Becoming a Merit Badge Counselor

If you would like to apply to be a merit badge counselor, please follow these steps:

1. Please visit this page for complete information about becoming a Merit Badge counselor – Merit Badge Counselor. You can be a counselor for the District, the Territory, or the Council. 
2. If you decide to become a counselor, email the Merit Badge Counselor Information form, your current BSA Youth Protection Training certificate, and Adult Application (if needed) to Kelly Trace (lostwithouta@hotmail.com). 
3. Attend a Merit Badge Counselor Training session offered at the annual Program Training Conference, online at my.scouting.org, or a Territory training event.

If you are already a registered adult scout leader, there is no additional cost to be a merit badge counselor. If you are not a currently registered adult, there is a small fee to cover the cost of the background check required of all adults who interact with scouts. Your registration as a merit badge counselor must be renewed each year to remain valid.

Once approved, your information will appear in Scoutbook, at which point you may begin working with scouts on the merit badge(s) you are registered as a counselor for. The separately available Territory counselor list is updated monthly.

Making Changes to your Merit Badge Counselor Application

If you are a current counselor and would like to add or delete merit badges, please email an updated completed Merit Badge Counselor Information form to Kelly Trace (contact at the top of this page).