Testing and diagnosis
Autism Testing for Kids in Los Angeles
A diagnosis can open the door to therapy, school support and regional center services. Here’s who does autism evaluations for children across LA, what they cost where prices are posted, and the two public routes.
For autism testing in Los Angeles, you can go private, use a hospital or university clinic, or take a public route. Psychologists and neuropsychologists in private practice do full evaluations, usually with the ADOS-2; two Pasadena-area practices that post prices charge about $4,500 to $5,500. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and UCLA have specialist teams that include developmental-behavioral pediatricians. The public routes are your regional center’s assessment, which is free and can lead to services, and your school district’s assessment, which decides special education eligibility rather than giving a medical diagnosis.
On this page
15 places for autism testing in Los Angeles
Hospital and university teams come first, then private practices by area: the Westside, the Valley, Pasadena, and the South Bay and Long Beach. For the free regional center route, see Regional Centers in Los Angeles County.
Boone Fetter Clinic, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Koreatown · 3250 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 201, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Good for Young children who need a full hospital team
CHLA’s autism clinic does first evaluations, second opinions and follow-up care. A developmental-behavioral pediatrician leads each child’s team, which can include a child psychologist, a speech-language pathologist and an occupational therapist. You can call directly or be referred by another provider; a nurse care manager takes the first call. For children 18 months to 5, CHLA also offers a virtual assessment based on videos you record at home.
- Led by a developmental-behavioral pediatrician
- Virtual option, 18 months to 5: $875
- Report 7–10 business days after videos
- Virtual: insurance option for CA residents
UCLA Child and Adult Neurodevelopmental (CAN) Clinic
Westwood · 300 Medical Plaza Driveway, Suite 1200, Los Angeles, CA 90095
Good for Complex questions that need several specialists
UCLA’s autism clinic evaluates children, teens and adults. A comprehensive evaluation usually takes two consecutive days with a psychologist, including the ADOS-2 and cognitive and developmental testing, and a team of psychologists, child psychiatrists and a pediatric neurologist shapes the diagnosis. A one-hour video feedback visit and a detailed report follow. Comprehensive evaluations are self-pay; shorter consultations take insurance. Email is the preferred way to book.
- Comprehensive evaluations are self-pay
- Consultations accept insurance
- Two consecutive days of testing
- Book by email: CANClinic@mednet.ucla.edu
teams.semel.ucla.edu (opens their site)310-794-4008On Summerground
UCLA Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Program
Westwood · 300 Medical Plaza, Suite 3100, Los Angeles, CA 90095
Good for Toddlers with language or social delays
Developmental-behavioral pediatricians at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital assess children from infancy to 17, including toddlers with language or social delays and older children with questions about autism, attention or learning. The team can include a pediatric fellow and a psychologist, and it offers follow-up care. Parents can refer their own child: call the appointment center to request an evaluation.
- Developmental-behavioral pediatricians
- Infants through age 17
- Parents can refer their own child
- Referrals and information: 310-794-1456
uclahealth.org (opens their site)310-825-0867On Summerground
Westwood Psychiatry
Westwood
Good for When anxiety or ADHD may need medication too
Je Ko, MD, PhD, leads this psychiatry practice’s autism care for children, teens and young adults. It offers diagnostic assessments for autism and for co-occurring conditions such as anxiety and ADHD, then treatment plans that can include therapy and, when it may help, medication. It works with parents, schools and therapists.
- Psychiatrist-led: Je Ko, MD, PhD
- Diagnostic assessments for autism
- Medication discussed when it may help
Dr. Betty B. Bostani
Brentwood · 520 S. Sepulveda Blvd. #412, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Good for Families who also need help with an IEP
Dr. Bostani does diagnostic evaluations and psychoeducational and neuropsychological assessments for autism, ADHD, learning disabilities and intellectual disability, for children through adults. She uses ABA strategies to structure testing, and she also does independent educational evaluations (IEEs) and works with families on IEPs.
- Evaluations across the lifespan
- Independent educational evaluations
- IEP collaboration
drbettybostani.com (opens their site)310-889-1030On Summerground
Chester Neuropsychology
Lake Balboa
Good for Subtle cases, or when earlier answers were unclear
Adam Z. Chester, PsyD, a licensed clinical neuropsychologist, does pediatric autism evaluations, especially when signs are subtle or earlier testing gave unclear answers: children with strong language skills, socially motivated kids who miss nuance, or girls who mask. The ADOS-2 is one part; he also weighs developmental history, parent and teacher input, and cognitive, language and adaptive testing. It starts with a consultation.
