How do I find a good Assessor

Choosing an assessor is a personal decision and you may want to factor in how long their waiting list for an assessment is, how far you will have to travel and how much the individual assessor charges. Whoever you choose for your assessment make sure they meet the following criteria. 

Specialist Teachers Assessors and Educational Psychologists are qualified to diagnose dyslexia.  

Specialist Teacher Assessors should have the following: 

• A Level 7 qualification 

• Professional membership of AMBDA or PATOSS or The Dyslexia Guild 

• A current Assessment Practising Certificate (APC) 

Ask to see: 

• An AMBDA certificate, dated within the last 3 years. Or evidence of membership of PATOSS or The Dyslexia Guild. 

• An APC certificate, dated within the last 3 years, and issued by SASC (SpLD Assessment Standards Committee) A list of APC holders can also be found at: https://www.sasc.org.uk/find-an-assessor/#  

An educational psychologist must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) https://www.hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register/ 

Before booking an assessment, ensure that all assessors can provide evidence of: 

• A copy of an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance.  

• A certificate of Professional Indemnity Insurance 

The BDA operates a referral service for assessments, and PATOSS has a list of assessors. A local dyslexia association may also have assessors in your area. 

For more information on assessors visit here