The Process:
Typically after the unit leader signs the blue card, the Scout contacts the merit badge counselor and sets an appointment. While a boy may begin working on a merit badge at any time after he is registered, it is the counselor’s decision whether to accept work or activities completed prior to the issuing of the signed blue card.
Common sense should prevail, however. For example, nights already camped as a Boy Scout, or coins or stamps already collected, would count toward their respective badges.
A merit badge counselor—once he or she is satisfied a Scout has met all the requirements—signs in two places:
on the reverse of the Application for Merit Badge (to the left) and on the Applicant’s Record (in the middle). These two parts are returned to the Scout. The approving counselor should retain the part of the card called the Counselor’s Record for at least one year—in case questions are raised later. If the Scout did not complete all the requirements, the counselor simply indicates and initials those that were fulfilled in the spaces provided on the back of the Applicant’s Record part. This is called a
“partial”. Once a registered counselor signs that all requirements have been met, the Scout should meet with his unit leader to discuss his experience. The unit leader then signs the Applicant’s Record portion and returns it to the young man, who should retain it in his personal permanent records.
Ref: BSA Guide to Advancement 33088
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Requirements:
People serving as merit badge counselors, including those working at summer camp, must maintain registration with the Boy Scouts of America as merit badge counselors and be approved by the local council advancement committee for each of their badges.
There are no exceptions. For example, Scoutmasters must be approved for any badge they wish to counsel or sign off in their troop.
Before working with Scouts, counselors must have completed Youth Protection training within the last two years. They must be men or women of good character, age 18 or older, and recognized as having the skills and education in the subjects they cover. It is important, too, they have good rapport with Scout-age boys and unit leaders.
As a merit badge counselor, an Adult agrees to:
• Follow the requirements of the merit badge, making no deletions or additions, ensuring that the advancement standards are fair and uniform for all Scouts.
• Have a Scout accompanied by his buddy during all instructional sessions.
• Keep my Youth Protection training current.
• Renew my registration annually if I plan to continue as a merit
badge counselor.
A family member that is a merit badge counselor for multiple merit badges, would be limited to signing only two merit badges for his/her son(s). We feel that part of the merit badge process is to encourage the Scout interaction with the different merit badge counselors. An exception, at the sole discretion of the Scoutmaster may be granted.
If you are interested in becoming a Merit Badge Counselor for Troop 567, complete the BSA form 34405 located in our Adult Forms section, AND take Youth Protection Course.