Merit Badge Counselor and the Boy Scout.
The merit badge plan is based on the concept that a boy works with an adult knowledgeable in one or more fields, an experience invaluable to a Boy Scout.  The counselor introduces the Boy Scout to subjects that may lead to a career choice or to a lifetime hobby.

Qualifications of Counselors.
    Persons serving as merit badge counselors must be registered as a merit badge consult with the Boy Scouts of AMerica.  They must be men and women of good character, age 18 or older, and recognized as having skills and education in the subjects for which they are to serve as merit badge counselors, as will as having the ability to work with Scout-age boys.
    Register merit badge counselors by using the basic registration form.  All merit badge counselors must be approved by the council advancement committee.  Merit badge counselors are not required to pay a fee if they are only registered as merit badge counselors.
    There is no restriction or limit on the number of merit badges an individual may be approved to counsel for, but they must be approved by the committee for each specific merit badge.
    There is no limit on the number of merit badges a youth may earn from one counselor.
    An approved merit badge counselor may counsel any youth member, including his or her own son, ward, or relative.

Scout Buddy System
    A Scout MUST have a buddy with him at each meeting with a merit badge counselor.  A Scout's buddy can be another Scout, a parent or guardian, a brother or sister, or a relative or friend.  From his Scoutmaster, the Scout obtains a signed merit badge application (blue card) and the name of the appropriate merit badge counselor.  The Scout sets up his first appointment with the counselor.  The counselor should explain the requirements to the Scout.  The Scout and his buddy then meet as appropriate with the counselor until the Scout comletes the badge's requirements.

Group Instruction of Merit Badges

    The question arises as to whether it is permissible to have Scouts earn merit badges in groups.  Many subjects may be presented to groups of Scouts without defeating one of the purposes of the merit badge plan- working closely with a qualified adult.
    The National Executive Board has approved this policy statement on merit badge counseling.
" To the fullest extent possible, the merit badge counseling relationship is a counselor-Scout arrangement in which the boy is not only judged on this performance of the requirements, but receives maximum benefit from the knowledge, skill, character, and personal interest of his counselor.  Group instruction and orientation are encouraged when special facilities an expert personnel make this most practical, or when Scouts are dependent on only a few counselors for assistance.  However, this group experience should be followed by attention to each individual candidate's projects and his ability to fulfill all requirements."
    In harmony with this policy, a troop may use merit badge counselors in unit meetings.  The merit badge counselor can make a presentation covering the highlights of a merit badge subject.  Scouts should then be given an opportunity to try some skill related to the badge.  This introduction to a merit badge can spark an interest in the subject.
 

Advancement Committee
1989 Boy Scouts of America
2002 Printing