Authority Network America: Network Update and Expansion Log

The Authority Network America platform operates as a structured hub connecting 8 specialized trade and contractor reference sites across the United States. This log documents the scope, structure, and expansion criteria that govern how member sites are added, categorized, and maintained within the network. Understanding the network's composition is essential for service seekers, industry professionals, and researchers navigating trade-sector reference resources at a national scale.

Definition and scope

The Authority Network America hub functions as a meta-reference layer above its member sites — each of which covers a distinct licensed trade or contractor vertical. The network currently comprises 8 member domains, spanning plumbing, HVAC, electrical, general contracting, roofing, pool services, and two cross-vertical authority nodes. Member sites are not directories in the conventional sense; they are structured reference environments that describe licensing standards, regulatory bodies, professional categories, and service-sector landscapes within their respective verticals.

The network membership criteria governing which sites qualify for inclusion are based on vertical specificity, geographic scope (national), and alignment with the provider framework that defines how trade professionals are classified and presented. The standards reference further establishes the baseline against which member site content is evaluated for accuracy and institutional completeness.

Scope boundaries are explicit: the network covers US-based licensed trade sectors only. International trade licensing, unlicensed handyman categories, and retail product verticals fall outside network scope.

How it works

The hub-and-spoke model places authoritynetworkamerica.com at the center of a network where each member site operates independently but adheres to shared quality and classification protocols. The network quality benchmarks define minimum standards for professional classification depth, regulatory citation accuracy, and geographic coverage completeness.

Member sites are linked from the hub through contextual reference points — not aggregated into a single flat list — so that each vertical retains its own authoritative identity. The vertical coverage map illustrates how the 8 member sites map onto distinct service sectors without overlap.

The network expansion process follows a 4-stage protocol:

1. Vertical gap identification — Research determines whether an unrepresented licensed trade sector meets threshold relevance (defined as operating under distinct state-level licensing regimes in at least 25 states).
2. Site scoping — A member site's topical boundaries are defined against existing members to prevent duplication.
3. Standards alignment — Content structures are mapped to the network compliance requirements before public launch.
4. Hub integration — The new member is linked contextually from the hub and assigned a vertical classification in the member directory.

Common scenarios

Scenario 1: Trade professional seeking licensure reference
A licensed plumber operating across state lines consults National Plumbing Authority, which covers state-by-state plumbing license classifications, reciprocity provisions, and regulatory board structures. This site handles the jurisdictional complexity that multi-state plumbing contractors encounter when verifying their standing in new markets.

Scenario 2: HVAC contractor verifying regional compliance
An HVAC contractor needing to understand EPA Section 608 certification requirements alongside state-specific mechanical licensing finds structured reference material at National HVAC Authority, which maps federal refrigerant handling standards against state mechanical board requirements.

Scenario 3: Homeowner researching contractor qualifications
A property owner evaluating roofing contractors for a commercial project can reference National Roof Authority to understand what licensing classifications apply to commercial roofing work in their jurisdiction, what bonding requirements apply, and which regulatory bodies govern roofing contractor conduct in their state.

Scenario 4: Researcher mapping electrical licensing structures
Academic or policy researchers examining how electrical contractor licensing varies across states have a structured reference in National Electrical Authority, which documents journeyman, master, and contractor license tier distinctions that differ substantially between jurisdictions.

Scenario 5: Pool service sector analysis
The pool and spa service sector operates under a distinct licensing framework in states like Florida, California, and Arizona. National Pool Authority covers pool contractor license classifications, state pool code references, and the regulatory separation between pool construction and pool service licensing.

For cross-vertical questions — such as how a general contractor's license interacts with specialty trade licenses on a single project — National Contractor Authority provides reference material on general contractor scope-of-work boundaries and subcontractor licensing obligations.

Decision boundaries

Two structural distinctions govern how resources within the network are used:

Hub vs. Member Site
The hub (authoritynetworkamerica.com) covers network structure, expansion policy, and cross-vertical frameworks. Member sites cover trade-specific regulatory landscapes. A researcher seeking licensing specifics for a single trade should navigate directly to the relevant member site. The member site scope comparison documents these distinctions explicitly.

Reference Resource vs. Verification Tool
The network provides reference-grade descriptions of licensing structures, regulatory bodies, and professional categories. It does not perform real-time license verification, contractor background checks, or credential authentication. State licensing board databases — such as those maintained by the California Contractors State License Board or the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — are the authoritative sources for live license status.

The authority designation explained page clarifies what "authority" signifies in the network context: institutional reference depth, not regulatory standing. Cross-network referral pathways are documented in the cross-network referral protocol for cases where a query spans two or more member verticals.

The two cross-vertical nodes — Authority Network and National Authority — serve researchers and professionals navigating multi-trade or non-trade-specific licensing questions that don't fit cleanly into a single vertical.

References

• California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) — State regulatory body governing contractor licensing classifications referenced in general contractor and specialty trade contexts.
• Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) — Issues and enforces contractor, electrical, plumbing, and pool contractor licenses in Florida.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — Section 608 Technician Certification — Federal certification standard for refrigerant handling, referenced in HVAC vertical coverage.
• National Conference of State Legislatures — Occupational Licensing — Tracks state-level occupational licensing legislation and reciprocity agreements across trade sectors.