- Licensed clinical neuropsychologist
- ADOS-2 within a full evaluation
- Starts with a consultation
chesterneuropsych.com (opens their site)310-218-5001On Summerground
A.M.P. Autism
16944 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91316
Good for A practice focused on autism diagnosis
A.M.P. Autism focuses on diagnostic evaluations for children and adults. It’s led by Tamar Apelian, PsyD, a licensed psychologist who did diagnostic evaluations at UCLA’s CAN Clinic for nine years. Families use its reports to seek therapy, services and funding from insurers, school districts and regional centers.
- Led by Tamar Apelian, PsyD
- Nine years evaluating at UCLA’s CAN Clinic
- Phones 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Saturday
The Nest LA
11425 Moorpark St., Studio City, CA 91602
Good for Children under 6
A child development, psychiatric and autism clinic that offers autism diagnoses and care coordination for children from birth to 6, plus parent coaching and one-to-one support. It offers ADOS assessments, its clinical director is a board-certified behavior analyst, and it offers a free 15-minute consultation.
- Autism diagnoses for ages 0 to 6
- ADOS assessments
- Free 15-minute consultation
Evidence Based Psychological Care (EBPC)
23632 Calabasas Road, Suite 201, Calabasas, CA 91302
Good for A report for school or the regional center
EBPC evaluates children, teens and young adults for autism and sorts it out from look-alikes such as social anxiety, ADHD, language disorders and OCD. Evaluations cover developmental history, standardized autism measures, cognitive and language testing as needed, and adaptive skills, then a plain-language feedback session and a written report that schools, regional centers and therapists can use. Expect several visits over a few weeks.
- Several visits over a few weeks
- Plain-language feedback session
- Reports for schools and regional centers
Starleaf Psychological Services
Pasadena
Good for Kids who were missed or mislabeled before
Dr. Jade Starleaf’s practice evaluates children, teens and young adults for autism, as well as ADHD, OCD and anxiety. An evaluation starts with a discovery call and a caregiver interview, then one or more play-based sessions using the ADOS-2, plus parent and teacher forms, and ends with a detailed report with recommendations. Its Pasadena clinic is one of its Southern California offices.
- Uses the ADOS-2
- Parent and teacher questionnaires
- Children, teens and young adults
Mind Study Center
595 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101
Good for Kids who may also have anxiety or ADHD
Mind Study Center’s psychologists use the ADOS-2 to evaluate children, teens and adults for autism. Its psychologists and psychiatrists work together on co-occurring conditions such as anxiety and ADHD, and after a diagnosis it offers behavioral therapy for children and teens and guidance for parents.
- ADOS-2 given by psychologists
- Psychiatrists on the same team
- Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
mindstudycenter.com (opens their site)626-765-4045On Summerground
Herman & Associates
1137 Huntington Drive, Building A, South Pasadena, CA 91030
Good for Kids over 4 with learning or attention questions too
A licensed, multidisciplinary team that does psychodiagnostic evaluations for autism, social (pragmatic) communication disorder, ADHD and learning disabilities, for children over 4, teens and adults. A full assessment takes about five 3-hour sessions and costs around $5,000. It doesn’t bill insurance, but gives you a statement to submit for reimbursement. Assessments are done at the South Pasadena office.
- Children over 4, teens and adults
- About five 3-hour sessions
- Around $5,000
- Statement you can submit to insurance
psychodiagnosticevaluations.com (opens their site)323-344-0123On Summerground
Pediatric Minds
Torrance
Good for Testing and therapy in one place
A children’s clinic that tests for autism, ADHD and learning disabilities and has child neurology for evaluating neurodevelopmental conditions. After a diagnosis, the same clinic offers ABA, speech therapy, social skills groups, psychotherapy and an insurance-funded intensive day program for children 30 months to 7 years.
- Child neurology on site
- Testing for autism, ADHD and learning
- Day program, 30 months to 7 years
pediatricminds.com (opens their site)310-540-1630On Summerground
Better Psych Services
Torrance
Good for Families served by Harbor Regional Center
Jazzmin T. Hicks, PsyD, does autism and developmental evaluations for all ages, including Early Start evaluations for infants and toddlers. If your family is served by Harbor Regional Center, your service coordinator can send a referral, and the report goes back to Harbor. Or call directly: a 15- to 20-minute consultation checks your insurance benefits or gives you a private-pay quote.
