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