How to become an ADHD Coach in New Zealand
Aotearoa needs more qualified and experienced allied health professionals like ADHD and neurodiversity coaches.
This is an overview of what training and education pathways are available in New Zealand.
Is ADHD coaching regulated in NZ?
ADHD coaching is not a regulated profession in New Zealand. This means anyone can technically call themselves a coach — which makes high-quality training and strong ethical practice essential, especially because ADHD is recognised under disability-discrimination law. Good training ensures you’re working safely, ethically, and within scope.
Recommended training pathways (all available online from NZ)
These programmes provide ADHD-specific training plus internationally recognised coaching credentials and ratification by the International Coaching Federation.
Note: Beehyve is not affiliated with any of these organisations.
ADHD-Informed Coaching Certificate and Advanced ADHD Coach Diploma
ICF-accredited (Level 2), with supervised practice and mentor coaching
iACTcenter (International ADHD Coach Training Center)
Level 1 & 2 ICF-accredited ADHD-Life-Coach training
Strong focus on ADHD theory + structured coaching skills
ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA)
Well-established ADHD-coach training (ICF-accredited)
Starts with foundational skills and progresses to advanced ADHD coaching
Neurodiversity Training Academy (NTA)
Foundation and Advanced ADHD Coach certifications
Accredited (ICF-CCE and CPD), with neurodiversity-specific frameworks
Coach Approach Training Institute (CATI)
ICF-accredited programmes with ADHD and neurodiversity-specific courses
(e.g., ADHD Education, Distinguishing ADHD Coaching, Coaching the ADHD Client)Strong ethics and competency focus
Ethics and accreditation matter
ADHD coaching sits close to health, disability support, and mental-health boundaries, appropriate training helps you:
Work safely within scope (not drifting into therapy/clinical care)
Use evidence-informed ADHD knowledge
Understand disability rights and anti-discrimination obligations
Adhere to coaching ethics (ICF or equivalent)
Protect yourself and your clients legally and professionally
Where to start
Choosing the right training can be complex. A good first step is to talk it through with someone who has been there.
If you’d like to book a conversation with one of the trained coaches on our team about choosing the right pathways and a career in ADHD/neurodiversity coaching, let us know and we can arrange it.
The cost for this consultation is $150.
What we'll cover on the call (and what to look for)
During your consultation, we can help you assess the best programme for you. When exploring ADHD-specific foundations (such as Gold Mind, iACTcenter, or CATI), we recommend choosing a programme that includes:
ADHD theory
Coaching methodology
Practicum/observed sessions
Mentor coaching
Ethical training
Nga mihi on considering becoming an ADHD coach. It’s a really rewarding field.
