Unit Resources  |  Merit Badge Process

Guide to Advancement, Section 7, The Merit Badge Program specifies several merit badges that involve activities for which the BSA has implemented strategies to improve safety, improve the Scouts’ experience, and manage risk. The requirements for training/certification for merit badge counselors are identified below. The requirements for conducting activities are defined in Section 7.0.1.1 Supervisory Qualifications and Certifications. Merit badge counselors must meet the requirements as specified below.  In certain cases, TFC has established a higher minimum, reasonable level of skill and education for counselors as allowed by the Guide to Advancement.

General

CPR instruction, wherever it is required, must be taught by Instructors currently trained by a nationally certified provider.

All physical activities must be conducted in accordance the “SAFE Checklist” These four points, embodying good judgement and common sense, can be found at https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/safe/.

Existing merit badge counselors or new merit badge counselors who (a) have experience in the subject, (b) if previously certified as such, or trained by an instructor so qualified or (c) have certification from an equivalent organization not listed may submit a request to the respective committee for review and approval. For example, an individual who has been a swimming merit badge counselor with appropriate experience can submit a summary of his/her experience and qualifications to the TFC Aquatics Committee.

• For Aquatics Merit Badges an individual may contact the TFC Aquatics Committee for approval.
• For Shooting Merit Badges an individual may contact the TFC Range & Target Activities Committee for approval.
• All certifications and/or training must be current as specified by the organization providing the training/certification. Copies of required certifications/training or approval by the appropriate TFC Outdoor Committee (see above) must be included with Merit Badge Counselor applications.

Aquatics Merit Badges
Swimming and watercraft activities must be conducted in accordance with Scouting America safety strategies (e.g., Safe Swim Defense for swimming or Safety Afloat for watercraft, respectively), and be supervised by mature and conscientious adults at least 21 years old and trained in the program applicable. Counselors must be so trained and must be current any time they work with scouts.

Shooting Merit Badges

The qualifications for range and target activities merit badge counseling and supervision not only assist in managing risk but also give counselors credibility. Current policies are found at www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/ gss/gss08/#a and supersede any other publications or literature. See the Guide to Safe Scouting and the National Range & Target Activities Manual for further details.

The merit badge counselor is responsible for ensuring all instruction or other activities involving the handling of firearms or live ammunition is consistent with state and federal law and supervised by a certified National Camping School (NCS) Range & Target Activities Director, or National Rifle Association (NRA) Instructor. Instruction or other activities involving handling muzzleloaders must be supervised by an NCS Range & Target Activities Director or NRA/National Muzzleloader Rifle Association (NMLRA)-certified Muzzleloader Firearms Instructor. Live fire must be supervised by an NRA-certified Range Safety Officer (RSO) and an NRA/NMLRA-certified Instructor in the discipline of the firearm being shot. The Instructor and the RSO may not be the same person. Note: commercial shooting ranges may provide properly certified RSOs. Please reference the National Range & Target Activities Manual for required range supervision ratios.

Archery
Archery activities must be supervised by a National Camping School-trained Range & Target Activities Director, a USA Archery Instructor, a National Field Archery Association instructor, or an Archery Rangemaster. Counselors must at least 21 years old and be trained as a National Camping School shooting sports director or be certified as a USA Archery or National Field Archery Association instructor OR the TFC Range & Target Activities Committee may approve individuals previously certified as such or with equivalent training.

Canoeing
Counselors must be at least 21 years old and be certified as Scouting America Aquatics Instructor, designation as an instructor or successful completion of council sponsored or council approved training courses in canoeing such as the Scouting America Paddlecraft Safety course or current or previous certification as an instructor in canoeing by the American Canoe Association Level One; OR the TFC Aquatics Committee may approve counselors with similar experience and training in knowledge, skill, safety, and instruction.

Climbing Merit Badge
All climbing, belaying and rappelling exercises and activities must be supervised by a qualified rock-climbing instructor who is mature and conscientious adult at least 21 years old and who is trained as a Scouting America climbing Level 2 Instructor and understands the risks inherent to these activities. Someone with certification in Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED or equivalent must be present at these activities. Counselors must be at least 21 with current Climb On Safely training.

