PSD letter red flags

No real evaluation

A legitimate letter rests on a clinician's own assessment of you. If a site issues a letter after an online questionnaire alone, with no phone or video conversation with a licensed professional, there's no evaluation behind it.

A short appointment can be appropriate, but it should be a real clinical conversation about your symptoms, how they affect your daily life and how a trained dog helps. With us, that's a 5–10 minute phone or video evaluation with a licensed clinician.

Promised approval

No ethical clinician can promise a result before evaluating you. Watch for language like “everyone qualifies,” “approval assured” or “letter in minutes, no questions asked.”

A trustworthy service tells you plainly that the clinician may decide a letter isn't appropriate. We don't charge unless a letter is approved, so there's no reason to pressure anyone toward a yes.

Unverifiable license details

A letter should show the clinician's name, license type, license number, issuing state and the date. Without those, a housing provider has no way to confirm it, and neither do you.

HHS explains that telehealth providers generally must be licensed or legally permitted to practice where the patient is located. If the clinician's license is from a state that doesn't cover you, or the provider won't say where the clinician is licensed, look elsewhere. You can check any license on the issuing state board's website.

Registries and ID cards

There is no government registry, certificate, ID card or vest for psychiatric service dogs. ADA.gov states that online certification or registration documents do not convey any rights under the ADA, and mandatory registration of service animals isn't permitted.

Sites that bundle a “registration number,” laminated ID or certificate with a letter are selling items with no legal effect. Some even imply your dog isn't legitimate without them, which isn't true.

False public access promises

Under the ADA, a psychiatric service dog's access to stores, restaurants and other public places comes from the dog's individual training to do disability-related tasks, not from paperwork. Staff may ask only two questions and can't demand documentation.

A provider that says its letter lets you bring any dog anywhere, or that a business must accept the letter, is misstating the law. A letter doesn't grant public access.

Misleading air travel claims

Since DOT's rule took effect in January 2021, airlines may require the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form rather than a clinician's letter, and they no longer have to accept emotional support animals. The form asks you to attest to your dog's health, task training and behavior training, and it warns that making false statements is a federal crime.

Be wary of anyone who says their letter alone will get your dog on a plane, or who offers to fill out the DOT form's training attestations for you.

Dog training treated as optional

A psychiatric service dog must be individually trained to do work or tasks related to your disability. Comfort alone isn't a task. A provider that offers a PSD letter for any pet without asking about tasks is setting you up for trouble.

Many states penalize misrepresenting a pet as a service animal. If your dog provides comfort but isn't task-trained, an emotional support animal letter is the accurate document. We don't sell ESA letters, and we'll tell you honestly if a PSD letter isn't the right fit.

Hidden costs and pressure

Look for clear, upfront pricing. Unclear add-ons, automatic renewals and countdown timers pushing you to pay now are signs of a sales operation. Our price is $149 for a letter covering one or two dogs or $229 for three, with no subscription or membership, and you can reach us at support@usapsdletter.com.

Signs of a careful PSD provider

The opposite of these red flags is easy to recognize. A careful provider confirms your state before booking, connects you with a named, licensed clinician for a live conversation, and explains in advance that a letter is issued only if the clinician finds it appropriate.

It's also honest about limits. It tells you that a letter supports housing requests, that public access depends on your dog's training rather than paperwork, and that airlines may ask for the DOT form instead. It shows its price upfront and gives you a way to reach a real person with questions.

If you're unsure about any provider, including us, ask to see a sample of the clinician details that appear on the letter and check the license on the state board's website before you pay.