Hundreds of thousands of people in the UK and beyond are awaiting autism diagnoses. They sit, waiting in limbo as the weeks, and even months rack up. If you have a clinical background and you want to make a difference to people’s lives, becoming an autism assessor could be the answer.

The Rising Demand for Autism Assessors

The demand for autism assessors in the UK cannot be denied. In March 2025, more than 200,000 patients with suspected autism had a referral that had been open at least 13 weeks. That shows a 15% increase in the number of people waiting in just one year, and a 53% increase when compared to two years ago.

If you have a background in healthcare, psychology, psychiatry, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, education, or other related fields, training to become an autism assessor is a smart way to enhance your career prospects. Gaining a CPD certificate, delivered via neuroaffirmative and inclusive training, will start your new professional path.

What Does an Autism Assessor Do?

Autism assessors use structured diagnostic tools, clinical judgment, and inclusive collaboration with family members to reach accurate conclusions. This rewarding job requires a level of compassion, precision, and a strong understanding of neurological differences.

Your daily responsibilities may include:

• Conducting assessments

• Clinical observation and analysis

• Report writing and feedback

• Collaborating with families

• Offering ongoing support

• Delivering differential diagnoses (such as ADHD)

The impact of this work is undeniable. An autism diagnosis can be at once affirming and life changing. Not only does this validate the patient’s experiences, but it also opens up new avenues to support, therapy, coaching, and intervention. Late-diagnosed adults often say that having their autism affirmed was the missing piece that brought everything together.

How to Get Qualified and Land a Job

If you’re a clinician or have a background in a relevant field, and you’re interested in becoming an autism assessor, now’s the time to get started. In this role, you will have the unique opportunity to help people move from confusion toward self-acceptance and support.

Focus on Lived and Professional Experience

Either lived or professional experience of neurodivergence will make your assessments more accurate and give patients a touch point. Clinicians come to this field from a selection of backgrounds. You may have an autistic family member or be neurodivergent yourself. Equally, you may have supported neurodivergent people and have an understanding of their needs.

Whatever the case, your life experience is the basis on which you can build. Reflect back on how these experiences have shaped you and the neurodivergent knowledge you currently possess. Honing your empathy and mindset is a great starting point.

Gain an Official Diagnostic Certification

Before you can begin working as an autism assessor in the UK or Ireland, you need to gain training in the assessment practices. The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) certifications are internationally recognised while meeting clinical standards and NICE guidelines.

The training is delivered online and takes either two or three days, depending on which route you choose. You can also opt for the combined course, encompassing both ADI-R and ADOS-2 certifications, which takes five days in total. Seminars run throughout the year, meaning that you can fit your training around other work commitments and even the busiest lifestyle.

Connect with a Local Clinic

When you’ve completed your training and gained the certificates, the next step is to connect with a clinic in your area. Look for one that already offers autism assessment services. This may include NHS trusts, private clinics, and multidisciplinary practices.

You might inquire to see whether they are currently accepting new assessors, or whether they will be in the near future. Since there is a growing demand for autism assessors in the UK and Ireland, many private clinics are certain to expand into this sector of healthcare.

Create a Targeted Job Search

Job searching is rarely easy, but you can make it more effective by using a targeted strategy. Searching for appropriate keywords, such as "autism assessor,” “neurodivergent assessor," and “autism assessments,” helps you to target positions that align with your qualification. You may also want to search local clinics or private practice job boards.

Follow Social Pages for Updates

Concerned you’re missing out? Sometimes, the fastest way to find new opportunities is via social media where things happen in real-time. Following autism specific pages, such as Autism Feed and Autism Services Group, gives you the latest updates including career opportunities and clinics that may be expanding this service.

Takeaway

Ready to take the next step in your career? Becoming an autism assessor is fulfilling and meaningful. You have the chance to make a positive impact on patients’ lives. At Autism Services Group, we offer a selection of clinical training, tailored to your professional needs. Get started by selecting the right course for your needs and securing your spot now.