Step-by-step guide
The steps from first concern to a written diagnosis: who to call, whether you need a referral, public or private, and what to do once you have the letter.
Government of Ontario: Autism assessment and diagnosis · Government of Ontario: Ontario Autism Program eligibility and registration · Summarized by End The Wait Ontario · Page reviewed 2026-10-25
About This Article
Last updated: October 25, 2026
These 7 steps follow Ontario's own guidance for families. Details vary by hub and clinic, so ask each one how it works.GOV
A short, specific list helps every professional you meet.
Ontario says to make an appointment with your child’s doctor as soon as possible, or to contact a diagnostic hub to schedule an assessment.
Each route has its own intake, cost and referral rules.
Private autism assessment in Ontario What an autism diagnosis costs in Ontario
Ontario says qualified professionals with specific training can assess and diagnose autism.
The professional gathers information, observes your child and uses set tools.
What happens at an autism assessment How to prepare for the assessment
OAP registration needs a written diagnosis with four specific items.
With a written diagnosis, you can check eligibility and register for the Ontario Autism Program.
How to register with AccessOAP If your child is diagnosed but not registered
Ontario's assessment page tells families to make an appointment with their child's doctor or to contact a diagnostic hub to schedule an assessment. It does not say a referral is required. Private clinics set their own rules, and some extended health plans may ask for a referral, so ask the hub, the clinic and your insurer.GOV
For how a doctor's referral works, read how referrals work for autism assessment.
Ask for the reason, and ask for it in writing. Ontario's page says you can contact a diagnostic hub to schedule an assessment, so ask the hub what it needs from you. You can also contact a qualified private assessor directly.
You can contact a diagnostic hub or a private clinic directly. Our guide covers the options in more detail: autism diagnosis without a family doctor in Ontario.
Ontario says qualified professionals with specific training can assess and diagnose autism. For a longer answer, see who can diagnose autism in Ontario.GOV
| Professional | Named by the ministry | What to ask or check |
|---|---|---|
| Family physician | Yes | Ask whether they assess autism themselves or refer you to someone who does. |
| Pediatrician | Yes | Ask whether they do autism assessments or will refer you. |
| Developmental pediatrician | Yes | Ask about their current intake and what the assessment includes. |
| Psychiatrist | Yes | Ask about their current intake and what the report will include. |
| Psychologist | Yes | Check the public register of the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario. |
| Psychological associate | Yes | Check the same public register. |
| Nurse practitioner | Yes | Ask whether they do autism assessments or will refer you. |
| Neurologists, speech-language pathologists and others | Not named | The ministry's list is not limited to those it names. Ask the assessor about their training, and confirm with AccessOAP before you rely on the report for registration. |
Yes. Pediatricians and developmental pediatricians are both on the ministry's list. Not every pediatrician does autism assessments, so ask. See pediatrician or developmental pediatrician.
A Holland Bloorview study of 106 children under five and a half, published in 2023, compared general pediatricians with a specialist team. When the pediatricians were confident a child had autism, the hospital reports they were right about 90% of the time. When they ruled autism out, they were right about 60% of the time, so the lead researcher advised more caution if the family still has concerns. Source: Holland Bloorview news release, January 25, 2023, read 2026-10-13. It is one study and does not say how long any wait is.
Holland Bloorview also runs community pathways, where your own physician assesses your child with help from its clinicians. See how Holland Bloorview community pathways work.
Yes. Psychologists and psychological associates are on the list. You can check that one is registered on the public register of the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario.
Yes. Nurse practitioners are on the ministry's list.
Family physicians are on the ministry's list. Many families start with their family doctor, who may assess or refer. Read can a family doctor diagnose autism in Ontario.
Ontario lists five diagnostic hubs. They give multi-disciplinary diagnostic assessments, connect families with services in the community after an assessment, and offer training to local professionals. Contact your local hub to find out how to apply.GOV
| Region | Hub | City | Intake and wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Ontario | McMaster Children's Hospital / Ron Joyce Children's Health Centre | Hamilton | Ask the hub |
| Central Ontario | Children's Treatment Network of Simcoe York | Barrie | Ask the hub |
| Northern Ontario | Child and Community Resources | Sudbury | Ask the hub |
| Eastern Ontario | Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) / Ottawa Children's Treatment Centre | Ottawa | Ask the hub |
| Toronto | Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital | Toronto | Ask the hub |
The ministry does not publish wait times for each hub, and neither do we. Ask the hub for its current intake estimate. For more on hubs and the assessment itself, see our autism diagnosis guide.
