Thank you for your interest in becoming a Merit Badge Counselor. If you are a certified swim instructor, shooting instructor, EMT, or even just enjoy art or dog care, our scouts need you!
To better understand what a Merit Badge Counselor does and how they connect with and benefit Scouts, go to training.scouting.org/home. All 4 modules of the Merit Badge Counselor modules should be completed before applying.
Make sure you have taken the Safeguarding Youth course and are current on your refresher course.
How to Become a Merit Badge Counselor
If you are already a registered scout leader, you only need to fill out the Merit Badge Counselor Form (filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34405.pdf) and email to Nikki.mclendon@scouting.org.
If you are not registered in scouting, please contact your district executive for a link to register in your district as a Merit Badge Counselor. The fee for Merit Badge Counselors is $25. You will still need to fill out the Merit Badge Counselor form to have your Merit Badges approved by the district and added.
Additional Training
Certain Merit Badges will require extra training and qualifications. Once you have completed and sent in your Merit Badge Form filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34405.pdf, we will inform you how to take extra training and what next steps are required.
Merit Badge Counselor Renewal
Whether you are registered in a unit, with the district or as a merit badge counselor, your registration must be renewed every year. You will receive an email reminding you to renew your registration one month before your registration expires. You can click on the link and sign into your my.scouting.org account. If you are having trouble logging in, please contact Nikki.mclendon@scouting.org.
Merit Badges never expired but sometimes Scouting America does update requirements or retired a Merit Badge. Login in to your my.scouting.org account to see your Merit Badge list and check for any new requirements.
