Official Policy

The CraftAuthority Standing Standard™

Every contractor who appears on CraftAuthority Alliance's verification registry carries one of six standing statuses. These statuses appear on public contractor standing pages at craftauthority.org/verify/ and are the sole authoritative record of a contractor's current standing with the Alliance.

This document defines the meaning, triggers, and resolution requirements for each status. It is referenced on every public contractor standing page. Status assignments are made by Alliance staff following documented review procedures and are not determined by payment alone.

Verified & Active

Public Meaning

This contractor has completed the Alliance review process. Required documentation — including state license, general liability insurance, and applicable workers' compensation coverage — has been reviewed and confirmed as current at the time of the last review. No unresolved compliance issues are on record with the Alliance.

What Triggers This Status

Application approved following documentation review
License confirmed as active and covering the declared trade in the contractor's state
General liability insurance (and workers' comp, where applicable) confirmed as current
No disqualifying disciplinary actions or complaint patterns identified at time of review
Membership payment received and current

What Homeowners Should Understand

This status reflects the contractor's standing at the time of the most recent Alliance review, shown on the standing page. It is not a real-time government database query. Homeowners are encouraged to independently verify license and insurance status with the relevant state authority and to conduct their own due diligence before entering any contract.

Contractor Action Required

No action required. Annual renewal and periodic review are required to maintain this status.

Documentation Pending

Public Meaning

This contractor's application has been received and is in progress. Required documentation has been requested but has not yet been fully received or reviewed. No standing determination has been made. This contractor has not been approved or denied.

What Triggers This Status

Application submitted and payment received
One or more required documents not yet received (e.g. license certificate, COI)
Application under initial review and pending staff action
Returning contractor whose renewal documentation has not yet been processed

What Homeowners Should Understand

This contractor has not yet been verified. Alliance verification has not been completed. Homeowners should independently verify this contractor's license and insurance before proceeding with any engagement.

Contractor Action Required

Submit all requested documentation to the Alliance. The Alliance will communicate the specific items required via the email address on file. Status will be updated following staff review.

Expired Documentation

Public Meaning

This contractor was previously verified by the Alliance, but one or more required credentials — such as a state license or general liability insurance policy — have expired or lapsed since the last review. The contractor's standing cannot be confirmed as current until updated documentation is reviewed.

What Triggers This Status

License expiration date on file has passed without renewal documentation received
Insurance policy expiration date has passed without updated COI received
Annual membership renewal not completed within the renewal window
Documentation submitted at renewal does not satisfy review requirements

What Homeowners Should Understand

This contractor was previously verified but their documentation record is no longer current with the Alliance. Homeowners should independently verify current license and insurance status with the relevant state authority before proceeding. Expired Documentation status does not indicate wrongdoing — it indicates a documentation gap.

Contractor Action Required

Submit current documentation for all expired credentials — including updated license renewal and a current COI from your insurer. Contact the Alliance at craftauthority.org/contact to initiate the renewal review. Status will be restored to Verified & Active upon satisfactory review.

Under Review

Public Meaning

The Alliance is conducting an active review of this contractor's standing. This review may result from a submitted Signal, a reported concern, a periodic audit, or information received that requires evaluation. No final determination has been made. The contractor retains their membership status during the review period.

What Triggers This Status

A Signal submitted by a homeowner, trade peer, or state authority
A verified complaint or documented dispute referred for review
Discrepancy identified between documentation on file and current state records
Periodic Alliance audit initiated as part of standing maintenance
Contractor-requested review of a prior determination

What Homeowners Should Understand

This contractor is subject to an open review. The Alliance has not made a final determination. Under Review status is not a finding of wrongdoing. Homeowners are encouraged to make their own independent assessment and to verify license and insurance directly with state authorities before proceeding.

Contractor Action Required

The Alliance will contact the contractor directly with the scope of the review and any documentation requested. Contractors are expected to respond within the timeframe specified. Cooperation with the review process is a condition of continued membership. The Alliance will communicate its determination in writing upon conclusion of the review.

