Authority Network America

Authority Network Org - Network Standards Authority Reference

The Authority Network America platform operates as a national reference infrastructure connecting trade and home-services professionals, licensing bodies, and service seekers across the United States. This page defines how the network is structured, how member sites function within it, and how the framework applies across 8 distinct verticals. The standards described here reflect the organizational logic governing provider qualification, referral integrity, and cross-sector coverage that unifies the network's public-facing resources.

Definition and scope

The Authority Network America framework is a structured multi-vertical reference system that coordinates licensing standards, professional qualification criteria, and consumer-facing information across the skilled trades and home services sectors. Each member site in the network operates as a domain-specific authority — covering one professional vertical with regulatory depth, provider qualification standards, and geographic coverage relevant to that trade.

The network's provider framework distinguishes between two structural layers: the hub reference layer (this site) and the vertical authority layer (individual member sites). The hub layer establishes baseline standards for network membership, referral protocol, and data integrity. The vertical layer delivers trade-specific licensing requirements, scope-of-work definitions, and regional regulatory variation.

Scope spans residential and commercial service categories, with national coverage structured around state licensing boards, municipal permitting bodies, and industry certification organizations including the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational classifications and the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) as a sector-specific regulatory benchmark.

How it works

The network operates through a coordinated hub-and-member architecture. The hub site — this domain — sets the network membership criteria and quality benchmarks that each vertical site must satisfy before listing providers or publishing licensing references. Member sites then maintain their own content structures aligned to those standards.

The coordination mechanism works in four stages:

  1. Vertical scoping — Each member site is assigned a single professional vertical and publishes regulatory, licensing, and provider information specific to that trade.
  2. Provider onboarding — Professionals and companies seeking listing undergo credential verification against the relevant state licensing board database and the network's provider listing standards.
  3. Cross-network referral — When a service need spans verticals (e.g., a remodel requiring plumbing, electrical, and HVAC work simultaneously), the cross-network referral protocol governs how member sites surface co-relevant resources.
  4. Compliance monitoring — Member sites undergo periodic review against the network compliance requirements to maintain active status.

A key distinction separates passive directory models from this network's design: passive directories aggregate listings without verifying licensing status against state board records. The Authority Network America model requires demonstrated compliance with jurisdiction-specific licensing thresholds before provider records are published.

Common scenarios

Residential service navigation — A homeowner coordinating a full HVAC replacement and electrical panel upgrade would find separate, depth-accurate resources at two distinct member sites. National HVAC Authority covers mechanical licensing requirements, equipment efficiency standards governed by EPA Section 608, and regional contractor qualification criteria. National Electrical Authority addresses electrician license classifications, permit requirements under NFPA 70, and inspection processes across jurisdictions.

Trade contractor qualification research — A general contractor evaluating subcontractor credentials for a multi-trade project would consult National Contractor Authority, which covers general contractor licensing, bonding thresholds, insurance minimums, and the regulatory distinctions between licensed contractors and registered contractors across the 50 states.

Plumbing scope and licensing verification — Service seekers and industry professionals researching plumber licensing classifications, master vs. journeyman distinctions, and state-specific scope-of-work limits will find those standards at National Plumbing Authority, which documents requirements drawn from state licensing board publications and the International Plumbing Code (IPC).

Exterior and specialty services — Roofing and pool construction represent two distinct licensing categories that most general reference sites conflate. National Roof Authority covers roofing contractor licensing, manufacturer certification requirements, and storm damage claims processes as regulated at the state level. National Pool Authority addresses pool contractor licensing, barrier code compliance under CPSC guidelines, and health department permitting for commercial installations.

Decision boundaries

The network's reference function is bounded by three structural limits that define what falls inside and outside its scope.

Inside scope: Licensing standards, regulatory body identification, provider qualification criteria, trade-specific scope-of-work definitions, state licensing board references, permitting process descriptions, and cross-trade referral logic. The authority designation explained page details what qualifies a site or provider for designation within the network.

Outside scope: Legal advice, project cost estimates, direct contractor recommendations for specific jobs, adjudication of licensing disputes, and product or brand endorsements. The network's data integrity policy specifies how information is sourced and updated.

Vertical boundary vs. cross-vertical cases: Single-trade service needs map cleanly to one member site. Multi-trade projects — such as a full home addition requiring plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and roofing work — require use of the vertical coverage map and the member site scope comparison to identify which licensing authorities and provider qualifications apply simultaneously.

The network's broader organizational standards and governance principles are documented at Authority Network Org and National Authority Org, which serve as the policy-layer resources underpinning how all member sites are evaluated and maintained.

References

On this site

Core Topics
Contact
Other Pages

In the network

State & Local Authorities