To get a PSD letter, the first step is to connect with a licensed healthcare professional. A licensed healthcare professional helps someone establish whether they have a qualifying disability for purposes of owning a psychiatric service dog.
Owners of psychiatric service dogs have special legal rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Fair Housing Act (FHA), and Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) that give them access to places regular pets aren’t allowed to go. For example, PSDs are allowed to board flights free of charge. If you’re interested in obtaining a psychiatric service dog (PSD) letter, we will cover all the important details you should know.
If you are ready to work with a licensed healthcare professional for a PSD letter:
Here’s some quick nav if you have specific questions:
- What is a psychiatric service dog?
- Where are psychiatric service dogs allowed to go?
- Who qualifies for a psychiatric service dog?
- What is a psychiatric service dog (PSD) letter?
- How do I get a psychiatric service dog (PSD) letter?
- How do I certify or register a psychiatric service dog?
- Can my emotional support animal be a psychiatric service dog?
- Final thoughts
1. What is a psychiatric service dog?
A psychiatric service dog is a type of service animal that assists people that have invisible disabilities. To qualify as a PSD, a dog must be individually trained to perform tasks related to a mental, emotional, or learning disability. Only dogs can qualify as psychiatric service animals, no other type of animal. However, there are no limitations on breed or size for PSDs.
Psychiatric service dogs perform an incredible array of tasks.
They can:
- calm a handler having an anxiety or panic attack with pressure or tactile stimulation
- help ground and reorient a person have a psychotic episode
- remind a person to take their medication and retrieve it
- prevent someone from oversleeping
- interrupt obsessive-compulsive or self-destructive behaviors
This is just a small sample of the numerous tasks that psychiatric service dogs are trained to perform.
Expectations of PSDs at work: A psychiatric service dog should also be trained to behave and perform its tasks in any public setting. A PSD should not become easily distracted by food, people, other animals, or moving objects. They should be able to navigate congested areas such as airports, stores, and other public venues. A PSD needs to be under the handler’s control at all times and be able to focus on its tasks even in busy environments that are unfamiliar.
Who can train a PSD: PSDs can be trained by the handler or professionally by a third party. The ADA does not require the use of a professional trainer or a particular training program or school. If the owner is up to the task, they can train a PSD themselves. Many PSD owners have successfully trained their psychiatric service dogs without the assistance of third parties. However, if you’re a potential PSD owner, you should be honest about your abilities as a trainer and level of commitment to getting the job done. To get started with training your dog, you may find this online training class helpful.
2. Where are psychiatric service dogs allowed to go?
Psychiatric service dogs are generally allowed in areas where the public can go, even if other pets may be prohibited. PSDs can accompany their owners in places like stores, restaurants, beaches, schools, libraries, and other public areas that may otherwise prohibit pets.
PSDs also have the right to live with their owners in housing free of charge, even if the building normally bans animals and pets.
And PSDs have the right to board airplanes if the handler submits the DOT’s Service Animal Air Transportation Form before the flight. PSDs are allowed to board flights free of charge.
However, the right of access for PSD owners is not absolute. A venue may deny entry to a PSD if allowing the PSD would create a direct threat to the health or safety of others (e.g., sterile clinical areas, food preparation areas, etc.). A PSD can also be denied entry if it is not under the control of the handler.
If you need an PSD Letter for your psychiatric service dog, you can submit a request completely online here: PSD LETTER ONLINE. You will work directly with a licensed healthcare professional and we’ll be here to help answer any questions you have.
3. Who qualifies for a psychiatric service dog?
To qualify for a psychiatric service dog, the handler must have a mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. PSD owners have conditions like (but not limited to):
- severe depression
- anxiety
- panic disorders
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- phobias
- learning disabilities
- autism
A licensed mental health professional is best suited to evaluate mental and emotional health. If you would like to work with an LMHP on this, you can start by filling out this PSD questionnaire.
4. What is a psychiatric service dog (PSD) letter?
Having a disability, as defined by the ADA, is a prerequisite to owning a service animal. A PSD letter is a signed letter from a licensed healthcare professional, such as a psychologist, social worker, psychiatrist, doctor, nurse, or counselor, that states whether the healthcare professional believes the client has a mental or emotional disability that can benefit from having a PSD.