Kayaking
Counselor must be at least 21 and certified as a Scouting America Aquatics Instructor, successfully completed a council approved training course in kayaking (such as the Scouting America Paddlecraft Safety), current American Canoe Association Level One (or higher) Kayak Instructor, OR the TFC Aquatics Committee may approve counselors with similar experience and training in knowledge, skill, safety, and instruction.

Lifesaving
Counselors must at least 21 years old and be certified as a BSA Aquatics Instructor. Persons trained as a Swimming & Water Rescue or as lifeguard instructors (e.g., BSA, American Red Cross, or YMCA) are also qualified provided they self-study and practice the material in the current merit badge pamphlet. The Council Aquatics committee may approve counselors with similar experience and training in knowledge, skill, safety, and instruction.

Motor Boating
Counselors must be at least 21 years old and certified by an organization (such as the National Safe Boating Council, the United States Power Squadrons, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, or the US Powerboating component of US Sailing) that meets the voluntary National On-Water Standards for Powerboating or the NASBLA national boating education standards for powerboating; OR the Council Aquatics Committee may approve counselors with similar experience and training in knowledge, skill, safety, and instruction.

Multisport
Counselors must be at least 21 years old, be experience in multisport activities, and trained in Safe Swim Defense. All multisport activities must be supervised in accordance with the Guide to Safe Scouting. Multisport competition events cannot be held by counselors or units but must be officially sanctioned events.

Rifle Shooting
Counselors must be at least 21 years old and be trained as a National Camping School-trained Range & Target Activities Director or be certified as a NRA Rifle or Muzzleloading Instructor, OR the TFC Range & Target Activities Committee may approve individuals previously certified as such or with equivalent training.

Rowing
Counselor must be at least 21 years old and be certified as an Aquatics Instructor, Scouting America or U.S. Rowing Instructor, provided they self-study and practice material in the pamphlet; OR the TFC Aquatics Committee may approve counselors with similar experience and training in knowledge, skill, safety, and instruction.

SCUBA
Counselors must be at least 21years old and be certified as a diver by PADI, NAUI, PDIC, SDI, or WRSTC. All phases of scuba instruction are limited to instructors trained and sanctioned by one to the following agencies: PADI, NAUI, SSI, IDEA, PDIC, SDI/TDI, YMCA, NASDS, IANTD, RAID, SNSI, NASE, or be a member of the World Recreational Scuba Training Council.

Shotgun Shooting
Counselors must at least 21 years old and be trained as a National Camping School-trained Range & Target Activities Director or be certified as a NRA Shotgun or Muzzleloading Instructor OR the TFC Range & Target Activities Committee may approve individuals previously certified as such or with equivalent training.

Small Boat Sailing
Counselors must be at least 21 years old and be certified with a recognized sailing agency or school, US Sailing, or the American Sailing Association for sailing experience with different hull types including the rig being used for instruction; OR the Aquatics Committee may approve counselors with similar experience and training in knowledge, skill, safety, and instruction.

Snow Sports Merit Badge
Snow sports must be supervised by a mature conscientious adult 21 years or older in accordance with Winter Sports Safety as defined in the Guide to Safe Scouting. Snow Sports Counselors must be at least 21 years old and be experienced in snow sport activities.

Swimming
Counselors must be at least 21 years old and be certified as a Scouting America Aquatics Instructor or instructors from the American Red Cross or YMCA; OR the TFC Aquatics Committee may approve counselors with similar experience and training in knowledge, skill, safety, and instruction.

Water Sports
Water Sports Counselors must be at least 21 years old and certified by an organization (such as the National Safe Boating Council, the U.S. Power Squadrons, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, BoatUS or the U.S. Powerboating component of US Sailing that meets the voluntary National On-Water Standards for Powerboating or the NASBLA National Boating Education Standards for Powerboating; OR the TFC Aquatics Committee may approve counselors with similar experience and training in knowledge, skill, safety, and instruction.

Welding Merit Badge
Welding must be supervised by a mature conscientious adult 21 years or older in accordance with safety as defined in the BSA Guide to Safe Scouting. Welding Counselors must be at least 21 years old and be experienced in welding.

Whitewater
Counselors must be at least 21 years old and be certified as an American Canoe Association Level Three (or higher) River Kayak or River Canoe Instructor, OR the TFC Aquatics Committee may approve counselors with similar experience and training in knowledge, skill, safety, and instruction.