NOTE: This process is for new applicants for the position of Merit Badge Counselor. Please see Step 8 for directions to add or drop merit badges once you are registered.
- Merit Badge Counselor applicants will complete the BSA Merit Badge Counselor Information Form. We cannot accept the old PPC Merit Badge Counselor form.
- The applicant will send the completed and signed BSA Merit Badge Counselor Information Form to their District Merit Badge Dean:
- Fishawack District: [email protected]
- Pioneer District: [email protected]
- Raritan Valley: [email protected]
- Skylands District: [email protected]
- Please allow the District Merit Badge Dean time to receive and review your application, keeping in mind that they are volunteers like yourself.
- Once your BSA Merit Badge Counselor Information Form has been approved, you will need to submit a BSA Adult Application through my.scouting.org. Please be aware, we are no longer accepting paper BSA Adult Applications for Merit Badge Counselor registrations, all registrations will be handled through my.scouting.org. If you are:
- Already a leader in a BSA Scouting unit, a District or Council level volunteer, your application through my.scouting.org will be automatically processed as a multiple registration with no additional charges, as long as your registration and Youth Protection Training are current.
- New to Scouting and do not have a current, paid registration, you will need to create an account in my.scouting.org and complete Youth Protection Training. After completing Youth Protection Training, you will need to submit an application through my.scouting.org, as described in Step 5. My.scouting.org will collect the current, annual registration fees, $25, for merit badge counselors at the time of your registration. Membership is renewed and paid on an annual basis through my.scouting.org.
- When the District Merit Badge Dean has reviewed and approved the application, an email will be sent to the applicant with information about being a merit badge counselor. That email will also include a link to the district registration page to submit a BSA Adult Application through my.scouting.org.
- It will take approximately one to two weeks for your application to be approved and complete the criminal background check.
- All BSA registrations require renewal on a yearly basis. Merit Badge Counselor registrations will NOT be automatically renewed, you will need to renew your registration through my.scouting.org when you receive a notification from their site that your registration is going to expire. You have 60 days to renew before the expiration. If your registration expires, you have 30 days after the registration date to renew. IF more than 30 days passes, you will need to reapply for to be a Merit Badge Counselor.
- To make changes to the merit badges listed on your profile, complete a new BSA Merit Badge Counselor Information Form and send it to your District Merit Badge Dean. Changes will be reflected on your profile when it has been approved by the dean and forwarded to PPC for processing.
Updated 7/12/2024