Key points
- The CDC states that there is no single test to diagnose ADHD.
- CHADD says psychological and neuropsychological tests do not diagnose ADHD directly but can show its effects and identify co-existing conditions.
- A 2024 American Family Physician review says testing may increase diagnostic accuracy when childhood history is lacking, malingering is suspected or other conditions confuse the picture.
- New Jersey's psychologist scope rule (N.J.A.C. 13:42-1.1) covers psychological testing, assessment and psychodiagnosis and does not mention prescribing.
- In 2026 Medicare amounts, a psychiatric diagnostic evaluation (90792) is about $220 in Northern New Jersey, while testing is billed hour by hour, starting at about $133 for the first hour of test evaluation (96132).
When adults search for "ADHD testing in New Jersey," they usually mean one of two different things. One is a psychiatric evaluation: a clinical diagnostic interview with a psychiatrist or another prescribing clinician, ending in a diagnosis and a treatment plan. The other is psychological or neuropsychological testing: several hours of standardized tests given by a licensed psychologist, ending in a written report with scores. Both are legitimate. They answer different questions, cost different amounts and lead to different next steps. This page explains which one fits which situation.
The two services side by side
| Psychiatric evaluation | Psychological or neuropsychological testing | |
|---|---|---|
| Who does it | A psychiatrist (a physician) or another clinician who can diagnose and prescribe | A psychologist licensed by the New Jersey Board of Psychological Examiners |
| What happens | A detailed interview about current symptoms, childhood and school history, work, health, sleep and substances, plus rating scales and input from people who know you | An interview plus standardized tests of attention, memory, reasoning and academic skills, scored against norms |
| Typical length | One long visit or a few visits | Several hours of testing, then time for scoring and a report |
| What you get | A diagnosis, a review of other explanations, and treatment options, including medication when appropriate | A written report with test names, scores and interpretation, and often recommendations for school or work |
| Billing | Billed as a medical visit (for example, CPT 90792) | Billed by the hour or half hour under testing codes |
What the evidence says about testing
Three sources frame the question.
- The CDC states that there is no single test to diagnose ADHD.
- CHADD says psychological and neuropsychological tests do not diagnose ADHD directly, but they can show how ADHD affects a person and help determine the presence and effects of co-existing conditions.
- A 2024 review in American Family Physician says neuropsychological testing may increase diagnostic accuracy for adult ADHD when collateral information such as childhood history and observer reports is lacking, when malingering is suspected, or when other mental health conditions confuse the picture.
Put together: an adult ADHD diagnosis rests on a careful clinical evaluation. Testing is an extra tool for particular situations, not a requirement for everyone. A longer discussion of the research is in clinical evaluation or neuropsychological testing.
When testing is worth it
- Your childhood history is thin. No report cards, no parent or sibling to ask, and you cannot remember much. Testing can add evidence where history is missing.
- A learning disability is possible. Trouble with reading, writing or math that seems separate from attention is a reason to test, because a psychiatric interview cannot measure academic skills.
- Several conditions overlap. When anxiety, depression, a head injury or another condition could explain the symptoms, testing can help sort them out.
- A school or testing agency asks for scores. Some do. The Rutgers Office of Disability Services, for example, asks that ADHD documentation include the names of the assessment instruments used, the scores obtained and their interpretation, along with a clinical interview and a specific diagnosis with its DSM code. Exam boards have their own rules, covered in ADHD accommodations for the New Jersey bar exam and licensing exams.
When a psychiatric evaluation alone is usually enough
For many adults, the main question is "Is this ADHD, and what can I do about it?" A thorough psychiatric evaluation answers that. It looks at symptoms across your life, gathers information from people who know you, considers other explanations such as anxiety, depression, sleep problems and stress, and ends with a diagnosis and options that fit. If medication is a possibility you want to discuss, you will need a prescribing clinician in any case.
The evaluation itself can still be the point where testing gets recommended. A careful evaluator who finds a thin history or signs of a learning problem may suggest testing as a next step.
Psychologists in New Jersey
New Jersey's scope-of-practice rule for psychologists, N.J.A.C. 13:42-1.1, covers the administration and interpretation of psychological tests, psychological assessment, and psychodiagnosis, treatment planning and disposition. It names neuropsychology among the areas psychologists draw on. The rule does not mention prescribing medication, so if a psychologist's report supports an ADHD diagnosis and you want to consider medication, you take the report to a prescriber.
