Around the time of my diagnosis, there was a ton of testing and bouncing around involved, but that was in 2002 (though the thought I had AS came about three or four years prior). Now that it's become so overblown, I imagine a diagnosis would come a lot quicker-- just look at how ADD was.
what kind of credentials or school of science should we be looking for if we are researching from scratch?
that should have read "alcoholism". Yeah, I can't type
I had 3 sessions last December. He just asked a variety of questions apparently designed to elicit responses that would sift truly Aspie behavior from depression, schizophrenia, or mere eccentricity. Maybe mine was quick because I was stimming like nobody's business, rearranging all of his diplomas so they were geometrically aligned, and couldn't look him in the eye even when he ordered me to.
Heheheh, you rearranged his diplomas?? I love it 
Good question. One thing that may keep me from receiving an official diagnosis is my lack of knowledge about the process. To be handed back and forth between various specialist would be seriously distasteful.
You're right. "Something happened" was a poor choice of words. I should have said something like "I had always been different from the other kids." I think y'all know exactly what I mean.
Now, what about that record security?
Yeah hope someone answers. For the same reasons. If I were rich and famous either already, or get to become so, I'd seek officialdom just to rub in some noses; but as it is, I'm disappearable if things get freaky.
Hand me a tin hat if you want but the world is very strange right now...I like to be careful what radars I blip.
Garmonbozia -
Since you work in a professional field & hope to move up, I'd say stick with self-diagnosis. Unless this really begins to impede you in some way. It's not necessarily the case that your medical records could fall into the wrong hands, but it's not a risk to take if you don't have to.
Personally, I'm already on disability, and I want to know if I have AS, as it would shed light on a lot of things that have held me back in my life, and maybe help me with learning more effective coping mechanisms.