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How to Qualify for An Emotional Support Animal
Overview
If you have an emotional disability, you can legally qualify for an ESA, short for an emotional support animal. You must have documentation of an emotional or mental disability from 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.
To qualify for an Emotional Support Animal, your ESA letter must be written on the mental health professional’s letterhead, including their license type, date of the license, license number, the state of the license, and the date the letter was written.
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
- You have a mental disability that is covered by the Fair Housing Act
- Your disability substantially limits you in performing or participating in at least one major life activity
- An Emotional Support Animal is an integral part of relieving symptoms of your current condition
It is recommended that the ESA letter be no older than a year.
What Disorders Qualify You as An Emotional Support Animal Owner
Some conditions that qualify for an ESA letter include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Panic Disorders
- Learning disorders
- Attention Deficit Disorder
- Tourette’s syndrome and tic disorders
- Motor skill disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Dysphorias and dysmorphias
Emotional Support Animal Training
Unlike service animals, ESAs are not required to be trained to perform a service for their handlers. Your current pet may already be serving as your emotional support animal. To achieve official recognition, however, you must have an ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional.
See if you qualify for an Emotional Support Animal letter by clicking the link below.
About the Author: The writing team at Service Dog Certifications is made up of folks who really know their stuff when it comes to disability laws and assistance animals. Many of our writers and editors have service dogs themselves and share insights from their own experiences. All of us have a passion for disability rights and animals.
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I have RAD and severe clinical depression. Would I qualify for an ESA?
Hi I have Epilepsy Gad PTSD Anxiety Panic Attacks n have really really bad nerves!! Would I qualify for a Dog at all?? And how would I go bout it
I’m curious about the same
If I get my dog certified as an ESA will I be able to bring her into stores/restaurants/etc.?
No only Service animals are allowed in stores, restaurants etc. ESA only get into apartment or homes that don’t allow pets
can you have an ESA if you have really bad mood swings?
Does OCD qualify as one of the disorders?
I have sever ODC, but it took me a lot of work to get my hedgehog certified. You need to have crippling OCD because nowadays the term OCD is thrown around a lot to the point where it’s lost a lot of its meaning. You’d need to prove that is very bad, and not just an inconvenience.
I have eye herpes, it can flare up with stress. could this qualify me with an emotional support dog?
Yes, but this can ALSO qualify as a service animal too, just sayin’.