This page helps you compare the public and private routes: the steps, the fees, the delays and what a report would actually change for your family. Ask the services involved for their current conditions. A private assessment does not guarantee a benefit or faster access to every support, and some supports can begin before a diagnosis.
The two routes
Public route. Talk with your family doctor or pediatrician and contact the CLSC for your territory. Autisme Montréal names four hospitals officially mandated on Montreal Island to assess children for autism: Sainte-Justine, the Montreal Children's, the Douglas and Rivière-des-Prairies. Some of them only accept certain territories, so confirm which service applies to you, its referral requirements and the current wait directly. Autisme Montréal reports waiting lists that "fluctuate and vary from one hospital to another, but range between 6 to 24 months", and describes the public assessment as covered by RAMQ. 1
Private route. Ask the clinic about its referral requirements, fees, availability and exactly what the assessment includes. Autisme Montréal lists fees that "range between $1,600 to $4,200 (depending on the clinic)". RAMQ does not cover private psychological assessments; some insurance plans reimburse a portion. 1 These amounts are not current quotes.
According to the Fédération québécoise de l'autisme, physicians and psychologists, including neuropsychologists, can conclude a diagnosis. Other professionals, including speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists, can contribute to the assessment. 2
Comparison
| Question | Public system | Private clinic |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | Confirm coverage for your situation | Ask for a detailed quote; cited range $1,600–$4,200 |
| Wait | Cited estimate: 6–24 months | Ask about availability; no wait is guaranteed |
| Referral | Requirements of the service and your territory | The clinic's own requirements |
| Who signs | An authorized physician or psychologist | An authorized professional; check their membership in their professional order |
| Insurance | Check the public coverage that applies | Check your plan before you book |
| Using the report | Depends on each organization's criteria | Confirm that it will be accepted and what other documents are needed |
| Public request at the same time | Ask how to keep your request active | Tell the service and confirm how a private report affects your file |
Do not assume that a private clinic needs no referral, that every organization will accept every report, or that your public request stays active automatically. Confirm each of these points with the service involved.
When a private assessment may be worth considering
- Support in child care. Ask for the exact document required. The Supplement for Handicapped Children (SEH) is not a universal condition for support, and the integration allowances (AISG and AEI) follow different routes. See Agir tôt, CLSC, CPE and school.
- Starting school. Ask the school when to send information and what can already be prepared. A report does not guarantee a service or a placement.
- Financial applications. The SEH and the federal Disability Tax Credit (DTC) have separate criteria. A private diagnosis does not guarantee that benefits will cover its cost. See Money and benefits in Quebec.
- Needing a clearer picture. This can matter for your family, weighed alongside the cost, your constraints and the services you can reach in other ways.
When to gather more information first
- The fee would put you into debt or financial difficulty.
- Useful supports are already available while you wait. See Waiting is not wait-and-see.
- The clinic requires you to buy a costly therapy program along with the assessment. Ask for separate terms for each service.
- No organization is currently asking for the report. Spell out what it would concretely change.
Your child's age or the date of a public appointment is not, on its own, a reason to wait or to pay. Talk through your child's situation with a professional.
Preparing both routes at once
- Ask your doctor and the CLSC how to open and follow a request. See What to say to your doctor.
- Ask about Agir tôt and the supports that can begin before a diagnosis. 3, 4
- Ask your insurer which services are covered, the annual cap and the conditions for reimbursement.
- Ask the private clinic who assesses, who signs, what recommendations are provided, and whether administrative forms are included or billed separately.
- Tell the public service about any assessment you have had and confirm the next steps. Do not cancel a request based on this guide alone.
A question of access, not a judgment on your choice
Some people raise a question of fairness: paying privately can shorten the wait for families who can afford it, while others cannot. This is an editorial point of view, not a research finding. Your choice depends on your child's needs, your means and the options available to you. It is not a judgment on your commitment as a parent.
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