Authority Network America: Industry Verticals
Authority Network America organizes its reference content across distinct industry verticals, each representing a service sector with its own regulatory structure, licensing requirements, and professional standards. This page describes the vertical framework, lists the sectors currently covered, and explains how the network's topic sites map to those sectors.
Definition and scope
An industry vertical within this network is a bounded service category defined by a combination of regulatory oversight, professional licensing structures, and distinct service delivery practices. The network publishes reference content about each vertical — describing how the sector is regulated, what licensing applies, and how services are structured at national, state, and local levels.
The network currently covers two broad sectors, each organized under a division hub:
- Trade services — 76 topic sites under Trusted Service Authority
- Professional services — 9 topic sites under Authority Industries
Trade services verticals
The trade services sector encompasses service categories where state licensing boards, contractor regulations, and trade-specific codes govern professional practice. Topic sites within this sector include:
- HVAC — Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning services, regulated by state mechanical contractor boards and governed by standards including ASHRAE guidelines and state energy codes
- Plumbing — Licensed plumbing services regulated by state plumbing boards, with code compliance governed by the Uniform Plumbing Code or International Plumbing Code depending on jurisdiction
- Electrical — Licensed electrical contractors regulated by state electrical boards and governed by the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70)
- Pool services — Pool construction, maintenance, and repair services regulated by state contractor boards, with safety standards governed by the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act and state barrier codes
- Roofing — Licensed roofing contractors regulated by state contractor boards, with material and installation standards set by building codes adopted at the state or municipal level
- Auto repair and collision — Vehicle repair services regulated by state motor vehicle repair boards where they exist, with environmental compliance governed by EPA standards for waste handling
- Landscaping — Landscape services including irrigation, hardscaping, and vegetation management, with licensing requirements varying significantly by state — from full contractor licensing to limited pesticide applicator certification
- Cleaning and restoration — Commercial and residential cleaning, fire/water restoration, and environmental remediation services, with certification standards from organizations such as the IICRC
- Towing and trucking — Regulated by state departments of transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for interstate operations
Additional trade verticals covered include appliance repair, automation, carpentry, pest control, moving services, and commercial maintenance.
Professional services verticals
The professional services sector covers fields where professional associations, federal agencies, and state regulatory bodies establish qualification frameworks:
- Cybersecurity — Information security services governed by frameworks including NIST Cybersecurity Framework and sector-specific requirements under HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and CMMC
- Financial services — Regulated by the SEC, FINRA, and state securities divisions, with licensing requirements including Series 7, Series 66, and state insurance licenses
- Insurance — Licensed insurance services regulated by state departments of insurance, with producer licensing governed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) model acts
- Health services — Healthcare-adjacent services regulated by state health departments and federal agencies including CMS and subject to HIPAA privacy and security requirements
- Legal services — Regulated by state bar associations and supreme courts, with attorney licensing governed by state-specific bar admission requirements
- Real estate — Licensed real estate services regulated by state real estate commissions, with agent and broker licensing requirements varying by jurisdiction
- Hospitality — Hotel, restaurant, and tourism services regulated by state health departments, local permitting authorities, and federal agencies including the FDA for food service
- Training and education — Professional development and vocational training services, with accreditation standards set by recognized accrediting agencies and state education departments
- Digital transformation — Technology consulting and implementation services, with relevant frameworks including ITIL, COBIT, and sector-specific compliance requirements
How verticals are organized
Each vertical is covered at multiple geographic levels depending on the regulatory structure of the sector:
- National — A single topic site covers the vertical at the US-wide level, addressing federal regulations, national standards, and cross-state licensing frameworks
- State — Where state licensing requirements differ materially from the national baseline, dedicated state-level topic sites cover jurisdiction-specific regulations
- Metro and city — For service categories with significant local variation (permitting requirements, municipal codes, regional market conditions), metro and city-level topic sites provide localized reference content
Not every vertical has coverage at every geographic level. The depth of geographic coverage reflects the regulatory complexity of the sector — pool services, which involve state contractor licensing, county health codes, and municipal barrier requirements, have deeper geographic coverage than sectors with more uniform national regulation.