How to get VetCert: the SBA veteran certification, step by step
Who qualifies as a VOSB or SDVOSB, the documents SBA asks for, how the application works, how long it takes, and what certification actually gets you.
VetCert is the Small Business Administration's Veteran Small Business Certification program. It certifies two kinds of firms: veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs). The program used to sit at the Department of Veterans Affairs; the certification function moved to SBA effective January 1, 2023.
Since January 1, 2024, a firm has to be SBA-certified to win an SDVOSB set-aside or sole-source contract. Self-certifying in SAM.gov no longer gets you there. Applying costs nothing, and the steps are manageable if you gather the right paperwork first.
VOSB or SDVOSB: which one you qualify for
There is one application for both. SBA decides which designation fits based on who owns and controls the company.
| VOSB | SDVOSB | |
|---|---|---|
| Who must own and control 51% | One or more veterans | One or more service-disabled veterans |
| Who confirms the status | VA | VA, including the disability designation |
| Where it gets you set-asides | VA contracts (Vets First) | Every federal agency, plus VA |
| Size rule | Small under any NAICS code in your SAM profile | Same |
Veteran means a person who served in active military service and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. Guard and Reserve members called to federal active duty, or disabled by an injury or disease incurred in the line of duty or in training status, also count. Weekend drills, annual training and initial entry training alone do not.
Service-disabled means VA lists you as a service-disabled veteran. The SBA rule sets no minimum rating percentage. VA itself describes a 0% rating as a rating for a service-connected condition, so if VA has granted you service connection, start there.
If two veterans split the company 50/50 and only one has a service-connected disability, the firm can apply as a VOSB but not an SDVOSB. Service-disabled veterans have to hold at least 51%.
The ownership and control rules that trip people up
Owning 51% on paper is the easy part. SBA reads your operating agreement or bylaws to confirm that the veteran owns and runs the business in fact.
- Is the 51% owned directly and unconditionally? Ownership through another company, an ESOP, or an irrevocable trust does not count. A revocable living trust can count if the veterans are the grantors, trustees and current beneficiaries. Voting trusts and side agreements that shift benefits to someone else break "unconditional."
- Does the veteran own 51% of every class? For an LLC, 51% of each class of member interest. For a corporation, 51% of all stock and 51% of each class of voting stock.
- Does the veteran hold the top job? A qualifying veteran must hold the highest officer position, usually President or CEO, and be a managing member (LLC), general partner (partnership), or control the board (corporation).
- Can a minority owner block ordinary decisions? Supermajority voting on daily operations counts against you. Minority vetoes are allowed only for extraordinary events: selling or dissolving the company, a merger, bankruptcy, or adding equity investors.
- Does the veteran work there full time? The veteran generally has to work full time during normal business hours. An outside job that pulls them away is a common reason SBA finds no control.
- Is anyone paid more than the veteran CEO? Allowed only if you can show the pay is commercially reasonable or the veteran chose lower pay to benefit the company. Explain it in writing up front.
There are two narrow exceptions. If a veteran has a permanent and total service-connected disability and can't manage daily operations, a spouse or appointed permanent caregiver can provide that management for SDVOSB purposes. A surviving spouse who inherits a service-disabled veteran's stake can keep the SDVOSB status for a limited period.
Documents to gather before you start
SBA's preparation fact sheet says to have three things ready before you open the application: an active SAM.gov registration, your Unique Entity ID (UEI), and the company bank account number. SAM.gov registration and the UEI are free. You do not need a capability statement to apply.
| Entity type | What SBA asks for |
|---|---|
| Sole proprietorship | One of: IRS EIN (SS-4) letter, fictitious or trade name certificate, or most recent Schedule C |
| LLC | Articles of organization with all amendments, state certificate of formation, operating agreement with all amendments, minutes showing current operating practices |
| General partnership | Partnership agreement with amendments, plus one of: recent K-1s, Schedule C, EIN letter, or trade name certificate |
| LP or LLP | Partnership agreement with amendments, state certificate, minutes |
| Corporation | Articles of incorporation, signed and dated bylaws, state certificate, shareholder agreements, minutes, current stock ledger |
Depending on your answers, SBA may also ask for: a franchise agreement; a trust agreement; a letter explaining any past-due taxes or federal loans; a letter of non-objection from an agency ethics official if an owner or household member is a federal employee at GS-13 or above; a written explanation if the veteran isn't the highest-paid person; and the contract with any consultant preparing the application for you.
About the DD-214: SBA does not decide veteran status, VA does. If VA can't confirm your status, SBA's guidance lists the documents that prove it: a DD-214 showing release from active duty with a discharge that is not other than honorable, bad conduct or dishonorable; a VA letter granting service connection; or the benefit summary letter you can download from VA.gov. Keep a copy handy, and correct your record through VA (800-698-2411) if needed.
The application, step by step
- 1. Register or renew in SAM.gov Your SAM profile has to be active, and your NAICS codes have to be listed there. SBA uses the size you represent in SAM.
- 2. Create an account at certifications.sba.gov This is MySBA Certifications, SBA's portal for all of its contracting certifications. Use it directly; there is no fee.
- 3. Answer the eligibility questions and upload documents The qualifying veteran is responsible for the accuracy of everything submitted, even if a consultant does the typing.
