The merit badge counselor is a key player in the Boy Scout advancement program. Whatever your area of expertise or interest—whether it is a special craft or hobby (basketry, leatherwork, coin collecting), a profession (veterinary medicine, aviation, engineering), or perhaps a life skill (cooking, personal management, communications)—as a merit badge counselor, you can play a vital role in stirring a young man’s curiosity about that particular topic. By serving as a merit badge counselor, you offer your time, knowledge, and other resources so that Scouts can explore a topic of interest.

All Merit Badge Counselors must renew their registration every year in April by submitting an updated Occoneechee Council Merit Badge Counselor Badge Selection Form

How to become a Merit Badge Counselor

• Complete BSA Youth Protection Training (YPT)
  • Training is available free online at My.Scouting.org
• Complete BSA Merit Badge Counselor training
  • This can be completed in person or online
  • Online training can be found in the Learning Center on My.Scouting.org
    • Training is located under Program Specific Training > Scouts BSA > Scouts BSA – Merit Badge Counselor Training
• Fill out the Occoneechee Council Merit Badge Counselor Badge Selection Form
  • https://ocscouts.org/download/5871/
• Fill out a BSA Adult Leader Application
• Turn in following to your Family Scouting Executive:
  • YPT Certificate
  • Merit Badge Counselor training certificate
  • Merit Badge Counselor Badge Selection Form
  • BSA Adult Leader Application
• There is no cost to register as a Merit Badge Councelor

For more information about Merit Badge Counselor policy in Occoneechee Council, go to: https://ocscouts.org/merit-badge-counselors/

For more information about the BSA’s Merit Badge Program, check out the Guide for Merit Badge Counselors