BSA Merit Badges
The BSA merit badge program includes 120 different areas of knowledge and skills. As soon as a scout joins a troop, he can start earning merit badges. The only limitations are his ambition and availability of adult merit badge counselors.
BSA Merit Badge Pamphlets
Each BSA merit badge has an official pamphlet which contains requirements, introductory information and supplemental references. Scouts can purchase pamphlets from a scout shop or find them in their troop library. Pamphlets are updated every few years, so be sure to get the most recent copy.
Merit Badge Counselors
Volunteers are selected, trained, and approved by council or district committees to teach scouts about specific merit badges. They are knowledgeable in the topic and understand the goals of scouting and the merit badge program.
Process
When a scout decides to earn a badge, he first obtains approval to begin from his Scoutmaster. The Scoutmaster provides the scout with names of appropriate BSA merit badge counselors. The scout finds a scout buddy to be his partner for meetings with the counselor to follow safe scouting guidelines. He then contacts the counselor to start working on the badge. The counselor reviews the requirements with the scouts and they decide on projects and a schedule. Expertise, advice, and guidance as needed is offered by the counselor to the scouts. The counselor certifies their completion and the merit badge is presented at a troop meeting.
Required Merit Badges
A scout can start earning merit badges as soon as he joins a troop, but merit badges are not required for advancement until Star rank. Star, Life, and Eagle ranks are reached by performing leadership, service, and completing merit badge requirements. Eagle rank requires completion of at least 21 merit badges.
