Merit Badge Counselor

Tip

If you’re not familiar with how the merit badge system works, check out our Merit Badges page first.

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.

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Everything you need to know about being a merit badge counselor Scouting America’s merit badge program is designed to teach Scouts about a wide variety of topics, with the hopes they’ll discover new interests, new hobbies, or maybe even a future career. But the merit badge program doesn’t work without merit badge counselors.

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

• 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. These can be a helpful resource, but be aware that MBCs can’t require scouts to use them.
• Counselors may not subtract from the requirements as they’re written. For example, if a requirement says “discuss”, the scout must actually discuss it and not simply hand in pre-written notes.
• 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 protection 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.