A nonprofit built on the belief that every person deserves access to the right skills — and a real path to a stable, rewarding career.
Craft Skills Foundation Inc. is a Houston-based nonprofit pre-apprenticeship program powered by First Choice Duct Installers, LLC. We exist to bridge the gap between people seeking opportunity and the skilled trades industry that needs them.
We believe that a strong foundation — in safety, skills, and confidence — is what separates a job from a career. That's why every program we offer is hands-on, practical, and designed around the real demands of the HVAC and sheet metal industry.
"In our first graduating class, every student secured employment in the field — a testament to the strength of our program and the dedication of our trainees."
The commercial HVAC and sheet metal industry in Houston was facing a growing skills gap. Experienced workers were aging out, and there weren't enough trained professionals to fill the demand. Meanwhile, thousands of people in the community were looking for stable, well-paying careers but lacked access to training.
Craft Skills Foundation Inc. was established as a nonprofit initiative powered by First Choice Duct Installers, LLC — a company with deep roots in the Houston HVAC trade. We designed hands-on, comprehensive training programs built around real job-site demands, not just textbooks.
Our first graduating class set the standard. Every single student who completed the program secured employment in the field — a 100% placement rate that proved the model works. Their success became our mission statement.
Today we offer three structured training tracks serving individuals at every experience level — from complete beginners to those looking to specialize in blueprint reading. We continue to grow our partnerships with employers who are ready to hire our graduates.
Everything we do is grounded in four principles that guide how we train, support, and advocate for our students.
Training should be available to anyone willing to put in the work — regardless of background or experience.
We hold our programs to industry standards so that every graduate is truly job-ready from day one.
We invest in the people and neighborhoods around us, creating economic opportunity that ripples outward.
We are honest with our students about what the job requires — and we prepare them fully for that reality.
Take our entry assessment and find out which track is the right fit for you.
Take the Assessment Contact Us