HOME BUILDERS INSTITUTE

Free Construction Training for Montana’s Students.

Bring hands-on construction training to your school, free for two years. Students earn HBI Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training (PACT) credentials approved by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, and HBI’s Schools to Skills grant covers the PACT curriculum for Montana high schools.

Applications are due December 18, 2026.

Apply for the Schools to Skills Grant

What is HBI PACT?

Hands-On from Day One

75% Shop & Lab Work

Students learn by building, supported by classroom lessons and online modules. Every student completes documented hands-on skills before earning a credential.

Approved by the State of Montana

10 State-Approved PACT Credentials

The Montana Department of Labor & Industry has approved 10 HBI PACT credentials. They also earn Future Ready credit: Residential Construction Principles plus Carpentry reaches the 15-credit Level 1 mark.

A Path to the Trades

Stackable Credentials

Students start with a core construction credential, then add carpentry, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and more. Each credential stacks toward an apprenticeship, college or a good job.

Montana Needs Builders.

Montana can’t build the homes it needs without skilled workers, and construction is one of the state’s six high-demand job sectors.

HBI PACT gives your students real skills and credentials employers recognize, and it connects them to builders right here in their own communities.

The Montana Building Industry Association, representing more than 1,600 member businesses statewide, helped bring HBI’s PACT credentials to Montana because our members want to hire the students you train.

Find your Local Association

Local Builders in Your Classroom

Schools that adopt HBI PACT don’t do it alone. Through our eight local home builders associations, Montana builders can work alongside your instructors and students.

What Our Builders Can Offer

  • Guest speakers and career demonstrations

  • Job-site tours

  • Work-based learning and mentoring

  • Mock interviews

  • Apprenticeship and job connections

Our Local Associations

How to Get Started

Reach Out

Talk to Home Builders Institute

Contact Steve Cousins at HBI (Cousins@hbi.org) to review the curriculum and confirm it fits your program.

Email Steve Cousins, HBI

Apply for Schools to Skills Grant

Due December 18, 2026

Submit your Schools to Skills grant application at hbi.org/s2s.

Schools To Skills Grant

Start Teaching HBI PACT

HBI Supports You

Name an instructor with at least five years of trade experience. HBI certifies them in about six hours and provides the curriculum, online learning system, student materials, and exams.

HBI PACT Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Through HBI’s Schools to Skills grant, secondary schools can run PACT at no cost for two years. Applications are due December 18, 2026.

  • Your own instructor, certified by HBI. Instructors need at least five years of construction trade experience, and certification takes about six hours.

  • No. PACT adds a structured curriculum and state-approved credentials to the construction program you already have.

  • Shop or lab space, tools and materials, internet access for HBI’s online learning system, and an instructor.

  • Schools can renew their PACT license. Steve Cousins at HBI (Cousins@hbi.org) can walk you through the options.

Questions? Let’s Talk.

Program and grant questions
Steve Cousins, Home Builders Institute
Cousins@hbi.org

Montana questions
Andy Shirtliff, Executive Director
Montana Building Industry Association
ExecDir@MontanaBIA.com · 406-442-4479