Resources and Training for Merit Badge Counselors
Who Can Be a Merit Badge Counselor?
We're looking for knowledgeable people to teach and inspire young men in their areas of expertise. To counsel and sign off on a merit badge, you must be an adult (age 18+), you must be registered with Old Colony Council, you must be current on Youth Protection training, and you should be specifically registered as a counselor for the badges you'd like to counsel.
Signing Up
If you're already registered in another position in Old Colony Council (for example, a Scoumaster or Troop Committee member), you can also be a merit badge counselor. You just need to...
If you're not already registered in another position in Old Colony Council:
- Take Youth Protection training and print or save the certificate.
- Fill out a BSA adult leader application (paper only; available from the Old Colony Council office).
- Fill out the Old Colony Council CORI form.
- Fill out a BSA merit badge counselor form with the badges you'd like to counsel.
- Turn in a copy of your Youth Protection certificate, the adult leader application, the CORI form, and the merit badge counselor form to the Old Colony Council office.
Online Training
Standard Version
New in spring 2017! Merit badge counselors can now take an official basic training course from the BSA at my.scouting.org. Log in with your username and password, or create a profile if you haven't already.
Merit Badge University (MBU) Version (updated for MBU 2017 on 1/29/17)
A 25-minute introduction to the merit badge program, your role as a counselor, strategies for success at MBU, and MBU logistics and recordkeeping procedures.
Other Courses
A combined counselor training and MBU orientation meeting or webinar is held a few weeks before MBU every year. Registered MBU counselors will receive more information about this event.
Other Resources
