Editorial standards
Editorial and sourcing policy
The standard is not “sounds plausible.” The standard is useful, attributable, scoped, and honest about uncertainty.
September 2, 2026
Source hierarchy
- Controlling sources: statutes, administrative rules, licensing-agency pages, current applications, exam bulletins, and official program documents.
- National occupational sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor, EPA, OSHA, and other federal agencies.
- Direct program sources: registered apprenticeship sponsors, schools, unions, associations, and employers for claims about their own programs.
- Secondary context: used to find questions or context, never as the sole authority for a material licensing requirement.
What “reviewed” means
A review date means the editor checked the page's material claims and the linked primary references on that date. It does not mean the agency promises not to change the rule tomorrow. Dates are not updated automatically.
Licensing-page requirements
- Name the responsible state or local authority.
- Distinguish apprentice registration, individual license, master-level credential, contractor/business authority, certification, and permit authority.
- Link current applications and official explanations beside material claims.
- State experience, exam, fee, renewal, and supervision facts only when supported.
- Explain meaningful local exceptions and uncertainty.
- Provide an official next action.
AI and production tools
Software may assist with structure, comparison, consistency checks, and drafting. It is not a source. Material factual claims must resolve to a primary reference, and the named editor remains responsible for what is published.
Advertising and job listings
Advertising and listing providers do not determine conclusions or which pages are reviewed. TradeCert currently hosts no live job-listing feed; the former client-side integration was retired because it exposed credentials and did not meet the site's reliability and attribution standard. Any future integration must protect credentials server-side, label external listings, handle stale and failed results, and meet current provider terms.
Corrections
Material corrections are added to the public corrections log. Minor spelling and layout fixes may be made without an entry. To challenge a claim, use the source-tip and correction workflow.