Get Your Emotional Support Animal Certification Online Today

To make sure your ESA letter is legally valid, it has to be issued by a licensed mental health professional such as a therapist, psychologist, or clinical social worker. While some states do permit primary care physicians or nurse practitioners to write them, the key requirement is that the provider is licensed and actively involved in your care.

They need to evaluate your mental health condition through a legitimate consultation. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. Your provider will take the time to determine if you have a qualifying condition such as depression, anxiety, or another disorder. Then, they’ll confirm that an emotional support animal is a needed part of your treatment.

An ESA letter is a signed document from a licensed mental health professional confirming that you have a mental health condition and that an emotional support animal is part of your treatment plan.

What a valid ESA letter includes:

• The provider’s name, license number, state of licensure, and contact information
• The date the letter was issued
• Your name as the patient
• A statement that you have a condition recognized in the DSM-5
• Confirmation that an emotional support animal provides therapeutic benefit for your specific condition

The letter doesn’t need to disclose your exact diagnosis. It only needs to confirm that a qualifying condition exists and that an ESA is clinically appropriate for your situation.

What the letter looks like:

Legitimate ESA letters are printed on the provider’s professional letterhead. You don’t need notarization, special seals, or “certification” stamps. These features often signal scam letters from online mills rather than legitimate documentation.

A legitimate letter doesn’t need to be a full review your medical history. It just needs the basics: your name, the professional’s license details, and the date it was issued. Most importantly, it has to state that you have a mental health condition covered by the DSM-5 and that an ESA is part of your treatment. Remember, you have a right to privacy. Meaning that your landlord can’t ask about your specific diagnosis or see your treatment history. As long as the letter confirms that a pro has evaluated you and found that an animal provides a “therapeutic benefit,” you’re good.

Psychiatric Service Dogs are trained to perform specific tasks that directly address a handler’s disability. Examples include interrupting panic attacks, reminding handlers to take medication, performing deep pressure therapy during episodes, or creating physical space in crowded areas. Because they perform trained work, psychiatric service dogs qualify as service animals under the ADA. This means they can accompany their handlers into restaurants, stores, hotels, and other public spaces where pets aren’t allowed.

Emotional Support Animals provide therapeutic benefit through companionship alone. They don’t require task training and aren’t limited to dogs. Cats, rabbits, and other animals can serve as ESAs. Their value comes from their presence, not from performing specific functions. ESAs are protected under the Fair Housing Act, which means landlords must allow them in no-pet housing with proper documentation. However, ESAs have no public access rights. Businesses can legally deny entry to emotional support animals.