PSA Pets | ESA Certification

How to Qualify for an Emotional Support Animal

Discover what it takes to be approved for an ESA and learn whether you meet the necessary criteria.

Your Pet Could Be Providing More Support Than You Realize

If your cat or dog helps steady your emotions, reduces anxiety, or brings a sense of comfort during stressful moments, you may qualify for an Emotional Support Animal (ESA).

Support Pets provides ESA documentation exclusively for dogs and cats. We connect you with licensed professionals who review your situation and determine if an ESA is appropriate for you.

Eligibility restrictions apply. ESA services are not available in CA, CO, LA, or AR.

Start Your Free ESA Eligibility Quiz

What Is an Emotional Support Animal?

An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is a pet that provides steady emotional comfort and reassurance for individuals dealing with challenges such as anxiety, stress, sleep issues, or feelings of isolation. Unlike service animals, ESAs don’t need specialized training—simply having them nearby can offer meaningful stability and emotional grounding.

Although many types of animals can offer emotional support, Support Pets issues ESA documentation only for dogs and cats, as these are the species most commonly recognized and protected under housing regulations.

To have an ESA acknowledged under federal housing laws, you must obtain an official letter from a licensed healthcare professional. This letter—not a registry, certificate, or the type of pet you own—is what grants your ESA legal standing.

With an approved ESA, you may be able to:

Stay in housing that normally prohibits pets
Bypass pet-related fees, deposits, or breed restrictions
Feel more emotionally supported throughout daily life
Build a stronger sense of comfort, grounding, and companionship
An ESA is more than a designation—it’s a meaningful part of your emotional well-being.

Who Can Qualify for an Emotional Support Animal?

Curious about whether you’re eligible for an emotional support animal? You may qualify if a licensed healthcare professional determines that your pet contributes meaningfully to your emotional wellness. A formal diagnosis or ongoing therapy is not required—many individuals qualify based on their everyday experiences and emotional needs.

You may be a good candidate for an ESA if:

Your pet helps you feel more relaxed, steady, or emotionally secure
You turn to your pet during overwhelming situations—such as crowded places or stressful events
Their presence improves your sleep or reduces episodes of panic
Being away from your pet makes feelings of anxiety or loneliness worse
You’ve been feeling emotionally fatigued, and your pet brings comfort or calm
These experiences can signal that an ESA letter from a licensed professional could benefit you. This letter is what grants your animal legal recognition and housing protections under federal law—not training, certifications, or online registrations.
At Support Pets, we guide you through the process beginning with a confidential online questionnaire, followed by evaluation from a licensed practitioner.

How to Get Approved for an Emotional Support Animal

If your pet plays a meaningful part in helping you stay emotionally steady, you’re far from alone—many people find comfort, reassurance, and grounding in their animals. With the right documentation, you can access protections that support both you and your companion.

Support Pets offers a clear, supportive pathway that matches you with a licensed professional who can evaluate your needs—without long waits, confusing steps, or judgment.

Here’s the process for qualifying for an ESA through Support Pets:

1. Complete the Free ESA Questionnaire Answer a short series of questions to help determine whether you may qualify. Your pet helps you feel more relaxed, steady, or emotionally secure
2. A Licensed Practitioner Reviews Your Information A professional will evaluate your responses, and depending on your state, they may reach out for additional details.
3. Complete the Free ESA Questionnaire Answer a short series of questions to help determine whether you may qualify. Your pet helps you feel more relaxed, steady, or emotionally secure
4. Get Your ESA Letter
Once approved, your letter will be sent to you digitally and by mail, ready for use whenever you need it.
The process is quick, private, and centered on your emotional well-being—not paperwork.

Start Your Free ESA Eligibility Quiz

Who Does Not Qualify for an Emotional Support Animal?

ESA approval isn’t the right option for everyone, and that’s completely okay. Emotional support animal documentation is meant for people who genuinely benefit from the calming, stabilizing presence of their pet. If your goal is simply convenience or avoiding certain rules, an ESA letter likely won’t be appropriate.

You generally won’t qualify if:

Your primary motivation is avoiding pet fees or deposits
You want to use an ESA to bypass airline pet policies
Your animal is not a dog or cat
You reside in California, Colorado, Louisiana, or Arkansas, where ESA services are restricted

Support Pets is here to assist individuals with authentic emotional needs who rely on their pets for meaningful support.

How ESA Approval Supports You

When your pet helps steady your emotions, gets you through overwhelming days, or gives you the comfort you need to function, they’re doing far more than acting as a companion—they’re contributing to your emotional health in a meaningful way.

ESA approval formalizes that bond and gives it legal recognition. It’s not about special treatment; it’s about ensuring you have the security and support you rely on.

With an ESA letter, you may be able to:

Live in housing where pets are normally restricted or prohibited
Skip pet-related deposits, monthly charges, and breed or size limitations
Keep your animal with you even when housing policies say otherwise
Avoid repeatedly justifying your need for emotional support

At Support Pets, we believe your connection with your animal should be honored and safeguarded. ESA approval helps ensure you and your companion can stay together without unnecessary obstacles.

Frequently Asked Questions: ESA Guidelines

You can complete the ESA process through a virtual evaluation with a licensed healthcare professional. Support Pets offers a secure, fully remote system to make this easy.

Yes. A previous diagnosis isn’t required. During the evaluation, a licensed practitioner will assess your emotional needs to determine if you’re eligible.

Service dogs must undergo specialized training and are reserved for individuals with physical or psychiatric disabilities. Emotional support animals don’t require training—they simply provide emotional comfort and stability.

Yes. You must be 18 or older to complete the ESA evaluation with Support Pets. ESA approval must be based on an adult’s personal emotional needs.

Once you’re approved, your ESA letter may allow you to live with your support animal even in rentals that normally restrict pets.

No. You just need to complete an emotional wellness questionnaire. A licensed practitioner will review your responses and decide on approval—no detailed disclosure required.

If your situation has changed, you may still be eligible. Support Pets provides a fresh, independent evaluation through licensed practitioners.

ESA rights come from federal law (the Fair Housing Act), though local rules can differ. Support Pets only provides documentation in eligible states and is not currently available in CA, CO, LA, or AR.

If your current provider can’t issue ESA documentation, Support Pets can connect you with another licensed professional who can perform the evaluation.

Yes. Age, breed, and training do not matter. If your dog or cat provides emotional comfort and you meet the criteria, they may qualify.