WOSB certification in North Carolina

To get WOSB certified in North Carolina, register in SAM.gov, confirm you meet SBA's rules for small businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens, and apply free on MySBA Certifications. NC SBTDC Government Contracting Assistance (APEX Accelerator) helps North Carolina businesses apply at no cost.

North Carolina's 2026 budget eliminated the HUB Office; HUB services stopped July 7, 2026 and HUB certifications are no longer recognized for new contracts. The race- and gender-neutral NC Small Business Enterprise program replaces it.^[10]

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 WOSB eligibility

   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]

3. 03

   Get free help in North Carolina

   NC SBTDC Government Contracting Assistance (APEX Accelerator): free counseling on SAM.gov, certification and bidding.^[9]

4. 04

   Apply on MySBA Certifications

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

5. 05

   Register with North Carolina too

   WOSB covers federal contracts. To sell to North Carolina agencies, register on eVP vendor registration (free).

APEX Accelerators, funded by the Department of Defense, help with registration, certification and bids. SBA district offices run certification outreach and answer program questions.

APEX Accelerators

• NC SBTDC Government Contracting Assistance (APEX Accelerator)

SBA district office

• SBA North Carolina District Office

None of the North Carolina programs we verified is specific to small businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens, so WOSB is the main certification to pursue. North Carolina's other state programs are listed below.

• NC Small Business Enterprise (NCSBE) program, Department of Administration. Replaced the HUB program in 2026.^[10]

Highway, transit and airport contracts paid with U.S. DOT funds use Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification, issued in North Carolina by the North Carolina Unified Certification Program (NCUCP) (NCDOT Office of Civil Rights). It is separate from WOSB. Since October 3, 2025, DBE applicants no longer qualify by race or sex presumption: each owner submits a personal narrative of disadvantage and a personal net worth statement, under a $2,047,000 cap, and existing DBEs are being reevaluated.^[11][12][13]

320 open bids in North Carolina right now; 0 name WOSB in the title.

No open bids right now. Browse all open bids

• 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]

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
8. sba.gov/district/north-carolina
9. sbtdc.org/services/government-contracting
10. doa.nc.gov/divisions/small-business-enterprise-program
11. connect.ncdot.gov/business/SmallBusiness/Pages/default.aspx
12. federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/03/2025-19460/
13. transportation.gov/mission/civil-rights/disadvantaged-business-enterprise/september-2026-final-rule