An Introduction to Government Small Business Certifications (2025 Update)

This course provides a big-picture overview of small business certifications in the government marketplace. In this course, you will learn about various federal small business certification programs, including Small Business Self Certification, Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) & 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone), Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Economic Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB). This course has been updated to reflect recent changes set forth in two SBA regulations released in late 2024. We also touch on state and local certification programs and provide information on additional training and resources you can use to develop a deeper understanding and get help with any federal, state, and small business certification program.

After taking this course, you will:

• learn why certification programs can be helpful for small businesses;
• learn how to determine if you are eligible for a federal small business certification;
• find out where to apply for various federal certifications, including an introduction to the SBA’s new unified certification website;
• learn about various types of state and local certification programs;
• understand how state and local small business certification programs differ from federal;
• learn about additional training and resources to help you navigate federal, state, and local certification programs.