- Takes Harbor Regional Center referrals
- Insurance check or private-pay quote
- Infants through adults
betterpsychservicesinc.com (opens their site)661-990-8116On Summerground
Dr. Lindsay Campbell
3816 Woodruff Ave, Suite 403, Long Beach, CA 90808
Good for Questions that span autism, ADHD and learning
Dr. Campbell is a licensed clinical neuropsychologist (PSY35915) and a board-certified behavior analyst. She does neuropsychological and psychological assessments for autism, ADHD and learning differences for children, teens and adults, sees clients in person in Long Beach and Los Alamitos, and offers telehealth across California.
- Neuropsychologist and BCBA
- Offices in Long Beach and Los Alamitos
- Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
drlindsaycampbell.com (opens their site)562-794-3412On Summerground
The two public routes: your regional center and your school district
Two public agencies can assess your child at no cost to you. They answer different questions, and you can start both while you wait for a private appointment.
- Your regional center decides whether your child qualifies for state developmental services. There’s no charge for the diagnosis and eligibility assessment, and you don’t need a diagnosis to ask. By law, intake happens within 15 working days of your request and the assessment within 120 days, or 60 days if a delay would put your child at risk (DDS). For a child under 3, Early Start has 45 days from referral to finish evaluations and, if your child qualifies, a family service plan. Find yours in Regional Centers in Los Angeles County.
- Your school district decides whether your child qualifies for special education. Ask for an assessment in writing. The district must send you an assessment plan within 15 days; once you sign it, it has 60 days, not counting school breaks of more than five days, to assess and hold an IEP meeting (Disability Rights California).
The school’s answer is not a medical diagnosis. A child can qualify for special education under the educational definition of autism without one, and a medical diagnosis alone doesn’t guarantee school eligibility (Disability Rights California). If you want therapy through your health plan, ask the plan what kind of diagnosis and report it needs.
Autism doctors and psychologists: who does the testing
Several kinds of licensed specialists diagnose autism in children. The right one depends on your child’s age and what else is going on.
- Developmental-behavioral pediatricians are pediatricians board-certified in both general and developmental-behavioral pediatrics (CHLA). They look at medical as well as developmental and behavioral factors. CHLA’s Boone Fetter Clinic and UCLA’s developmental pediatrics program are built around them.
- Psychologists and neuropsychologists diagnose with standardized tests and observation, such as the ADOS-2, plus cognitive, language and adaptive testing. Most of the private evaluations on this list are done by them.
- Child and adolescent psychiatrists can diagnose autism and treat co-occurring anxiety, ADHD or mood problems, including with medication. UCLA’s CAN Clinic team includes them, Westwood Psychiatry is led by one, and at Mind Study Center psychologists and psychiatrists work together.
- Child neurologists come in when there are neurological or genetic questions. UCLA’s team includes a pediatric neurologist who specializes in autism and related genetic conditions, and Pediatric Minds has child neurology on site.
Your pediatrician is a good first call: they can screen your child and refer you. You don’t always need a referral, though. UCLA’s developmental pediatrics program takes referrals from parents, and CHLA’s clinic takes calls directly.
What an autism evaluation includes
A full evaluation is more than one test. The practices on this list describe much the same pieces:
- An interview with you about your child’s development, health and school history, plus earlier reports and records.
- Direct observation, usually with the ADOS-2: structured play and conversation tasks that let the clinician see social and communication skills firsthand.
- Questionnaires from parents and teachers.
- Cognitive, language and adaptive (everyday living) testing as needed.
- Screening for conditions that look like autism or come with it, such as ADHD, anxiety, language disorders and OCD.
- A feedback meeting and a written report with recommendations for school, therapy and home.
Expect it to take a while. UCLA’s CAN Clinic usually needs two consecutive days, Herman & Associates about five 3-hour sessions, and EBPC several visits over a few weeks. No single score makes the diagnosis; as Chester Neuropsychology puts it, the ADOS-2 is one part of a full evaluation.
Research suggests the ADOS isn’t always needed for young children. In a 2022 study that included CHLA, developmental-behavioral pediatricians’ clinical diagnoses of 346 children aged 18 months to 5 matched diagnoses that included the ADOS in 90% of cases. CHLA also notes that more insurers require the ADOS before they pay for therapy, so check with your plan.
Once you have the report, these guides cover common next steps: in-home ABA therapy, speech therapy and social skills groups.
What autism testing costs in LA, and what to ask
Few practices post prices. Here’s what we found:
- Regional center: no charge for the eligibility assessment.
- School district: the district does its own assessment, and special education is provided without charge.
