Your PSD, backed by a licensed clinician.

Do you qualify?

A therapist has to find a qualifying disability and a real task-trained role for the dog.

• A qualifying condition

  A DSM-5 psychiatric condition — PTSD, panic disorder, severe anxiety, depression, bipolar — that substantially limits an area of your life.

• A task-trained dog

  Your dog is trained to perform specific tasks tied to your disability — interrupting panic, grounding during dissociation, medication reminders. Trained work, not just comforting presence.

• A genuine clinical review

  A therapist licensed in your state reads your full intake before signing. Never a five-minute rubber stamp.

Not sure whether an ESA or a PSD fits your situation? Take the 3-question qualifier.

PSD letter questions, answered

How do I obtain a psychiatric service dog letter?

A licensed mental-health professional evaluates you and documents that you have a qualifying psychiatric disability and that your dog is individually trained to perform tasks that help with it. With NSAR you complete a clinical intake, a therapist licensed in your state reviews it, and — if you qualify — issues a signed letter on their letterhead with their license number.

What's the difference between a PSD and an ESA?

A psychiatric service dog is individually trained to perform specific tasks for a psychiatric disability — interrupting a panic attack, grounding during dissociation, reminding you to take medication. Because it's task-trained, it keeps full public-access rights under the ADA and is generally still allowed in airline cabins. An emotional support animal provides comfort by its presence, isn't task-trained, and is protected mainly in housing. The task training is the line between them.

Does a PSD letter give my dog public-access rights?

The rights come from the dog being genuinely task-trained for your disability, not from any letter or registration — the ADA doesn't require documentation to enter public places. A PSD letter documents the clinical basis (the disability and the therapeutic need) and is useful for housing and airline paperwork. It supports your case; the training is what grants access.

How do I prove my dog is a psychiatric service dog?

Under the ADA, staff may only ask two things: is the dog required because of a disability, and what task is it trained to perform. You don't have to show papers. That said, a clinician's letter (for the disability) plus an ID many handlers carry make day-to-day interactions smoother and are often requested by landlords and airlines.

How much does a PSD letter cost?

An NSAR PSD letter is $179.95 (regularly $250) — one flat price, no subscription. If a therapist reviews your assessment and can't approve you, you're refunded, so you only pay for a letter you can use.

Do I have to register my psychiatric service dog?

No — no federal law requires a service dog to be registered, and we'll never tell you it is. The letter documents the clinical side; registration (an ID card and verifiable number) is purely for convenience and smoother day-to-day identification.