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Merit Badge Counselor

A merit badge counselor (MBC) serves as both a teacher and a mentor as Scouts work on a merit badge. In one way, they are an examiner. In a larger sense, the counselor uses this opportunity for coaching, helping Scouts overcome the hurdles of the different requirements and making Scouts aware of the deeper aspects of the subject from their knowledge and experience. Because of these unique opportunities to serve Scouts, volunteering as a merit badge counselor is one of the most gratifying experiences for many adults in Scouting today.

Position Facts

Selection
Approved by the District Merit Badge Dean
Reports to
District Merit Badge Dean

Responsibilities

  • Follow each merit badge's requirements exactly, without adding to or subtracting from them
  • Never meet with a Scout alone — have their parent or guardian present, or at least one other Scout and one other registered adult
  • Keep your Safeguarding Youth Training current
  • Renew your registration annually to continue as a counselor
  • Live by the Scout Oath and Law
  • Set a good example by showing Scout spirit and wearing the uniform correctly

Read more: Everything you need to know about being a merit badge counselor

Becoming a Counselor

Section titled “Becoming a Counselor”

  1. Be at least 18, and complete the online Safeguarding Youth Training if you haven’t already.

  2. Complete the online Merit Badge Counselor Training.

  3. Complete the Adult Application, marked with position code 42. This is required to become a merit badge counselor even if you’re already a registered adult in another troop position.

  4. Complete the Merit Badge Counselor Information form, listing the badges you want to counsel and your qualifications for each (up to 8; attach another copy of the form for more).

  5. Submit both forms, along with your Safeguarding Youth Training certificate, to the troop Committee Secretary.

How You’ll Work with Scouts

Section titled “How You’ll Work with Scouts”

There’s no single pipeline; expect a mix of all three:

  • Individual scouts. When one of our scouts wants to earn a badge that you counsel, our Assistant Scoutmaster for Merit Badges will direct them to you.
  • Batches. Once you’re working with one scout on a badge, it’s often worth inviting other interested scouts in the troop to join, rather than repeating the same badge one-on-one several times.
  • Troop-organized programs. Sometimes the troop proactively organizes a merit badge program for the whole troop; you may be asked to lead or help staff one of these.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Section titled “Common Pitfalls to Avoid”
  • Scouts need their blue card signed by their Scoutmaster (in our troop, the Assistant Scoutmaster for Merit Badges) before they can begin working with you. If you work with a scout who doesn’t have a pre-signed blue card, their requirements may not be accepted.
  • There are third-party merit badge worksheets you can find online, where scouts can fill in their notes for each requirement. Be aware that these are almost always using an outdated set of badge requirements. The only place to get badge requirements is the official scouting.org website.
  • Counselors may not subtract from the requirements as they’re literally written. For example, if a requirement says “discuss”, the scout must actually discuss it and not simply hand in pre-written notes. If it says to “demonstrate”, they must actually demonstrate and not just explain.
  • Similarly, MBCs may not add to the requirements. However, sharing additional context and learnings with an enthusiastic scout is 100% encouraged.
  • When counseling a group of multiple scouts, be careful that each scout individually completes every requirement. For example, listening to others discuss something would not fulfill a requirement that says to “discuss”.
  • You may never meet with a Scout alone. Either their parent or guardian must be present, or you can meet with at least one other Scout and one other registered adult present.