How Can I Start Earning Merit Badges?

You learn about all kinds of fun and interesting stuff as you earn merit badges.  Many former scouts have chosen their current careers based on interests they developed while earning Merit Badges. There are now 135 merit badges, with more on the way!   Any Boy Scout may earn a merit badge at any time. You don't need to have had rank advancement to be eligible.

Pick a Subject. Talk to your Scoutmaster about your interest in earning a merit badge. Read the requirements of the merit badges you think might interest you. Choose one to earn. Your Scoutmaster will give you a signed merit badge application (the "blue card") and the name and contact information of a merit badge counselor. These individuals have special knowledge in their merit badge subjects and are interested in helping you.

Use the Scout Buddy System. You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor. This person can be another Scout, your parents or guardian, a brother or sister or other relative, or a friend.

Call the Merit Badge Counselor. Get in touch with the merit badge counselor and tell them that you want to earn the merit badge. The counselor may ask to meet you to explain what is expected and to start helping you complete the requirements. You should also discuss work that you have already started or possibly completed.  Our Troop has many Troop Merit Badge Counselors.  You may also earn Merit Badges by attending a Merit Badge Day or event with another Troop.  The San Diego Imperial Council website is a good source for Merit Badge events and Council wide Merit Badge Counselors available to you.  Before you attend a Merit Badge event with another troop or see a Merit Badge Counselor outside the Troop, be sure you obtain a signed Merit Badge card ("blue card") from the Scoutmaster.

Unless otherwise specified, work for a requirement can be started at any time. Ask your counselor to help you learn the things you need to know or do. You should obtain and read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject.

Show Your Stuff. When you are ready, call the counselor again to make an appointment. When you go take along the things you have made to meet the requirements. If they are too big to move, take pictures or have an adult tell in writing what you have done. The counselor will test you on each requirement to make sure you know your stuff and have done or can do the things required.

Get the Badge. When the counselor is satisfied that you have met each requirement, they will sign your application (the "blue card"). Give the signed application to the Advancement Coordinator so that your merit badge emblem can be secured for you.

Requirements. You are expected to meet the requirements as they are stated—no more and no less. You must do exactly what is stated in the requirements. If it says "show or demonstrate," that is what you must do. Just telling about it isn't enough. The same thing holds true for such words as "make," "list," "in the field," and "collect," "identify," and "label."

The requirements listed here are the official requirements of the Boy Scouts of America. However, the requirements presented here might not match those in the Boy Scout Handbook and the merit badge pamphlets, because these publications are updated only when the Boy Scout Requirements book is updated.

If you have already started working on a merit badge when a new edition of the pamphlet is introduced, you may continue to use the same merit badge pamphlet and fulfill the requirements therein to earn the badge. You do not need to start all over again with the new pamphlet and revised requirements.

Helpful links:

• Merit Badge Worksheets to help you. Please note:  These worksheets have been compiled by a third party and are usually pretty accurate.  It is always best to double check the requirements with your Merit Badge Counselor or use the links on the Merit Badge page on this site.