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✓ Editorially reviewed by Dr. Patrick Fisher, PhD, NCC, Clinical Director — Last reviewed June 3, 2026
Free Screening | Certify Therapy Dog | TheraPetic
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Free Qualification Screening Evaluación de Calificación Gratis

Answer a few simple questions to see if you may qualify for an ESA or Psychiatric Service Dog letter from a Licensed Clinical Doctor. Responde algunas preguntas simples para ver si podrías calificar para una carta de ESA o Perro de Servicio Psiquiátrico.

100% Money-Back Guarantee. No letter, no charge. Forms for landlords and airlines included.

Find out if you qualify

Answer a few simple questions. Our Licensed Clinical Doctors review every case. About three minutes, completely free, no obligation.

About 3 minutes Confidential Always free
Quick start

Have you worked with TheraPetic® before?

Welcome back

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Sign in and renew directly from your profile. We'll keep your prior file on hand so a Licensed Clinical Doctor can re-confirm everything quickly.

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Your companion

Do you have a pet?

Pet type

What kind of pet?

Quick one

How many?

Your goal

What kind of documentation are you looking for?

There's no wrong answer. Pick what feels closest.

Where you need help

What do you need it for?

Pick the one that matters most. You can update later.

Service Dog training

Do you have a training log?

Canadian airlines require this under CTA accessibility rules. Many U.S. airlines also ask for it.

Location

Where do you live?

Laws change by region. Tell us where so we can help you correctly.

Almost there

Where do you live?

Tap your state on the map.

Tap any state to continue

A bit about you

Why are you seeking help today?

About you

Which best describes what you're going through?

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you experienced...

Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you experienced...

Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you experienced...

Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you experienced...

Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you experienced...

Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you experienced...

Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you experienced...

Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge

If you feel like you might be a harm to yourself or others, please call or text 988 or local emergency services right away.

You qualify for clinical review

Your Wellness Snapshot Mild
CalmMildModerateHigh

What happens next

  1. 1
    Create your account

    Takes about 90 seconds. Your screening answers carry over so you do not have to repeat anything.

  2. 2
    Pick the package that fits you

    Basic, Premium, or Ultimate. We recommend one below but the choice is always yours.

  3. 3
    A Licensed Clinical Doctor reviews your case

    Most reviews finish the same day. No additional fees, ever.

Recommended for you

Premium

$149

    You can upgrade or downgrade anytime. Always your choice.

    All plans include

    • Licensed Clinical Doctor review of your case
    • Landlord and property manager forms completed at no extra cost
    • Airline forms completed at no extra cost
    • Digital delivery so you can share instantly
    • No hidden fees, no monthly subscriptions, ever

    Flexible payment

    One-time payment. No monthly subscriptions, ever.

    Need a payment plan? Klarna and Affirm let you split into 4 interest-free payments at checkout when eligible.

    Takes about 90 seconds. No payment until you choose to continue.

    Thank you for sharing

    Based on what you told us, your symptoms may currently be mild. That's a good thing. Here are your options.

    A great first step

    Speak with your primary care provider. They know your full medical history and can offer guidance, refer you to a specialist, and when appropriate provide medical documentation directly.

    Want our team to take a look anyway?

    A Licensed Clinical Doctor from our team can still review your situation. Many people qualify for support animal documentation even with mild symptoms. Remember our 100% money-back guarantee.

    If you feel like you might be a harm to yourself or others, please call or text 988 or local emergency services right away.
    How It WorksCómo Funciona

    Three Simple StepsTres Pasos Simples

    Our process is designed to be easy, quick, and completely private.Nuestro proceso es fácil, rápido y completamente privado.

    1

    Take the ScreeningTome la Evaluación

    Answer a few simple questions about how your animal helps you. Under 3 minutes.Responda preguntas simples sobre cómo su animal le ayuda. Menos de 3 minutos.

    2

    Provider ReviewsEl Proveedor Revisa

    A Licensed Clinical Doctor reviews your responses and conducts a clinical evaluation.Un Doctor Clínico Licenciado revisa sus respuestas y realiza una evaluación clínica.

    3

    Get Your DocumentsReciba Sus Documentos

    If approved, receive your official letters and documentation — often the same day.Si es aprobado, reciba sus cartas oficiales y documentación — a menudo el mismo día.

