Certification Process

National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) certification recognizes those businesses that apply for certification and meet the eligibility criteria, as minority business enterprises (MBEs). Getting certified begins with gaining an understanding of the certification criteria and gathering the necessary information and documentation to complete the application. A dedicated team of certification specialists will review your application and work with you should you have any questions.

Important Message about Certification Transition

NMSDC is currently transitioning from 23 local certification platforms to one new integrated system. The migration to the new system will occur through 2024. Regardless of which system you are certified on, the same criteria and guidelines apply. More information coming soon.

As we begin the migration in February, we will add further instructions here.

If your business’ primary physical address is serviced by any of the following regional affiliates, and you are applying on or after the certification application date referenced here, you are on the new system and should continue reading this webpage for additional certification information:

  • List of regional affiliates coming soon.

Businesses aligned with the other regional affiliates should still access their local affiliate’s website to pursue MBE certification or renewal of current certification. 

All businesses seeking Growth Initiative certification,  minority controlled companies (MCC), minority publicly controlled companies (MPC), or investment fund companies (IFC), regardless of location, will apply through the new system.

Certification application Date

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Getting Certified

  1. Review the certification criteria and select which certification program fits your business.
  2. Select the link (coming soon) for the relevant pre-qualification questionnaire to answer a few questions about your business to further verify if it meets the certification guidelines.
  3. If your business is pre-qualified, you will be given access to the certification application system where you can preview and print the certification questions and documentation requirements.
  4. Gather the required documentation. 
  5. Complete the online application in its entirety and upload the required documentation. You’ll have as long as you need to complete the application and can save each section as you go.
  6. You can attend a pre-certification workshop or watch a pre-certification video (coming soon) to help you prepare for certification.
  7. The application fee must be paid online via credit card once the application is complete and is non-refundable. 
  8. The certification team will audit your application for accuracy and completeness and contact you if there are any questions or additional details needed.
  9. The certification process also involves contacting the customer references you provide and conducting either a virtual interview, a physical site visit, or both.
  10. You will have visibility to the status of your application as it moves through the certification process and will be contacted with the certification decision when the evaluation is finished.
  11. If you have any questions during the process, you can use the message feature in the system to contact the certification team.

If your certification is not approved and you believe a mistake was made, you will have 30 days to appeal the decision and an appeals committee will review your case.

Types of NMSDC Certifications

NMSDC offers the following types of certification:

MBE Certification

MBE certification is the gold standard for minority-owned for-profit businesses, and it is the certification that NMSDC has offered for its more than 50-year history. It requires that businesses are at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by qualified minority group members.

A qualified minority group member is a U.S. citizen who is at least 25% Asian-Indian, Asian-Pacific, Black, Hispanic, or Native American*. Minority eligibility is established via a combination of document reviews, screenings, interviews, and site visits. Ownership, in the case of a publicly owned business, means that at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more qualified minority group members.

*a tribal card and a blood degree certificate must be provided for Native American certifications.

MCC and MPC Certification

Minority Controlled Company (MCC) and Minority Publicly Controlled Company (MPC) certifications are newer certifications that apply to minority-owned companies that have taken on investment capital to grow their business, and as a result may no longer meet the stringent ownership guidelines of MBE certification.

IFC Certification

Investment Fund Company (IFC) certification is for minority-owned investment funds that are helping minority businesses scale.

Documentation Required

The certification progress is rigorous. Required documentation depends on the business structure, the complexity of the ownership structure, and the type of business being certified. All businesses can expect to provide:

  • A completed online application, e-signed by the primary owner.
  • Proof of citizenship and eligible minority ethnicity, for at least 51% of the ownership of the company.
  • A resume for each qualified minority owner, comprising at least 51% ownership.
  • Proof of the business’s Federal Tax ID (EIN).
  • Business formation documents.
  • Proof of the initial capital investment in the business.
  • Relevant business licenses.
  • Last two years of tax filings.
  • Current invoices with proof of payment.

Additional documentation may be required regarding property and equipment ownership, or other details necessary to fully establish who owns, manages, and controls the business. A full list of documents for each type of certification and business structure is available in the application system. Additional details can also be found in the FAQs below.

Corporations and governments rely on NMSDC certifications to track their progress at diversifying their procurement spend and engaging more minority-owned businesses in their supply chain. It is essential the certification process is thorough and produces accurate results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Certification Process

It is our goal to complete certification reviews within 30 business days of the application being submitted.

