Authority Industries Service Category Index

The Authority Industries Service Category Index maps the full spectrum of residential home service trades covered within the national contractor network. It defines how service categories are structured, how providers are classified within each trade, and how homeowners and contractors alike can navigate the system to locate the right expertise for a given project. Understanding the category structure clarifies which trades fall under network coverage, what distinguishes one service tier from another, and how category boundaries affect matching, vetting, and compliance requirements.

Definition and scope

A service category, within the Authority Industries framework, is a formally defined grouping of trade activities that share a common regulatory classification, licensure pathway, and technical skill domain. Categories are not marketing labels — they map directly to the licensing and insurance requirements that govern contractor eligibility (authority-industries-licensing-requirements-by-trade) and shape the documentation standards applied during the vetting process.

The index currently organizes covered trades into 8 primary service divisions:

Structural and Foundation — excavation, concrete work, framing, masonry
Mechanical Systems — HVAC installation and service, ductwork, refrigeration
Electrical — panel upgrades, wiring, code-compliance inspections, generator hookups
Plumbing — water supply, drain systems, fixture installation, sewer lateral work
Roofing and Exterior — shingle, metal, and flat roofing; gutters; siding; exterior waterproofing
Interior Finishes — drywall, painting, flooring, cabinetry, tile
Landscaping and Site — grading, hardscaping, irrigation, drainage, tree service
Specialty Systems — solar installation, home automation, security wiring, elevator and lift service

Each division contains sub-categories that carry their own licensure and insurance thresholds. Electrical panel work and full rewiring projects, for example, require a master electrician credential in most US states, while low-voltage wiring for smart-home systems may fall under a separate specialty license classification (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook — Electricians).

How it works

When a contractor applies for network inclusion, the onboarding process requires the applicant to select a primary service category and, where applicable, one or more secondary categories. The selection triggers a category-specific document checklist that pulls from the licensing requirements by trade database and the insurance standards schedule.

Category assignment is not self-reported alone. A credentialing review cross-checks the claimed category against the license type on file with the issuing state authority. If a plumbing contractor claims HVAC as a secondary category, the review requires a second active license issued by the relevant mechanical licensing board — documentation of completion of related coursework is insufficient on its own.

The system applies a contrast between licensed trade categories and unlicensed specialty categories. Licensed trade categories — electrical, plumbing, HVAC, general contracting — require proof of an active, state-issued credential before any project leads are routed to a provider. Unlicensed specialty categories, such as interior painting or basic landscaping, do not require a state license in most jurisdictions but still require general liability insurance at a minimum of $1,000,000 per occurrence and a passed background check (authority-industries-background-check-policy).

Job type also controls category routing. A homeowner submitting a request for a bathroom remodel may trigger matching across three categories simultaneously — plumbing, electrical, and interior finishes — depending on the scope indicated. The homeowner matching process uses the category index as its primary routing table.

Common scenarios

Scenario 1 — Whole-home HVAC replacement. This falls exclusively within the Mechanical Systems division. The assigned contractor must hold an active HVAC/R contractor license and an EPA Section 608 certification for refrigerant handling (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — Section 608 Certification). General contractors with mechanical endorsements may qualify in states that permit bundled licensing.

Scenario 2 — Kitchen renovation. A project involving cabinet removal, electrical outlet relocation, gas line capping, and new flooring crosses 4 sub-categories: electrical, plumbing (gas), Mechanical Systems (gas appliance), and interior finishes. The matching engine routes each scope element to a separately credentialed provider or to a general contractor holding the relevant trade endorsements.

Scenario 3 — Rooftop solar installation. Solar sits within the Specialty Systems division but triggers a secondary electrical review, because photovoltaic interconnection requires a licensed electrician for the panel-level work in 38 states (Interstate Renewable Energy Council — Freeing the Grid). A solar contractor without an electrical sub-license must partner with a licensed electrician for those specific tasks.

Decision boundaries

The category index establishes hard boundaries that determine when a project falls inside or outside network coverage:

In scope: Any trade for which a recognized state licensing classification exists, or for which a general liability insurance standard has been established by the network's quality benchmarks.
Out of scope: Trades or activities that do not carry an insurable liability profile (certain art installation, for example) or that require federal contractor registration beyond state licensing (Department of Defense facility work, federally regulated utility infrastructure).
Boundary cases: Projects that combine in-scope and out-of-scope elements are handled at the sub-category level. The in-scope portion proceeds; the out-of-scope portion is flagged and excluded from matching.

Category assignments are reviewed on an 18-month cycle to reflect changes in state licensing structures, newly recognized trade classifications, and shifts in insurance market standards. Providers holding a category assignment in a trade whose licensing requirements change are notified and given a defined window to supply updated documentation before their listing is suspended.

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