Get your Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letter Consultation.

Discover how to get an official ESA letter prescribed by licensed mental health professionals

  • Start your convenient ESA online screening Start your convenient ESA online screening
  • Obtain your ESA letter Obtain your ESA letter
  • Receive continued care for all your ESA needs Receive continued care for all your ESA needs
  • Renew your ESA letter with CertaPet Renew your ESA letter with CertaPet
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How to get your ESA Letter

Get your ESA Letter in 3 Easy Steps

Start your free ESA screening

Start your free ESA screening

If you qualify as a good candidate for an ESA, choose the type of consultation that applies to you and complete an assessment

We connect you to a licensed therapist

We connect you to a licensed therapist

A licensed professional in your state will contact you within 2 business days to schedule your ESA consultation

Receive your ESA letter and enjoy the benefits

Receive your ESA letter and enjoy the benefits

If approved, you may use your ESA letter for housing forgetting about extra pet fees

How to Get an ESA Requirements and Legal Rights

What is an Emotional Support Animal

Emotional support animal, a man petting his emotional support dog on a couch

Emotional Support Animal Definition

An emotional support animal (ESA), also referred to as a support pet, provides comfort and emotional stability to individuals coping with mental or emotional health conditions. Unlike service animals, ESAs are not required to undergo specialized training to perform specific tasks. However, they are expected to be well-behaved in their living environment—meaning they should not display aggression, create excessive noise, or cause property damage.

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Emotional support animal, a man petting his emotional support dog on a couch
Emotional support animal, a person snuggling with their emotional support cat

What Types of Animals Can Serve as an ESA?

The types of animals that can serve as an ESA can be varied. The most common ones are:

  • Dogs
  • Cats
  • Rabbits*
  • Ferrets
  • Rats
  • Mice
  • Hedgehogs
  • Miniature Ponies
  • Pigs
  • Mini horses

*Disclaimer: The CertaPet team of Licensed Mental Health Professionals approves ESA letters strictly for dogs, cats, and rabbits, no other animal will be taken into consideration.

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Emotional support animal, a person snuggling with their emotional support cat
Emotional support animal, a person snuggling with their emotional support dog

What Conditions Qualify for an Emotional Support Animal?

To qualify for an emotional support animal (ESA), an individual must be evaluated by a licensed mental health professional who confirms the presence of a mental or emotional disability as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). ESAs are often recommended as part of a holistic treatment plan for individuals living with conditions such as anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorders, bipolar disorder, and social phobias.

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Emotional support animal, a person snuggling with their emotional support dog
Emotional support animal, a person holding their emotional support dog’s paws

What are the Common Misconceptions about Emotional Support Animals?

A common misconception about emotional support animals (ESAs) is that they are the same as service animals and are therefore entitled to the same legal protections. In reality, ESAs are not service animals and are not granted the same rights. Unlike service animals, ESAs do not have public access privileges, cannot fly for free in the main cabin on domestic U.S. flights, and require proper documentation from a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) to be recognized as such. Not every pet qualifies—an ESA designation is based on a clinical evaluation and specific criteria.

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Emotional support animal, a person holding their emotional support dog’s paws
Emotional support animal law, a picture of an emotional support dog with a gavel

What is the major Emotional Support Animal Law?

The Fair Housing Act (FHA) Amendments of 1998 states that ESAs with legitimate accompanying documents are legally allowed to live in no-pet housing including housing that limits your pet’s size or breed. Additionally, you cannot be charged a pet fee or pet deposit.

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Emotional support animal law, a picture of an emotional support dog with a gavel
Emotional support animal, a woman sitting on a couch petting her emotional support dog
Emotional support animal, a woman sitting on a couch petting her emotional support dog
ESA LETTER REQUIREMENTS

What is an ESA

An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) letter is a legally recognized document issued by a licensed mental health professional as part of an individual’s treatment plan. For those experiencing emotional or mental health challenges, the presence of an ESA can offer meaningful therapeutic support. A valid ESA letter grants housing protections under the Fair Housing Act (FHA)—allowing individuals to live with their emotional support animal even in residences with no-pet policies, and at no additional cost. Under the FHA, landlords cannot charge pet fees, require pet deposits, or enforce breed or size restrictions for ESAs.

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Use the Letter for Housing

Major Benefits of getting an ESA letter with CertaPet

Emotional support animal letter. A woman petting her emotional support dog

Stress-free and pet rent-free living

Obtain your ESA letter and enjoy living with your ESA free from pet deposit and pet rent fees with no size or breed restrictions

Emotional support animal letter. A young woman working out with her emotional support puppy.

