends on your plan, many private and workplace benefits cover nurse practitioner or psychology services. Check your coverage, and keep the receipt in case you want to claim it through a health spending account or for tax purposes.
Helpful next steps
References
- 1.CADDRA, Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance, Canadian ADHD Practice Guidelines View source ↗
- 2.American Psychiatric Association, DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria for ADHD View source ↗
This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional about your individual situation. If you are in crisis or thinking about self-harm, call or text 9-8-8, Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline, at any time.
