Quick answer
A PSD letter is documentation from a licensed mental health professional that you have a psychiatric disability and a need for a dog trained to perform tasks related to it. Pet ESA Service's PSD evaluation costs $99. The ADA does not require a letter for public access, but a PSD letter helps with housing requests, where trained animals keep HUD's presumption.
Key points
- A psychiatric service dog is defined by its training, not by a letter, vest or certificate.
- HUD's May 2026 memo treats requests for trained animals as presumptively reasonable in housing.
- The evaluation documents your need; it does not train, certify or register your dog.
- Airlines use the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form, which you complete yourself.
What is a psychiatric service dog?
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, a service animal is a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. A psychiatric service dog performs tasks related to a mental health disability, such as interrupting a panic attack with trained pressure, waking a person from nightmares, reminding them to take medication, or creating space in a crowd. Comfort from the dog's presence alone is not a task. Our guide to psychiatric service dog tasks lists examples by condition.
The ADA does not require professional training or any certification. Many handlers train their own dogs, and our guide on training your own PSD covers how.
When a PSD letter helps
Housing. A housing provider may ask for reliable documentation of a disability and the need for the animal when neither is obvious. Since HUD's May 22, 2026 memorandum, requests involving individually trained animals are the ones HUD treats as presumptively reasonable, so documentation from a licensed clinician plus evidence of training puts you on the strongest footing.
College and workplace accommodations. Schools and employers often ask for documentation of the disability and the need as part of their accommodation process.
Air travel. Airlines may require the U.S. Department of Transportation's Service Animal Air Transportation Form, which you sign yourself to attest to your dog's training, health and behavior. A clinician letter is not required by the DOT rule, but some handlers keep one with their records.
Public places. Businesses may ask only whether the dog is required because of a disability and what task it is trained to perform. They may not ask for documentation. A letter is never your ticket into a store.
ESA letter or PSD evaluation: which fits?
The right choice depends on what your animal does. If your animal helps by being with you, an ESA letter is the fit. If your dog is trained to perform tasks, choose the PSD evaluation. The full comparison is on ESA vs psychiatric service dog.
| Emotional support animal | Psychiatric service dog | |
|---|---|---|
| Species | Dogs, cats and other domesticated animals | Dogs only under the ADA |
| Training | None required | Individually trained to perform disability related tasks |
| Housing in 2026 | Depends on state law, private suits and the landlord | HUD treats trained animal requests as presumptively reasonable |
| Stores and restaurants | No public access under the ADA | Public access under the ADA |
| Flights | Treated as pets | Accepted with the DOT form |
| Pet ESA Service price | From $89 | $99 |
How the PSD evaluation works
Take the free assessment and choose the PSD evaluation. A licensed mental health professional licensed in your state reviews your answers and talks with you by phone or video about your symptoms, how they limit daily life, and the tasks your dog performs. If documentation is appropriate, you receive a signed letter as a PDF by email that states your disability related need for a trained service dog. If not, you receive a full refund.
Be ready to describe each task specifically: what triggers it, what the dog does, and how it helps. The clinician documents your need; they do not test or certify your dog's training.
What the PSD evaluation does not include
Pet ESA Service does not train dogs, sell vests, issue ID cards or add dogs to any registry, because none of those create service dog status. If your dog is still in training, the ADA does not cover dogs in training, although some state laws give trainers access rights. Our guide on whether an ESA can become a psychiatric service dog walks through that path.
Start your PSD evaluation
The assessment takes about 5 to 10 minutes and costs nothing to start. The evaluation is $99 one time, with 100% back if you are not approved. Start your free assessment and choose the PSD evaluation.
Frequently asked questions
Do I legally need a PSD letter?
Not for public access. The ADA does not require documentation, and businesses may not ask for it. A letter is useful for housing and some school or work accommodation requests, where providers may ask for documentation of a disability and need that are not obvious.
Does Pet ESA Service certify or register my dog?
No. There is no official service dog certification or registry in the United States. Service dog status comes from individual task training. The evaluation documents your disability related need.
Can a cat be a psychiatric service dog?
No. Under the ADA only dogs, and in limited cases miniature horses, can be service animals. HUD's 2026 memo notes that trained animals of other species can qualify for housing accommodations, but they are not ADA service animals in public places.
How long does the PSD evaluation take?
Most clients hear from their clinician within one business day. When documentation is appropriate it usually follows within 24 to 72 hours of the evaluation, longer in states that require a relationship period.
What do I need for flights?
U.S. airlines may ask for the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form, which the handler completes, and some ask for it up to 48 hours before travel. Airlines may not require other documentation for a trained service dog under the DOT rule.
Sources and further reading
Ready for your PSD evaluation?
The assessment is free and takes about 5 to 10 minutes. The evaluation is $99 one time, with 100% back if you are not approved.