- 4. Answer SBA's follow-up requests quickly If you miss a deadline or send incomplete answers, SBA may assume the missing information would show you are ineligible and deny on that basis.
- 5. Watch your email for the decision SBA sends the decision to the email address on the application and treats it as received once sent.
How long it takes
The regulation does not set a processing deadline. SBA reported in November 2025 that average processing had dropped to 12 days, down from 81 days at the end of 2024, with no actionable backlog. Treat that as a recent average, not a promise. If something changes during review (ownership, size, bankruptcy, a call to active duty), you have to tell SBA.
Keeping it: the 3-year term
Certification lasts three years. You can recertify starting 90 days before it expires, as many times as you like. If you miss the date, SBA decertifies you, but recertifying within 30 days of the end date gets you reinstated. Between renewals, report any material change (ownership, structure, control, bankruptcy, active duty status) within 30 days.
Why applications get denied
Every denial letter states its reasons. These are the problems SBA's rules most directly turn on:
What gets firms denied
- VA can't confirm veteran or service-disabled status.
- Name or address doesn't match VA.gov records.
- Veteran owns through a holding company or irrevocable trust.
- Minority owner can block ordinary decisions.
- Veteran has a full-time job somewhere else.
- Non-veteran paid more, with no explanation.
- Missing letter of non-objection for a GS-13+ federal employee.
- Unpaid federal taxes or loans with no repayment plan.
- Inconsistent documents, or late answers to SBA requests.
What a clean file looks like
- VA.gov profile updated before applying.
- Veteran owns 51% of every class, in their own name.
- Veteran is CEO or managing member, in writing.
- Governing documents have no supermajority traps.
- Minutes signed and dated, showing who actually decides.
- Pay differences explained in a short letter.
- Every document matches every other document.
If you're denied, you can appeal to SBA's Office of Hearings and Appeals within 10 business days of receiving the letter, or reapply 90 days after the denial once you have fixed the problem. A denial based on veteran or disability status can't be appealed to OHA; that has to be fixed with VA. Within two days of a denial becoming final, you must update your VOSB or SDVOSB status in SAM.gov.
What certification gets you
The federal government's goal is to award at least 5% of contracting dollars to SDVOSBs each year. Certification is what lets those dollars reach you:
| Tool | Who can use it | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| SDVOSB set-aside | Certified SDVOSBs, any agency | Contracting officer limits competition to SDVOSBs when it expects offers from at least two at a fair price |
| SDVOSB sole source | Certified SDVOSBs, any agency | Up to $5 million, or $8.5 million for manufacturing, including options, when only one SDVOSB is expected to bid |
| Below the simplified acquisition threshold | Certified SDVOSBs | Set aside among SDVOSBs or sole-sourced to one |
| VA Vets First | Certified VOSBs and SDVOSBs | Set-asides and sole-source awards at the Department of Veterans Affairs |
| Goaling and subcontract credit | Certified SDVOSBs | Agencies and prime contractors only get SDVOSB credit for certified firms |
Once you're certified, SBA lists you in its Small Business Search, where contracting officers and primes look for partners. State contracts are separate: some states accept the federal certification and some run their own.
To find opportunities, SAM.gov is the official source and it's free to search. Paid tools like SamSearch layer AI search, bid scoring and proposal drafting on top of SAM.gov notices; the vendor quotes pricing on a demo call. Many firms start with SAM.gov and add a paid tool once they bid regularly.
Find teaming partners
eVeteran lists 38,731 SBA-certified veteran-owned firms, VOSB and SDVOSB, drawn from SBA's own Small Business Search data. If you need a subcontractor or a joint venture partner who already holds the certification, start here.
Browse certified firms by trade
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Certified already?
If your firm holds VOSB or SDVOSB certification, make sure your eVeteran listing says what you do and who to call. Primes looking for partners read it.
Get your business listed See listing plansQuestions homeowners actually ask
How much does VetCert cost?
Nothing. SBA does not charge to apply, and SAM.gov registration and the Unique Entity ID are free too. Anyone charging you a fee is selling help, not the certification.
Do I still apply through the VA?
No. Certification moved from VA to SBA effective January 1, 2023. You apply at certifications.sba.gov. VA still confirms your veteran status and any service-connected disability behind the scenes, so your VA records need to be accurate.
Can I just self-certify as an SDVOSB in SAM.gov?
Not for set-asides or sole-source awards. Self-certification for those ended January 1, 2024, except for firms that had already applied and were waiting on a decision. Since December 22, 2024, under the same kind of cutoff, agencies and prime contractors only get SDVOSB goal or subcontracting credit for certified firms.
What disability rating do I need for SDVOSB?
SBA's rule doesn't set a minimum percentage. What matters is that VA lists you as a service-disabled veteran. If you're unsure what VA has on file, check your VA.gov benefit summary or contact VA at 800-698-2411.
How long is VetCert good for?
Three years. You can recertify starting 90 days before expiration, and you must report material changes such as new owners or a change in control within 30 days.
What happens if SBA denies my application?
The letter states the reasons. You can appeal to SBA's Office of Hearings and Appeals within 10 business days, or fix the problem and reapply after 90 days. If the denial was about veteran or disability status, you have to correct that with VA. This is general information, not legal advice.