ESA letters for college students — campus housing requests.
A clinical letter can support a campus housing accommodation request. Learn how to start with your school's disability office, allow time for review and wait for approval before your animal moves in.
PNW ESA Letters is Tera Pareja's ESA therapy practice for adults in Oregon and Washington. Verify Tera's WA LMHC and OR LPC credentials. Renewals for Tera's previous clients: $69. Letters are issued only when clinically appropriate; appointment times are shown in the live calendar.
By Tera Pareja, LMHC (WA) · LPC (OR) — published July 31, 2026 · content updated October 10, 2026
Can you have an ESA in a college dorm?
Students can request an ESA housing accommodation through their school's disability or accessibility office. A clinical letter may support the request, but school review and approval are separate. Ask about current requirements and wait for school approval before moving the animal into campus housing.
On campus, start with disability or accessibility services and housing. Ask what forms and documentation your school needs. A letter that supports one request does not guarantee acceptance for another property or school.
How the campus process differs from renting
Off-campus apartment
You submit a written accommodation request and supporting documentation to the landlord or property manager. They review it; a letter does not guarantee approval.
Campus housing
You file through the disability services office — usually an online form plus your ESA letter. The office reviews it, may follow up with your provider, and notifies housing once approved.
Start with the school early and ask about its review timeline, animal-care requirements and permitted housing areas. An ESA letter does not grant access to classrooms, dining halls or libraries. Confirm the school's approval and move-in instructions before bringing the animal to campus housing.
Find your school's process
Every Oregon and Washington campus runs ESA requests through its disability or accessibility office. The flagship schools' offices:
| School | Office that handles ESA requests |
|---|---|
| Oregon State | Disability Access Services |
| University of Oregon | Accessible Education Center |
| Portland State | Disability Resource Center |
| University of Washington | Disability Resources for Students |
| Washington State | Access Center |
| Western Washington | Disability Access Center |
At a school not listed here, search its disability services or housing site for the current animal-accommodation policy. Ask the office about documentation and deadlines; requirements can vary.
Get your letter
Many campus counseling centers don't write ESA letters as a matter of policy — they refer students to outside licensed providers. That's the gap a standalone assessment covers: a real 30-minute clinical conversation by phone, scheduled around your classes (evenings included), with a signed letter the same day as the completed assessment if an emotional support animal is clinically appropriate. It's $129 flat, and if no letter is issued, your total cost is $0, including the assessment.
An assessment is a genuine clinical evaluation, not a formality. A letter is issued only when clinically appropriate and cannot guarantee school acceptance. This assessment does not replace ongoing counseling.
PNW ESA Letters serves adults living in Oregon or Washington who are located in one of those states for telehealth. I am licensed in Oregon (LPC C10756) and Washington (LMHC LH60792032). Out-of-state students living here can contact me about an assessment; ask your school separately about its accommodation process.
Submit before your deadline
Submit the school's request form and supporting documentation. I answer verification calls and written inquiries about letters I issue at no additional charge. Wait for school approval and housing instructions before moving your animal in. Letter delivery does not mean your school has approved the accommodation.
August and September are the crunch: offices are processing a term's worth of requests at once. If your move-in is coming up, book the assessment first and start the school's form in parallel — you don't need to wait for one to start the other.
Common questions from students
Students can request an ESA housing accommodation through their school's disability or accessibility office. A clinical letter may support the request, but school review and approval are separate. Ask about current requirements and wait for school approval before moving the animal into campus housing.
Often not. Many university counseling centers have policies against writing ESA letters and refer students to outside licensed providers — that referral is exactly the situation a standalone telehealth assessment covers. Getting an ESA letter from an outside provider doesn't affect your ability to keep seeing your campus counselor.
Start before you need the animal to move in, allowing time for your school's review. Ask disability services about current deadlines. Do not move the animal into campus housing until the school has approved the accommodation.
An ESA letter does not automatically waive pet rent, deposits or other charges. Whether a fee waiver is required depends on the accommodation, applicable law and the circumstances. Ask a fair-housing organization or attorney about a disputed charge. You remain responsible for actual damage your animal causes.
No. ESA accommodations are housing-only: your animal can live with you in your residence, but it doesn't have access to classrooms, libraries, dining halls, or other public campus spaces. Those access rights belong to trained service animals under the ADA — a different designation with a different standard.
For an off-campus apartment, submit a request to your landlord rather than the school. Applicable law and review requirements depend on the circumstances. See Oregon and Washington resources. A letter can support a request but does not guarantee acceptance in either setting.
Move-in coming up? See current telehealth appointment times.
$129 flat — assessment + letter included. Evenings available.
Let's find a time.
Booking takes about a minute and you'll get an instant confirmation — no intake packet, no waiting room. Prefer to ask a question before you schedule? Email pnwesaletters@gmail.com or call 971-248-0144.
Renting off campus? See your state's full renter rights: ESA letters in Oregon and ESA letters in Washington — or start with the step-by-step guide.