Who Can Write an ESA Letter? | Paw-thorized Professionals Revealed

So, you’ve been house hunting with your furry friend, who also helps you navigate your day-to-day life and supports your mental health. But for your pet to be officially recognized as an emotional support animal (ESA) and live with you anywhere, you need one important document—a valid ESA letter.

Now, before you reach for self-made ESA letters online or ask just any doctor to scribble one down for you—not so fast! There are specific rules about who can legally write an ESA letter, and your landlord can reject your ESA request if you don’t follow them.

To make sure your ESA paperwork is legit, we’ll break down exactly who can write an ESA letter for you and what their letter needs to say.

Legal Provisions for Bringing Your ESA Home

Not everyone can write an ESA letter, and for good reason—the laws around emotional support animals are designed to keep things above board.

ESAs are covered by the Fair Housing Act (FHA), which makes it illegal for housing providers to deny accommodations to people with disabilities who rely on their animal friends for support. If your ESA helps you manage a mental health condition, your landlord can’t say no, even in no-pets housing.

Still, if your landlord has a no-pets policy and you bring in an animal before submitting proper documentation, they can enforce their rule until you provide the necessary paperwork. To avoid drama, it’s best to get your ESA letter squared away first!

But for all its ESA owner protections, the FHA also gives landlords the right to verify your ESA letter—including confirming that a qualified professional wrote it, as only such letters hold up.

Who Is Qualified To Write an ESA Letter?

A valid ESA letter must be issued by a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) who’s qualified to diagnose a mental health condition. This includes:

• Therapists
• Counselors
• Psychologists
• Psychiatrists
• Licensed social workers
• Physicians and nurse practitioners

Before any LMHP can officially sign off on your ESA letter, two key requirements come into play:

1. The provider must be licensed in your state—They need to be legally allowed to practice where you live to stay compliant with any state-specific ESA laws. For example, a therapist in New York can’t just hand out ESA letters to someone in Texas
2. You must have a qualifying condition—The provider must evaluate you using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) (the master guide for mental health diagnoses) to determine your need for an ESA. Some mental health conditions that may qualify you for an ESA letter are PTSD (especially common in veterans), depression, anxiety, chronic stress, etc.

Can I Ask My Therapist for an ESA Letter?

If you already have a therapist, they’re your best bet for an ESA letter—they know your mental health history and can figure out what works for you best. If they think the presence of your cuddly companion can genuinely ease your anxiety, depression, or PTSD symptoms, they can issue you an ESA letter confirming it.

Going with your existing therapist is especially helpful if your state has stricter requirements on how familiar your provider needs to be with your mental health history. For example, Arkansas requires ESA owners to have a prior relationship with their healthcare provider of at least 30 days. Only after that can they write an ESA letter, which you’d also need to renew annually as per the state laws.

Still, your therapist might not write you an ESA letter even if you have a qualifying mental health condition. That’s because some professionals just don’t offer this service at all. Crafting a legally valid ESA letter requires a solid understanding of federal laws and state-specific regulations. If your therapist isn’t familiar with the process or doesn’t feel comfortable navigating the legal side of things, they may choose not to issue one.

If you’re unsure whether your LMHP can write an ESA letter, just ask! The worst they can say is no—and if they do, they might be able to refer you to someone who can.

Can I Write My Own ESA Letter?

You might be thinking—why go through all this hassle when I can just write my own ESA letter or grab one from a website offering ESA letter templates? Tempting, right? But here’s the thing—an ESA letter you write yourself holds about as much legal weight as a self-written prescription for antibiotics. No one’s going to take it seriously, least of all your landlord.

You should also steer clear of those “free ESA letter” gimmicks you might run into online. A legitimate ESA letter requires a proper evaluation from an LMHP, not just a quick online quiz that asks if you feel “occasionally sad” before printing out an official-looking document. If a website promises one with zero effort (or for a suspiciously low price), it’s probably a scam.

What Makes an ESA Letter Valid?

Unlike all the fakes out there, an ESA letter that ticks all the legal boxes fur-real can help secure your dream home and prevent unnecessary back-and-forth with your landlord. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)—the regulatory body behind the FHA—here are all the details a legitimate ESA letter should include:

• Your name—The letter must confirm that you’re the one seeking the accommodation
• Disability confirmation—In your letter, the provider must confirm you have a mental health issue that substantially limits at least one major life activity. But don’t worry, this doesn’t mean sharing your diagnosis or personal health records
• Details about the ways your ESA helps you—The letter should explain how your ESA provides assistance, emotional support, or therapeutic benefits that alleviate one or more specific symptoms of your condition
• Provider’s credentials—This includes your LMHP’s National Provider Identification number, state license number, contact information, and signature on official letterhead
• ESA type—If possible, the letter should mention the type of animal (or animals!) you’re requesting accommodation for (dog, cat, bird, rabbit, hamster, fish, turtle—you get the idea)

Potential Headaches of Getting an ESA Letter the Traditional Way

Though you’re now sure who can okay your ESA, getting an ESA letter the old-fashioned way—through in-person evaluations with an LMHP—can be a bit like navigating a maze. You might hit a few snags before reaching the finish line, including:

1. Finding the right provider—If you’re not already seeing an LMHP, finding one who’s qualified and experienced with ESA letters can take a lot of time and effort, especially if you’re dealing with limited availability in your area 
2. Scheduling an appointment—Even if you find a properly licensed specialist who writes ESA letters, securing an appointment for evaluation isn’t always quick or guaranteed. Depending on where you live, LMHPs may have long waitlists, sometimes stretching over weeks or even months. If you need your ESA letter urgently, this can become a big obstacle in securing housing for you and your buddy
3. Long waiting time—Once you complete the evaluation, you may not get your letter immediately. Some therapists need extra time to draft a proper ESA letter that complies with federal and state laws, while others may require follow-up appointments before they finalize the documentation. All of this can delay your ability to present the ESA letter to your landlord and live happily ever after

Getting Your ESA Letter Online—A Faster, Easier Option

Getting an ESA letter online is a much smoother ride. Instead of waiting months for an appointment, some reputable online services connect you with qualified LMHPs who conduct virtual evaluations within days. This means:

• No long waits for an appointment
• Zero hassle of commuting to your appointment
• Quicker process

Getting your ESA letter online typically looks like this:

But while the online process is faster and more convenient, you still have to watch out for scams. Some websites promise to “register” your ESA for free or at a small fee or issue a flashy certificate or ID badge, but that’s a major red flag—there’s no official ESA registry. That’s why it’s important to choose a trustworthy provider like Your Service Animal, which connects you with licensed professionals and keeps things legit from start to finish.

Your Service Animal—Make Your ESA Official With Legit Professionals

Getting an official ESA letter shouldn’t feel like solving a puzzle, which is why Your Service Animal makes the process smooth, fast, and completely transparent.

The platform connects you with LMHPs in your area for virtual consultations, ensuring your ESA letter is fully compliant with both federal and state regulations.

Here’s what makes the service stand out:

How To Get Your ESA Letter With Your Service Animal

Ready to get your furry companion an LMHP’s stamp of approval? Here’s how it works:

1. Find out if you’re a good fit for an ESA letter with our online quiz
2. Schedule an online appointment with a licensed mental health practitioner in your state
3. Attend the online call and receive your ESA letter if clinically appropriate
4. Receive a full refund if the therapist doesn’t issue an ESA letter or your landlord rejects your letter