How to Earn a Merit Badge

1. Pick a topic
   1. Ask a unit leader about your interests and merit badges that relate
   2. Determine the requirements

                                               i.     Ask the Troop Librarian for a merit badge book

                                             ii.     Boy Scout Requirements Book

                                            iii.     http://www.scouting.org/meritbadges.aspx

                                            iv.     http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Merit_Badges

1. Find a Merit Badge Counselor
   1. Advancement Chair has a list
   2. Scout needs to be the one to contact the counselor
   3. Fill out an Application for Merit Badge (blue card)
      1. Ask the Advancement Chair or other unit leader
      2. Fill it out correctly
      3. Have the Scoutmaster sign your card
      4. Meet with your counselor
         1. You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor
         2. Complete the requirements
            1. You are expected to meet the requirements as they are stated—no more and no less
            2. You must do exactly what is stated in the requirements

                                               i.     If it says “show or demonstrate,” that is what you must do. Just telling about it isn’t enough

                                             ii.     The same thing holds true for such words as “make,” “list,” “in the field,” and “collect,” “identify,” and “label”

1. Have your counselor sign your card
2. Have the Scoutmaster sign your card
3. Turn the completed card into the Advancement Chair

Merit Badge Tips

• It is important the scout be responsible for each step of this process.
• If a new edition of a merit badge pamphlet is introduced with updated requirements, you may choose to follow either set of requirements until the end of the year. At the start of the new year, Scouts who are beginning must use only the new requirements.
• Unless specified, if a Scout has already started working on a merit badge when a new edition of the pamphlet is introduced, he may continue to use the same pamphlet and fulfill the requirements therein to earn the badge. He need not start over again with the new pamphlet and revised requirements.
• There is no time limit for starting and completing a merit badge, but all work must be completed by the time a Scout turns 18.
• You do not need to complete all the requirements with one counselor. You can take your blue card with partial requirements signed off and have another counselor help you complete them. 

How to Fill Out a Merit Badge Card

• Ask your Scoutmaster to sign the front of the card
• Ask your Counselor to provide their information

How to Turn in a Merit Badge Card 

• Ask your Scoutmaster to sign the back of the card
• Turn the completed card into the Advancement Chair
• The counselor can keep their portion
• Please do not lose your portion of the blue card

Common Errors

• Crossed out information
• Missing information
• Pencil
• Merit Badge name is not complete or spelled wrong
• Not filled out by the Scout
• Not signed by Scoutmaster before starting
• Partial cards with no requirements signed off