M/WBE Recertification (NYC and NYS)
Administered by NYC SBS and NYS Empire State Development
Private consulting firm, not a government agency. We are not affiliated with any city, state or federal agency. You can apply directly with any agency yourself, and NYC and NYS M/WBE certification are free to apply for. We charge for our help, not for the certification. Official agency links are listed at the bottom of this page.
What this program is
Both the City and the State certify M/WBEs for 5 years at a time. To stay listed, you have to keep up with yearly check-ins (City) and recertify before your term ends (City and State). These are two separate processes in two separate systems.
What it unlocks
Keeping your directory listing and your eligibility to count toward M/WBE goals without a gap. A lapse can cost you bids that are limited to certified firms, and in some cases means filing a brand new application.
Key facts at a glance
- NYC term
- 5 years, plus an annual confirmation form
- NYC renewal
- Shorter renewal application in SBS Connect; reminder 45 days ahead
- NYS term
- 5 years
- NYS renewal
- Opens 90 days before expiration in the MWBE Hub
- Cost
- NYC is free; NYS fee not stated
Can I renew my M/WBE certification?
Loading the free eligibility check. If it does not appear, take the full eligibility check here.
You may qualify if
- You currently hold NYC M/WBE and/or NYS MWBE certification
- Your ownership, control and the capital the certification relied on have not materially changed (NYS)
- You still meet the eligibility rules, including the NYS personal net worth limit
These are screening indicators only, not a guarantee of eligibility. Eligibility is determined solely by the certifying agency.
Documents you'll need to gather
Most delays come from missing paperwork, not the questions. Here's what to pull together, organized by where you'll find it.
NYC (SBS Connect)
- Annual confirmation that ownership, operations and management have not changed
- Renewal application (a shorter version of the original)
NYS (MWBE Hub)
- Recertification application with updated documents uploaded as PDFs
- Any additional documents ESD requests (they can ask for a full application)
Typical preparation flow
- 1Find your current expiration dates for both the City and the State. They are usually different.
- 2NYC: file your annual confirmation every year in SBS Connect, and the renewal application when SBS reminds you.
- 3NYS: start the recertification in the MWBE Hub as soon as the 90-day window opens.
- 4If ownership, management or capital changed, plan for more review. NYS recertification assumes no material change.
- 5If a certification was revoked or denied, you file a new application, not a renewal.
Where applications get held up
- Missing the NYC annual confirmation or the renewal window. Set reminders for both.
- Ownership or management changes since your last certification trigger more scrutiny.
- Waiting until the last week. Start NYS as soon as the 90-day window opens.
If you hold other certifications (DBE, SDVOB, Port Authority, SCA), each has its own renewal cycle. We track all of them in one calendar for our clients.
Official sources
- NYC Business: M/WBE program operation (renewal and annual confirmation)
- ESD: NYS MWBE Certification Applications (recertification)
- NYS Executive Law section 314
Last reviewed October 2026. Agencies change their rules; always confirm on the agency's site before you file.
Not sure if M/WBE Recertification is the right one for you?
Take the free eligibility check and see every program your company may qualify to pursue (city, state, federal and agency) in the right order.
or call 212-812-2219Other programs you may qualify for
NYC Get Certified is an independent consulting service powered by Managed Construction. We are not a government agency. We do not guarantee certification approval, prequalification, or contract awards. Program requirements are set by the certifying agencies and change over time.