FAQ – Merit Badge Counselors

Merit Badge Counselors

Merit badge counselors are the key to success in the merit badge plan, which has evolved over the 100+ years of Scouting as one of the most unique educational tools ever devised. Counselors offer their time, experience, and knowledge to help guide Boy Scouts in one or more of the 121 merit badge subjects. 

The Merit Badge Counselor’s responsibility is to: 

  • Assist the Scout as he plans the assigned projects and activities to meet the merit badge requirements.
  • Coach Scouts through interviews and demonstrations on how to do the required skills of the craft, business, or hobby.
  • Certify the Scout after determining whether he is qualified for the merit badge. 

Merit Badge List

The following is a list of all of the 121 Merit Badges, arranged into 14 logical fields of activity (categories) as they appear in the BSA Pamphlet “Worksheet for Building a Merit Badge Counselor List” (No. 04439) 

  1. AGRIBUSINESS 
    ANIMAL SCIENCE, FARM MECHANICS, PLANT SCIENCE
  2. ARTS AND CRAFTS 
    ART, BASKETRY, BUGLING, LEATHERWORK, METALWORK, MUSIC,POTTERY, SCULPTURE, THEATER, WOOD CARVING
  3. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY 
    AMERICAN BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, PULP AND PAPER,SALESMANSHIP, TEXTILE
  4. CONSERVATION 
    ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT,FORESTRY, SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION
  5. HOBBIES 
    BACKPACKING, CAMPING, COIN COLLECTING, COLLECTIONS,COOKING, DOG CARE, GARDENING, HIKING, HOME REPAIRS,INDIAN LORE, MODEL DESIGN AND BUILDING, PETS, PIONEERING,RADIO, ROWING, STAMP COLLECTING
  6. NATURAL SCIENCE 
    ARCHAEOLOGY, ASTRONOMY, BIRD STUDY, GEOLOGY, INSECT STUDY, MAMMAL STUDY, NATURE, OCEANOGRAPHY, REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN STUDY, WEATHER COMMUNICATIONS CINEMATOGRAPHY, JOURNALISM, PHOTOGRAPHY
  7. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT 
    AMERICAN CULTURES, AMERICAN HERITAGE, CITIZENSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY, CITIZENSHIP IN THE NATION, CITIZENSHIP IN THE WORLD, COMMUNICATIONS, DISABILITIES AWARENESS, FAMILY LIFE, GENEALOGY, PERSONAL FITNESS, PERSONAL MANAGEMENT,PUBLIC SPEAKING, READING, SCHOLARSHIP, TRAFFIC SAFETY,WILDERNESS SURVIVAL
  8. PHYSICAL SCIENCE 
    CHEMISTRY, COMPUTERS, ELECTRICITY, ELECTRONICS, ENERGY,NUCLEAR SCIENCE (formerly Atomic Energy), SPACE EXPLORATION
  9. PROFESSIONS 
    ARCHITECTURE, DENTISTRY, ENGINEERING, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, LAW, MEDICINE, SURVEYING, VETERINARY MEDICINE
  10. PUBLIC SERVICE 
    CRIME PREVENTION, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,FINGERPRINTING, FIRE SAFETY, FIRST AID, LIFESAVING, PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY
  11. SPORTS 
    ARCHERY, ATHLETICS, CANOEING, CLIMBING, CYCLING, FISHING,FLY FISHING, GOLF, HORSEMANSHIP, MOTORBOATING,ORIENTEERING, RIFLE SHOOTING, SHOTGUN SHOOTING,SKATING, SMALL-BOAT SAILING, SNOW SPORTS, SPORTS,SWIMMING, WATER SPORTS, WHITEWATER
  12. TRADES 
    AMERICAN LABOR, AUTOMOTIVE MAINTENANCE, COMPOSITE MATERIALS, DRAFTING, GRAPHIC ARTS, PAINTING, PLUMBING,WOODWORK TRANSPORTATION AVIATION, RAILROADING, TRUCK TRANSPORTATION

Becoming a Merit Badge Counselor

If you have expertise or experience, or are simply interested in the above topics and want to help a Scout earn his Merit Badge, please contact us.  Once you and our team decide you are a good fit, you will need to fill out the Merit Badge Counselor Application Form and complete Youth Protection Training on the My.Scouting.Org platform.