Certification

The fee for certification is $500.

1. Fill out the online WBENC Link application

  • Visit www.wbenclink.org to register and fill out the application
  • This application becomes the company’s online profile upon certification and will be searchable by corporate sponsors and other certified WBEs; accordingly, the application should be filled out completely and accurately

2. Send supporting documentation to WPEO office

  • WPEO will be in contact with the applicant company via email if any documents are missing
  • Once WPEO receives all required documentation, the file will await review by committee and a site visit – this process can take up to 90 days

3. Committee review

  • The WPEO certification committee is an anonymous volunteer-based committee comprised of representatives from certified WBEs, corporate sponsors and community advocates
  • The committee reviews the applicant company’s documentation and makes a preliminary recommendation based upon WBENC’s Standards and Procedures

4. Site Visit

  • Site visits are a required portion of the certification process
  • Visits are scheduled and completed by volunteers or WPEO staff
  • The visit takes place at the applicant company headquarters with the majority female owner(s) who comprise at least 51% ownership

5. Final determination

  • The applicant company is either granted certification or denied certification by the committee based upon evaluation of both the documentation and the site visit observations
  • The final recommendation is made by the committee based upon the applicant company’s compliance with WBENC’s standards and procedures
  • The applicant will be notified by the WPEO accordingly

 

6. Appeals process

  • If the applicant company is denied certification, there is an opportunity to appeal the decision
  • The applicant will submit appeals paperwork to the WPEO
  • The appeals committee meets on an as needed basis to review appeals and make a recommendation
  • The denial is either upheld or overturned and the applicant will be notified accordingly

 

You may review WBENC's certification criteria, application instructions and apply online by visiting http://www.wbenc.org/Certification/Certification-Process/

Once your completed application has been submitted online, you will receive electronic notification from the website and from WPEO instructing you where to mail your required documentation and non-refundable processing fee.

A list of the required documents is located at http://www.wbenc.org/Documentation-Required/.The process takes approximately 90 days once the application and all documentation have been received.