Psychiatric service dog letter
A psychiatric service dog (PSD) letter is a signed letter from a mental-health clinician licensed in your state. It confirms that you have a psychiatric disability and a disability-related need for a dog trained to do tasks for you. Ours follows a live video or phone consultation and costs $79, consultation included. If you qualify, the signed PDF often arrives within 24 hours.
PSD letters at a glance
One line each, with the rule it comes from. The detail follows further down.
Training. The dog must be individually trained to do work or tasks for your psychiatric disability. Comfort or companionship on its own is not a task.
28 C.F.R. § 36.104No. Staff may ask only whether the dog is needed because of a disability and what task it is trained to do. They may not ask for paperwork.
28 C.F.R. § 36.302(c)No. A U.S. airline may require the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form, plus a relief form on flights of 8 hours or more, and nothing beyond those forms.
14 C.F.R. § 382.75In housing, when a landlord asks for reliable information about a disability that is not obvious. At work, where an employer may also ask for documentation.
HUD/DOJ Joint Statement on Reasonable Accommodations under the Fair Housing ActNo. U.S. law has no service-dog registry, and certificates, ID cards and vests sold online carry no legal weight.
U.S. Department of Justice, Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADAHUD now pursues housing complaints only for animals trained to do disability-related tasks, and calls requests for those animals presumptively reasonable.
HUD FHEO enforcement guidance on animal accommodation requests, 22 May 2026$79 including the consultation, or $149 together with an ESA letter for housing. The price is the same in every state.
Pricing, belowWhat a PSD letter is
People also call it a service dog letter or a service animal letter. It is a clinician's written confirmation of two things: that you have a psychiatric disability, and that a trained dog helps you with it. It is a clinical record, not a licence for the dog.
What it does
What it doesn't do
PSD letter or ESA letter
Choose the letter that describes your animal today, not the one you hope it will be. If you are unsure, start the screening and talk it through with your clinician.
Your dog is trained to do at least one task when your symptoms start, such as pressing its weight onto you during a panic attack or waking you from a nightmare.
Your animal eases your symptoms by being with you and has not been trained to do specific tasks.
Both letters from one course of care cost $149, with a consultation for each. In California, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana and Montana the ESA letter in that combination follows the 30-day timeline we use in those states; the PSD letter does not wait. California's 30-day rule covers emotional support dogs only. California Health and Safety Code § 122318
| Topic | PSD letter | ESA letter |
|---|---|---|
| What the animal does | Performs at least one trained task for a psychiatric disability | Helps by being with you; no task training |
| Which animals | Dogs (the ADA also allows miniature horses case by case) | Not limited to dogs |
| Shops, restaurants, hotels | Admitted under the ADA because of its training; no paperwork can be demanded | No public-access rights |
| Flights | Flies in the cabin with the DOT form | Treated as a pet since 11 January 2021 |
| Housing | Reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act | Reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act and state law |
| Work | Reasonable accommodation under ADA Title I | Case by case with your employer |
| Our price | $79 with consultation | $99 with consultation |
Swipe sideways to see the whole table. Sources: 28 C.F.R. § 36.104, 14 C.F.R. Part 382, Subpart E, 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f).
How it works
Telehealth is how most people get a PSD letter now. The rule that matters is that your clinician is licensed where you are, not where the company is.
Answer a few questions about your symptoms and what your dog does for you. No card is needed to see whether a consultation makes sense.
You pay at checkout, then meet the clinician by video or phone. They ask how your condition limits daily life and which task your dog performs. The clinician decides, and not everyone qualifies.
If you qualify, the letter arrives as a signed PDF on the clinician's letterhead, often within 24 hours of the consultation and usually within 48. If you don't, you can ask for a full refund within 7 days.
PSD-only letters have no waiting period in any state. A clinician who evaluates you by telehealth generally must be licensed in the state where you are located. HHS telehealth.hhs.gov, Licensure for behavioral health
Who qualifies
Two things, and a diagnosis on its own is neither. First, a disability: under the ADA, a mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity such as sleeping, concentrating, thinking, communicating or working. 42 U.S.C. § 12102
Second, a dog individually trained to do at least one task that helps with that disability. 28 C.F.R. § 36.104
The evaluation is a clinical conversation, not a form. Expect questions about how often your symptoms happen, what they stop you doing, and what the dog does when they start. If the clinician cannot connect your dog's training to your disability, they will not write the letter, and the refund terms apply.
Conditions that can qualify
When they substantially limit daily life. The clinician decides; a name on this list is not a qualification.
What the dog does
One reliable task is enough. These eight come from the task lists that IAADP and Psychiatric Service Dog Partners publish, and from the ADA rule itself.
