How ValidESA Works: The ESA and PSD Letter Evaluation, Step by Step
A ValidESA guide · Updated · General information, not legal or medical advice
In short
- Clinician licensed in the state you’re in
- Letter only if the clinician approves
- Verification ID for your landlord
The ValidESA process at a glance
Choose your letter and your state
Pick an ESA letter (for housing) or a PSD letter (for a psychiatric service dog). Then give your state of residence, the state where your home or the housing you are asking about is, and confirm whether you are in that state right now. If you are travelling, you give the state you will be in during your evaluation.
Not sure which letter fits? Compare an ESA letter with a PSD letter.
Answer the assessment
Answer questions about your symptoms, daily life, housing and animal, then add your animals and your contact details. You review your answers and confirm they are accurate; that confirmation is your electronic signature on the request.
Pay on the order summary
The price depends on the letter and the number of animals on it. You pay on the order summary before a clinician reviews your request, and you can then follow your order in your ValidESA customer portal.
A licensed clinician reviews your request
An independent mental health professional licensed in the state you are in during your evaluation reviews your answers and makes their own clinical decision about whether you have a disability-related need for the animal. They contact you if they need to speak with you. Nobody can promise the outcome in advance.
Receive and share your letter
If the clinician approves, your signed letter is typically ready as a PDF within 24–48 hours of approval. It appears in your customer portal with a verification ID you can give your housing provider. If the clinician does not approve, no letter is issued.
Your landlord can check that ID on our ESA verification page.
Timeline: from assessment to letter
| Stage | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Assessment | Online, at your own pace |
| Clinician review | Depends on the clinician’s availability and your state’s rules |
| Letter, if approved | Typically within 24–48 hours of approval |
| Faster turnaround | Not offered: there is no paid faster-review option |
Timeframes are estimates, not promises. California: for an emotional support dog, state law requires a clinician licensed in California and a client-provider relationship of at least 30 days before the letter can be issued. See the California ESA guide.
What's included in the price
| Letter | 1 animal | 2 animals | 3 animals |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESA Letter | $99 | $129 | $149 |
| PSD Letter | $99 | $129 | $149 |
One-time price for the evaluation and, if the clinician approves, the letter. PSD letters cover dogs only. Full details on the pricing page.
- An evaluation by a clinician licensed in the state you are in during your evaluation
- If the clinician approves, a signed letter that lists each animal (up to three)
- A verification ID and a public verification page for your housing provider
- Your customer portal, to follow your order and download your letter
Already have a letter that is getting old? See ESA letter renewal.
What if the clinician doesn't approve?
Then no letter is issued. The evaluation is a real clinical decision, which is exactly why no honest service can promise approval in advance. For questions about cancelling an order or a refund, contact us or read our Refund & Cancellation terms.
What your landlord sees
Your landlord sees the letter you send them. If you also give them your verification ID, they can confirm on our ESA verification page whether the letter was issued through ValidESA and is still current, with the letter type, issue date and a partly hidden name. They never see your assessment answers, diagnosis or clinical notes.
Want the full picture?
Read how to get an ESA letter, including how to choose any provider, and what a reliable letter looks like in our ESA letter sample.
How It Works: Frequently Asked Questions
How does the ValidESA process work?
You choose an ESA or PSD letter, answer an online assessment and pay on the order summary. A clinician licensed in the state you are in during your evaluation reviews your request and decides. If they approve, your signed letter and its verification ID appear in your customer portal.
What happens in an ESA evaluation?
The clinician reviews your assessment answers about your symptoms, daily life, housing and animal, and contacts you if they need to speak with you or need more information. They decide whether you have a disability-related need for the animal.
How long does the ESA process take?
It depends mainly on when the clinician completes your evaluation. If they approve, the signed letter is typically ready within 24–48 hours of approval. In California, a letter for an emotional support dog requires a client-provider relationship of at least 30 days first.
Can I pay extra for a faster letter?
No. ValidESA does not offer a paid faster-review option. Timeframes on this site are estimates, not promises.
Do I need to talk to someone live?
The evaluation starts with your written assessment. The clinician decides whether they need to speak with you and contacts you if they do. Some state rules, such as California’s for emotional support dogs, require an ongoing relationship with the clinician.
What if I do not qualify?
Then no letter is issued. An evaluation is a real clinical decision, so a letter can never be promised in advance. For questions about cancelling or a refund, contact ValidESA; the Refund & Cancellation section of our Terms and Conditions explains how.
What does it cost?
Letters are priced by the number of animals on them. ESA letter: 1 pet $99, 2 pets $129, 3 pets $149. PSD letter: 1 dog $99, 2 dogs $129, 3 dogs $149. Renewing an older letter means a new evaluation at the same prices.
What will my landlord see?
The letter you send them. With your verification ID they can confirm whether it was issued through ValidESA and is still current. They never see your assessment answers, diagnosis or clinical notes.
Related guides
This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. A letter is issued only if a licensed clinician approves it, and no letter can guarantee that a housing provider will approve a request. Laws differ by state. Questions about an order, a cancellation or a refund: contact us or read our Refund & Cancellation terms. See also the Privacy Policy. If you are in crisis in the United States, call or text 988.