Emotional support animals are deeply beneficial therapy tools that provide relief simply from their presence. An ESA does not need to undergo any specific training to be qualified for the position, and it can be given to any dog, cat, or other domesticated animal you can think of. Despite this, you cannot simply claim any pet as an emotional support animal.
An emotional support animal owner must have an up-to-date ESA letter that they can provide to landlords to obtain the benefits of things like the Fair Housing Act (FHA). This letter can only come from a licensed mental health professional who is able to practice within the state where you are living.
This article will not be a guide on emotional support animals nor a step-by-step walkthrough towards getting an ESA letter. Instead, we will focus exclusively on what a person needs to qualify for an ESA, and what an ESA letter must feature for it to be legally binding.
What You Need for an ESA Letter
If you want an emotional support animal, you will need an ESA letter. To get an ESA letter, you will need a mental health professional who is licensed within your state to prescribe one. States sometimes have their own individual laws that outline how to get an ESA letter, such as California’s legal requirement for an individual to have a 30-day relationship with their LMHP.
Before you get an ESA letter, you should familiarize yourself with state laws to ensure you aren’t using a service that is fraudulent, as ESA letter scams have become very common.
To get an emotional support animal letter, you will need to have a qualifying mental or emotional condition. There are numerous conditions that can qualify for an emotional support animal, though the following are the primary afflictions:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Autism
- Bipolar Disorder
- Panic attacks
- Numerous phobias
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Attention Deficit Disorder
For a complete list of qualifying conditions, check the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (more commonly known as the DSM-5)
What Needs to Be On an ESA Letter
It isn’t enough just to have a piece of paper with the header “ESA Letter” in a doctor’s handwriting for a document to be considered an ESA letter. Emotional support animal letters have a lengthy list of required information that must be present on an ESA letter for it to be legally binding.
In the same vein, the ESA letter must also be up-to-date, as the document typically expires after one calendar year in most states.
The following is a reliable outline of what must be featured on an ESA letter for it to be considered legal:
- The doctor’s information – This includes their license number, license type, official letterhead, their contact information, including the physical address of their office, and their official signature. Similarly, they must also include the state within which they are legally allowed to practice.
- An endorsement for an ESA – They must include in writing the presence of a mental or psychological ailment from their patient (patient’s name and date of birth should be written out) and the recommendation of an ESA. They do not need to mention the actual condition itself, just its existence.
- Date of Issue – All ESA letters must have the date that the letter was issued.
If your landlord discovers that the ESA letter does not meet the legal requirements for the document, they are within their right to reject it. Because of this, it is incredibly important that patients use LMHPs who are familiar with the process and knowledgeable about ESAs.
A Quick Review of ESA Letter Requirements
To get an ESA letter, you will need to sit down for a consultation with a licensed mental health professional in your state who can verify you have a condition that could benefit from an ESA. To have an ESA letter be legally binding, you will need to ensure it has the doctor’s details, their recommendation for an ESA to help aid your condition, and the date that the letter was issued.