Hubs and hospital programs are the public route. Private clinics are the other. The table shows what Ontario says and where you need to ask. Fees and cost examples are on our autism diagnosis cost guide.
| Factor | Public (hub or hospital program) | Private clinic |
|---|---|---|
| How you start | See your child's doctor, or contact a diagnostic hub to schedule an assessment. | Contact the clinic. Each clinic sets its own steps. |
| Referral | The ministry page does not say a referral is required. Ask the hub what it needs from you. | Set by the clinic. Some extended health plans may ask for one, so ask your insurer too. |
| Who pays | The ministry page does not publish a fee schedule. Ask the hub or program whether OHIP covers the assessment you are booking. | Usually the family, unless an extended health plan covers part. Get a written quote. |
| Intake time | Ontario publishes no wait times by hub or region. Ask the hub. | Ask the clinic for its current intake estimate and when you would get the report. |
| What counts for OAP | A written diagnosis from a qualified professional with the four required items. A hub gives a report that includes a diagnosis. | The same four items apply. The ministry page does not mention private clinics, so confirm with AccessOAP before you book. |
Private assessment means a clinic or practitioner outside the public hubs. It is a separate route with its own intake, price and paperwork. For a full walkthrough, read private autism assessment in Ontario. For fees, read what an autism diagnosis costs in Ontario.
Ontario's test is a written diagnosis from a qualified professional that contains the four required items. Where the assessment took place is not one of them. The ministry page does not mention private clinics, so we cannot tell you it is always accepted. Confirm with AccessOAP before you book, and ask the clinic to confirm that the letter will include all four items.
Some clinics advertise virtual assessments. For OAP, what matters is the same as for an in-person assessment: a qualified professional and a letter with the four required items. Ask the clinic to confirm both in writing.
You can ask another qualified professional for a second opinion if you disagree with a result or want more information. Ask about the cost and timing first, and keep every report.
The ministry page does not say you must pick one. Ask each program about its own rules before you book, including whether a report from another provider changes anything on its list.
Ontario says the professional gathers information from you, observes your child, reviews documents and uses standardized tools and criteria. How long it takes and how many visits it needs depends on the hub or clinic.GOV
The professional gathers information from you, including your child's medical history and development. Bring specific examples.
The professional watches how your child plays, communicates and interacts. How this is done depends on your child and the clinic.
The professional reviews documents, reports and earlier assessments, including information from a school or childcare provider.
The professional uses standardized assessment tools and the diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5. Clinics may use tools such as the ADOS-2 or the ADI-R. Ask which ones yours will use.
You should get the result, an explanation and a written report. A hub report summarizes your child’s results and includes a diagnosis. This is the time to ask questions.
More detail: the autism assessment process and the ADOS-2 explained.
To apply for the Ontario Autism Program, the written diagnosis must include these four items.GOV
The professional may also include the items below. They are not needed to apply, but they can help plan your child's treatment.
Source: MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures, May 13, 2026, obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition under Freedom of Information. The reported wait is community-reported by the Ontario Autism Coalition, not a government figure.
Ontario does not publish one wait time for autism assessments, or wait times by hub or region, and we do not either. Ask each hub or clinic for its current intake estimate, how many appointments to expect and when you would get the report. Read the autism diagnosis timeline in Ontario and the autism diagnosis waitlist in Ontario.
These pages cover assessment options for a city or region. We do not publish regional wait times or fees, because Ontario does not.
Looking for an adult assessment? Read late autism diagnosis for adults in Ontario.
Short answers about getting an autism diagnosis in Ontario. For cost and insurance questions, see the cost guide.
The process steps, the professionals, the hubs and the four letter items come from two Government of Ontario pages, last read on October 25, 2026. We are parents and advocates, not clinicians, and this page is information, not medical advice. Ask each provider for current fees and intake times.
Program rules also appear on the Ontario Autism Program page.
Guides and tools related to this page.
Sources on this page
Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
Evidence supports autism screening and intervention commencing in the first 2 years of life — earlier identification directly enables earlier intervention during the highest neural plasticity window
1 in 50
According to the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, about 1 in 50 children and youth aged 1 to 17 in Canada had an autism diagnosis
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism. Timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement
Check the author’s context, review method, and how to report an error.
Founder & Autism Advocate
Lived experience: Parent of autistic child in the OAP system