Comprehensive care for your mental well-being

Receive continued care from our team of licensed mental health professionals. Find convenient renewal plans so your ESA letter will always be up to date.

WHO WE ARE

CertaPet is a revolutionary online tele-health platform that improves access to mental health care.

Established in 2015, CertaPet was the first in the industry of issuing legitimate ESA letters 100% compliant with state and federal regulations to qualifying individuals from the comfort of your home. CertaPet is a proud veteran owned company, recipient of the Gold Star from the BBB.


Here at CertaPet we have a full staff of psychologists, licensed professional counselors, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed marriage and family therapist that are legally authorized to prescribe an ESA and/or PSD letter. The process involves a free screening, an assigned licensed mental health professional, and a customer support team that is dedicated to getting you all the information you need.

Prairie Conlon, CertaPet Clinical Director with her emotional support dog Prairie Conlon, LPC, NCC

Clinical Director at CertaPet

World’s leading expert on Emotional Support Animals

Emotional support animal letter. A sample ESA letter
HOW TO VERIFY THE LEGITIMACY OF AN ESA LETTER

A legitimate ESA letter is only issued after an evaluation with a licensed professional (therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed counselor).

A legit ESA letter has the following characteristics:

  1. An ESA letter will be issued on formal letterhead.
  2. General information of the ESA applicant. The full name of the person qualifying for the ESA must be included in the document.
  3. License information of the licensed health care provider. The complete and updated license information of the health care provider is included in the ESA letter to be considered valid. The information includes the license number, date of issuance, and the state where they are licensed to practice.
  4. Date in which the letter was issued. ESA letters generally expire within 1 year. The date of issuance is important information for the annual renewal of the document.
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Emotional support animal registration. An ESA cat, ESA dog, and ESA bunny cuddling next to each other
ESA MYTHS AND MISINFORMATION

Do I need to register my ESA?

No, ESA registration and ESA certification are not required to recognize or validate an Emotional Support Animal. This is a common misconception, as no legal registry or certification process is mandated for ESAs at the federal or state level. Instead, only an official ESA letter issued by a licensed professional establishes a pet as an ESA.

Beware of fraudulent online sites and services that advertise free, quick and easy ESA certification or registration because they are fake and you will not receive valid ESA documentation.

Emotional support animal registration. An ESA cat, ESA dog, and ESA bunny cuddling next to each other
REVIEWS

See What Our Clients Say About US

We helped more than 200,000 people with their ESA and PSD needs

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WHY CERTAPET OVER OTHER COMPANIES

Reasons to choose CertaPet for you ESA letter

  • Trusted and <br/> Reliable
    Trusted and
    Reliable
    Backed by licensed professionals and a proven process that ensures compliance with federal ESA housing and travel laws.
  • Support Against <br/> Landlord Pushback
    Support Against
    Landlord Pushback
    Certapet’s therapists are trained and equipped to handle any ESA dispute with landlords or housing complexes.
  • Legitimate <br/> Documentation
    Legitimate
    Documentation
    Fully valid ESA letters to protect your rights and prevent landlord issues.
  • Expert <br/> Advocacy
    Expert
    Advocacy
    Our team supports you if challenges arise, ensuring your housing rights are upheld.
  • Comprehensive <br/> Care
    Comprehensive
    Care
    More than a letter – we’re with you every step of the way with ongoing support.

ESA Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CertaPet ESA process?

Start with a 5-minute online screening to check your eligibility for an ESA or PSD. If eligible, you'll receive information on letter types and pricing. Choose the type of consultation, then provide patient and pet details in a comprehensive assessment.

A licensed mental health professional will contact you for a phone consultation. If approved, you'll get a digital letter via email and can request a hard copy. If not approved, you'll receive a refund minus a $40 fee. Expect contact within two business days.

Note: Canadian residents can apply for ESA housing and travel consultations.

What is the purpose of an ESA Letter?

The purpose of an ESA letter is to provide a legal document that certifies a person's need for an emotional support animal as part of their treatment protocol for mental illness. The letter gives them the legal right to have their ESA live with them and travel with them under specific conditions. An ESA letter is the only binding legal document that affords rights to individuals experiencing emotional and mental health disabilities.

How long does it take to get an ESA letter?

