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How to Qualify for An Emotional Support Animal

Updates to Emotional Support Animal Laws
Emotional Support Animals recently lost the right to fly with their handlers. However, they have maintained the right to live with their handlers in apartments, condos, co-ops, and communities that don’t allow regular pets. As a result of this change, more and more Emotional Support Animal owners are looking to train their ESA’s to be Psychiatric Service Animals. If you are interested in learning more about Psychiatric Service Animals, you may find this page helpful.
How to Qualify for An Emotional Support Animal
If you have an emotional disability, you can legally qualify for an ESA, short for an emotional support animal. You must be certified as emotionally disabled by a psychologist, therapist, psychiatrist, or other duly licensed and/or certified mental health professional. This certification should be a formal and appropriately formatted letter, known as an ESA Letter.
Any other kind of doctor – a cardiologist, for instance – does not qualify as a mental health professional because unlike a psychiatrist, other medical doctors are not specialists in mental health. However, some property managers of apartments accept verification forms filled out by a family physician if they are treating you for a mental illness. Ensure that you have the correct authority to write the letter for you.
To qualify for an Emotional Support Animal, your ESA letter must be written on the mental health professional’s letterhead, include his or her license type, date of the license, license number, and the state which issued the license. Moreover, it should have the date when it was written. A sample of the request letter can be viewed at the official website of Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, but there are other websites that have the same kind of samples which you may prefer.
What the Letter Must Contain
Your ESA letter must contain some details which will inform your landlord that you are:
- A current patient of the signing mental health professional.
- Under this mental health professional’s care for your disability which is described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders Version V.
- Substantially limited in performing or participating in at least one of life’s major activities because of your disability.
- Having an Emotional Support Animal is an integral part of the treatment of your current condition.
- The ESA letter must be dated and no older than a year.
What Disorders Qualify You as An Emotional Support Animal Owner
To help you further on qualifying for an ESA, you may want to read through the list of some of the disorders stipulated in the previously mentioned DSM-V:
- Learning disorders.
- Attention Deficit Disorder, also known as ADD.
- Sexual disorder.
- Mental retardation.
- Tic disorders.
- Motor skills disorders.
- Bipolar disorder.
- Gender identity.
- Substance-related disorder (alcohol and/or drugs, among others).
- Cognitive disorders.
Emotional Support Animal Training
Unlike service animals, ESA’s are not required to be trained to perform a service for their handlers. An ESA provides emotional support for their handlers and can qualify as long as the animal does not cause a disturbance or undue hardship for an apartment manager/owner. For more information on ESA’s and service animals, please contact Service Dog Certifications.
See if you qualify for an Emotional Support Animal letter from ESA Doctors by clicking the link below.
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Do ESA’s need to be licensed. I am asking about a neighborhood Pitbull in a senior park. Thank you.
ESAs do not require a special license. You need a letter from a licensed healthcare professional. Please see this article for more details: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-get-an-emotional-support-dog-letter/
I have a visual impaitment ( though I have sight am considered legally bling) could I get my elkhound certifiied Just recently got him as a puppy
Your dog would need to be trained to perform a task or job relating to your visual impairment (which must also be considered a disability). If and when you are able to fully train your dog, we can help you with service dog accessories like certificates here: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/service-dog-id/
How much does this cost?
Please see this post for more information: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-get-an-emotional-support-dog-letter/
. I ..am a Senior who was thru doctor I have PTSD. I have had a Support Dog for 13 yrs Jasper died about 3 months . I miss him so much he gave me so much love.I Have been living in a Hud Apartment that excepts small dogs that are house trained. Please help me find a good Dog .Thanks
So sorry to hear about Jasper. A dog’s love is hard to replace. You may want to contact local animal shelters to see if they have any dogs for adoption. This article may have some information on how to adopt a new emotional support animal: https://esadoctors.com/how-to-get-an-esa-dog/ Hope you’ll find a new friend soon!
I was wondering does ADHD diagnosis qualify you as well
Yes, it’s possible, but it’s up to the licensed healthcare professional to determine whether you qualify or not.
can I get an emotional support animal if I’m under 18
Yes, there is no age limit on getting an ESA. You will still need your therapist to issue an ESA letter, and your legal guardian needs to sign any papers for you. You may find this article on how to get an ESA letter interesting: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-get-an-emotional-support-dog-letter/
Do I have to be labeled “disabled” to qualify for an ESA?
It is a little unfortunate you feel that a disability is a label. But, to qualify for an ESA, you do need to talk to a therapist and doctor about your emotional or mental disability. If you feel uncomfortable discussing this with your current doctor, or don’t have a therapist, then you may consider connecting with one online through telehealth. Together you will assess if an ESA is a good fit as part of your treatment, and if approved, they will issue an ESA letter. In this letter, the details of your disability will not be revealed, but the ESA letter is official, and you will share it with landlords or airlines to attest to your needs for an ESA.
You may find this article on how to get an ESA letter interesting https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-get-an-emotional-support-dog-letter/
A landlord or anyone else that asks you for a registration number, certificate or ID proving your dog is an emotional support animal is misinformed. The only proof you need is the ESA letter written by a licensed professional stating your need for an emotional support dog.
Can I get my dog qualified as a emmotional support animal because I recently lost my husband after 55 years and I can’t bear to be away from her.
You may speak to your doctor or therapist to see if you qualify for an Emotional Support Animal. They will assess your needs and if you’re approved write an ESA Letter which makes your dog legally an emotional support dog. You may find this article on how to get an ESA Letter interesting – https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-get-an-emotional-support-dog-letter/
Would I be able to register my duck as an emotional support animal even though I am not diagnosed with any mental illnesses?
No, you need to connect with a licensed medical health professional who will diagnose your mental disability and determine if you’re a candidate for an emotional support duck. If you qualify, they will issue the necessary ESA letter. Claiming any animal as an ESA with a legitimate ESA letter is fraudulent. You may find this article on how to get an ESA letter interesting https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-get-an-emotional-support-dog-letter/
As long as the duck is not an ugly duck.