Why

                Help scouts explore subjects and areas of interest

                Give scouts new skills and the confidence to use them

                Give scouts experience working with other adults

                Meet requirements for rank advancement

 

Qualifications

                Must be at least 18

                Must be proficient in the subject of the merit badge

                Must be able to work with scouting-age boys

                Must be registered as a merit badge counselor for the badges taught

                                Use merit badge counselor registration form

                                First time must also include adult registration form

                Must have current Youth Protection Training or take it within 30 days of registering

                Some badges have additional certification and age requirements

 

Responsibilities

                Assist scout in planning the required projects and activities

                Coach/teach scout required skills

                Never meet one-on-one with the scout

                Follow the requirements as stated – no additions or deletions

                Renew registration yearly (procedure depends on district) – Youth Protection Training must be current

 

Procedure

                Scout gets approval to work on merit badge (scoutmaster signs blue card and assigns counselor)

                Scout contacts counselor to set up first meeting

                Scout meets with counselor to discuss and plan completion of requirements

                Scout completes requirements, often through additional meetings with counselor

                Scout meets with counselor to review projects

                Counselor completes blue card – keep the counselor section

                Scout turns in rest of blue card to Scoutmaster for registration

 

Where to meet

                At your home

                At camp

                At a scout meeting

                At place of business

                Anywhere, especially if applicable to the badge being counseled

 

Testing

                Scouts must be tested individually, even if group instruction is used

                If requirements change after beginning, use old requirements unless requested to change by scout

 

Hints

                Sell your area

                Make presentations to groups interesting

                Emphasize future value of experience

                Expand on areas where scout is interested (but you can’t expand the requirements)

                Show interest in scout and his advancement

                Relate badge to careers and educational requirements for careers

 

Blue Card

                Certification scout is ready to begin

                Can be used for tracking completion

                Official record for scout – submitted to Council to get badge

                Counselor should keep his part for several years

General Merit Badge Supervision Requirements

All swimming activities must be conducted in accordance with BSA Safe Swim Defense by an adult over 21.

All watercraft activities must be conducted in accordance with BSA Safety Afloat by an adult over 21.

All CPR instruction must be taught by a nationally certified trainer.

 

Badges with Additional Requirements 

Canoeing            BSA Aquatics Instructor or Canoeing Instructor Certifications from Red Cross or

                                American Canoe Association

Climbing             Age 21, BSA Climb on Safely, First Aid

Lifesaving           Age 21, BSA Aquatics Instructor or BSA Lifeguard, First Aid

Rifle Shooting     BSA Camping school shooting Director or NRA Shooting Instructor or Coach

                                Muzzle loading requires NRS/NMLRA certification. 

                                All shooting requires a separate Range Safety Officer.

Rowing                BSA Aquatics Instructor

SCUBA                 Certified instructor: PADI, NAUI, PDIC, SDI, WRSC.

Shotgun               BSA Camping school shooting Director or NRA Shotgun Instructor or Coach

  Shooting            Muzzle loading requires NRS/NMLRA certification

                                All shooting requires a separate Range Safety Officer.

Snow Sports         Age 21, in compliance with BSA Winter Sports Safety

Swimming            BSA Safe Swim Defense and BSA Safety Afloat

Whitewater          Whitewater canoeing or kayaking Instructor certification from American Canoe Association

 

All certifications must be current

Copies of required certifications must be included with Merit Badge Counselor applications.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Is there a limit on the number of badges a counselor may register for?

No, but a counselor must be qualified for each badge by training or experience and approved by the council/district.

Is there a limit on the number of badges I may sign-off for a scout?

Not from the BSA. However, unit leaders must approve the selected counselor for each merit badge for each scout and should encourage scouts to meet with different counselors to enhance their scouting experience.

Can I counsel my own son?

Yes, but consider suggesting he use another adult to broaden his experience. 

Is there a time limit on how long a scout has to complete a badge?

No.  (That is until the scout reaches 18.)  Requirements may only be accomplished while a registered Boy Scout or Varsity Scout. 

I have a scout with physical or mental limitations. Can I modify the requirements to meet his abilities?

You may neither add, nor subtract from the requirements as stated.  For scouts with permanent disabilities (will last beyond age 20), an “Application for Alternative Eagle Scout Award Merit Badges” must be filed with and approved by the Council Advancement Committee before any rank requirements are changed.  Merit badge requirements may not be change.

Can a badge once awarded be taken away from a scout?

No, as long as the counselor was registered at the time of badge completion.

I am a scoutmaster/assistant scoutmaster, aren't I automatically a merit badge counselor?

No. Scoutmaster training may qualify as the required training for certain merit badges, but you must still register as a merit badge counselor.

I am already a registered leader, do I need to include the adult registration form with my initial merit badge counselor application?

Yes, this is required by the BSA. If you happen to have a copy of your original application, the council may accept the copy as long as it is a current form and contains the social security number (only shown on the top copy) and driver's license number and a copy of the background check permission page. Your Youth Protection Training certification must also be up to date at time of submission.

Do I really have to reregister each year?

Yes. (The procedure depends upon the district.)  Your Youth Protection training must be current at time of reregistration (July for Three Fires Council).

Is a background check done on merit badge counselors?

Yes, the same check is performed as for other registered leaders; the council office will also verify completion of Youth Protection training. 

I have been asked to finish a merit badge partially completed with another counselor (a "partial"). Must I accept the previously completed requirements?

In signing the blue card, you are certifying that the boy has completed all the requirements. Thus, you need to be comfortable that the boy completed any requirements signed off by someone else. This may mean talking to the other counselor, talking with the scoutmaster, or discussing how the requirements were completed with the scout.