NMSDC certifications are valid for one year. A brief renewal application should be submitted within 90 days of the expiration date, so a certification can continue uninterrupted.

  • The cost for certification depends on where the business is located, and which local regional affiliate your business is aligned to.
  • Locate your regional affiliate and then look up the relevant certification and renewal fees on their website.
  • A certification team specialist will review your application and documentation. They will contact you if there are any additional details required and to schedule either a site visit or a virtual interview. They will also contact the references you provided and conduct any other research necessary to determine if your business meets the qualifications for certification.
  • Once the evaluation is complete, you will be contacted with the results.
  • Certified businesses will be added to the database of minority-owned businesses used by corporations and governments to find suppliers.
  • Certified businesses will also be given access to that database so you too can seek out other certified minority-owned businesses to work with.
  • Certified businesses will also be referred to your local affiliate partner organization so you can take advantage of local networking and development activities, as well as national programs and events.

Documentation Required

  • A completed online application, e-signed by the primary owner.
  • Proof of citizenship and eligible minority ethnicity, for at least 51% of the ownership of the company.
  • A resume for each qualified minority owner, comprising at least 51% ownership.
  • Proof of the business’s Federal Tax ID (EIN).
  • Business formation documents.
  • Proof of the initial capital investment in the business.
  • Relevant business licenses.
  • Last two years of tax filings.
  • Current invoices with proof of payment.
  • Franchise agreement

If the company is a LLP or Ltd., applicants must submit the legal documents for all companies involved.  For example, if the GP is a LLC, the applicant must submit documents for the Partnership and the LLC.

  • Articles of Partnership(for LLP|Ltd)
  • Certificate of limited partnership or certificate of formation(for LLP|Ltd)
  • Partnership agreements (to include buy-out rights and profit sharing)
  • Proof of capital investment (i.e. both side of cancelled checks, initial deposits, bank statements)
  • Proof of partnership purchase (i.e. both sides of cancelled checks, deposit slips, bank statements)
  • Assumed Name Certificate (filed with the Secretary of State) (if applicable)
  • Certificate of Corporation
  • Article of Incorporation or certificate of formation (stamped copy from the Secretary of State)
  • Articles of Amendment or Certificate of Amendment (if applicable)
  • Corporate Bylaws or governing documents
  • Proof of Capital Investment (i.e. both side of cancelled checks, equipment receipts, initial deposits, bank statements)
  • Minutes of 1st organizational board meeting
  • Minutes of the last board meeting
  • Minutes of the last meeting where officers were elected
  • Copies of both sides of all stock certificates issued (no specimen)
  • Copies of both sides of the next consecutive stock certificate not issued
  • Current stock ledger
  • Proof of stock purchase (i.e. both sides of cancelled checks, deposit slips, bank statements)
  • Copy of the purchase or buy|sell agreement with the corresponding proof of payments)(if applicable)
  • Copy of any stock options or other ownership options outstanding as well as agreements which restrict ownership or control of minority owners (if applicable)
  • Assumed Name Certificate (filed with the Secretary of State) (if applicable)
  • Certificate of organization
  • Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation (stamped copy from the Secretary of State)
  • Articles of Amendment or Certificate of Amendment (if applicable)
  • Operating Agreement
  • Proof of Capital Investment (i.e. both side of cancelled checks, equipment receipts, initial deposits, bank statements)
  • Minutes of the organizational meeting or minutes of the meeting
  • Minutes of the last meeting where managers or members were identified and elected
  • Copy of both sides of all certificates of ownership issued (no specimen)
  • Copy of both sides of next consecutive membership unit certificate not issued
  • Copy of ownership transfer ledger or copy of membership transfer ledger
  • Proof of unit purchase (i.e. both sides of cancelled checks, deposit slips, bank statements)
  • Copy of the purchase or buy|sell agreement with the corresponding proof of payments)(if applicable)
  • Copy of any membership unit options or other ownership options outstanding as well as agreements which restrict ownership or control of minority owners (if applicable)

Ready to Get Certified?

If the above applies to you and your business, contact the NMSDC regional affiliate where your business is headquartered to you to learn more about the certification process.

Certification fees vary by council and can be found on their individual websites. Documentation to prove ethnicity will be required.

Contact Your Regional Affiliate