The purpose of a PSD letter is to provide individuals documentation that reaffirms the individual has a qualifying condition under relevant disability laws to own a psychiatric service dog. States have become more sensitive to individuals that falsify their need for service dogs, and PSD letters provide additional assurance that a handler has followed the proper steps.
A PSD letter does not certify that a PSD has been properly trained. Representing whether the PSD has been trained to perform tasks relating to the handler’s disability and is capable of being in public environments is a responsibility that always falls on the handler. The licensed healthcare professional is not responsible for this aspect of PSD ownership, only the part dealing with mental health.
PSD letters can also help prospective PSD handlers that may not have fully trained their PSD or adopted a dog yet but want to understand whether they have a qualifying condition.
People who already handle PSDs also obtain PSD letters for peace of mind and documentation regarding their service dog-related condition.
5. How do I get a psychiatric service dog (PSD) letter?
If you already have a mental healthcare provider and are interested in obtaining a PSD letter, you can ask them about formally starting the process to get a PSD. However, many healthcare professionals are unaware of PSDs and the regulations surrounding them.
If you need a mental healthcare professional, ESA Doctors works with licensed healthcare professionals who are knowledgeable about assistance animals and can assess whether you have an ADA disability for purposes of owning a psychiatric service dog. These compassionate professionals work remotely, so you don’t have to leave the comforts of your home. Whether you’re interested in training a PSD or already have one, the state-licensed professionals we work with can help you get a current PSD letter.
6. How do I certify or register a psychiatric service dog?
There is no requirement to certify or register a psychiatric service dog. In fact, the DOJ has specifically stated that they do not recognize certification or registration documents as proof that a dog is a psychiatric service dog. If you’re at a public venue, staff members can only ask two questions:
- Is the dog a PSD required because of a disability?
- What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
Under the ADA, you do not have to disclose specific information about your disability. You also have a right to dignity—you cannot be forced to have your PSD demonstrate its task.
You are not required to carry around or submit any documentation in order to be accommodated if you are with your PSD, except for air travel. For flights, PSD owners must submit a special service animal form to certify that their dog is indeed a psychiatric service dog prior to boarding the flight.
Why some handlers use service animal accessories: Many psychiatric service dog handlers use accessories like ID cards, badges, vests, tags, and harnesses. PSD owners use service animal paraphernalia for convenience to help signal to the public that their psychiatric service dog is at work, rather than a normal pet.
These items help inform strangers and create appropriate boundaries; for example, they can be a shield against aggressive inquiries or curious children. However, these items do not qualify a dog as a PSD per se. They are optional and do not have any legal weight, although third parties may use them as a factor to help determine if they are dealing with a service animal.
7. Can my emotional support animal be a psychiatric service dog?
ESA owners should be aware that emotional support animals are very different from PSDs. The critical difference is that PSDs are trained to perform tasks relating to a disability, whereas ESAs are not. It is possible to train an ESA to become a PSD. However, that requires a few things.
Most importantly, a PSD is classified as such because it is trained to perform tasks relating to a disability. If no need for a trained task exists, then an ESA is more appropriate. However, if you need a PSD and have the patience and dedication to train your dog properly, it is certainly possible for an ESA to become a PSD. Many owners have successfully made that transition.
8. Final thoughts
Psychiatric service dogs perform life-saving tasks for their handlers. They not only assist in times of crisis and emergency but also help their handlers maintain a healthy lifestyle and routine. PSD handlers enjoy many privileges under disability laws, but those privileges come with responsibilities. PSD handlers must ensure that their animals are fully trained to perform disability-related tasks and have the ability to comport themselves in all kinds of public settings.
If you’re interested in consulting with a licensed healthcare professional to see if a PSD could potentially help you, or you’re interested in qualifying for a PSD letter, ESA Doctors can help.
See if you qualify for a psychiatric service dog.
Complete the Psychiatric Service Dog Questionnaire now!
