The Merit Badge Process

7.0.0.0. Registered in Scouts BSA, or a qualified Venturer or Sea Scout

Where the clock starts. Requirements must be met while registered; work done before joining, or as a Cub Scout, does not count.

Milestone

7.0.0.3. Go through the requirements with the counselor before starting Recommended

Not required, but it is the cheapest way to find out that a requirement means something other than what you assumed.

Task

7.0.3.3. A partial: the requirements you passed, initialled and dated Optional

Recorded in the centre section on the reverse of the card. The counselor does not sign for completion and does not keep their portion.

Milestone

7.0.0.3. Choose a merit badge

Any badge, at any time, whatever your rank or age and however many others you already have in progress. Units must not impose rank or age requirements for merit badge work.

Decision

Usually comes after 7.0.0.0. Registered in Scouts BSA, or a qualified Venturer or Sea Scout.

7.0.3.3. Finish the rest, with this counselor or another Optional

You need not pass every requirement with the same counselor. A later counselor may decline to accept partial work, but that should be rare.

Task

Usually comes after 7.0.3.3. A partial: the requirements you passed, initialled and dated.

7.0.4.3. Get the current requirements for that badge Often forgotten

From the Merit Badges page at scouting.org. Which version applies to you is decided by the date you begin work, so fetch them at the start rather than relying on an old pamphlet.

Document

Usually comes after 7.0.0.3. Choose a merit badge.

Once new or revised requirements appear on the Merit Badges page, a Scout beginning work must use them. A Scout who has already started under the old ones may finish under the old ones. Where a change arrives first in a pamphlet or handbook, there is until 31 December of that year to choose which to use, unless the announcement says otherwise.

7.0.0.3. Meet your unit leader before working with a counselor Often forgotten

A required part of the process, not a courtesy. The leader advises on the badge, gives you the name and contact details of one or more approved counselors, and documents the meeting.

Approval

Usually comes after 7.0.4.3. Get the current requirements for that badge.

This is a required part of the merit badge process. A Scout who completes a badge without it should be counselled on the right way to start one; if the process continues to be ignored, badges will not be recorded as earned until the requirements have been met to the satisfaction of a counselor the unit leader accepts.

7.0.3.2. Do the work — actually and personally, exactly as written

Where a requirement says show, demonstrate or discuss, you have to do that. Sitting in a classroom watching a demonstration does not meet it.

Task

Usually comes after 7.0.0.0. Registered in Scouts BSA, or a qualified Venturer or Sea Scout and 7.0.4.3. Get the current requirements for that badge.

7.0.0.2. Unit leader signs the blue card and gives you all three parts

The first of the four signatures, on the front of the Application for Merit Badge portion. The whole card then goes to the Scout.

Document

Usually comes after 7.0.0.3. Meet your unit leader before working with a counselor.

7.0.0.3. Agree on a registered and approved counselor

The unit leader must identify at least one; you may have one in mind. Failing agreement, you must be allowed to work with the registered and approved counselor of your choice.

Approval

Usually comes after 7.0.0.3. Meet your unit leader before working with a counselor.

7.0.3.2. Group instruction: camp, fair, clinic or webinar Optional

Acceptable and sometimes desirable, but discuss it with your unit leader well before the event, and expect a partial rather than a finished badge.

Task

Usually comes after 7.0.0.3. Meet your unit leader before working with a counselor.

7.0.3.1. Bring the projects, or evidence that you did them

If a project cannot be transported, bring photographs or an adult who can verify it. A unit leader stating that the meals were cooked is evidence.

Document

7.0.0.2. Contact the counselor and make an appointment

Using appropriate Youth Protection measures — which for email means copying one or more authorised adults on every message.

Task

Usually comes after 7.0.0.2. Unit leader signs the blue card and gives you all three parts and 7.0.0.3. Agree on a registered and approved counselor.

7.0.3.1. Arrange for a buddy or another adult at every session Often forgotten

A youth member must never meet one-on-one with an adult. Sessions follow the Guide to Safe Scouting, and age-appropriate supervision applies whatever the minimum leader count is.

Task

Usually comes after 7.0.0.2. Contact the counselor and make an appointment.

A youth member must never meet one-on-one with an adult. For web-based counseling, follow the social media guidelines: always copy one or more authorised adults on email between counselor and Scout.

7.0.3.1. The counselor goes through what you did, and how

The counselor may confirm with the adults involved where there is a question. This is the testing; nobody repeats it later.

Approval

Usually comes after 7.0.3.1. Arrange for a buddy or another adult at every session and 7.0.3.1. Bring the projects, or evidence that you did them.

7.0.3.1. Every requirement met

The date recorded is the date you completed the requirements, not the date of the meeting where that was confirmed.

Milestone

Usually comes after 7.0.3.3. Finish the rest, with this counselor or another and 7.0.3.1. The counselor goes through what you did, and how.

7.0.0.2. The counselor signs the blue card in two places

On the reverse of the Application for Merit Badge, and on the Applicant's Record. Those two parts come back to you.

Approval

Usually comes after 7.0.3.1. Every requirement met.

7.0.0.2. The counselor keeps the Counselor's Record for at least a year

Their part of the card, retained in case questions are raised later.

Document

7.0.0.2. Meet the unit leader to talk about the experience Often forgotten

A conversation and a celebration, not a retest: the counselor has already done the testing.

Approval

Usually comes after 7.0.0.2. The counselor signs the blue card in two places.

This is not a retest. If the unit leader believes the badge was not earned, there is a defined review process at 7.0.4.7; if they believe the counselor did not uphold BSA standards, that is reported under 11.1.0.0. Neither is a reason to make the Scout do the requirements again on the spot.

7.0.0.2. The unit leader signs the Applicant's Record and returns it

The fourth signature, and the last one on the card.

Approval

Usually comes after 7.0.0.2. Meet the unit leader to talk about the experience.

7.0.0.2. Keep the Applicant's Record permanently Often forgotten

It is your evidence that the badge was earned. Nothing replaces it if the unit's records are lost.

Task

Usually comes after 7.0.0.2. The unit leader signs the Applicant's Record and returns it.

6.0.0.2. The unit records the badge and reports it to the council

Promptly, and in a form the Scout, the counselor and the volunteers can all read. This is what makes the badge count towards a rank.

Task

Usually comes after 7.0.0.2. The unit leader signs the Applicant's Record and returns it.

4.2.1.4. Recognised at the next unit meeting, and again at a court of honor

As soon as possible after it is earned, then again at a formal ceremony later.

Milestone

Usually comes after 6.0.0.2. The unit records the badge and reports it to the council.

7.0.4.6. Earned — and it stays earned

A badge earned from a registered and approved counselor by actually and personally meeting the requirements is yours to keep and to count towards rank.

Milestone

Usually comes after 4.2.1.4. Recognised at the next unit meeting, and again at a court of honor.