On cue, the dog presses its weight onto your chest or lap until your breathing slows.
A nudge or a paw breaks a cycle of skin-picking, scratching or other repetitive self-harm, the kind of task the ADA rule gives as its own example.
Trained to notice early signs, such as restlessness or a change in breathing, and to alert you before a panic attack peaks.
Licks your hand or paws your leg until you respond, a task IAADP lists for rousing a handler from a dissociative spell.
Wakes you from a night terror and can be taught to switch on a lamp.
Brings your medication, a drink or your phone when you can't get up.
Leads you to a door, your car or a quiet corner on a single cue.
Stands or circles to keep strangers at a comfortable distance in a queue or on a train.
Sources: 28 C.F.R. § 36.104, IAADP, tasks for service dogs for persons with a psychiatric disability, Psychiatric Service Dog Partners, work and task list.
Training
The law sets no hours, no test and no certificate. The Justice Department chose not to impose formal training requirements, and you may train your own dog. 28 C.F.R. Part 36, Appendix A U.S. Department of Justice, Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA
What the law does require is the result: a dog that performs its task and behaves in public. Private benchmarks help you judge when you are there. IAADP's voluntary standard is at least 120 hours of training over six months or more, with at least 30 of those hours spent on outings, and IAADP says missing it does not make a dog illegitimate. IAADP Minimum Training Standards for Public Access
Psychiatric Service Dog Partners says training a service dog generally takes one to two years. Psychiatric Service Dog Partners, training basics FAQ Until your dog is trained, the ADA gives it no access to shops or restaurants; some states extend access to dogs in training, as the state table below shows.
Name, sit, down, stay, recall and a loose leash, in short daily sessions with a reward for every correct response.
A relaxed settle on a mat, leaving dropped food alone, and checking in with you when something startles the dog.
Pet-friendly shops, buses, lifts, crowds and noisy floors, built up slowly. No sniffing shelves and no greeting strangers while working.
One task tied to your symptoms, broken into small steps and put on a cue, then practised away from home.
A recorded public access test, such as the one Psychiatric Service Dog Partners recommends, plus a log of training hours and skills. Many trainers use the AKC Canine Good Citizen test as a first screen.
Is your dog ready? A quick check
Mostly ticked? Book the consultation. Still working on it? An emotional support animal letter from a licensed clinician may cover your home now, and you can add the PSD letter when the training is done.
Your rights, setting by setting
The rules change with the setting, which is where most confusion about PSD letters comes from. Each line carries the rule it comes from.
ADA Title III
Fair Housing Act
Air Carrier Access Act
ADA Title I
Flying with a PSD
Since January 2021, U.S. airlines treat a psychiatric service dog like any other service dog. The paperwork is two federal forms that you fill in yourself.
PSD letter for housing
The Fair Housing Act covers renters with a disability-related need for an animal, including in buildings with a no-pets rule.
A housing provider must consider a reasonable-accommodation request for your dog. 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f) 24 C.F.R. § 100.204 When the disability or the need is not obvious, it may ask for reliable information, which can come from a doctor or other medical professional. HUD/DOJ Joint Statement on Reasonable Accommodations under the Fair Housing Act
HUD has withdrawn its two earlier assistance-animal notices, FHEO-2013-01 and FHEO-2020-01, by a Federal Register notice published in April 2026 and effective from September 2025. Federal Register 2026-06624: HUD withdrawal of FHEO-2013-01 and FHEO-2020-01 On 22 May 2026 it told its investigators to pursue only cases involving animals trained to do disability-related tasks, and called requests for those animals presumptively reasonable. That is enforcement guidance, not a new statute, and the right to sue in court is untouched. HUD FHEO enforcement guidance on animal accommodation requests, 22 May 2026
Pet rent and deposits now depend on your state and on your request. The federal guidance that barred them is gone; Virginia's statute, for example, still bans pet fees for assistance animals. Virginia Code § 36-96.3:1 You stay responsible for any damage.
Some states set their own rules for housing documentation. Iowa requires eight items in the letter and gives it at least 12 months. Iowa Code § 216.8C Illinois requires a therapeutic relationship and rejects certificates issued without a meaningful assessment. Illinois Assistance Animal Integrity Act, 310 ILCS 120 Missouri makes knowingly providing false housing documentation a misdemeanor. Missouri Revised Statutes § 209.204 Each state page covers its own rules.
What to send your landlord
A short note asking your landlord to make an exception to the pet policy for your service dog. Keep a dated copy.
Your PSD letter answers the question a landlord may ask when your disability is not obvious, without naming a diagnosis.
If the reply is a question the landlord is not allowed to ask, or a refusal, your clinician can confirm the letter is genuine at no extra cost.
