If you've been in Bluetooth for a few years, you've seen plenty of BQB certification failures. The failure points are concentrated: membership type chosen incorrectly at registration, not knowing how to handle the listing process, or confusion over EPL vs. Full Qualification.
In 2026, SIG completely decommissioned the old Launch Studio platform – all operations now go through the new Qualification Workspace online system. The old QDID name has been uniformly changed to DID (Declaration ID) – historical QDID data has been migrated to the new system.
However: many people get this wrong. The RN receipt number has not been abolished – new system DID listing applications still require a paid RN. Adopter members' RN is valid for only 6 months – if it expires, the fee is lost. If you're not aware of these changes, following the old process means you won't even find the entry point.
BQB certification – from SIG membership to DID listing – breaks down into the following steps.
BQB certification is not one‑size‑fits‑all. The Bluetooth solution you're using determines the complexity of the rest of the process.
Scenario A: Using an already‑certified Bluetooth module
Your product uses a commercially available BQB‑certified Bluetooth module – Nordic, Telink, Espressif – any of the mainstream certified module solutions. And you haven't made any hardware modifications to the module.
This path uses EPL (Existing Product Listing) – the simplified listing path. No RF or protocol testing is required – you directly reference the module's DID – submit documentation for review. Most domestic consumer electronics products fall into this scenario.
Important: EPL listing requires the referenced module's DID to be a Component type – not an End‑Product type. I've seen many clients submit End‑Product type DIDs for EPL – only to be rejected by SIG – because they didn't distinguish the DID design type. This traps many.
Scenario B: Self‑developed Bluetooth subsystem
You selected the chip yourself – designed the RF circuit yourself – or you're using a module that hasn't obtained BQB certification. This requires the Full Qualification path – RF conformance, protocol conformance, and Profile interoperability testing – from scratch.
二、SIG Membership Registration
Regardless of which path, register as a corporate member on the Bluetooth SIG website.
SIG corporate membership now has three tiers:
·Adopter: free – suitable for SMEs doing one or two certifications occasionally – review 1–3 working days.
·Contributing Adopter: new mid‑tier added in 2026.
·Associate: paid annual membership – fees based on company size – suitable for companies with ongoing certification needs – DID certification fees are halved.
The old IIP (Innovation Incentive Program) – a one‑time discount for small businesses – has been formally terminated by SIG. New applications are no longer accepted. Already‑approved IIP projects can continue using the discounted price within an 18‑month window. Anyone registering now should not try to apply for IIP.
The company English name entered during registration is critical. Test reports, module documentation, and product nameplates must all match this name. Changing it later is very time‑consuming. Get it right the first time.
三、BQB Certification – Document Preparation
1. EPL path
Three items required:
·Module manufacturer's DID number.
·Module certification certificate.
·Formal authorisation letter from the module manufacturer – allowing you to reference their certification records.
No hardware modifications to the module – the referenced certification must be in valid status.
Boundary clarification: cross‑referencing a third‑party module DID – the whole product can make minor non‑RF modifications to the module's peripheral circuits (e.g., peripheral power‑supply adjustments). But the module's RF section and module firmware must not be changed. It's not that peripheral circuits can't be modified at all – it's that RF and firmware are off‑limits.
2. Full Qualification path
Document list is longer:
·Product specification sheet.
·Schematics, PCB layout, BOM.
·Bluetooth protocol‑stack version information.
·Complete list of supported Profiles (A2DP, HFP, AVRCP, SPP, etc.).
·Antenna specifications.
These are all required during testing and listing.
ICS (Implementation Conformance Statement) and PIXIT (Protocol Implementation eXtra Information for Testing) – these are the basis for lab testing. The functions you declare are what the lab tests – but your declarations must accurately reflect the product's actual hardware capabilities. Don't delete features to save money on testing – if SIG audits your product and finds a mismatch between declaration and actual functionality – the DID will be revoked.
四、BQB Certification – Lab Testing
EPL path: no testing – proceed to the next step.
Full Qualification path: samples must be sent to a SIG‑authorised BQTF lab.
BQTF vs. BRTF – the difference:
·BQTF can run full projects – RF and protocol.
·BRTF can issue formal RF test reports for Full Qualification submissions – but cannot do protocol or Profile conformance testing.
It's not that BRTF reports are only for pre‑testing.
Sample quantity: follows the BQTF lab's test plan – varies by product. Samples must be capable of entering RF test mode (engineering mode). The test firmware can be a dedicated RF engineering test firmware – it does not have to be the production firmware. Hardware design must reserve debug interfaces.
Testing breaks into three blocks:
·RF conformance: transmit power, frequency error, modulation characteristics, receiver sensitivity – against Core Specification.
·Protocol stack conformance: L2CAP, ATT, GATT, SM – protocol‑layer compliance.
·Profile compatibility: A2DP audio, HFP hands‑free, SPP serial, GAP general access – interoperability with other Bluetooth devices.
·Simple BLE speaker: 3–5 days.
·In‑vehicle multi‑mode Bluetooth – BLE + BR/EDR: 2–3 weeks.
These are lab test man‑hours – excluding system review and scheduling queues.
五、DID Listing
After testing passes, the BQTF uploads test data to the Qualification Workspace system. The manufacturer fills in product details in the system – reviewed by SIG‑authorised BQB assessors.
Upon approval, the product is entered into SIG's public database – Listing complete – a unique DID is generated. Clients and customs can directly check the product's certification status on the SIG website.
SDoC (Supplier's Declaration of Conformity) – signed by the manufacturer – must be uploaded to the Qualification Workspace system – not just locally archived. Missing this = rejection.
SIG does not issue paper certificates – only DID listing.
The entire review and listing process: roughly 1–2 weeks.
六、BQB Certification – Validity and Changes
DID design records do not expire. But associated items do:
·RN receipt number: has a validity period – Adopter member RN: 6 months – expires if unused.
·Module‑side DID: if it expires – the whole‑product EPL listing expires with it.
·Associate membership: if annual fees are not paid – all DIDs under the account cannot be changed – no new EPL listings can be added.
What counts as a major change:
·Chip replaced.
·Antenna design changed.
·Protocol‑stack major version upgrade.
Changes to the Bluetooth protocol stack or GATT/Profile logic – even minor firmware patches – are major changes – require re‑assessment. Appearance changes and non‑protocol‑stack firmware patches – only document updates required.
If you're on EPL – your listing validity follows the referenced module's DID. If the module re‑certifies, you must update your listing.
七、BQB Certification – Costs
·SIG membership annual fees: Adopter – free. Associate – thousands to tens of thousands of USD, based on company size.
·DID listing fee: charged per product – discounted for paid members.
·Testing fees: based on product complexity – simple BLE devices – low cost. Multi‑mode in‑vehicle devices – high cost. BQTF lab fees vary – shop around.
BQB certification – the bottleneck is never technical difficulty – it's process familiarity. Get the membership type right – distinguish DID design types – don't let RN expire – don't forget to upload the SDoC – you're basically set.
For BQB certification, contact BlueAsia at 13534225140 (King) or email king.guo@cblueasia.com.
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