NAICS 813920 Quarterly Industry Report
Professional Organizations
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 813920Sector: Other Services (except Public Administration) (81)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Professional Organizations (NAICS 813920) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[6], Bureau of Labor Statistics[9], and SBA size standards database[7]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, nonprofit sector analysts, and association management consultants with current market data. All quantitative claims are sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the professional organizations industry.
NAICS Sector
81
Other Services (except Public Administration)
Industry Definition & Overview
Professional Organizations (NAICS 813920) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in advancing the interests of individuals in a particular profession or discipline per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Activities include professional standards development, continuing education program delivery, credentialing and certification administration, professional ethics enforcement, scholarly journal publication, and practitioner networking through conferences and local chapter programs.
This classification covers membership organizations serving licensed and credentialed professionals across medical, legal, engineering, accounting, scientific, and other specialized fields. Major organizations include the American Medical Association, the American Bar Association, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the American Society of Civil Engineers, each setting practice standards and delivering professional development for their respective disciplines. Revenue comes primarily from membership dues, conference registration fees, continuing education course sales, journal subscription and publication income, certification examination fees, and sponsorship revenue. Per Census Bureau[6] data, approximately 13,000 establishments employ roughly 28,000 workers across professional association headquarters, regional offices, and local chapter operations. Many organizations operate accreditation programs that influence educational curricula, licensure requirements, and professional practice standards within their fields.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], the size standard is $27 million in average annual receipts. The IRS[8] classifies most professional organizations as 501(c)(6) professional associations, with some educational and scientific organizations qualifying for 501(c)(3) status when their primary mission centers on public education or scientific research.
What's Included in This Industry
- Professional standards development and enforcement
- Continuing education program delivery
- Credentialing and certification administration
- Professional ethics code management
- Scholarly journal and publication operations
- Annual conference and meeting organization
- Professional networking and chapter programs
- Accreditation program administration
- Legislative advocacy for professional practice issues
- Career development and mentorship programs
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 81 |
| Subsector | Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | 813 |
| Industry Group | Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | 8139 |
| NAICS Industry | Professional Organizations | 81392 |
| National Industry | Professional Organizations | 813920 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 813910 | Business Associations | Business Associations promotes industry-level commercial interests that complement professional organization focus on individual practitioner standards, credentialing, and career development within specific occupational disciplines |
| 813930 | Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations | Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations represents worker interests through collective bargaining that sometimes overlaps with professional organization advocacy when both address workplace conditions, compensation standards, and practitioner rights |
| 611430 | Professional and Management Development Training | Professional and Management Development Training delivers continuing education and leadership programs that professional organizations also provide as core member benefits through conferences, workshops, and online learning platforms |
| 813211 | Grantmaking Foundations | Grantmaking Foundations provides research and education funding that professional organizations apply for to support scientific studies, public health initiatives, and professional development scholarship programs within their disciplines |
| 541990 | All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services covers specialized consulting and advisory work that professional organizations support through practice standards, ethical guidelines, and continuing education requirements shaping service delivery across diverse professional disciplines |
| 541611 | Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services | Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services provides association management company services that handle administrative operations for smaller professional organizations lacking dedicated headquarters staff |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 8.8% | 577 |
| 2 | New York | 6.3% | 412 |
| 3 | Texas | 5.8% | 380 |
| 4 | Illinois | 5.6% | 369 |
| 5 | Virginia | 5.5% | 362 |
| 6 | Florida | 5.0% | 333 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | 4.7% | 308 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 3.9% | 259 |
| 9 | New Jersey | 3.7% | 243 |
| 10 | Maryland | 3.5% | 232 |
% Of Establishments
0%
9%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
32
Total SBA Loans
$2.0M
Total Loan Volume
$64K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
12.25%
Average Interest Rate
224
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], Professional Organizations (NAICS 813920) has a size standard of $27 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[10] may support qualifying professional organization operations including conference technology, publication platforms, and credentialing system investments. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[11] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[12] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BayFirst National Bank | 8 | $1.2M | $150K |
| 2 | Zions Bank, A Division of | 16 | $440K | $28K |
| 3 | Readycap Lending, LLC | 8 | $400K | $50K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for professional associations?
NAICS 813920 covers professional organizations including medical, legal, engineering, accounting, and scientific associations per the U.S. Census Bureau[5].
What is the SBA size standard?
Per the SBA size standard[7], the threshold is $27 million in average annual receipts for federal small business contracting eligibility for professional organization entities.
How many professional organizations operate in the U.S.?
Per Census Bureau[6] data, approximately 13,000 professional organization establishments employ roughly 28,000 workers across national headquarters, regional offices, and local chapter operations serving practitioners in specialized fields.
What tax-exempt status do professional organizations hold?
The IRS[8] classifies most professional organizations as 501(c)(6) professional associations, while some scientific and educational organizations qualify for 501(c)(3) status when their primary mission focuses on public education or research.
How are professional organizations funded?
Revenue comes from membership dues, conference registration fees, continuing education course sales, journal subscriptions, certification examination fees, and sponsorship revenue per Bureau of Labor Statistics[9] industry data.
What is the difference between professional and business associations?
Do professional organizations set licensing requirements?
Many professional organizations develop practice standards and credentialing programs that state licensing boards reference or adopt. The relationship between voluntary association standards and mandatory state licensing varies by profession and jurisdiction.
What regulatory oversight applies?
The IRS[8] monitors tax-exempt status compliance, state attorneys general oversee nonprofit governance and charitable activities, and the Lobbying Disclosure Act applies to organizations conducting federal legislative advocacy on professional practice issues.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [7]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [8]IRS irs.gov
- [9]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [10]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [11]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [12]504 loans sba.gov
- [13]NAICS 813910 census.gov
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