Line by line
No federal rule prescribes a format. These are the details landlords and employers check, and what every letter we issue carries.
We don't sell templates. A template no clinician has signed is not documentation, and in Tennessee giving a business false service-animal documentation is itself a crime. Tennessee Code Ann. § 39-16-304
Legitimate PSD letters
An online letter is as legitimate as the evaluation behind it. Telehealth is fine; skipping the clinician is not.
Signs of a real evaluation
Red flags
From our verified state law files. Click a header to sort; click a state for its full page.
| State | Misrepresentation law | Penalty | Dogs in training |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | A.R.S. § 11-1024(K) | Civil penalty up to $250 | Yes, defined as service animals |
| California | Penal Code § 365.7 | Misdemeanor: up to 6 months and/or $1,000 | — |
| Colorado | C.R.S. § 18-13-107.7 | Petty offense after a warning: $25 to $500 | Offense covers dogs in training |
| Florida | Fla. Stat. § 413.08(9) | 2nd-degree misdemeanor + 30 hours community service | — |
| Georgia | O.C.G.A. § 30-4-4(b) | Misdemeanor: up to $2,000 and/or 30 days | Yes, with conditions |
| Hawaii | HRS § 347-2.6 | Civil fine $100 to $250; $500+ after | — |
| Idaho | I.C. § 18-5811A | Misdemeanor: up to 6 months and/or $1,000 | Defined term; access not covered |
| Illinois | No offense statute | None | Yes (720 ILCS 5/48-8) |
| Indiana | No service-animal offense | ESA housing only: up to $10,000 | Trainers, while training |
| Iowa | Iowa Code § 216C.11(3) | Simple misdemeanor | Yes |
| Kansas | K.S.A. 39-1112 | Class A misdemeanor | Trainers |
| Maryland | No offense statute | None | — |
| Massachusetts | No offense statute | None | Trainers |
| Michigan | MCL 752.62 | Misdemeanor: up to 90 days and/or $500 | Yes |
| Minnesota | Minn. Stat. § 609.833 | Petty misdemeanor; repeat misdemeanor | Housing only |
| Missouri | RSMo § 209.204 | Class C misdemeanor + civil damages | Trainers |
| Nebraska | No general offense | Guide-dog misuse only | Trainers |
| Nevada | NRS 426.805 | Misdemeanor, fine up to $500 | Yes |
| New Jersey | N.J.S.A. 10:5-29.5 | Fine $100 to $500 (guide-dog harness) | — |
| New York | No offense statute | None | — |
| North Carolina | N.C.G.S. § 168-4.5 | Class 3 misdemeanor, up to $200 | Yes |
| Ohio | No offense statute | None | Trainers |
| Oklahoma | 4 O.S. § 801(F) | Misdemeanor | Trainers |
| Oregon | No offense statute | None | — |
| Pennsylvania | 68 P.S. § 405.5–405.6 | Housing: up to $2,500 and 1 year | Yes |
| South Carolina | S.C. Code § 47-3-980 | Fine up to $250; up to $1,000 for repeats | Yes |
| Tennessee | T.C.A. § 39-16-304 | Class B misdemeanor + community service | Limited |
| Texas | Hum. Res. Code § 121.006 | Fine up to $1,000 + 30 hours community service | With an approved trainer |
| Utah | Utah Code § 26B-6-805(2) | Class C misdemeanor | Yes |
| Virginia | Va. Code § 51.5-44.1 | Class 4 misdemeanor, up to $250 | — |
| Washington | RCW 49.60.214 | Civil infraction, up to $500 | Trainees defined |
| Wisconsin | No public-place offense | Housing forfeiture $500+ | Yes |
Swipe sideways on a phone to see the whole table. A dash means our research for that state did not cover dogs in training. The table covers 32 states so far; every state and DC has its own ESA page. General information, not legal advice.
PSD letter cost
A PSD letter with its consultation costs $79. With an ESA letter for housing it is $149, which covers a consultation for each letter. There is no membership and no auto-renewal.
Typical competitor price $159 — you save up to $60
The reasonable-accommodation letter you give your landlord, after a live clinical evaluation.
Both letters from one course of care, including the consultations for each.
For people who already have housing sorted and need psychiatric service dog documentation only.
If the clinician finds you qualify, your signed PDF often arrives within 24 hours of the consultation and usually within 48. Read the guarantee and refund terms.
Why this letter holds up
Read the exact terms. Money-back guarantee: full refund if you do not qualify, and a full refund if your housing provider refuses the letter.
