How long is a PSD letter valid

Why PSD letter validity varies

A PSD letter isn't a license or certificate with a built-in end date. It's a clinician's professional statement, as of a specific date, that you have a disability and a disability-related need for your dog. Whether it's "still good" depends on who's asking and why.

The Fair Housing Act and HUD's reasonable accommodation regulation don't set an expiration period for documentation. HUD's former 2020 guidance on assistance animals, withdrawn in September 2025, focused on whether documentation was reliable, not on a fixed age. Some landlords, property managers and housing programs set their own expectations, so it's worth asking what they need.

PSD letters in public places

In stores, restaurants, hospitals and other places covered by the ADA, staff can't require documentation for a service dog. They may ask only whether the dog is required because of a disability and what task it's trained to perform. A PSD letter isn't needed for public access and doesn't grant it, so its date is irrelevant there.

What matters in public is that your dog stays trained, under control and housebroken.

PSD letter validity for housing

When you first request an accommodation for your dog, a housing provider may ask for reliable documentation if your disability or need isn't obvious. A recent letter from a licensed clinician who evaluated you generally answers that question most clearly.

If you've already been granted an accommodation for a lease, you generally don't need to resubmit documentation just because time has passed. But when you sign with a new landlord, add a dog, or your situation changes, an updated letter can prevent delays. Ask the provider in writing what they need, and keep copies of what you send.

PSD letters and air travel

For flights, airlines may require the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form, and they generally can't require other documentation. Under federal rules, the form must be current and completed on or after the date you bought your ticket. For flight segments of 8 hours or more, airlines may also require the DOT Relief Attestation Form.

So for travel, plan to complete a fresh DOT form for each trip if your airline requires one. A PSD letter can accompany the form as supporting paperwork, but it doesn't replace it.

When to update your PSD letter

These situations are common reasons people request a new evaluation. None is legally required in every case, but each can make your next request smoother.

• You're moving and applying with a new landlord or housing provider
• You've added a second or third dog, or your previous dog retired
• Your condition, treatment or tasks have changed significantly
• A housing provider has specifically asked for more recent documentation
• Your previous clinician is no longer licensed or reachable to confirm the letter

PSD letters for work and school

Workplace requests to bring a service dog go through the ADA's reasonable accommodation process. When a disability or need isn't obvious, employers may ask for reasonable documentation, and the Job Accommodation Network notes that information about the dog's training may come from another source, such as its trainer. An employer will generally look for information that reflects your current needs rather than a document of any particular age.

Colleges and universities often have their own process for housing accommodations through a disability services office. Some ask for documentation completed within a recent period, so check their published requirements before you apply and leave time for an evaluation if you need an updated letter.

In each setting, it helps to keep a copy of your most recent letter, any DOT forms you've completed, and your dog's vaccination and licensing records together in one place. That way you can respond quickly when someone asks.

What a current PSD letter includes

Whatever its age, a legitimate letter identifies the clinician by name, license type, license number and issuing state, and shows the date it was signed. A provider can check a clinician's license through the state licensing board. Letters from usaPsdletter.com include all of these details.

Our letter costs $149 for one or two dogs and $229 for three dogs, with free booking and payment only if the clinician approves a letter. There's no subscription, and we don't automatically renew or bill you each year. A letter is issued only when the clinician's findings support it, and no letter can promise a particular landlord's or airline's decision.