How to Become a Merit Badge Counselor

Steps to becoming a merit badge counselor.

  • Register as an adult with the troop, if you haven’t already.
  • Take SYT (Safeguarding Youth Training), if you haven’t already:
    • Available on My Scouting, on the right side of the page on the “S.A.F.E Guarding Youth” icon, if the above link is out of date.
  • Register with the council. This is a no cost registration, as you’re already registered with the troop.
    • Get the fillable PDF registration form. You can fill it out online and download the completed version. Don’t worry about the “To be filled in by unit”.
  • Download the completed version and email it to: [email protected]. Be sure to indicate that you want to be a merit badge counselor.
  • Wait a couple of days, and check on My Scouting. You should see multiple registrations, including one that says “Merit Badge Counesor”,
  • Go to Badger, and create an account.
  • Login to Badger. Click on the “Merit Badges” Icon (red, with a hammer and wrench) and scroll down to “Submit a request”. Pick as many merit badges as you like and submit each one.
    • Be sure to include a reason why you’re qualified. Can really be as simple as “I like [whatever the merit badge is about]” but more info is useful.
    • Indicate if you only want to be a counselor for the troop, the district, or the whole council.
  • You may get a confirmation email. Or check back in Badger. It’s usually approved within a business day or so.
  • Counsel Scouts.