★★★★★I had a really positive experience from start to finish. The process was smooth, and I felt comfortable sharing everything without feeling rushed or judged. The questions were straightforward and easy to answer, and I really appreciated how respectful and understanding everyone was throughout the process. Having the opportunity to speak with a licensed professional afterward was also very helpful and added a lot of value to the experience. Overall, I’m very satisfied with the service
Hamza Khalid · Trustpilot, 2026-09
★★★★★Great service!! 5 stars hands down!
Jen Khan · Trustpilot, 2026-09
Read all Pet Support Letter reviews on Trustpilot. We show our own reviews only, word for word.
PSD myths
You need a PSD letter to fly.
FactAirlines may ask only for the DOT forms. The DOT dropped its clinician-letter requirement in January 2021. 14 C.F.R. § 382.75
Show the letter and any shop has to let your dog in.
FactAccess comes from the dog's training. Staff may ask two questions and may not ask for paperwork. 28 C.F.R. § 36.302(c)
Your dog needs a registration number or a vest.
FactNo official registry exists, and neither a vest nor an ID card is required. U.S. Department of Justice, Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA
PSD letters expire every 12 months.
FactNo federal rule sets an expiry. Iowa housing letters run 12 months or the lease term, whichever is longer. Iowa Code § 216.8C
Any dog counts if you have a diagnosis.
FactThe dog must be trained to do work or tasks for your disability. Comfort alone is not a task. 28 C.F.R. § 36.104
A landlord has to approve every PSD letter.
FactA landlord must consider the request and may ask for reliable information. It may refuse where granting it would pose a direct threat to others. 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)
PSD letter FAQ
A PSD letter is a signed letter from a licensed mental-health clinician confirming that you have a psychiatric disability and a disability-related need for a dog trained to do tasks for you. It is used mainly for housing and work requests. It does not make a dog a service dog; training does (28 C.F.R. § 36.104).
Not to go into shops, restaurants or hotels: staff may not ask for documentation (28 C.F.R. § 36.302(c)(6)). Not to fly: airlines use the DOT forms (14 C.F.R. § 382.75). You will usually want one for housing, where a landlord may ask for reliable information when your disability is not obvious, and at work, where an employer may ask for documentation.
Yes. Any licensed clinician who treats or evaluates your condition, within the scope of their licence, can write it, including your own therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist or doctor. If you see a clinician by telehealth, they generally must be licensed in the state where you are.
Your dog should already do at least one task for your disability, or be close to it. The clinician documents a need for a trained dog; the training itself is yours or a trainer's. If the training is still early, an ESA letter may cover your housing in the meantime.
You take a free two-minute screening, pay at checkout, then meet a clinician licensed in your state by video or phone. They ask about your symptoms, how they limit daily life and what your dog does. The clinician decides whether you qualify.
Yes, when a licensed clinician in your state evaluates you live before writing it. A letter you can download without speaking to anyone, or one sold with a registration number or ID card, is not a real evaluation.
$79 for the letter and the consultation. With an ESA letter for housing it is $149, which includes a consultation for each. The price is the same in every state and there is no subscription.
Often, yes. If the clinician finds you qualify, the signed PDF often arrives within 24 hours of the consultation and usually within 48. PSD-only letters have no waiting period in any state; we never issue a letter without a live consultation first.
A landlord must consider your request and may ask for reliable information if your disability is not obvious. It may refuse if the dog would pose a direct threat. Whether pet rent or a deposit can be charged now depends on your state's law and your request.
No. U.S. airlines may require only the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form, and a relief form on flights of 8 hours or more. They may not ask for a letter (14 C.F.R. § 382.75).
No. Staff may ask only whether the dog is required because of a disability and what task it is trained to perform (28 C.F.R. § 36.302(c)(6)). They may ask you to remove a dog that is out of control or not house-trained.
No. The ADA requires none of them, and the Justice Department does not recognise online certificates or registries as proof of anything. Your local dog licensing and vaccination rules still apply.
Training. A psychiatric service dog is trained to do tasks for your disability and is covered in public places and on flights. An emotional support animal helps by being with you and is covered mainly in housing.
No federal rule sets an expiry date. A landlord or employer may reasonably ask for current information if your situation changes, and Iowa requires housing letters to state an expiry of at least 12 months.
Yes, when the anxiety or depression substantially limits a major life activity and the dog is trained to do a task that helps, such as deep pressure during panic or fetching medication. The diagnosis alone is not enough.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed 2026-10-23 by Darren Rafel, LCSW. Federal rules on service animals changed in 2021 and 2026; we re-check this page and record the date above.
Two-minute screening, confidential, no card. A clinician licensed in your state makes the decision.
Start the free screening HIPAA-compliant intake · Licensed clinicians · Money-back guarantee: full refund if you do not qualify, and a full refund if your housing provider refuses the letter.