Suspended

Public Meaning

This contractor's standing with the Alliance has been suspended. The contractor is not currently in good standing and may not represent themselves as Alliance-certified. Their standing page remains publicly accessible to inform homeowners. Use of the Alliance seal, badge, or marks is not permitted during suspension.

What Triggers This Status

License revoked, suspended, or found to be invalid by a state licensing authority
Documented failure to maintain required insurance coverage
Pattern of unresolved consumer complaints substantiated through the review process
Material misrepresentation in an application or during a review
Non-cooperation with an active Alliance review
Violation of Alliance membership terms, mark use rules, or code of conduct

What Homeowners Should Understand

This contractor's standing has been suspended by the Alliance following a documented review process. Homeowners should independently verify whether any license or insurance issues are active with the relevant state authority. The Alliance's standing determination is based on documentation review and is separate from any legal or governmental proceeding.

Contractor Action Required

Suspension is issued in writing with the basis for determination and a resolution pathway, where one exists. Contractors may submit a written response to the Alliance within 14 days of suspension notice. Restoration of standing requires satisfactory resolution of the underlying basis for suspension and, in most cases, re-submission of current documentation for review. Contact craftauthority.org/contact for the applicable process.

Removed

Public Meaning

This contractor's membership with CraftAuthority Alliance has been terminated. They are no longer a member of the Alliance and may not use Alliance marks, seals, or standing page URLs in any capacity. The standing page may remain publicly accessible as a historical record.

What Triggers This Status

Membership terminated by the contractor (voluntary withdrawal)
Membership terminated by the Alliance following suspension without resolution
Application denied following review and all resolution pathways exhausted
Permanent revocation of state license or other disqualifying regulatory action
Material fraud in the application or review process

What Homeowners Should Understand

This contractor is no longer a member of the Alliance. Any Alliance marks, seals, or standing page references used by this contractor after the removal date are unauthorized. If you encounter unauthorized use, you may report it via craftauthority.org/contact. The Alliance's standing determination does not constitute a legal finding.

Contractor Action Required

Where removal was due to documentation failure or non-cooperation, a contractor may submit a written request for reinstatement review to the Alliance no sooner than 12 months after removal. Reinstatement is not guaranteed and requires a full application with current documentation. Removal for fraud or permanent license revocation is not eligible for reinstatement review.

Governing Principles

Payment does not determine standing. Membership fees support operations. They do not guarantee approval, prevent suspension, or determine any standing status. All standing determinations are made on the basis of documentation review and Alliance standards.
Standing is earned and maintained. Verified & Active status is not permanent. It requires annual renewal, submission of current documentation, and ongoing compliance with Alliance membership terms.
Every status change is logged. All standing status changes are recorded in the Alliance's audit system with a timestamp, reason, and the responsible reviewer. This record is not public but is retained for compliance and dispute resolution.
Contractors receive notice. No standing status is changed to Suspended or Removed without written notice to the contractor at the email address on file, except where immediate suspension is required to protect public safety.
Public pages never disclose private notes. Internal review notes, application details, and administrative communications are not displayed on public standing pages. Only status, verified credential types, and review dates are shown publicly.
The Alliance is not a government authority. Standing determinations are membership decisions made against the Alliance's published standards. They are independent of any government licensing or regulatory action and do not carry the force of law.

Scope and Limitations

CraftAuthority Alliance™ is an independent, privately operated standards body. Contractor standing pages and standing statuses reflect the Alliance's review of submitted documentation as of the date shown. They are not real-time queries of government databases and do not constitute legal findings, regulatory determinations, or guarantees of contractor performance.

State licensing authorities are the sole authoritative source for the legal validity of a contractor's license. Insurance carriers are the sole authoritative source for the status of an insurance policy. Homeowners are encouraged to verify credentials directly with the applicable state authority and insurer before entering any contract.

The Alliance's review process is documentation-based. Verification that a document was presented does not constitute a warranty that the document was authentic, that the underlying credential remained valid continuously after review, or that the contractor will perform work satisfactorily.

This document is subject to revision. The version published at craftauthority.org/standing-standard is the current and controlling version. Questions regarding standing determinations may be directed to craftauthority.org/contact.

CraftAuthority Standing Standard™ · Effective January 2025 · How verification works →