Authority Network America

Authority Network America: Member Site FAQ

Authority Network America operates as a structured hub connecting eight specialized trade and contractor reference sites across the United States. This page addresses the most common questions about how member sites are organized, what each one covers, how the network functions as a connected system, and how service seekers and industry professionals can use these resources effectively. Understanding the scope and boundaries of each member site prevents misdirected searches and helps researchers locate authoritative, sector-specific information efficiently.

Definition and scope

Authority Network America functions as a national-scope reference hub — not a search directory, a contractor marketplace, or a licensing board. The network overview describes the hub's role as a connective layer between eight independently structured member sites, each focused on a distinct trade vertical. The eight members are:

  1. National Plumbing Authority — covers licensing frameworks, code compliance, and contractor qualification standards specific to the plumbing trades across all 50 states.
  2. National HVAC Authority — addresses EPA Section 608 certification requirements, state-level HVAC licensing variation, and mechanical system contractor standards.
  3. National Electrical Authority — covers National Electrical Code (NEC) adoption status by jurisdiction, electrician licensing tiers, and electrical contractor qualification benchmarks.
  4. National Contractor Authority — provides reference material on general contractor licensing, bonding requirements, and multi-trade project qualification across states with divergent regulatory structures.
  5. National Roof Authority — documents roofing contractor licensing requirements, material standards, and state-by-state registration obligations for roofing professionals.
  6. National Pool Authority — covers pool and spa contractor licensing, health code intersections, and certification requirements from organizations including the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP).
  7. Authority Network — serves as an institutional reference layer covering network-wide standards, cross-vertical compliance themes, and structural information about how the network's authority framework is maintained.
  8. National Authority — provides broader context on trade licensing governance, contractor regulation philosophy, and national standards bodies relevant across all covered verticals.

The member site scope comparison page provides a side-by-side breakdown of each site's topical boundaries, geographic focus, and primary audience.

How it works

The network operates on a hub-and-spoke architecture. Authority Network America sits at the center, while member sites function as depth-specific nodes. Each member site is editorially independent — meaning it publishes content calibrated to its vertical's regulatory environment rather than aggregating content from other members.

Navigation between sites follows the cross-network referral protocol, which defines how topically adjacent questions are routed. For example, a question about a mechanical contractor who performs both HVAC and plumbing work touches two member sites with distinct licensing regimes. The protocol establishes that each trade's licensing requirements are addressed within its respective site, while the National Contractor Authority handles general contractor classification when a project spans multiple licensed trades.

The provider listing standards govern how contractor and professional information is presented across all member sites, establishing consistency in how licensing status, jurisdiction coverage, and licensing classifications are described. Member sites do not self-certify contractors — they reference the licensing structures maintained by state agencies and national standards bodies.

The authority designation explained page clarifies what "authority" means in this network context: it signals a commitment to structured, sourced, regulation-grounded reference content, not an endorsement or accreditation function.

Common scenarios

Scenario A — State licensing research: A contractor seeking to expand operations from Texas into Colorado uses National Electrical Authority to compare NEC adoption versions, journeyman-to-master licensing ratios, and continuing education requirements between the two states. This is a primary use case: jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction comparison of licensing structures that are not uniform nationally.

Scenario B — Multi-trade project qualification: A property developer coordinating a commercial build-out involving plumbing, mechanical, and roofing subcontractors uses the vertical coverage map to identify which member sites cover each trade's contractor qualification requirements, then navigates to each site individually for trade-specific licensing depth.

Scenario C — Pool contractor certification: A pool service company seeking to understand APSP certification requirements alongside state-level contractor registration consults National Pool Authority, which maps the intersection between voluntary industry certification and mandatory state licensing in jurisdictions where both apply.

Scenario D — Roofing material and installation standards: An insurance adjuster reviewing storm damage documentation references National Roof Authority to confirm which roofing contractor license classes are authorized to perform specific installation types under state code, informing a coverage determination.

Decision boundaries

The distinction between member sites can be summarized along two axes: trade vertical (plumbing, HVAC, electrical, roofing, pool, general contracting) and scope layer (licensing, standards, compliance, qualification).

The plumbing, HVAC, and electrical overview and the roofing, pool, and exterior overview provide cross-site comparisons within trade clusters. When a question involves regulatory overlap — for instance, gas line work performed by both plumbers and HVAC technicians — the relevant licensing boundary is determined by the state's plumbing or mechanical code definitions, not by the network structure.

The network quality benchmarks page documents the standards applied uniformly across all eight member sites, including sourcing requirements, currency of regulatory references, and the process by which outdated licensing data is flagged for review. Member sites do not publish contractor reviews, pricing estimates, or project quotes — those fall outside the reference scope of every site in the network.

The network membership criteria page defines what qualifies a subject domain for inclusion as a member site: it must represent a distinct licensed trade with a nationally variable regulatory structure, a defined professional credential pathway, and sufficient regulatory source material to sustain reference-grade content.

References

On this site

Core Topics
Contact
Other Pages

In the network

State & Local Authorities