Advancement FAQ's

Advancement FAQ's

• Can I earn awards or badges from the World Organization of the Scout Movement?

  • Absolutely YES! - While they don't count towards to rank advancement. They are a wonderful way to experience something bigger than ones self. Here is a partial list for some of the opportunities available to Scouts. 

    • The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award

    • Plastic Tide Turners

    • Champions for Nature

    • Scouts Go Solar

    • WOSM Health Allies

      • Nutrition Badge

      • Mind Builders Challenge

    • Dialogue for Peace Challenge

    • Inter-religious Dialogue Challenge

    • Impact Innovators

    • Peace for Cranes Project

    • EQ in Action Challenge Badge

    • The Patrimonito Challenge Badge

    • Scouts of the World Award

      • Scouts of the World Award Presentation

      • Scouts World Award Identity Guide

• How do I earn a Merit Badge? 

  • 7.0.3.0 The Process of Counseling

    • • Recommended Merit Badge Process

        • 1. The Scout develops an interest in a merit badge and may begin working on the requirements.

        • 2. The Scout and unit leader discuss the Scout’s interest in the merit badge. 

        • 3. The unit leader signs a blue card or otherwise documents the conversation and provides the Scout with at least one counselor contact.

        • 4. The Scout contacts the counselor. (Notice the Scout not the Parent/Guardian contacts the counselor)

        • 5. The counselor considers any work toward requirements completed prior to the initial discussion with the unit leader.

        • 6. The Scout and the counselor meet, as many times as necessary. The counselor reviews work, to verify that the Scout has actually and personally completed each requirement exactly as written. For merit badge counselor meetings only, the Scout, parent or guardian, and counselor can meet. In a group setting with two or more Scouts, there must be at least two registered leaders present, in accordance with the Guide to Safe Scouting.

        • 7. Partial progress is recorded as requirements are completed. 

        • 8. The Scout finishes the requirements.

        • 9. The counselor approves completion and signs the blue card or other documentation.

        • 10. The Scout gives the blue card or other evidence of completion to the unit leader. The unit leader signs the applicant record section of the blue card or otherwise documents completion of the merit badge.

        • 11. The unit leader gives the Scout the applicant record portion of the blue card or other hard copy record that the Scout may retain.

        • 12. The unit reports completion of the merit badge.

        • 13. The Scout receives the merit badge at the next troop meeting and formally recognized at the next court of honor.

• Do I have to use a merit badge worksheet? - NO

  • 7.0.4.8 Unofficial Worksheets and Learning Aids

• • • Worksheets and other materials that may be of assistance in earning merit badges are available from a variety of places including unofficial sources on the internet and even troop libraries. Use of these aids is permissible as long as the materials can be correlated with the current requirements that Scouts must fulfill. Completing “worksheets” may suffice where a requirement calls for something in writing, but this would not work for a requirement where the Scout must discuss, tell, show, or demonstrate, etc. Note that Scouts shall not be required to use these learning aids in order to complete a merit badge. 

    • Worksheets MUST not be used to obtain requirements. As they are not guaranteed to be updated. Only use Scoutbook or https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/ for the most updated requirements. The current year requirement book is also a resource for merit Badge requirements. See Mr. Ward for details.

• I took a class in school, does this class count towards a Merit Badge? - NO. - All merit badges must be signed off and approved by a current registered merit badge counselor. Not all school assignments may align with merit badge requirements. ALWAYS ask your current registered merit badge counselor if a school assignment qualifies for a merit badge requirement. 

  • This document is based on Virginia SOL's that may or may not align with a Merit Badge. ALWAYS check with your current registered Merit Badge counselor to see if a school class or course work qualifies for a Merit Badge requirement. 

• I did something for a merit badge before I was registered Scout BSA Scout, does it count? - NO. - All merit badge requirements must be met while a registered Scout in Scouts BSA, or a qualified Venturer or Sea Scout. Accomplishments before joining, or while a Cub Scout, do not apply.

• Do online merit badge classes  count? - Maybe - 7.0.4.12 Online Merit Badge Classes - Merit badges are meant to be a personal activity, involving real interaction between a Scout and an enthusiastic expert in the subject at hand. Group instruction, online meetings, etc., may, depending on the implementation, dilute the value of this experience. While some merit badges easily lend themselves to virtual interaction, others are better conducted in an in-person environment. While the lack of merit badge counselors in some areas and advances in technology have increased use of virtual platforms, care must be taken that this does not diminish the learning experience. 

Councils may implement guidance for virtual options, with specific policies based on availability of counselors, Scout’s medical conditions, and so on. The following guidance will help determine whether or not virtual options should be authorized. As discussed in 5.0.8.0, requirements to show, tell, discuss, explain, or demonstrate must not be substituted with checklists or forms under any circumstances.

•  Just registering and being logged in is not sufficient. The Scout must be engaged, and must actually and personally complete all requirements exactly as written, just as they would for an in-person class. 

• Chat options should be disabled, to prevent one-on-one contact with Scouts.

• Cameras should be on, and a parent or guardian present with the Scout. Requirements to show, tell, or demonstrate may not be substituted with checklists or forms under any circumstances.

• Any merit badge counselors not following all procedures and policies outlined by this document and local councils, including but not limited to all youth protection policies, must be reported to their local council advancement committee for investigation.

• Can I use Artificial Intelligence to earn a merit badge? - Possible. 

  • For today’s youth, communication via social media is second nature. In all aspects of technology-based advancement, both adults and youth must adhere to Scouting America Youth Protection policies as well as Scouting America Social Media Guidelines. 

    • When a requirement says to “attend a meeting,” in-person participation is strongly recommended. While virtual participation may be convenient, in-person attendance allows for a significantly richer experience, with more socialization and more focus. Virtual attendance should be extremely rare, when extenuating circumstances prevent in-person participation, and the merit badge counselor must approve the substitution in advance. 