    Start Free ScreeningComenzar Evaluación Gratis →
    Happy service dog with handler
    What You'll ReceiveLo Que Recibirá

    Official DocumentationDocumentación Oficial

    If you qualify, your documentation is prepared by a Licensed Clinical Doctor and includes:Si califica, su documentación es preparada por un Doctor Clínico Licenciado e incluye:

    • Clinical letter for housing (Fair Housing Act)Carta clínica para vivienda (Ley de Vivienda Justa)
    • Service Animal Airline Forms (DOT requirements)Formularios de aerolínea para animales de servicio (requisitos del DOT)
    • Registration in our Service Animal directoryRegistro en nuestro directorio de Animales de Servicio
    • Photo ID cards (Ultimate Package)Tarjetas de identificación con foto (Paquete Ultimate)
    • 100% satisfaction guaranteeGarantía de satisfacción del 100%
    See If You QualifyVea Si Califica →
    Questions?¿Preguntas?

    About the ScreeningSobre la Evaluación

    What is the difference between a therapy dog, a service dog, and an emotional support animal?¿Cuál es la diferencia entre un perro de terapia, perro de servicio y animal de apoyo emocional?▼
    A therapy dog provides comfort, affection, and emotional support to many people — visiting hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and disaster sites. A service dog is task-trained for one handler with a disability and has ADA public access rights. An emotional support animal helps one owner cope with a mental health condition. Therapy dogs are visitors; service dogs are working partners; ESAs are personal companions.Un perro de terapia brinda consuelo y apoyo emocional a muchas personas — visitando hospitales, escuelas y asilos. Un perro de servicio está entrenado en tareas para un manejador con discapacidad y tiene derechos de acceso público ADA. Un animal de apoyo emocional ayuda a un dueño con una condición de salud mental.
    Where can therapy dogs visit and provide their services?¿Dónde pueden visitar los perros de terapia y brindar sus servicios?▼
    Therapy dogs commonly visit hospitals, hospice care, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools (especially for reading programs and exam stress), libraries, universities during finals, courthouses (for child witnesses), airports during stressful travel periods, and disaster response sites. The facility hosting the visit must invite and approve the therapy dog team — therapy dogs do not have automatic public access rights.Los perros de terapia comúnmente visitan hospitales, asilos, centros de rehabilitación, escuelas, bibliotecas, universidades durante exámenes finales y sitios de respuesta a desastres. La instalación debe invitar y aprobar al equipo de terapia — los perros de terapia no tienen derechos de acceso público automáticos.
    What kind of training does a therapy dog need before facility visits?¿Qué tipo de entrenamiento necesita un perro de terapia antes de las visitas a instalaciones?▼
    Therapy dogs need solid obedience (sit, down, stay, come, leash manners), comfort with strangers including children and elderly people, tolerance of unusual sounds and medical equipment (wheelchairs, IV poles, beeping monitors), no resource guarding around food or attention, and the emotional resilience to handle being touched, hugged, or even mishandled. Many programs require AKC Canine Good Citizen certification before evaluation.Los perros de terapia necesitan obediencia sólida, comodidad con extraños incluyendo niños y ancianos, tolerancia de sonidos inusuales y equipo médico (sillas de ruedas, monitores), sin guardia de recursos, y la resistencia emocional para manejar ser tocado o incluso mal manejado. Muchos programas requieren certificación AKC Canine Good Citizen.
    Do therapy dogs have public access rights under the ADA like service dogs?¿Los perros de terapia tienen derechos de acceso público bajo la ADA como los perros de servicio?▼
    No. Therapy dogs do NOT have ADA public access rights. The ADA covers only service dogs — dogs individually trained to do work or tasks for an individual with a disability. Therapy dogs work for the benefit of others, not their handler. They may only enter facilities by invitation. This is the most common misunderstanding about therapy work.No. Los perros de terapia NO tienen derechos de acceso público bajo la ADA. La ADA cubre solo perros de servicio — perros entrenados individualmente para hacer trabajo o tareas para una persona con discapacidad. Los perros de terapia trabajan para beneficio de otros, no de su manejador. Solo pueden entrar a instalaciones por invitación.
    Is therapy dog certification legally required to volunteer at hospitals or schools?¿La certificación de perro de terapia es legalmente requerida para ser voluntario en hospitales o escuelas?▼
    No federal law mandates therapy dog certification, but virtually every facility that hosts therapy teams requires proof of certification from a recognized therapy organization plus liability insurance. Hospitals and schools have liability concerns and want assurance the dog has been temperament-tested and the handler is trained. Certification protects everyone and opens doors that would otherwise be closed.Ninguna ley federal exige certificación de perro de terapia, pero prácticamente cada instalación que recibe equipos de terapia requiere prueba de certificación de una organización reconocida más seguro de responsabilidad. Los hospitales y escuelas tienen preocupaciones de responsabilidad y quieren garantía de que el perro ha sido evaluado y el manejador está entrenado.
