ESA Letters for Arkansas College Students
Campuses decide ESA requests their own way, and some reject the shortcuts students find online: the University of Central Arkansas says outright that an ESA certificate is not accepted. If your animal is a dog, Arkansas law also sets a 30-day lead time. Start the free screening early, and a clinician licensed in Arkansas decides whether a letter fits.
UCA's ESA Request in Brief
- Submit the OARS Student Application.
- A qualified professional completes the UCA ESA Request Form.
- Add evaluation reports if they help.
UCA ESA Application Checklist
Tick off each step and enter your move-in date. If your ESA is a dog, the planner shows the latest date a provider relationship can start for Arkansas's 30-day rule.
- Tick your steps, then select Update My Checklist.
Studying in the City of Colleges
Conway, the Faulkner County seat with 64,134 residents in 2020, is home to three colleges, which earned it the nickname the City of Colleges. At UCA, the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services weighs each emotional support animal request for on-campus housing case by case under the Fair Housing Act. What counts is documentation from a qualified professional on UCA's own form, not a certificate bought online.
ESA and PSD Pricing for Arkansas College Students
Clear pricing for emotional support animal and psychiatric service dog letters written by a licensed mental health professional. Your screening is free, and you pay only if a clinician supports a letter and you decide to continue.
ESA Housing Letter For One Pet
Best option for most renters with one emotional support animal
- Free online screening with a licensed psychotherapist
- Telehealth evaluation when clinically indicated
- Letter written for ESA housing requests
- Digital delivery after approval
- Follow up clarification for landlords included
ESA Housing Letter For Multiple Pets
For people who have more than one emotional support animal in the home
- Free clinical screening that covers up to three ESA dogs or cats
- All approved animals listed together on a single ESA housing letter
- Letter tailored for apartments and rental homes
- Digital delivery after approval
- Support for landlord questions about pet deposits and rent
Psychiatric Service Dog Evaluation
For people who may qualify for a task-trained psychiatric service dog
- Free initial screening with a licensed psychotherapist
- Telehealth evaluation focused on symptoms and the tasks the dog is trained to do
- Letter describing the disability-related need and task support
- Clinically grounded documentation, not a generic certificate
- Follow up clarification for housing providers included
Bundle Packages
Save more with combined document bundles
ESA Letter + Certificate Bundle
ESA letter and certificate in one package
- ESA letter from a licensed professional
- ESA certificate with QR code verification
- Digital delivery after approval
- Valid for 1 year with renewal reminders
PSD Letter + Certificate + ID Card
Complete PSD documentation: letter, certificate and ID card
- PSD letter from a licensed professional
- PSD certificate with QR code verification
- PSD ID card with photo and barcode
- Digital delivery after approval
Arkansas law: documentation for an emotional support dog may be provided only after a client-provider relationship of at least 30 days, except for students verified as homeless (Ark. Code 20-14-1003).
How a UCA Student Gets Evaluated
Screen between classes
Between classes, answer questions on your health, your animal and your plans for housing in Conway.
Meet a clinician
An Arkansas-licensed clinician reviews the answers and meets you by video around your schedule when appropriate.
Paperwork for your school
If your need is supported and you choose a plan, your letter is emailed. Ask your school whether it also needs its own form completed.
What Arkansas Students Usually Need
ESA housing letter
For a UCA residence hall or a lease off campus.
Several animals
Names each animal your clinician supports.
Psychiatric service dog letter
For a task-trained dog, which campuses treat as a service animal, not an ESA.
Card and certificate
A summary only; UCA does not accept certificates as documentation.
Arkansas notice (Ark. Code 20-14-1002): A certificate, identification card or tag does not entitle an emotional support animal to the rights and privileges accorded by law to a service dog. Misrepresenting an animal as a service animal may subject an individual to a civil penalty under Ark. Code 20-14-310.
Sharing a Residence Hall With an Animal
Talk to roommates
Allergies and schedules are easier to sort out before move-in day.
Rabies record
Arkansas requires dogs and cats 4 months or older to be vaccinated.
Break plans
Decide early where your animal stays over holidays and summer.
Rules Behind a Campus Request in Arkansas
Fair Housing Act
UCA reviews ESA requests for campus housing under it; since May 2026 HUD no longer presumes untrained-animal requests reasonable.
Ark. Code 20-14-1003
Dog letters need an Arkansas-licensed provider, license details on the letter and 30 days of relationship first.
Ark. Code 20-14-1004
Fraudulently passing off an emotional support dog as a service animal carries civil penalties up to $2,500.
Arkansas Student Questions in the Blue Book
How do I request an ESA at the University of Central Arkansas?
Through the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services, known as OARS. Submit the OARS Student Application, and have a qualified professional complete UCA's ESA Request Form.
Will UCA accept an online ESA certificate?
No. UCA states that an ESA certificate is not accepted as documentation.
Can I add more documentation to my UCA request?
Yes. The ESA Request Form may be supplemented by evaluation reports.
How does UCA decide on an ESA?
OARS approves emotional support animals for on-campus housing case by case under the Fair Housing Act.
How do I reach OARS?
Call 501-450-3613, text 501-269-8038 or fax 501-450-5664. The office is at 201 Donaghey Avenue, Student Health Suite 212, in Conway.
My ESA is a dog. Does Arkansas's 30-day rule affect my timing?
Yes. A provider may document the need for an emotional support dog only after a client-provider relationship of at least 30 days, so start early if you want the paperwork in place before move-in.
Keep Exploring Arkansas
General information for Arkansas students, current as of October 2026, and not legal advice. Colleges set and change their own procedures, so confirm with your school's accessibility or housing office before you rely on a step or deadline. Screening does not guarantee a letter. In a crisis, call or text 988.
Start Before the Semester Bell
Screen now, and a clinician licensed in Arkansas can tell you whether your animal's support is a need a letter can document, in time for your housing request.
