MBE Certifications

The prerequisites to qualify as an MBE with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) or a local MBE program governed by a city, county or state are:

• A for-profit business that is located in the USA;
• 51% owned, operated and controlled by a member(s) of identified group  below, who is the top executive officer responsible for managing daily operations for the firm’s primary business expertise;
• Legal residents (green cards) are accepted by most MBE programs administered by a city, county and state; however, the NMSDC require U.S. Citizenship (no exemptions).

Normally member(s) of identified groups includes:

• Black American: any Black racial group originating in Africa;
• Hispanic: origins in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central and South American, or other Spanish or Portuguese cultures;
• Native American: a Native of Alaska or Hawaii, or certified member of a federal or state recognized Indian Tribe;
• Asian Pacific: origins in the Pacific Islands, China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Thailand,  Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore,  Burma or Philippines;
• Subcontinent Asian: origins in India, Pakistan or Bangladesh.