- CHLA’s virtual assessment (18 months to 5): $875 by HSA, FSA or credit card, or through insurance for California residents.
- Herman & Associates: around $5,000 for a full assessment. It doesn’t bill insurance but gives you a statement to submit.
- One Pasadena practice: $4,500 to $5,500 for its standard autism assessment.
- UCLA CAN Clinic: comprehensive evaluations are self-pay, with no price posted; brief consultations take insurance. UCLA’s Lifespan Autism Clinic, a training clinic where supervised psychology trainees do evaluations, accepts a range of payors.
Before you book, ask:
- Does my health plan or Medi-Cal cover this, and do I need a referral?
- Who will see my child, and what is their license?
- Which tests will you use, and will the report work for my health plan, school district and regional center?
- How soon is the first visit, and how long until the report?
- Is there a feedback meeting, and can you join an IEP meeting if we need you?
Questions parents ask
Can a psychiatrist diagnose autism?
Yes. Child and adolescent psychiatrists can diagnose autism, and in LA some do: UCLA’s CAN Clinic includes child psychiatrists on its diagnostic team, Westwood Psychiatry is led by a psychiatrist, and at Mind Study Center psychologists and psychiatrists work together. A psychiatrist is most useful when your child may also need treatment for anxiety, ADHD or mood, including medication. Most full private evaluations on this list, with the ADOS-2 and other testing, are done by psychologists or neuropsychologists.
How much does an autism evaluation cost in Los Angeles?
It depends on the route. Your regional center’s eligibility assessment and your school district’s assessment cost you nothing. Among private practices, two in the Pasadena area post prices of about $4,500 to $5,500 for a full evaluation, and CHLA charges $875 for its virtual assessment for children 18 months to 5. UCLA’s comprehensive evaluations are self-pay. Ask your health plan or Medi-Cal plan what it covers and whether you need a referral.
Is regional center autism testing free?
Yes. California’s Department of Developmental Services says there’s no charge for the diagnosis and eligibility assessment, and family income and immigration status don’t affect eligibility. You don’t need a diagnosis to apply. Intake must happen within 15 working days of your request and the assessment within 120 days; for children under 3, Early Start has 45 days from referral. If your child qualifies, most services are free regardless of income.
Is school autism eligibility the same as a diagnosis?
No. Your school district decides whether your child is eligible for special education under an educational definition of autism. A child can qualify without a medical diagnosis, and a medical diagnosis alone doesn’t guarantee school eligibility. If you’re seeking therapy through your health plan, ask what diagnosis and report it needs; CHLA notes that more insurers require the ADOS before they pay for therapy.
How young can a child be tested for autism?
Some LA clinics see toddlers. CHLA’s virtual assessment starts at 18 months, UCLA’s developmental pediatrics program sees toddlers with language or social delays, including suspected autism, and The Nest LA diagnoses children from birth to 6. For a child under 3, you can also call your regional center’s Early Start program, which serves children from birth to 36 months who have a delay or are at risk.
What is the ADOS-2?
The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition, is a standardized set of play and conversation activities that lets a trained clinician observe social and communication behavior directly. Many evaluators on this list use it, including UCLA, Starleaf, Mind Study Center and Chester Neuropsychology. It can take about 45 minutes or more, CHLA notes. On its own it doesn’t make the diagnosis; a licensed clinician weighs it with your child’s history, questionnaires and other testing.
How we made this list
We ran web searches for autism evaluations for children across Los Angeles County and kept providers whose own pages say they evaluate children for autism, spread across the Westside, the Valley, Pasadena, the South Bay and Long Beach, plus CHLA and UCLA. Every detail about a provider comes from its own site, and prices appear only where a provider posts them. General rules come from California’s Department of Developmental Services and Disability Rights California.
No one paid to be on it. It’s information to start from, not medical or legal advice: check services, costs and coverage with each provider before you book. Spotted something out of date, or run a place that belongs here? Write to hello@summerground.com.
Sources
- Regional Center Eligibility & Services (California Department of Developmental Services)
- Intake and Assessment Requirements, W&I Code 4642 and 4643 (DDS, 2022)
- What is Early Start? (DDS)
- A Guide to California’s Regional Center Services System (DDS, February 2025)
- Special Education Rights and Responsibilities, Chapter 2: Evaluations and Assessments (Disability Rights California)
- Special Education Rights and Responsibilities, Chapter 3: Eligibility Criteria (Disability Rights California)
- Regional Center Lookup (DDS)