The East Bay has something San Francisco and Los Angeles do not: two graduate training clinics that publish sliding-scale ADHD assessment fees, one starting at $500 and one at $600. Private practices here publish $2,295 to $7,000 for testing.
It also has a gap. No psychiatrist or nurse practitioner with an East Bay office publishes a price for an ADHD evaluation. If you want a visit-based diagnosis from someone who can prescribe, the route here runs through your health plan, not a price list.
Most adults asking "is this ADHD?" do not need a full testing battery. A careful interview and history are often enough.¹ Testing earns its cost when there is a second question, such as a learning disorder, or when a school or exam board wants a full report.
What East Bay practices publish
Who is listed: a practice with an office in Alameda or Contra Costa County whose own website publishes a price for an adult ADHD evaluation, or for an adult evaluation that includes ADHD. Read on November 6, 2026. No one paid or was asked. Listing is not a recommendation; rows are ordered by lowest published price. Other East Bay practices that assess adult ADHD publish no price, so they are not here.
| Practice | Published price | What it is | Insurance, as published | Availability, as published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wright Institute Assessment Services — 1918 University Ave, Berkeley. Graduate students supervised by licensed psychologists. | Sliding scale, "generally ranges from $500 to $4000," by income and family size | Psycho-diagnostic and neuropsychological assessment; ADHD is listed | "Does not take insurance including Medi-Cal" | Its page said it would not add to the waitlist "until October 2026." Call (510) 239-2014 to ask where that stands |
| Alliant CSPP Bay Area Assessment Center — 1475 66th St, Emeryville. Advanced graduate students supervised by faculty. | "Fees for most assessments are $600"; a sliding scale may be considered | "Psychoeducational and ADHD assessments," mostly remote | Not published | Not published. Call (415) 955-2106 |
| Dr. Elizabeth Aranda — 2140 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley. Board-certified counseling psychologist. | $2,295, $3,495 or $4,595 by level; academic accommodations need the $3,495 level | Interviews, testing, records review, collateral information | Out of network (in network only for UCSF students on SHIP/Anthem) | Not published |
| Brain Insights — 1910 Olympic Blvd, Walnut Creek. Psychologists. | $3,600 for an ADHD evaluation | Intake online; testing in person; results in 2–3 weeks | Out of network | Not published. Its assessments page lists different tier prices than its pricing page |
| East Bay ADHD Psychology & Assessment — 1635 Solano Ave, Berkeley. Board-certified school neuropsychologist. | $3,500 ADHD-only with a summary; $7,000 with full neuropsychological testing | All-inclusive fee | "Not part of any insurance panels" | "I most likely do have openings" |
What the table shows
- None of the five bills insurance for the evaluation. On a commercial plan, you will pay these prices and claim back what your plan allows out of network.
- The training clinics are the low-cost door, and both have had waitlists. Call before you plan around them.
- Nothing here is visit-based psychiatry. For that, start with your plan.
Start with your plan
Alameda Alliance for Health (Medi-Cal)
Alameda Alliance says: "Prior authorization (approval) is not required for routine outpatient behavioral health care services," and lists "psychological testing" as covered. Call Member Services at 1-877-932-2738, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.² If screening shows you need specialty care, the plan sends you to the county.
Contra Costa Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Outpatient mental health is on the plan's list of services you can reach without a referral from your doctor. Call 1-877-661-6230 and choose option 4, "Mental Health Referrals & Authorizations."³
Kaiser members
Call 1-888-937-5748 (TTY 711), weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Kaiser Northern California says: "You don't need a referral from your doctor to access care."⁴
No insurance, or not sure
- Alameda County: Behavioral Health ACCESS, 1-800-491-9099. The county calls it "the point of entry for behavioral health services and referrals."⁵
- Contra Costa County: the 24/7 ACCESS Line, 1-888-678-7277. You can "get screened over the phone," and the county's services are for residents on Medi-Cal.⁶
Neither line is an ADHD clinic. Ask which service evaluates adult ADHD for someone in your situation.
Commercial insurance
Ask the plan for an in-network adult ADHD diagnostic evaluation, and what you will pay. If nobody in network can see you within the timely-access standard, generally 10 business days for a non-urgent mental-health appointment, ask the plan to arrange care.⁷ If nobody in network has an opening →
Students at Berkeley and Cal State East Bay
- UC Berkeley: start with a CAPS counselor at (510) 642-9494; the counselor can refer you for an on-campus assessment at University Health Services. With student insurance (SHIP), "a $45 copay covers the full cost"; without SHIP it is $3,000. Expect about two weeks to two months.⁸
- Cal State East Bay: "The CSUEB SHCS does not diagnose ADHD or do ADHD assessments." To get ADHD medication there, bring documentation of a diagnostic evaluation that shows "evidence of early impairment beginning in childhood." A summary letter is not enough.⁹ Ask any private evaluator for the full report.
Before you pay
"Is this a diagnostic interview or a full testing battery? Who diagnoses, what is the total price, what do I receive in writing, and who treats me afterwards?"
Online prescribing of ADHD medication runs under temporary federal rules through December 31, 2026.¹⁰ Check an online evaluation → · Compare two quotes → · Prepare a one-page history →
Other regions: San Francisco → · Santa Clara County → · Los Angeles → · Sacramento →
Q&A
What does adult ADHD testing cost in the East Bay? On November 6, 2026, two training clinics published sliding-scale fees from $500 (Wright Institute) and $600 (Alliant). Private practices published $2,295 to $7,000.
Does Alameda Alliance cover ADHD testing? Alameda Alliance lists psychological testing as a covered outpatient service and says routine outpatient behavioral health care needs no prior authorization. Call 1-877-932-2738.²
Can I get an ADHD assessment at UC Berkeley? Yes, by referral from a CAPS counselor. It costs a $45 copay on SHIP, or $3,000 without SHIP.⁸
Our therapist directory: See its current status →
Sources
- National Institute of Mental Health, "ADHD: What You Need to Know" — nimh.nih.gov.
- Alameda Alliance for Health, Medi-Cal benefits and covered services — alamedaalliance.org (read November 6, 2026).
- Contra Costa Health Plan, member contacts and specialty care — contact page and specialty care (read November 6, 2026).
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California, mental health services page — healthy.kaiserpermanente.org (read November 6, 2026).
- Alameda County Behavioral Health, seeking services — acbhcs.org (read November 6, 2026).
- Contra Costa Behavioral Health, ACCESS Line — cchealth.org (read November 6, 2026).
- California Department of Managed Health Care, Timely Access to Care — dmhc.ca.gov.
- UC Berkeley University Health Services, ADHD — uhs.berkeley.edu (read November 6, 2026).
- Cal State East Bay Student Health and Counseling Services, ADHD treatment policy — csueastbay.edu (read November 6, 2026).
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, telemedicine flexibilities through December 31, 2026 — dea.gov.
Price sources, each read November 6, 2026: Wright Institute · Alliant CSPP · Dr. Elizabeth Aranda · Brain Insights · East Bay ADHD Psychology & Assessment.
Clinical review is not yet claimed.
Paid for by participating therapists. Inclusion is computed from published prices — never purchased. No ads, no data sold.