How to get an ESA letter — legitimately.
Who qualifies, what a real letter contains, how to spot the scam sites, and what to do if a landlord pushes back — from a therapist licensed in Oregon and Washington, not a letter mill.
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 19, 2026 · content updated October 10, 2026
First, what an ESA letter actually is
An ESA letter is clinical documentation from a licensed mental health professional about a disability-related need for an animal. When clinically appropriate, it can support a housing accommodation request. It does not itself approve the request, waive fees or provide legal advice. See the current HUD enforcement note and the Oregon and Washington resource pages.
Two things an ESA letter is not: it is not a service-animal designation (no public-access rights — stores and restaurants can still say no), and since 2021 it does not get your animal on a plane; airlines are no longer required to accommodate ESAs.
Check whether you're likely to qualify
You may qualify if all of these are true:
- You experience a mental health condition — anxiety, depression, PTSD, and chronic stress are common examples.
- Your animal provides genuine comfort, grounding, or relief connected to that condition.
- You're a resident of a state where the professional writing your letter is licensed (for me, that's Oregon and Washington).
You do not need to be in ongoing therapy, and you do not need a prior formal diagnosis on paper — the assessment itself is where a clinician evaluates that. But be ready for an honest conversation: a legitimate assessment can conclude that an ESA isn't clinically appropriate.
College students can ask their disability or accessibility office about a housing accommodation. The school reviews the request and may need additional documentation. Wait for approval before moving an animal into campus housing. See ESA letters for college students for the process and school offices.
Which animals qualify?
Household animals and clinical assessment
Dogs, cats and other household animals can be discussed in a clinical assessment. Their species alone does not establish eligibility or guarantee a housing accommodation.
Unusual animals or multiple animals
For an unusual animal or a request involving more than one animal, ask the housing provider about its process and a qualified advisor about applicable rules. Each request depends on its circumstances.
Emotional support describes comfort through an animal's presence, which differs from disability-related task training. HUD's current FHEO enforcement policy focuses on trained assistance animals. A clinical assessment and a housing accommodation decision are separate; a letter is not blanket permission for one or more animals.
ESA vs. service animal vs. psychiatric service dog
These three get mixed up constantly, and landlords notice when a request confuses them:
| Emotional support animal | Service animal | Psychiatric service dog | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Training | None — comfort through presence | Task-trained for a disability | Task-trained for a psychiatric disability (e.g., interrupting a panic attack) |
| Which animals | Common household pets | Dogs (rarely miniature horses) | Dogs |
| Covered by | Housing request; approval is case-specific | ADA + FHA | ADA + FHA |
| Public access | No — housing only | Yes: stores, restaurants, transit | Yes: same as any service dog |
| Flights | No — not since 2021 | Yes | Yes |
If you need your animal with you in public spaces, an ESA letter is the wrong tool — that's a service-animal conversation, and any provider who tells you otherwise is selling something.
Choose who writes it — and avoid the scams
Three legitimate paths:
Your current therapist
If you have one who's licensed in your state and willing. Many aren't — often due to practice policy — and that's normal.
A standalone assessment
A licensed clinician offering one-session ESA evaluations (like me). A real assessment, a letter if appropriate — and you keep your existing therapist.
Your physician
Or psychiatric provider, when your condition is already part of your care with them.
Red flags that mean "scam":
- Instant approval with no live assessment
- "ESA registration," "certification," or ID cards — no state or federal registry exists; these have no legal standing
- No named, verifiable clinician or license number
- Guaranteed clinical or housing approval, or blanket promises about lifetime acceptance
If a landlord's reviewer can't verify a real license behind the letter, the letter is worthless.
Whoever you choose, verify their license yourself in the state's public lookup before paying. Mine are here: Oregon LPC C10756 and Washington LMHC LH60792032, plus NPI 1609257328.
Complete a real assessment
An ESA evaluation is a clinical conversation — mine run about 30 minutes by phone. We discuss what you are experiencing, how it affects daily life and your animal's role. I offer telehealth for adults in Oregon and Washington. A letter is issued only when clinically appropriate; neither a phone assessment nor a letter guarantees housing acceptance.
Get the letter and use it
When clinically appropriate, my letter includes my license information, NPI, signature and date on letterhead and is issued the same day as your completed assessment. This is post-assessment delivery, not a promise of a same-day appointment.
Submit your housing provider's accommodation request with any supporting letter. I handle authenticity and licensure verification at no additional charge; routine verification does not include sharing your diagnosis or clinical records. For a disputed documentation request, ask a fair-housing organization or attorney about your circumstances.
What if your landlord says no?
A refusal does not have one automatic resolution. These steps can help you understand your options:
Get the refusal in writing
Ask for the decision and its reasons in writing, and keep copies of your request and supporting documents.
Check the current rules
Review current federal enforcement and state resources. Do not rely on the rescinded HUD notices as a guarantee of approval.
Let your letter-writer respond
I can verify a letter I issued and my licensure at no additional charge. Verification does not determine the housing provider's decision.
Ask about legal options
A fair-housing organization or attorney can explain deadlines and possible state or court remedies. HUD's FHEO enforcement for animal complaints is now limited to trained disability-related assistance. See Oregon and Washington resources.
Coverage, disability-related need, reasonableness and exceptions depend on the housing and circumstances. A clinician documents an assessment; a qualified legal advisor can help with a disputed accommodation.
Does the letter travel with you?
Moving can change your housing provider's process and your telehealth eligibility. Contact Tera about a move between Oregon and Washington; if you move elsewhere, ask a provider licensed for your new location about care and documentation. No letter guarantees acceptance at a new property, and there is no universal one-year legal expiry rule.
Oregon vs. Washington at a glance
| Oregon | Washington | |
|---|---|---|
| State statute | ORS 659A.145 | RCW 49.60.222 (WLAD) |
| State complaint agency | BOLI Civil Rights Division | WA State Human Rights Commission |
| Federal path | Current FHEO enforcement is limited to trained assistance animals; private court rights remain | |
| My license | LPC C10756 | LMHC LH60792032 |
| Verify it | OR board lookup | WA DOH search |
| Details | Oregon ESA letter page | Washington ESA letter page |
What it should cost
At PNW ESA Letters, the assessment and letter when clinically appropriate cost $129. If no letter is issued, your total cost is $0, including the assessment. Compare what a service includes, who conducts the clinical assessment and its published policies; a low or high price alone does not establish legitimacy.
Renewal
PNW ESA Letters offers a $69 annual renewal service only for people Tera has previously seen, with a brief phone check-in, an updated letter when clinically appropriate and landlord follow-up. Anyone new to Tera, including someone with an existing letter from another provider, needs the $129 initial assessment. Renewal is a practice service, not a universal legal expiry requirement. See renewal eligibility and process.
Ready for step 3? See current telehealth appointment times.
$129 flat — assessment + letter included. No letter issued, $0 total.
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.
More questions? The FAQ covers landlord pushback, verification, air travel, and eligibility.