SDVOSB & VOSB Certification: Eligibility, Deadlines & Recertification Checklist

Last verified against the federal regulation: July 15, 2026

Short version: VOSB (Veteran-Owned Small Business) means at least 51% owned and controlled by a veteran — no disability required. SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business) means at least 51% owned and controlled by a service-disabled veteran. Certification is free, direct through the Small Business Administration's (SBA) MySBA Certifications portal — you never need to pay a third party. Once certified, the clock that actually matters is recertification every 3 years, with a 90-day window before it expires to renew.

What VOSB and SDVOSB actually require

Both programs share the same ownership threshold: not less than 51 percent owned and controlled by the qualifying veteran(s) (13 CFR § 128.200). The difference is the disability requirement:

• VOSB — owned and controlled by one or more veterans. No service-connected disability is required.
• SDVOSB — owned and controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans, as determined by the VA (the Department of Veterans Affairs). (A narrow exception lets the spouse or permanent caregiver of a veteran with a permanent and total disability hold ownership if that veteran can't manage daily operations.)

This is an eligibility rule, not a determination of your specific status — SBA makes that call when you apply. We're describing what the regulation says, not telling you whether your business qualifies.

How to get certified — and why you don't need to pay anyone

Certification runs through SBA's VetCert program, applied for at MySBA Certifications (certifications.sba.gov). The application is free — there is no SBA fee, and nothing about this process requires a paid registrar or consultant.

Self-certification is gone, and it didn't all end on the same date. SDVOSB set-aside and sole-source contracts stopped accepting self-certification earlier, when SBA's VetCert program took over certification from the VA in 2023. Self-certification for subcontracting and small-business- goaling purposes lasted longer — SBA allowed it only through December 22, 2024 (sba.gov). VA-specific set-asides never allowed self-certification at all. Today, in every category, self-certification isn't an option — you need to be VetCert-certified.

The clock that matters: recertification every 3 years

Once certified, the ongoing deadline to track isn't the application — it's staying current. Per 13 CFR § 128.306:

• Recertify every 3 years to remain certified — there's no limit on how many times you can renew.
• You can recertify starting 90 calendar days before your certification's termination date.
• Miss the deadline? SBA decertifies the concern at the end of the eligibility period — but if you recertify within 30 days after expiration, SBA reinstates you without starting over.
• Separately, ongoing duty: you must tell SBA about any change that could affect eligibility (ownership, control, disability status) within 30 calendar days of the change — not just at recertification.

The checklist

1. Confirm ownership/control meets the 51% threshold for your program (VOSB or SDVOSB) before applying.
2. Apply free at certifications.sba.gov — DD Form 214, VA disability letter (SDVOSB), ownership agreements, and financials are typically required.
3. Note your certification's termination date the moment you're approved.
4. Calendar a reminder for 90 days before that date — your recertification window opens then.
5. If you miss the deadline, recertify within 30 days after expiration to avoid starting over.
6. Report any ownership, control, or disability-status change to SBA within 30 days of the change — don't wait for the 3-year cycle.

Sources

• 13 CFR § 128.200 — ownership/control threshold and the VOSB/SDVOSB disability distinction
• 13 CFR § 128.306 — 3-year recertification cadence, 90-day window, 30-day grace period
• MySBA Certifications — the free application portal
• SBA: Veteran contracting assistance programs — self-certification sunset date

This is general education on a federal regulation, not legal or compliance advice — and it doesn't tell you whether your specific business qualifies. SBA makes that determination when you apply; keep your own advisors in the loop.