    • Digital technologies can enhance or hinder our interactions with the world around us. With that in mind, when working on Scouting America rank, merit badge, and other advancement activities, the following definitions should be used: 

      • Discuss requires a back and forth, interactive conversation between the Scout and the merit badge counselor. Exchanging a few text messages does not meet this standard, but a video conversation might. 

      • Explain can be accomplished in a written or oral format but must be a substantive description, more than just a few words. 

      • Demonstrate means to physically do the activity, ideally in the presence of the counselor. If this is not possible, a video of the Scout doing the activity can be used, provided both the video and the activity can be done in a safe manner. Video evidence must only be accepted if the Scout performs the skill correctly, and all essential aspects of the task can be clearly seen in the video. 

• Generative artificial intelligence and other tools (spell checkers, grammar checkers, autofill, etc.) may be used by a Scout to assist with written requirements, but their use must be fully disclosed to the person reviewing the work, and the final output must be the Scout’s own original work. 

• For the Merit Badges that require to attend meetings can I watch them online vs going in person?

  • No - Unless extreme circumstances prevent attendance. - From Section 5.0.8.0 Using Technology-Based Tools in Advancement - States " When a requirement says to “attend a meeting,” in-person participation is strongly recommended. While virtual participation may be convenient, in-person attendance allows for a significantly richer experience, with more socialization and more focus. Virtual attendance should be extremely rare, when extenuating circumstances prevent in-person participation, and the merit badge counselor must approve the substitution in advance. 

• I just got back from summer camp and I have a partial, now what do I do?

  • Guide to Advancement Current Printing: 

• • • 7.0.3.3 Partial Completions : 

      • Scouts need not pass all the requirements of one merit badge with the same counselor. It may be that due to timing, location issues, etc., they must meet with different counselors to finish a badge. The Application for Merit Badge has a place to record what has been finished—a “partial.” In the center section on the reverse of the blue card, the counselor initials and dates each requirement passed. In the case of a partial completion, the counselor does not sign or retain their portion of the card. A subsequent counselor may choose not to accept partial work, but this should be rare. A Scout who believes he or she is being treated unfairly may work with the unit leader to find another registered and approved counselor. An example for the use of a signed partial would be to take it to camp as proof that the camp’s prerequisites have been met. Partials have no expiration except the Scout’s 18th birthday. Units, districts, or councils must not establish other expiration dates for partial merit badges. 

• I earned this patch or medal, where do I wear it?

  • Go to The Guide to Awards and Insignia for exactly where this goes on the Official Field Uniform.

• The following excerpt from the 2025 edition of the Guide to Advancement - explains what to do when merit badge requirements change.

7.0.4.3 What to Do When Requirements Change

Merit badge requirements, along with changes to them, can be found at the Scouting.org Merit Badges web page: www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/advancementand-awards/merit-badges. Once new or revised requirements appear there, any Scout beginning work on a merit badge must use the new or revised requirement. Scouts who have started work on a merit badge under the old requirements may finish using the old requirements. Changes may also be introduced in a revised merit badge pamphlet, youth handbook, or other official Scouting America publication or release before appearing on the Merit Badges web page. In this case, unless official communications set forth a different procedure or establish a date by when use of the old requirements must cease, youth members have through December 31 of that year to decide what to do. They may continue—or begin work— using the old requirements, or they may switch to—or begin work—using the new requirements. Scouts who choose to use the old requirements may continue using them until the merit badge is completed. Scouts who have not begun work on a badge by December 31 of the year a change in its requirements is announced must use the new requirements. 

Furthermore, the following statement on the inside front cover of the 2025 edition of the Scouts BSA Requirements book explains what to do when merit badge requirements change:

When new or revised merit badge requirements appear in the Scouts BSA Requirements book and on www.scouting.org/meritbadges, any Scout beginning work on a merit badge must use the requirements as stated therein. However, if changes to merit badge requirements are introduced in a revised merit badge pamphlet or at www.scouting.org/meritbadges throughout the year, then the Scout has through the end of the current calendar year to decide which set of requirements to use.

Once a Scout begins work, the Scout may continue using the requirements the Scout started with until completion of the badge. Alternatively, the Scout may choose to switch to the revised requirements. Sometimes, however - especially for more significant changes - the Scouts BSA handbooks, the Scouts BSA Requirements book, https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/. or official communications from the National Council may set forth a different procedure that must be used. The National Council may establish a new date for when use of the existing requirements must cease. When new or revised merit badge requirements appear in this Scouts BSA Requirements book and on https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/, any Scout beginning work on a merit badge must use the requirements as stated therein. However, if changes to merit badge requirements are introduced in a revised merit badge pamphlet or at https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/ throughout the year, then the Scout has through the end of the current calendar year to decide which set of requirements to use. Once a Scout begins work, the Scout may continue using the requirements the Scout started with until completion of the badge. Alternatively, the Scout may choose to switch to the revised requirements. Sometimes, however - especially for more significant changes - the Scouts BSA handbooks, the Scouts BSA Requirements book, www.scouting.org/meritbadges. or official communications from the National Council may set forth a different procedure that must be used. The National Council may establish a new date for when use of the existing requirements must cease.

• I have a question on the advancement policy for.....? Where do I go to get the answer?

  • You are looking for the Guide to Advancement. This book has all the answers and more about National policies on advancement, board of reviews, merit badges, Eagle Scout Process, using Generative Artificial Intelligence, and other tool (spell checkers, grammar checkers, autofill, etc)  and SO MUCH more! Mr. Ward the Troop advancement chairman is also available for any questions on advancement.