Currently, a therapist will contact you within 2 business days to schedule a phone session. If approved, you can download a digital copy of your letter immediately. If you opted for a hard copy, it will be sent via USPS priority mail, which takes 2-3 business days.

Who can write an ESA letter?

Licensed mental health professionals (LMHP) and authorized healthcare providers are the only people allowed to write an ESA letter. Here's a complete list of professional figures that can write ESA letters: Psychologists, Psychiatrist, Physicians, Licensed Counselor, Physician Assistants, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse, Licensed Clinical Social Workers

Can you get a free ESA letter online?

Yes, you can get a free ESA Letter online, but they do not hold any legal value at all, they are scams. Many fraudulent sources advertise free ESA letters online which do not require a consultation with a mental health professional, and are thus fake. A fake ESA letter is easily distinguishable by the lack of a LMHP consult prior to being issued.

Can you get a lifetime ESA letter?

No, ESA letters expire after one year from the date of issuance. Services that offer lifetime ESA letters are fraudulent. ESA letters need to be renewed because they assess a patient's need for an emotional support animal as part of their treatment plan. A patient's condition changes over time, so up to date valuations are necessary.

Can you Travel with your ESA at no cost?

No, ESAs are no longer allowed to travel for free on any domestic flight in the US. Since January 11 2021, under new regulations passed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Access Carrier Act was amended so that emotional support animals are no longer considered service animals, thus they're subject to air fees like any regular pets on American domestic flights.

Are there any additional ESA forms for approval?

Our therapists can complete reasonable accommodation verification forms for $49.99. Some housing providers may ask invasive health questions, which therapists may not be comfortable answering. Privacy is our priority. You will receive a follow-up call after submitting the form.

Can I have an ESA letter even if I don't have my pet yet?

We offer an option for those without a pet. Select "I don't have my pet yet" during registration for an additional $20. You'll receive an initial recommendation letter. Once you have your pet, update the details and complete a shorter assessment to get a second letter with the pet's information.

What is CertaPet refund policy?

CertaPet cannot guarantee that every airline employee or landlord will follow the requirements outlined by the Federal rules and regulations which govern Emotional Support Animals. Furthermore, CertaPet is not responsible for changing Federal Regulations and rules.

In the unlikely event you are denied an accommodation by an airline, landlord or housing management agent due to a claim that your letter is not valid, we will provide you with the informational resources to assist you.It is not our policy to refund letters due to other entities’ refusal to accept your ESA or PSD letter.

Consultation: If your application was not approved by the Licensed or Qualified Mental Health Professional, your fee will be refunded, excluding the USD40 for consultation and administration fee. This applies to new applicants, renewal applicants, and applicants applying for more than one emotional support animal.

*You can cancel your consultation and receive a refund excluding the USD5 administration fee if you have not been assessed or contacted by the Licensed or Qualified Mental Health Professional.

Can ESA Letter Reduce the Financial Burden for Pet Owners?

Yes, receiving a legitimate ESA letter grants pet owners the right to house ESAs at no additional cost. Landlords cannot charge pet deposits and pet fees.

Are Online Services Offering ESA Letters Legitimate?

Some Online Services offering ESA letters are legitimate, but there are also many fraudulent and scam sites. A valid online ESA service needs to put individuals in contact with a licensed professional that will conduct an evaluation and afterwards issue an official ESA letter. Online services that offer free, instant, or lifetime ESA letters are fake. Online services that advertise ESA certification or ESA registration are also not valid as these don't hold any legal value. The only official ESA document is an ESA letter.

Can you Adopt an Emotional Support Dog?

No, you cannot adopt an emotional support dog. However, you can adopt a dog and then have it prescribed as an ESA animal after going through an evaluation process with a licensed mental health professional.

Which one is best for you?

What’s the difference between an ESA & PSD Letter

CertaPet offers different types of legitimate letters for both ESAs or/and PSDs according to your needs. Emotional support animals (ESAs) are pets that can alleviate and support individuals with emotional disabilities. ESAs are not required to undergo specific training. On the other hand, a psychiatric service dog (PSD) is a type of assistance animal that’s trained to perform specific tasks for individuals living with a mental illness. These unique tasks are directly related to the handler’s disability. CertaPet recommends an ESA letter for housing and a PSD letter to travel.

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Emotional Support Animal Letter for Housing

Psychiatric Service Dog Letter for Traveling

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Resources

Discover everything there is to know about ESAs, PSDs, and so much more

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