Answers to the questions everyone has.

No. There is no federal registry of service animals or ESAs — any company that implies otherwise is being dishonest. NSAR is a private company that has been helping handlers since 1995. What matters under federal law is your LETTER from a licensed therapist, not any registration.

Registration alone does not. No private registry — ours, or anyone else's — grants legal status. Legal protection comes from (1) the ADA for trained service dogs in public spaces, (2) the Fair Housing Act for assistance animals in housing — though as of 2026 HUD enforces this only for trained service animals, so untrained-ESA housing protection now depends largely on state law, and (3) a valid letter from a licensed therapist where one is required. A registration kit is optional identification that makes day-to-day interactions easier.

Every NSAR therapist holds an active state license that anyone can independently verify in their state's public license registry. Start at our therapist directory — each card lists the state license number and the state board where you can look it up.

We rebuilt the site in 2026 to modernize the therapist workflow, tighten security around patient information, and make it easier to verify the people signing your letter. Same business, same tax ID, same team — new software.

1. Take the 2-minute qualifier quiz to see which letter (if any) fits your situation. 2. Pick a letter product and check out. 3. Complete the clinical intake (medical history, screening questions, a short interview). 4. A licensed therapist in your state reviews your case in a live interaction. 5. If you qualify, the therapist signs your letter; you download the PDF from your account.

Turnaround depends on therapist availability in your state and any state-specific requirements. California, for example, requires a 30-day patient-provider relationship before a letter is valid under AB 468 — there's no shortcut around that. For most states, expect review in one business day or less after completing intake.

Yes. State licensing-board ethics and a number of state statutes require a genuine, individualized clinical interaction — not a form-only approval. (A questionnaire-only 'letter mill' is the disfavored model everywhere.) Our process includes a live clinical interaction; any service that skips it is cutting a corner a landlord or court can call out.

If your therapist is licensed in your state and has issued a current letter after a genuine evaluation, that letter already serves as your supporting documentation — you don't need anything else from us. NSAR is for people who don't have an existing therapist relationship or whose therapist doesn't write these letters.

No one can guarantee that — not NSAR, and not the therapist. A landlord runs their own private business, and as of HUD's 2026 enforcement change there is less federal pressure to accommodate an untrained ESA. The letter is supporting documentation: it establishes a disability and supports a reasonable-accommodation request, which aids enforcement of your rights — it does not force a landlord to do anything. Trained service animals remain federally protected, and many states still protect ESAs independently. See your rights and laws by state.

Generally no — the 2021 DOT final rule removed blanket cabin access for emotional-support animals on US carriers. Airlines can (and most do) now treat ESAs as pets. Trained psychiatric service dogs are still protected under the ACAA. If airline travel is your priority, a PSD letter — if you qualify — is the relevant path, not an ESA letter.

No. The ADA covers trained service dogs in public accommodations — emotional support animals are not service animals under the ADA. Businesses may ask you to leave if you bring an ESA.

Most states follow federal FHA. A handful — California, Florida, Illinois, Washington, and others — have additional requirements. Check your state at rights/states.

Our therapists give an honest clinical determination — they're not incentivized to approve everyone. If you're not a good fit, they'll tell you directly in the review, with specific reasoning. You'll receive a full automatic refund — you don't need to ask. The refund lands on the card you used at checkout within 5–10 business days.

Yes — any time before the therapist issues a diagnosis. After the letter is signed (you qualified), the work is done and the purchase is non-refundable, except for therapist error or a service failure on our end. See the full /refunds page for the policy on letters, physical goods, and kits.

ESA letters are typically valid for 12 months from the date they're signed. Landlords may ask for a current letter, so most handlers renew annually. We'll email you ahead of your expiration date.

Letters are sold as one-time purchases. If you prefer auto-renewal, we'll offer it as an option — never as a default. You won't see charges you didn't approve.

Not directly — letters are a flat-fee service, not a reimbursable medical visit. Some patients submit our invoice to HSA/FSA; check with your plan administrator.

Only the therapist assigned to review your case, and NSAR staff who need to operate the service (support requests, compliance audits). Your intake is encrypted at rest; every access is audit-logged.

Yes. NSAR operates as a Business Associate handling Protected Health Information. We have signed Business Associate Agreements with every vendor that touches PHI (database, storage, email, error tracking). Our clinicians are Covered Entities under HIPAA.

No. Your landlord only sees the final letter, which states that you have a qualifying disability and that the animal ameliorates symptoms — it does not disclose your diagnosis or medical details. Landlords cannot legally require medical records.