National Pike District
Merit Badge Counselors
Youth can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers as you earn merit badges. There are more than 135 merit badges, and any Scout, or any qualified Venturer or Sea Scout may earn any of these at any time.
Merit Badge Counselors are District-level positions, NOT Unit-level positions. There is no permission/signature necessary from your local Unit to register as a counselor. Prospective counselors must register online to be a counselor even if they are already registered in another position in Scouting.
Read more below about the process to become a counselor. Click on a + sign to expand a section.
Training
Merit Badge Counselor registration is a multi-step process that should start with online training:
- If not already completed, you must complete Youth Protection Training found on the my.scouting.org home page. The online registration will automatically check for YPT currency.
- If not already completed, you must complete the Scouts BSA – Merit Badge Counselor Position Specific Training, either online on my.scouting.org or at an in-person course.
According to the Guide to Advancement (GTA) Section 7, there are several merit badges require specialized qualifications and certifications to be a counselor. Please review that section and provide documentation for any included Merit Badges
Registration Process
If you have completed both of those training modules:
- Simply go to my.scouting.org to register as a counselor. If you are already a registered leader, you will get a warning screen stating you are already registered. Click CONTINUE to submit a duplicate registration.
- Notify the NPD Merit Badge Renewal Process that you have completed the online registration form.
- Complete the 34405 Merit Badge Counselor Information Form and email it to the NPD Merit Badge Renewal Process.
Once your application is approved, you will appear in Scoutbook as a Merit Badge Counselor within 48 hours. Your approved merit badges will follow into Scoutbook once the local registrar has processed the Merit Badge Counselor Information Form. Once you see Merit Badge Counselor as one of your positions in my.scouting.org, you may work with Scouts.
Adding Merit Badges
How to update your list of Merit Badges
Complete form 34405 Merit Badge Counselor Information Form. Be sure to fill in the district name and BSA id fields so your application is applied to the correct BSA id and district. Your BSA id can be found on the YPT completion certificate. Turn in the form above to the NPD Merit Badge Renewal Process. You should receive an email from Scoutbook when you are added.
Viewing your Approved Merit Badges
Where can the Merit Badge Counselor find their approved Merit Badges?
Go to Scoutbook
- Login to Scoutbook using the same username and password as scouting.org.
- From the home page, click My Dashboard.
- Click Administration.
- Click My Account.
- Click My Positions.
- Click Merit Badge Counselor.
Renewing your Position
Annual Renewal of Merit Badge Counselors
All Merit Badge Counselors must confirm their Scouting America registration annually!!
- After renewing membership on my.scouting.org during your annual renewal period, notify the NPD Merit Badge Renewal Process that you have completed the renewal
- If you want to delete or add merit badges that you support, please complete the 34405 Merit Badge Counselor Information Form and email it as an attachment to the NPD Merit Badge Renewal Process otherwise no further action is required.
Warning: If you do not follow the NPD Merit Badge Renewal Process stating your continued interest in being a Merit Badge Counselor, you may be automatically dropped and will have to re-register.