BCORP Licensing Criteria 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What minimum score must a company achieve on the B Impact Assessment to qualify for B Corp certification?
- 60 out of 200
- 80 out of 200 (Correct answer)
- 100 out of 200
- 120 out of 200
Correct answer: 80 out of 200
B Lab requires a minimum verified score of 80 out of 200 points on the B Impact Assessment to earn B Corp certification.
Question 2: Which legal requirement must US-based companies typically fulfill as part of B Corp licensing criteria?
- Register as a non-profit organization
- Adopt benefit corporation status or amend governing documents to consider all stakeholders (Correct answer)
- File as a public benefit LLC with the SEC
- Obtain a federal sustainability charter
Correct answer: Adopt benefit corporation status or amend governing documents to consider all stakeholders
US companies must adopt benefit corporation status or embed stakeholder-consideration language into their governing documents to meet B Corp's legal accountability requirement.
Question 3: How often must a certified B Corp complete the recertification process to maintain its license?
- Every year
- Every two years
- Every three years (Correct answer)
- Every five years
Correct answer: Every three years
B Corp certification must be renewed every three years through a full recertification process, including an updated B Impact Assessment.
Question 4: What legal document must companies sign to formalize their B Corp licensing relationship with B Lab?
- The Declaration of Corporate Responsibility
- The B Corp Agreement (Correct answer)
- The Stakeholder Covenant
- The Benefit Corporation Charter
Correct answer: The B Corp Agreement
Companies must sign the B Corp Agreement with B Lab, which governs use of the certification mark and outlines ongoing obligations.
Question 5: Which entity administers the B Corp certification and licensing program globally?
- The United Nations Environment Programme
- The US Chamber of Commerce
- B Lab (Correct answer)
- The International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Correct answer: B Lab
B Lab is the nonprofit organization that administers the B Corp certification program and manages licensing agreements worldwide.
Question 6: What happens to a company's B Corp license if it fails to meet recertification requirements by the deadline?
- It receives an automatic 6-month grace period
- Its certification is placed on public probation
- Its certification lapses and it loses the right to use the B Corp mark (Correct answer)
- It is demoted to a lower tier of certification
Correct answer: Its certification lapses and it loses the right to use the B Corp mark
If a company fails to complete recertification in time, its certification lapses and it must cease using the B Corp trademark until requirements are met.
Question 7: Under B Corp licensing criteria, what does the legal accountability requirement primarily ensure?
- The company pays its B Lab fees on time
- Directors can be held accountable for considering all stakeholders, not just shareholders (Correct answer)
- The company registers its trademark with the USPTO
- All company decisions are reviewed by an independent ethics board
Correct answer: Directors can be held accountable for considering all stakeholders, not just shareholders
Legal accountability means that company directors are legally required to consider the interests of workers, communities, and the environment — not solely shareholders — when making decisions.
BCORP Licensing Criteria 2
What minimum score must a company achieve on the B Impact Assessment to qualify for B Corp certification?