Does my state have programs for registration and accreditation of PSDs?

While a need for a psychiatric service dog may have to do with your mental state, another thing to take into consideration is your home state. 

The short: Registration and accreditation for PSDs depend on where you reside. Here’s a resource we like to find more information about your state’s local laws.

Here’s the longer answer, if you want it! 

Variations by State

The ADA is a federal law that recognizes service dogs as “individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities,” which includes PSDs, seeing-eye dogs, and any other canine that assists with physical impairment. While the ADA itself does not require certification or registration of service animals across the US, the laws and regulations that it takes to get a dog recognized by the ADA can vary slightly by the state you reside in. 

Across the US, there are different programs for registering and accrediting service dogs. These state-specific laws may cover areas such as public access rights, training standards, certification requirements, and legal penalties for interfering with a service dog team. In some states, registration and accreditation programs are not even required. 

Here are a few examples of how this can vary: 

• California’s Guide, Hearing and Service Dog Act by the Department of Food and Agriculture requires guide, signal, and service dogs to be individually trained and certified.

• Colorado’s Assistance Dogs International program accredits and regulates service dogs, guide dogs, and hearing dogs.
• Florida's Service Animal Law requires public accommodations to let service animals  accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public can go.
• Michigan's Assistance Dogs International program accredits and regulates service dogs, guide dogs, and hearing dogs.
• New York State Human Rights Law requires places of public accommodation to allow guide dogs, hearing dogs, and service dogs to accompany their handlers.
• Texas' Guide, Hearing, and Service Dogs Act requires guide, hearing, and service dogs to be individually trained and certified.

We encourage you to familiarize yourself with your state’s laws and regulations, as well as applicable federal laws, to understand your rights and responsibilities as a PSD handler.

Hopefully this answers your question about state-based registration and accreditation for PSDs. If you need more information, contact us here!