Next month will be back-to-school time for many students across the country, and now is a great time to take advantage of the numerous benefits of NAHB’s Student Chapter program. It’s also a great time to explore creating a Student Chapter at a school in your area.

With a Student Chapter membership, secondary and post-secondary students have the opportunity to get real-world exposure to the building industry, receive insightful educational tools and network with some of the country’s most experienced builders. Membership highlights include:

• Networking — Build relationships with industry professionals through your local HBA. Access a national network through our members-only community, NAHB Connect. Explore NAHB special interest groups like Young Professionals and Professional Women in Building (PWB).
• Knowledge — Stay up-to-date with the latest industry news, and receive a digital copy of Pro Builder magazine and monthly student chapter newsletters.
• Competition — By planning real-life construction projects, students compete in the NAHB Student Competition at the International Builders’ Show as they display their problem-solving abilities while learning more about land development and custom home building from concept to closing. Learn more at: nahb.org/competition
• Career Development — NAHB’s helpful guides for student members and young professionals developing careers in trades include common interview questions and tips for building a professional network
• International Builders’ Show — Student members save big on registration to IBS, the largest residential construction trade show in the country. Every student chapter is eligible for travel scholarships. Learn more at: buildersshow.com.

To get started, reach out to your local HBA and find out of it has a student chapter. If your local HBA does not have a student chapter, you can help get one established by recruiting students who are studying or interested in the building trades, finding an instructor to serve as an advisor for your club, and partnering with your local HBA.

Learn more about how to start a new student chapter.