How to Earn Merit Badges

We have outlined Troop 339's basic procedures required to complete Merit Badges. Every scout needs to play an active role in his advancement and be responsible throughout this process. Be very careful with your paperwork. If you lose that little slip, you may have to repeat requirements if no alternate documentation can be produced. WE DON"T WANT YOU TO REPEAT ANYTHING IF POSSIBLE, so be VERY CAREFUL!

Table of Contents


Troop 339's MERIT BADGE Procedures Δ


  1. Choose a Merit Badge Subject. All current BSA offerings can be found HERE!
  2. Tell the Scoutmaster your interest in a merit badge and receives MB slip with SM initials of approval in top right corner. The Scoutmaster will get you a name and phone number of a BSA CERTIFIED MB Counselor.
  3. Obtain a Merit Badge Pamphlet and start reading it! Troop 339 will require you to to read the pamphlet before the Scoutmaster will sign off his final approval of the completed badge! You can find a MB Book in the Troop Library, at the local library, or even purchase a new one from the local scout shop or online!
  4. Call the MB Counselor to set up completion timeline/plan (Scouts MUST Use Buddy System if meeting scheduled). You should be able to discuss necessary projects, requirements, short-term and long-term goals, expected dates of completion, & further meetings if necessary.
  5. The Scout learns and does the things that the MB pamphlet explains, going as far as he can to fulfill the requirements on his own. Follow the plan of MB Counselor for the rest.
  6. When the Scout has finished all required projects and learned all relevant material, he arranges with the MB Counselor for examination/certification.
  7. MB Counselor signs MB Slip and retains counselor's copy of slip.
  8. The scout now returns to the Scoutmaster for the final approval signature (expect "Did you Read the Book?") and finally returns the completed MB Slip to the Troop Advancement Chairman and keep your copy.

Helpful Information Δ


  • It is a good idea to update the Troop Advancement Chairman with your progress once a month to keep the troop records current. This should aid in reproducing documentation in case you lose your MB Slip.
  • If you have outstanding requirements (partial) from summer camps or MB fairs, it is the SCOUT’s responsibility to get back with the counselor (if unavailable then with the Scoutmaster) and finish the final requirements. If you don’t have paperwork from camp ask the Troop Advancement Chairman!
  • If you don’t turn in the completed paperwork, you haven’t finished the badge!
  • We will make every attempt to award you MB patch at the next troop meeting. The official MB advancement card will be handed out at the next official Court of Honor.

There are many great sources of information on the web, here are just a couple:
http://www.usscouts.org/mb/mbbooks.html
http://www.meritbadge.com/
http://www.usscouts.org/meritbadges.asp
http://www.scouting.org/factsheets/02-500.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_merit_badges_%28Boy_Scouts_of_America%29

SUMMER CAMP Merit Badge Generalities:
  • YOU are still required to read the Merit Badge Book!
  • This is a great (sometimes best) opportunity to complete your badges. Specifics will vary on from camp to camp.
  • Many summer camp programs require you to complete pre-requisites (requirements) for your MB classes. If you read and complete these items, you usually complete the badge at camp and no follow up will be required back home.
  • Read every leader's guide closely to take advantage of all opportunities at camp! A little prep will go a long way.
  • The troop will typically keep records of accomplished (partial) merit badges from summer camp. This items will normally be officially entered into his records and posted online for reference. It will be the scout's responsibility to follow up and complete those specific items once her returns home.

FAQs - Troop 339 Version Δ


"Do I need to read the most current Merit Badge Book?"

Not necessarily.  If the old book contains most of the required reading material, I will accept that (but it is ultimately up to your Merit Badge Counselor).  If the material has completely/drastically changed then you should work to find a current book!  The best way to see how bad the book may be is to compare the requirements to the ones at this site.  If they look completely different (and it does happen), then your book my be just too old.  Most updates are minor and the old books work just fine.

"I started a Merit Badge last year and the requirements just changed, which requirements do I follow?"

The easy answer, the official requirements of the year you START your Merit Badge. If the requirements change after you start the badge, then keep working on the old ones! The real catch is to be sure you have the most recent requirements when you start! The best source I've found for the official requirements of the year go here! This policy is also found on this site, reference the source document here!

"Where do I get a Merit Badge Slip?"

You need Scoutmaster approval to do Merit Badges. He will get you a MB slip! This is to insure you are going to a Certified BSA Merit Badge counselor with appropriate training (Youth Protection). If the counselor is not official, it is possible you may have problems with you Eagle Application!

"Where do I find what requirements I have left to do ('term is partial') from that summer camp merit badge?"

Go to the troop records and look at the bottom of your page. You will see a list of incomplete merit badges and a bunch of numbers underneath. These are the requirements you have left to do in our records. You may have done more, but it just need to be documented officially. If you have more questions or think the records are incorrect, then contact the Scoutmaster promptly!