    What breeds make the best therapy dogs?¿Qué razas son los mejores perros de terapia?▼
    Temperament matters far more than breed. Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Poodles, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and Bernese Mountain Dogs are common — but any breed, including mixed breeds and small dogs, can excel. Key traits: stable temperament, low arousal, comfort with handling, no resource guarding, and genuine enjoyment of strangers. Many shelter dogs and small breeds make outstanding therapy teams.El temperamento importa mucho más que la raza. Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Poodles y Cavalier King Charles Spaniels son comunes — pero cualquier raza, incluyendo razas mixtas y perros pequeños, puede sobresalir. Rasgos clave: temperamento estable, baja excitación, comodidad con el manejo y disfrute genuino de extraños.
    Can I become a therapy dog handler if I am not a healthcare professional?¿Puedo ser manejador de perro de terapia si no soy profesional de la salud?▼
    Absolutely. Most therapy dog handlers are volunteers from all walks of life — teachers, retirees, students, parents, and anyone with a willing dog and time to give. You do not need a medical background. What you need is reliable scheduling, calm energy, the ability to read your dog's signals, and the willingness to undergo background checks at hosting facilities.Absolutamente. La mayoría de los manejadores de perros de terapia son voluntarios de todos los ámbitos de la vida — maestros, jubilados, estudiantes, padres y cualquier persona con un perro dispuesto. No necesita formación médica. Lo que necesita es horarios confiables, energía tranquila y la capacidad de leer las señales de su perro.
    How is the AKC Canine Good Citizen test related to therapy dog work?¿Cómo se relaciona la prueba AKC Canine Good Citizen con el trabajo de perro de terapia?▼
    The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test is a 10-item obedience and temperament evaluation that many therapy dog organizations use as a prerequisite. It tests sitting politely for petting, reaction to other dogs, reaction to distractions, supervised separation, and walking through a crowd. Passing CGC is not therapy certification itself but is widely considered the foundational baseline for therapy dog candidates.La prueba Canine Good Citizen (CGC) es una evaluación de obediencia y temperamento de 10 ítems que muchas organizaciones de perros de terapia usan como requisito previo. Prueba la reacción a otros perros, la reacción a distracciones, la separación supervisada y caminar entre una multitud. Pasar CGC es ampliamente considerado el estándar fundamental para candidatos a perros de terapia.
    What insurance considerations apply to therapy dog volunteer work?¿Qué consideraciones de seguro se aplican al trabajo voluntario de perro de terapia?▼
    Recognized therapy dog organizations typically provide liability insurance coverage for member teams during sanctioned visits — this is one of the most valuable benefits of certification. Without that coverage, you may be personally liable for any injury or property damage. Some homeowner policies exclude dog-related claims entirely, so the program insurance is essential. Verify coverage limits before visits.Las organizaciones reconocidas de perros de terapia típicamente proporcionan cobertura de seguro de responsabilidad civil para equipos miembros durante visitas autorizadas — uno de los beneficios más valiosos de la certificación. Sin esa cobertura, puede ser personalmente responsable por cualquier lesión o daño a la propiedad.
    Can my dog be a therapy dog if she is reactive to other dogs?¿Mi perro puede ser un perro de terapia si reacciona a otros perros?▼
    Reactivity to other dogs is a common disqualifier — therapy visits often involve passing other dogs in hallways, encounters in elevators, and shared visit areas. A dog that lunges, barks, or shows leash reactivity creates safety risks. Some reactive dogs respond beautifully to behavior modification training and become wonderful therapy dogs later. Others find more joy in solo activities. Honest assessment serves both you and the dog.La reactividad hacia otros perros es un descalificador común — las visitas de terapia a menudo implican pasar otros perros en pasillos y áreas de visita compartidas. Un perro que reacciona crea riesgos de seguridad. Algunos perros reactivos responden bien al entrenamiento de modificación de comportamiento. Otros encuentran más alegría en actividades individuales.
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    Editorial Review

    This page was reviewed by Dr. Patrick Fisher, PhD, NCC, Clinical Director on June 3, 2026 for accuracy, currency, and clarity. Content is updated when laws or clinical guidance change.