You can confirm a psychologist's New Jersey license on the Division of Consumer Affairs verification site by choosing "Psychology" as the profession. The full process for any clinician is in how to verify a doctor's license in New Jersey. Who else can diagnose in the state is covered in who can diagnose ADHD in New Jersey.
Cost and insurance differences
No New Jersey fee survey exists for either service. Public Medicare benchmarks for 2026, calculated from CMS fee schedule files, show how the billing differs.
| Code | Service | Northern NJ | Rest of NJ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90792 | Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation with medical services | About $220 | About $213 |
| 96132 | Neuropsychological test evaluation, first hour | About $133 | About $129 |
| 96133 | Each additional hour of test evaluation | About $107 | About $103 |
| 96136 | Test administration by a physician or qualified professional, first 30 minutes | About $49 | About $47 |
| 96137 | Each additional 30 minutes of test administration | About $42 | About $40 |
These are Medicare allowed amounts, not private fees. The point is the structure: a psychiatric evaluation is priced per visit, while testing adds up hour by hour, so a full battery usually costs more. Before scheduling testing, ask the psychologist how many hours they expect and which codes they bill, and ask your insurer whether testing for ADHD is covered and whether prior approval is needed.
University training clinics can be cheaper. The Rutgers Office of Disability Services lists ADHD evaluations at the university's psychology graduate school clinic (GSAPP) for Rutgers students at $450 for a cognitive and psychoeducational evaluation or $150 for a neuropsychological evaluation for ADHD, and $0 for students on the Rutgers student health plan. More on costs is in what an adult ADHD evaluation costs in New Jersey.
How the two can fit together
- Start with a psychiatric evaluation if your main goal is a diagnosis and treatment, and add testing only if the evaluator recommends it or a school or agency requires it.
- Start with testing if you already know you need scored documentation, for example for campus accommodations, then bring the full report (not only the summary page) to the psychiatric evaluation.
- Keep copies of every report. A later prescriber, school or testing agency may ask for them.
Dr. Shershow provides the psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, treatment planning and medication management when appropriate. The practice does not provide psychological or neuropsychological testing, and it cannot promise any particular result or accommodations paperwork. What the evaluation covers is on the adult ADHD evaluation page, and the ADHD testing in New Jersey page explains how to start.
Questions
Do I need neuropsychological testing to be diagnosed with ADHD as an adult?
Usually not. Adult ADHD is diagnosed through a careful clinical evaluation, and the CDC says no single test can diagnose it. Testing helps in specific situations, such as missing childhood history, a possible learning disability or a school that requires scores.
Can a psychologist prescribe ADHD medication in New Jersey?
New Jersey's scope-of-practice rule for psychologists covers testing, assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning and does not mention prescribing. If a psychologist's report supports an ADHD diagnosis and you want to consider medication, you would see a prescribing clinician such as a psychiatrist.
Is ADHD testing covered by insurance in New Jersey?
It depends on the plan. Testing is billed under separate hourly codes. Ask the psychologist which codes and how many hours they expect, then ask your insurer whether it is covered and whether prior approval is needed before you schedule.
Will my college accept a psychiatric evaluation for accommodations?
It depends on the school. Some campus disability offices ask for test names and scores; the Rutgers Office of Disability Services, for example, asks for assessment instruments, scores and interpretation along with a clinical interview and a DSM diagnosis. Check your school's documentation guidelines before you book.
Does Dr. Shershow do ADHD testing?
Dr. Shershow provides adult ADHD psychiatric evaluations, diagnosis, treatment planning and medication management when appropriate. The practice does not provide psychological or neuropsychological testing.
Sources
- CDC: Diagnosing ADHD (reviewed July 30, 2026)
- CHADD: Diagnosis of ADHD in Adults
- American Family Physician: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults (August 2024)
- N.J.A.C. 13:42-1.1: Board of Psychological Examiners, scope of practice (Cornell LII)
- New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs: License verification, person search (professions list)
- Rutgers Office of Disability Services: Documentation guidelines for ADHD
- Rutgers Office of Disability Services: LD and ADHD evaluations at GSAPP
- CMS: 2026 Physician Fee Schedule relative value files, RVU26D (released August 26, 2026)
