WOSB certification: who qualifies and how to apply

The Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) program lets certified small businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by women compete for federal set-asides in industries where women-owned firms are underrepresented; economically disadvantaged firms (EDWOSB) qualify for more of them.

WOSB is limited to industries where women-owned firms are underrepresented, unlike 8(a) or SDVOSB set-asides. Only the EDWOSB tier has economic limits, and there is no term limit.

1. 01

   Requirement 1

   The business must be small and at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens; women must manage day-to-day operations and make long-term decisions.^[3]

2. 02

   Requirement 2

   For the economically disadvantaged tier (EDWOSB), each woman owner must have personal net worth under $850,000, three-year average adjusted gross income of $400,000 or less, and assets of $6.5 million or less.^[3]

3. 03

   Requirement 3

   Certification is required for set-asides; self-certification for the program ended October 15, 2020.^[4]

• WOSB and EDWOSB set-asides are allowed only in NAICS codes SBA lists as underrepresented for women-owned firms.^[3]
• Sole-source awards are allowed up to $8.5 million for manufacturing and $5.5 million for other work when two or more offers are not expected.^[5]
• The government-wide goal is 5% of prime contract dollars to women-owned small businesses.^[3]
• Since October 1, 2025 the federal micro-purchase threshold is $15,000 and the simplified acquisition threshold $350,000. Under the Small Business Act, purchases between the two are reserved for small businesses when at least two can compete, so that range is where most small-business set-asides start.^[6][7]

• SBA certification is free; four SBA-approved third-party certifiers can also certify, for a fee. SBA has put the annual attestation in abeyance, and a program examination still applies every three years.^[3]

1. 01

   Register in SAM.gov

   Every certification and federal award needs an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID. Registration is free and must be renewed every 365 days.^[1]

2. 02

   Check eligibility against SBA's rules

   Confirm the firm is small for its primary NAICS code and that it meets the WOSB requirements above.

3. 03

   Apply on MySBA Certifications

   SBA's application at certifications.sba.gov is free; approved third-party certifiers charge a fee.^[2]

4. 04

   Get free help from an APEX Accelerator

   APEX Accelerators (formerly PTACs) give free counseling on registration, certification and bidding. The state guides below list the ones serving each state.

5. 05

   Find set-asides

   On SAM.gov, filter Contract Opportunities by the WOSB set-aside type. On BidRover, search open bids that name WOSB in the title.

No open bid in BidRover's catalog names WOSB in its title right now; set-aside status is usually stated inside the solicitation.

No open bids right now. Browse all open bids

The federal rules are the same everywhere. Each state guide adds the SBA district offices and APEX Accelerators serving that state, its DBE certification program and the state programs that sit alongside this one.

1. sam.gov/entity-registration
2. certifications.sba.gov/
3. sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/women-owned-small-business-federal-contract-program
4. federalregister.gov/documents/2020/05/11/2020-09022/
5. acquisition.gov/far/19.1506
6. acquisition.gov/far/2.101
7. uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section644&num=0&edition=prelim