Trades Covered in the Authority Industries Directory
The Authority Industries Directory organizes licensed and credentialed trade contractors across the United States into a structured, multi-vertical reference system. This page details which trade categories appear in the directory, how those categories are defined and bounded, and what distinguishes a specialty trade listing from a general contractor entry. Understanding the scope of covered trades helps consumers, procurement teams, and trade professionals locate the right contractor classification for a given project type.
Definition and scope
The directory spans 12 primary trade verticals, each corresponding to a recognized occupational classification used by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics under its Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system (BLS SOC Manual). These verticals include electrical, plumbing, HVAC/mechanical, roofing, general construction, painting and finishing, flooring, concrete and masonry, landscaping and irrigation, pest control, insulation, and low-voltage/data cabling.
Within each primary vertical, the directory recognizes sub-trade specializations. Electrical, for example, splits into residential wiring, commercial power distribution, industrial controls, and solar photovoltaic installation — four distinct licensing tracks in most states. This granularity reflects the structure of state-level contractor licensing boards, which issue trade-specific licenses rather than blanket construction permits. The trades-licensing-requirements-by-trade-category reference covers how those license types map to directory categories.
Trades are scoped to contractors who perform hands-on installation, repair, maintenance, or inspection work. The directory does not classify architects, civil engineers, or general project managers as trade contractors unless those individuals also hold a separate trade license in an eligible category.
How it works
Each trade category in the directory is assigned a classification framework drawn from three reference standards:
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification — establishes the occupational boundary of a trade (e.g., SOC 47-2111 for electricians).
- NAICS Industry Codes (U.S. Census Bureau NAICS) — define the business-activity boundary, separating, for instance, plumbing contractors (NAICS 238220) from plumbing goods wholesalers.
- State licensing board categories — determine which license types qualify a contractor for directory inclusion in a given trade vertical.
When a contractor applies for listing, the directory's classification engine matches the contractor's submitted license type against its state-specific license taxonomy. A contractor holding a C-10 Electrical license in California, for example, maps automatically to the Electrical vertical. A contractor holding only a general B-license without a specialty endorsement maps to General Construction, not to any specialty vertical.
The authority-industries-verification-standards page explains how license data is cross-referenced against state licensing board databases before a trade classification is confirmed.
Trade categories are reviewed on a 24-month cycle to incorporate changes in BLS occupational codes, new state license classifications, and emerging trade sectors. The authority-industries-directory-update-frequency page details the review schedule and how category changes are communicated to listed contractors.
Common scenarios
Scenario 1 — Single-trade specialist. A licensed master plumber operating in Texas holds a Plumbing License issued by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE). The contractor qualifies for the Plumbing vertical only. No secondary classification is assigned unless a separate HVAC or gas-fitting license is also held.
Scenario 2 — Multi-trade contractor. A contractor in Florida holds both a Certified Roofing Contractor license and a Certified General Contractor license issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). The directory assigns the contractor to both the Roofing vertical and the General Construction vertical, with each listing displayed independently.
Scenario 3 — Emerging trade classification. A contractor holds an NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification (NABCEP) and a state electrical license with a solar endorsement. The contractor qualifies for the Solar PV sub-trade under the Electrical vertical — a sub-classification added to the directory in response to the BLS adding SOC 47-2231 (Solar Photovoltaic Installers) as a discrete occupation.
The specialty-trades-representation-in-authority-industries page expands on how niche and emerging trade categories are evaluated for inclusion.
Decision boundaries
Two contrasts define where the directory's trade scope begins and ends.
Licensed trade vs. unlicensed service. Handyman services, general cleaning, and moving companies do not carry state-issued trade licenses and fall outside all 12 primary verticals. Only contractors whose work is regulated by a state licensing board or who hold a recognized industry credential (such as NATE certification for HVAC technicians — NATE) qualify for trade vertical assignment.
Specialty trade vs. general contractor. A general contractor who subcontracts all trade work to licensed specialists does not qualify for specialty vertical classification. The directory treats general contractors as a distinct category under General Construction (NAICS 236220 for commercial, 236115 for residential new construction). Specialty trade verticals require that the listed contractor performs the trade work directly, not solely through subcontracting arrangements. This distinction aligns with the licensing structure described in the understanding-trade-contractor-classifications reference.
Geographic scope is national, covering all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Trade categories are not limited by region, but sub-trade specializations may appear only in states where a corresponding license category exists. Low-voltage cabling, for instance, requires a separate contractor license in 31 states (as tracked by the Electrical Licensing Resource Center) but is regulated under a general electrical license in others — a distinction the directory reflects at the state level within each listing.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)
- U.S. Census Bureau — North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
- Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE)
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)
- North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP)
- North American Technician Excellence (NATE)
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Solar Photovoltaic Installers (SOC 47-2231)