Skip to content
Troop 1607 crest logoTroop 1607 Handbook

Merit Badge Counselors

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.

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

Becoming a Counselor

Section titled “Becoming a Counselor”

  1. Be a registered adult member of Scouting America

  2. Complete the Merit Badge Counselor Training

  3. Complete the Merit Badge Counselor Application and submit it to the troop Committee Chair.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Section titled “Common Pitfalls to Avoid”
  • Scouts need their blue card signed by their Scoutmaster before they can begin working with an MBC. If you work with a scout who doesn’t have a 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 Be aware that these are almost always using an outdated set of badge requirements.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”.
  • Youth Safeguarding rules apply- when meeting with an individual scout, it must be with the scout’s parent or in a public place in plain view of others, such as a library.