WOSB Certification Eligibility Checker

WOSB certification, explained

The WOSB programlevels the field for women-owned firms by reserving contracts in industries where they're underrepresented. Since self-certification ended, you must be formally certified to bid on these set-asides — so it's worth confirming you qualify (and whether you reach the EDWOSB upgrade) before you start.

What is WOSB certification?

The Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) federal contracting program reserves certain contracts for firms at least 51% owned and controlled by women. Certified WOSBs can compete for set-asides in industries where women-owned firms are underrepresented.

What's the difference between WOSB and EDWOSB?

EDWOSB — Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business — is a subset of WOSB where the owning woman also meets the economic-disadvantage limits (net worth under $850K, AGI under $400K over three years, assets under $6.5M, after exclusions). EDWOSB unlocks set-asides in a broader list of NAICS codes, so it's worth knowing if you qualify for the upgrade.

What does it cost?

Certifying through certify.SBA.gov is free — there's no government fee. You can also certify through an SBA-approved third-party certifier, which may charge. Self-certification is no longer allowed; you must be formally certified before bidding on WOSB/EDWOSB set-asides.

Do I need a SAM.gov registration before I apply for WOSB certification?

Yes. Before you file a WOSB or EDWOSB application you need an active SAM.gov registration, and your SAM.gov entity registration should be set to "All Awards" (not "Loans and Grants only"). To claim your business and start the application you'll enter your firm's UEI, EIN, and MPIN exactly as they appear in SAM.gov, and SBA expects your SAM.gov profile to have been updated within the last 12 months. New WOSB/EDWOSB applications are submitted for free through SBA's MySBA Certifications portal at certifications.sba.gov — there's no fee, and you never need to pay a third-party firm to do it. If your SAM registration is expired, inactive, or has mismatched details, fix that first, because you can't claim your business or begin the certification until it's active and current. (bidgovcontracts is an independent service and is not affiliated with SBA or SAM.gov.)

How long is WOSB certification good for, and do I have to renew it every year?

There's no annual renewal, and getting or keeping your certification is free (any firm charging you a yearly "renewal" fee is reselling a free process). Under a rule change that took effect May 30, 2023, SBA repealed the old requirement to attest to your eligibility every year; instead, certified WOSB and EDWOSB firms now go through a program examination to recertify every three years, counted from your initial certification (or your last examination). SBA sends email reminders as your three-year anniversary approaches, with notices starting about 120 days out, and you can begin recertifying at the 90-day mark before your recertification date. You still have to stay eligible the whole time, keep your SAM.gov registration active, and notify SBA in writing within 30 calendar days of any material change that could affect your eligibility, such as a change in ownership, business structure, or management.

How long does WOSB certification take?

SBA's stated target is a determination within 90 calendar days after it receives a complete application — but the certify.SBA.gov portal currently reports an average of about 8 months from submittal because of a backlog of applications. Note that the 90-day clock only starts once SBA has a complete package: if it sends yours back for missing documents or clarification, processing is delayed until you respond. So the fastest path is submitting a complete, accurate application the first time.