Basic ADHD & Life Coach Training Certification Program


Our Basic ADHD & Life Coach Training Certification Program is designed for those who want to gain a practical understanding of ADHD, learn coaching fundamentals utilizing ADDCA’s highly effective proprietary models, and implement best practices for one’s coaching business. 

Program Registration* includes the following 3 courses:  (116 total hours)

  • Simply ADHD - 21 Hours (7 weeks)
  • Personal Transformation (PT) - 32 Hours (9 weeks)
  • Basic Coaching Skills - 63 Hours (16 weeks)

*Other registration options available

This program puts you on the path towards certification at ADDCA, ICF and PAAC.

After completion of this program, many of our students decide to build upon their basic knowledge by enrolling in the Advanced Coaching Skills Course and/or in ADDCA’s elective course, Fundamentals of ADHD in Families Course.

Program Details


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Module S1: Simply ADHD

Module S1: Simply ADHD

This course is designed to give a foundational understanding of the traits of ADHD so that a coach can understand what they might be hearing then ask better questions to support their client.  We emphasize listening from an understanding of ADHD neuroscience, and we provide models and strategies.  Students leave with understanding and appreciation for neurodiversity, self-compassion, modalities, and the importance of environment and enlisting strengths.

Module PT1: Personal Transformation (PT)

Module PT1: Personal Transformation (PT)

This course is designed to give a foundational understanding of the traits of ADHD so that a coach can understand what they might be hearing then ask better questions to support their client.  We emphasize listening from an understanding of ADHD neuroscience, and we provide models and strategies.  Students leave with understanding and appreciation for neurodiversity, self-compassion, modalities, and the importance of environment and enlisting strengths.

Module B1: Introduction to Coaching

Module B1: Introduction to Coaching

This module is designed to introduce you to ADHD and life coaching.  We will define coaching and discuss what it means to be a coach, how coaching is distinguished from other professions, such as therapy or counseling, and how ADHD coaching differs from life coaching.  We will also explore the value of certification.

You will be introduced to our coaching conversational process, the QuestVersation©, and our Being model.  You will hear example coaching sessions and begin practicing basic skills.  Finally, we will introduce the core coaching competencies, behavioral markers, and ethical guidelines of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and the Professional Association of ADHD Coaches (PAAC). 

Module B2: Anatomy of a Coaching Practice

Module B2: Anatomy of a Coaching Practice

This module is designed to help you learn how to talk to a prospect about coaching and, once a person wants to begin, how to get the initial coaching agreement and goals.  You will hear how to do an intake session with a new client and learn how early coaching sessions flow.  

You will develop your first welcome packet so you are ready to start with clients.  You will learn the importance of getting a coaching session agreement and practice asking the client for their agenda for the session.  This module prepares you to begin a coaching relationship on a strong and ethical foundation

Module B3: The QuestVersation© Coaching Process

Module B3: The QuestVersation© Coaching Process

This module is designed to introduce you to two ADDCA foundational coaching models.

The LEAP Model illustrates four stages of client development and growth.  The QuestVersation© Model introduces the coaching conversation process and how to create a partnership of trust with the client using six distinct skills:  receiving, witnessing, questioning, filtering, activating, and reinventing.

We explore both models and how they work together to create a safe coaching environment that encourages client exploration and growth.  Students will be listening to coaching sessions and beginning to practice both in and outside of class. 

Module B4: Setting Up Your Coaching Business

Module B4: Setting Up Your Coaching Business

This module is designed to explore coaching best practices, tools, resources, how to present oneself as a coach (your coaching story), coaching ethics, boundaries, self-care, and managing client load.  We will discuss fee structures, one-on-one and group coaching, and how you want to be and function as a coach.  

We will try to cover everything you need to build and enjoy an incredible coaching practice.  While this is not a marketing class, we do provide resources to help you with marketing your business.

Basic (AACC) Certification Requirements:

The first designation a student can attain at ADDCA is the Basic (AACC) Certification. In order to apply for the Basic (AACC) Certification assessment, students must fulfill the following requirements:

  • Attendance: 80% live attendance for each module
  • Module Reviews: Achieve 80% or above for each module
  • Coaching Skills Practicums (CSPs): Submit three (3) recorded ADHD coaching sessions
  • Mentor Coaching: Minimum of ten (10) mentor coach hours
  • Client Coaching: Minimum of fifty (50) client coaching hours
  • Project: Basic project
  • Time Frame: Must complete the application process (including submission of the Certification Recording) within 1 year from the date of your last session. After that time, a fee is required.

Note: Full requirement details will be made available upon registration. If you are already registered, please reference ADDCA's Curriculum Handbook in your student portal.


