How Much Does Psychological Testing Cost?
Psychological testing can help measure a person’s general well being and personality. It can also help determine if a person is undergoing depression, anger, anxiety, or stress.
Basically, psychological testing is an effective tool for evaluating a person’s psychological or mental health, and in fact, some companies require a sort of psychological test as part of the screening process when they hire new employees.
How much does psychological testing cost?
In most cases, testing is going to be charged by the hour or as a flat rate. The average session for a full psychological testing will range anywhere from $125 to $200 per hour without any insurance. Generally, a full assessment will require multiple sessions, bringing the total price to $1,500 to as much as $3,500. The costs will depend on the geographical location, psychologist and the length of the test.
Some psychologists can provide partial assessments that can range in price anywhere from $600 to as much as $1,500. Psychological tests that use less personal interaction, such as using tools like questionnaires completed by the patient, for example, are cheaper than those which entail personal interaction with a psychologist.
According to Valueoptions.com, psychologists and mental health professionals usually charge on a per-hour basis for psychological and neuropsychological testing. The fee also varies depending on the setting.
A clinic we found based in Atlanta charges $850 for an assessment for children under four, while children older than five can cost upwards of $1,600. The costs will greatly depend on the type of disorder that needs to be assessed. Their hourly rate is noted at $150.
Dr. Duke, according to her official website, says the average full assessment will range from $500 to $4,500. The costs will depend on the total number of hours invested and the review session length.
Psychological testing overview
The time that is billed will include the test administrations, the scoring, interpretation and the time spent developing the final report. Most assessments will take anywhere from 15 to 120 minutes to complete.
During the testing, the psychologist will conduct an interview and even assign a test. After the session is completed, the psychologist will make an assessment, learn and measure the client, as well as create self-reports. Typically, you will be asked to come back a few weeks later to discuss the results and recommendations. You should also be provided with a written record, along with any referrals the professional may recommend.
‘After the assessment/testing has been completed, the report will either be sent to the referring professional and/or the results may be shared with the client. With these results, the referring doctor will then be able to determine the necessary treatment options. The cases will vary on a case-by-case basis.
This type of testing is going to help evaluate giftedness, ADD, learning disabilities, autism/Asperger’s, emotional disturbances, disorders, social problems and even relationship problems. The American Health & Wellness Institute breaks down the tests and how they work.
What are the extra costs?
Depending on the circumstances, more than one evaluation could be recommended and/or required to receive accurate results.
Additional extra costs to think about may include follow-up sessions, medication, and the therapy recommended.
Aside from the testing, a psychologist may charge up to $100 to $200 per page to create a report.
Questions to ask a professional
Who is going to conduct this assessment?
What is going to be observed?
How long will everything take?
Do I need to bring anything to the testing?
Will I be able to view the results?
How do you conduct your tests?
What are the costs?
Tips to know
Only licensed clinical psychologists, school psychologists and counseling psychologists are able to perform these assessments. This activity will be regulated by the appropriate licensing boards and state statutes.
How can I save money?
Before considering a psychological test, make sure that you check out various health or mental facilities in your city or nearby areas. This will enable you to compare prices as most facilities will be able to offer you a quote over the phone. It is also important that, aside from the cost, you also have to consider the quality of the psychological test results. While the price may seem good, be sure you know what’s included in the price.
Some clinics may offer cash discounts for those who pay in cash up front. Some may even be able to help with financing or even set you up with a payment plan.
See if your insurance company can cover the cost of a psychological test. Some insurance policies have mental health benefits that will cover a limited amount of psychological testing, but in most cases, they will only reimburse a fraction of the costs. If you want to change your insurance policy or maybe you are looking for a new one, consider eHealthInsurance.com to browse through hundreds of policies.
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Average Reported Cost: $4666.67
How much did you spend?
- JOHNAS (SILVER SPRING, Maryland) paid $5500 and said:
Sessions averaged 2.5 hours each. Completed 3 sessions. Add 3.5 hours interpreting/evaluation onto each assessment and that is 6 hours per session, for total of 18 hours / $5,500.00 that equals $355.55 per hour. That is highway robbery if one is honest.
Was it worth it? Yes
- John B. (Marietta, Georgia) paid $3500 and said:
Included parent intake (1h), 4 testing sessions (1.5h each), and one parent review (1h). 8 hours in the office total, and some amount of work behind-the-scenes to produce the 30+ page report. It was worth the money, but we were under the mistaken impression that the free test from the public school wouldn’t be up for appeal if we didn’t like the diagnosis.
Was it worth it? Yes
- Kleiger (Washington, District of Columbia) paid $5000 and said:
The number of hours for interpreting/evaluating the results can take much longer! Plus you are not factoring in writing time. Reports can take 15-20 hours to finalize. Additionally, most fees cover a feedback session as well. So you’re looking at roughly 40 hours of work to complete a comprehensive evaluation /$5,500 which equals to roughly $137.50 per hour, which is MUCH less than what some doctors charge for a 20 minute check up, or what lawyers charge an hour. The costs to purchase and administer and score tests themselves is costly as well, so that also eats into the profits. I would say on average a psychologists earns around $125/hr to do an evaluation, which is a reasonable rate considering the amount of schooling and training required.
Was it worth it? Yes