How can I get an emotional support animal certificate if I can’t afford one but I do have Medicare/Medicaid and reside in Oklahoma?
You do not need a “certificate” for an emotional support animal. You will need a letter from your licensed healthcare provider. We recommend checking to see if a doctor or therapist covered by your insurance can help you.
On the DOT form for plane travel, it ask the name of the trainer , I am the one (owner of the dog) who trained my dog, is it allowed that I will put myself on the form?
Thank u!
If you are the trainer you can put yourself down on the form. Please see this article for information on how to complete the DOT form: https://esadoctors.com/dot-service-animal-air-transportation-form/
The building where I live wants to mail an actual letter of their own to the ESA doctor. Is this possible for them to mail to an actual address for a response, if your service is used.
That is not how ESA letters are usually handled. The doctor or therapist will give the ESA letter directly to the tenant, and then it is the tenant’s responsibility to submit the ESA letter to their housing provider.
A friend of mine drives an 18 wheeler. She often has to spend the night alone in her truck. The route she drives has had a few women attacked while parked at night. She experienced childhood trauma and is having increasing difficulty sleeping for fear of being attacked. She has a large bully dog who protects her at home but wants to know if she would qualify for a ESD or a PSD so she could take him on the road. The company she drives for does not allow them to carry weapons or to carry a dog so women are left without protection.
ESAs do not have workplace rights unfortunately, but service dogs do. To qualify, your friend would need to confirm that she has an eligible ADA mental health disability, and also a dog that has been individually trained to do a job or task related to that disability.
What can I do if I can’t afford to pay for a letter or certificate to show that my dog a PSD dog
You do not need a letter, certificate or any other form of documentation to prove that you own a psychiatric service dog. A PSD letter can certainly help since it can confirm whether you have an ADA eligible disability, but you do not need to carry it around with you. If a staff member wants to verify that you are being accompanied by a psychiatric service dog, they can ask two questions: 1. Is the dog a service dog required for a disability? and 2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform? For reference, you can find the ADA rules at this link: https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-2010-requirements/
I would need this when flying.
PSD letters are helpful but do not have to be submitted to airlines in order to fly with a psychiatric service dog. You would need to complete the DOT’s Service Animal Transportation Form: https://esadoctors.com/dot-service-animal-air-transportation-form/
My daughter’s mental health provider won’t write a PSD letter because they haven’t been trained on the subject ven though the therapist we work with thinks it would be good for my daughter who has a diagnosis listed on this website. Any suggestions on how I can direct them to such training?
Your situation is unfortunately all too common. Many therapists and doctors are unable to write ESA letters or PSD letters because they lack the proper understanding or experience. If you need someone that specializes in PSD letter evaluations, we can certainly help. With our service you’ll work directly with a provider licensed for your state that is an expert at PSD letters. If your provider would like more information on what to do in these situations, we wrote an article they might find helpful which they can find here: https://esadoctors.com/tell-client-cant-write-esa-letter/
American Airlines as of 6/16/2022 is requiring PSD dogs to have a PSD certificate prior to boarding. I already have a letter from a licensed health care professional, how do I get an “official’ looking PSD certificate for my dog?
TIA,
Rob
You do not need a “certificate” for a service dog. The airline may be referring to the DOT’s Service Animal Air Transportation form. Please see this link on instructions for that form: https://esadoctors.com/dot-service-animal-air-transportation-form/
I am having a difficult time finding a trainer to train my dog as a PSD. Can I get help finding some training that is available?
Unfortunately we do not provide referrals for trainers.
You can train your own
I’m interested in adopting a dog soon, which I’d like to train as my own PSD. I’ve had my therapist recommend it to me on multiple occasions. What do I need before adopting? Additionally, my landlord has previously said no to having pets, though half our community has dogs. Where do I start?
Service animals are exempt from no-pets policies. Landlords have to reasonably accommodate tenants that have a disability that requires the use of a trained service animal. We don’t provide any assistance with the adoption process, but if you are not experienced in training dogs we suggest consulting with a professional trainer and your therapist to determine the type of training your potential PSD will need and what characteristics in a dog you may want.