Share Link: Requirements
  • Select One Class For Each Of The Courses Below.
  • The courses listed below must be taken in order since they build upon each other.
  • Register early as class sizes are limited.
  • Check class times for your timezone: TimeZone Converter

Simply ADHD Course (Module 99) *You will select one date only*


(S-125) April 4, 2024 - May 21, 2024 | T & TH | 2:00 PM-3:30 PM Eastern Time CLASS FULL
(S-126) May 29, 2024 - July 15, 2024 | M & W | 12:00 PM-1:30 PM Eastern Time CLASS FULL
(S-127) July 18, 2024 - September 3, 2024 | T & TH | 10:00 AM-11:30 AM Eastern Time LIMITED SPOTS
(S-128) September 9, 2024 - October 28, 2024 | M & W | 7:00 PM-8:30 PM Eastern Time
​(S-129) October 29, 2024 - December 19, 2024 | T & TH | 2:00 PM-3:30 PM Eastern Time​
(S-130) January 6, 2025 - February 19, 2025 | M & W | 12:00 PM-1:30 PM Eastern Time
(S-131) February 25, 2025 - April 10, 2025 | T & TH | 10:00 AM-11:30 AM Eastern Time
(S-132) April 14, 2025 - June 2, 2025 | M & W | 7:00 PM-8:30 PM Eastern Time
(S-133) June 5, 2025 - July 22, 2025 | T & TH | 2:00 PM-3:30 PM Eastern Time
(S-134) July 23, 2025 - September 10, 2025 | M & W | 12:00 PM-1:30 PM Eastern Time

Personal Transformation Course (Module 100) *You will select one date only*


(PT-126) July 22, 2024 - September 23, 2024 | M & W | 12:00 PM-1:30 PM Eastern Time CLASS FULL
(PT-127) September 10, 2024 - November 12, 2024 | T & TH | 10:00 AM-11:30 AM Eastern Time CLASS FULL
(PT-128) November 4, 2024 - January 20, 2025 | M & W | 7:00 PM-8:30 PM Eastern Time CLASS FULL
(PT-129) January 7, 2025 - March 6, 2025 | T & TH | 2:00 PM-3:30 PM Eastern Time LIMITED SPOTS
(PT-130) February 26, 2025 - April 28, 2025 | M & W | 12:00 PM-1:30 PM Eastern Time
(PT-131) April 17, 2025 - June 17, 2025 | T & TH | 10:00 AM-11:30 AM Eastern Time
(PT-132) June 9, 2025 - August 6, 2025 | M & W | 7:00 PM-8:30 PM Eastern Time
(PT-133) July 29, 2025 - September 30, 2025 | T & TH | 2:00 PM-3:30 PM Eastern Time
(PT-134) September 17, 2025 - November 26, 2025 | M & W | 12:00 PM-1:30 PM Eastern Time

Basic Coaching Skills Course (Modules 101-104) *You will select one date only*


(B-129) March 13, 2025 - June 10, 2025 | T & TH | 2:00 PM-3:30 PM Eastern Time
(B-130) May 5, 2025 - August 4, 2025 | M & W | 12:00 PM-1:30 PM Eastern Time
(B-131) June 24, 2025 - September 18, 2025 | T & TH | 10:00 AM-11:30 AM Eastern Time
(B-132) August 13, 2025 - November 24, 2025 | M & W | 7:00 PM-8:30 PM Eastern Time
(B-133) October 7, 2025 - January 22, 2026 | T & TH | 2:00 PM-3:30 PM Eastern Time
(B-134) December 3, 2025 - March 16, 2026 | M & W | 12:00 PM-1:30 PM Eastern Time

How many hours per week outside class will I need to devote to training?

Each of our programs are divided into distinct courses. Each course requires different time requirements. See below for an approximate breakdown.  

  • Simply ADHD Course: 2-4 hours/week
  • Personal Transformation Course: 5-7 hours/week
  • Basic Coaching Skills Course:  7-9 hours/week 
  • Advanced Coaching Skills Course : 8-10 hours/week
  • Fundamentals of ADHD Coaching for Families Course: 5-7 hours/week

Note: For Professional Advanced Students - Additional Prep Work - Self-Study: 9 hour

* Reading/fieldwork time varies significantly from person to person.  Knowing yourself, you might want to reduce or add hours for this.

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Are requirements the same for those who have been working in the field for many years?

We have many health care professionals, including therapists, psychologists, social workers, etc., who come into our program. They all follow the same coach-training curriculum unless they have prior basic coach-specific training from another accredited International Coach Federation (ICF) training organization. If this is the case, they may be eligible for the Professional Advanced Certification Training Program.

 

In terms of the ADHD training, we work from a strengths-based model, as opposed to a medical model. Our Simply ADHD course gives you the foundational models and language we use throughout ADDCA. Past students with a great deal of ADHD experience have come to us at the end of the course and told us how much they had learned. Therefore, we want everyone coming into ADDCA to have this prerequisite training as their foundation.

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How do Learning Partners groups work?

All students in ADDCA training are assigned into learning partner groups and asked to meet weekly to complete their learning partner fieldwork.  

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What is “Client Coaching?”

Client coaching is a requirement for each certification level at ADDCA, just as it is for PAAC and/or ICF certification. Each certification level has a required amount of clients and client coaching hours. 

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What qualifications do ADDCA instructors have?

