Merit Badge College 2026.
The Merit Badge College in 2026 is scheduled for February 14, 2026 at Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, PA. The event will offer an opportunity to earn up to three of 20 merit badge offerings. Most of the merit badge offerings are related to a STEM area of interest. New MB offerings this year: Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity, but you will only be able to earn one. Returning MB offerings this year: American Labor and Search & Rescue. The website is open for registration. Registration will close on February 2, 2026.
Merit Badge Pamphlets – USE them (now available for FREE).
Scouts are strongly encouraged to use the merit badge pamphlet for the MB as a resource to learn about the subject of the MB and prepare for completion of all requirements. The pamphlet provides a wealth of information related to the MB’s subject and most of the information needed to complete each requirement. The pamphlets are available for a FREE on-line download from Scouting America (link). Also, links are available to other information to help in learning about and completing specific requirements.
Updated Merit Badge Requirements in 2026.
Attention Scouts and merit badge counselors.
At the start of every year, BSA National publishes updates to the requirements for selected merit badges. The update of the requirements for a merit badge will include one or more of the following types of changes: 1) modification of a previously established requirement, 2) addition of a new requirement, 3) deletion of a previously established requirement, and/or 4) reordering of previously established requirements.
In 2026, BSA National has updated the requirements for the following sixty-seven (67) merit badges, including nine (9) merit badges that count towards the requirements for the Eagle rank [highlighted]. The updated requirements go into effect on 1/1/2026.
American Indian Culture (formerly Indian Lore)
Archaeology Moviemaking
Athletics Multisport
Automotive Maintenance Music
Bird Study Nuclear Science
Canoeing Oceanography
Chess Painting
Citizenship in the Community Personal Fitness
Citizenship in the Nation Pets
Citizenship in the World Plant Science
Coin Collecting Programming
Composite Materials Public Health
Cycling Radio
Digital Technology Reading
Emergency Preparedness Robotics
Engineering Rowing
Exploration Safety
Family Life Scouting Heritage
Fishing Sculpture
Fly Fishing Search and Rescue
Forestry Signs, Signals, & Codes
Geology Skating
Graphic Arts Small Boat Sailing
Home Repairs Snow Sports
Horsemanship Space Exploration
Inventing Surveying
Journalism Swimming
Kayaking Traffic Safety
Law Truck Transportation
Lifesaving Veterinary Medicine
Mammal Study Water Sports
Mining in Society Weather
Model Design and Building Whitewater
Motorboating Wilderness Survival
Any Scout starting any of these sixty-seven merit badges in 2026 must meet the new requirements. Anyone can find the most current requirements for every merit badge, including the merit badges with updated requirements, on this site and on the page “The Merit Badge Program”, then finding the “Requirements” section and clicking on the link.
The specific requirements that have been changed are identified on the page “All Merit Badges A–Z”.
Any Scout that started any of these sixty-seven merit badges prior to 1/1/2026 may complete the merit badge utilizing the requirements previously in effect which are available in Scoutbook.
A summary of the change(s) for each merit badge is available at this link. A detailed depiction of the change(s) for each merit badge is available at this link. However, only use the requirements provided on the main website (as stated above) and use the information in these documents only as tip off to the changes.
Council Certificate of Merit
The Council Advancement Committee has established a Council Certificate of Merit, with the approval of the Executive Board, as a council-controlled means to recognize the contributions of adult leaders to the council’s Scouting program by their achievements or service. The Council Certificate of Merit provides a way to formally recognize: 1) the contribution of an adult leader that is below the threshold for a national-level award, or 2) the extended service of an adult leader.
A Council Certificate of Merit can be awarded for either achievement or service. The Council Advancement committee has established criteria for consideration and approval of a council certificate of merit for achievement or service.
The essential information to understand the process for submission of a recommendation and review and approval of each award is available in the council’s Advancement Policies and Procedures (P&P), section 6.3. The P&P includes: 1) the criteria for recommendation of each award; 2) the procedure to submit a recommendation; 3) the process for review and approval of the award; 4) the approval authority for the award; and 5) the required forms. To access that information, click here.
Guide to Advancement – new version in 2025.
BSA has published a new version of the Guide to Advancement. The 2025 version updates the previous version, published in 2019. Section 1.0.3.0 provides a summary of the significant changes in this version. The new Guide to Advancement is available to view on the council’s advancement page: “Advancement Resources” {click here} If you want to download the new guide, click here
Guide to Safe Scouting
BSA National has published updates to the Guide to Safe Scouting that are only available on line.
The most recent updates were published in August 2024. The latest updates are to:
Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse
Prohibited activities
The chart on “Age appropriate guidelines for Scouting Activities”
The most current information for the Guide to Safe Scouting can be obtained by going to this link.
Cub Scout Program – new program information.
Attention Cub Scout leaders and parents.
Please remember to check all adventure requirements at each den level, as many requirements have changed with the new program. For example, each den now earns the Bobcat adventure every year, and the requirements vary depending on den level. Once your Cub Scouts have earned adventures, take the time to enter their hard work into Scout Book (even partial adventures).
Remember that adventures should be awarded frequently to keep Cub Scouts motivated to continue to work toward additional adventures.
The most current information on the program can be obtained by going to the Cub Scout page on this site {link}.
This is the BSA’s official website with the archive information on the program updates {link}.
Requirements prior to meeting with a merit badge counselor.
Attention Scouts and unit leaders.
In order to address concerns expressed by a number of unit leaders, the Council Advancement Committee has developed and approved a policy that requires Scouts to meet with a unit leader before contacting a MB counselor to begin the completion of requirements or registering for an on-line MB opportunity. The policy formalizes a longstanding expectation in the Guide to Advancement that each Scout first meet with the unit leader before pursuing completion of a merit badge. The purpose for establishment of the requirement is twofold:
- To verify for each MB if the counselor is registered in Scouts BSA and is approved as a counselor for that MB (by any council).
- Provide an opportunity for the unit leader to review with the Scout whether the offering provides an acceptable opportunity to learn and complete the requirements as written for the MB, if the Scout is considering an on-line offering.
The complete version of the policy, including procedures to follow and some additional guidance, can be obtained by going to the “Advancement Resources” page on the council’s website {link}. The policy is in Section 3.4.
Required training for merit badge counselors.
Attention merit badge counselors.
Our Council requires all individuals to complete the position specific training for merit badge counselors prescribed by National BSA to serve as a merit badge counselor in the council.
The policy: All individuals are required to complete the position-specific training for merit badge counselors prescribed by National BSA to serve as a merit badge counselor in the council. The training is available on-line or scheduled classroom training.
Registration fee for merit badge counselors.
Attention merit badge counselors.
BSA National has implemented an annual registration fee of $25 for merit badge counselors. However, the payment of this fee is only applicable for adults registered with BSA only as a MB counselor; it is not applicable if the adult is also registered for another adult leader position.
Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook.
Attention Scouts and unit leaders.
BSA National has published a new version of the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, dated February 2023. Eagle Scout candidates must use the most current version of the workbook published by BSA National at the time they begin development of their proposal. Thus, all Scouts must use this version of the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, dated February 2023, if they are starting to prepare the project proposal after February 2023.