All ADDCA faculty are Certified Coaches – either PCC/PCAC or MCC/MCAC– with the International Coach Federation (ICF) and/or the Professional Association of ADHD Coaches (PAAC), the governing bodies of the Life Coaching and ADHD Coaching profession. Our faculty members are seasoned Coaches, trained Leaders and Mentor Coaches with a wealth of knowledge and extensive experience. Each has successfully completed extensive leader training. 

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What are the benefits of an ADDCA Certification?

  • You will be tested by assessors familiar with ADHD coaching who can provide you valuable feedback about your ADHD coaching skills. 
  • You will have an ADDCA certification before you have accumulated enough hours for an ICF and/or PAAC certification.
  • Your ADDCA training can be applied toward your ACC and/or PCC certification at ICF after accumulating the requisite additional experience hours. 
  • Your ADDCA training can be applied toward your CACP and/or PCAC certification at PAAC after accumulating the requisite additional experience hours. 
  • Your ADDCA Certification Assessment will also be accepted by ICF and PAAC. You will not have to submit an additional recording!
  • ADDCA certified coaches receive a complimentary listing on ADDCA’s highly trafficked coach directory
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Pricing and Registration

Basic ADHD & Life Coach Training Certification Program

Program Registration includes a 10% discount off of Stand-Alone Course registrations. 

Payment Plan: $2,197 Deposit - Then 7 Monthly Payments of $609 (Total: $6,460 USD)
Payment in Full: $6,135 USD

Registration options are selected during checkout.

Register

Registration Information for Programs/Bundles
  • Review course requirements before registering.
  • Payment plan installments begin automatically one month from the date of registration.

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The ADDCA Difference

Not all Coach Training Programs are created equal!  See below why joining ADDCA is your best choice!


Become Certified with an Accredited Program

ADDCA's training has received the Level 1 and 2 accreditation status from the International Coach Federation (ICF) and the CACP/AACTP accreditation from the Professional Association of ADHD Coaches (PAAC) which means your certification has significant value and credibility. ADDCA is the gold-standard in ADHD Coach Training and Education.

Become Both a Certified ADHD Coach and Life Coach 

Our accredited program prepares you to become both a certified ADHD and Life coach at the basic or advanced level.  One Program -- Two Certifications!

Train from Anywhere in the World

All you need is a computer to participate in our interactive, engaging virtual classrooms. Join our close-knit, supportive international community of students and coaches.

Research Based Training

Our training is supported by the most current research in the areas of ADHD, Neuroscience, Executive Functioning, Positive Psychology, Coaching, Mindfulness and Self-Compassion. ADDCA is proud to have collaborated with Tulane University, Muskingum University and the VIA Institute on Character on coaching-related research.

A Balanced, Neuro-Diverse, Multi-Strengths Coach Approach

ADDCA’s balanced, multi-tiered strength coach approach does not just focus on an individual’s challenges but underscores the unique strengths that come with neuro-diverse wiring.

A Focus on Character Strengths

Learn the VIA character strength inventory for identifying 24 personality attributes; the source of inspiration and positive emotion.

A Focus on Processing Modalities 

Discover the eight, distinct, processing modalities; the key to unlocking our unique ways of learning in everything we do.

A Focus on Executive Functioning

Learn to distinguish executive functioning as it relates to attention, focus, effort, emotional regulation, accessing memory and taking action in different situations.

ADDCA Proprietary Models

Supported by scientific research, our proprietary models are designed to help in the understanding of complex concepts using simple language, metaphors and visuals for all types of learners. In turn, these models can be used by coaches to support their clients.

World Class Faculty

All ADDCA faculty are Certified Coaches – either PCC/PCAC or MCC/MCAC– with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and/or the Professional Association for ADHD Coaches (PAAC), the governing bodies of the Life Coaching and ADHD Coaching profession. They are all seasoned coaches, trained leaders and mentor coaches with a wealth of knowledge and extensive experience. They bring a diverse array of training and client experience to support their students and mentees. 

Accredited Coach Training Program

ADDCA is the first and largest comprehensive ADHD Coach Training Program fully accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF) and the Professional Association of ADHD Coaches (PAAC), the accrediting and governing bodies of the Life Coaching and ADHD Coaching professions.

From the first class to the last, ADDCA integrates your expansion of ADHD knowledge and perspective with solid life coach training. With your deepening appreciation of the breadth and depth of ADHD's impact on a person's life, you will learn to listen and question using your new ADHD lens.

You will practice coaching around common ADHD challenges from a strengths perspective using models and tools designed to allow you and your ADHD client to customize solutions that will work specifically for them. 

ADDCA training is not just a class or two on ADHD; the entire training focuses on learning to powerfully coach individuals impacted by ADHD and empower them to create fulfilling lives.

What qualifications do ADDCA instructors have?

All ADDCA faculty are Certified Coaches – either PCC/PCAC or MCC/MCAC– with the International Coach Federation (ICF) and/or the Professional Association of ADHD Coaches (PAAC), the governing bodies of the Life Coaching and ADHD Coaching profession. Our faculty members are seasoned Coaches, trained Leaders and Mentor Coaches with a wealth of knowledge and extensive experience. Each has successfully completed extensive leader training.