Merit Badges requiring prior approval

From MeritBadgeDotOrg

Shortcut: Prior Approval

Almost half of the Boy Scout Merit Badges require prior counselor approval for certain requirements. The rest do not: " Any Boy Scout may earn any merit badge at any time...You are expected to meet the requirements as they are stated—no more and no less." - Boy Scout Requirements p. 22 - 23.

“ Unless otherwise specified, work for a requirement can be started at any time. ”

— Merit Badge Policies pp.22-23

Merit Badges Requiring Prior Approval for Certain Requirements
American Heritage #2b, 2c, 2d, 5a, 5	American Labor #2, 5c, 5d	Architecture #3	Art #2a, 2b, 4
Astronomy #9	Athletics #6b	Backpacking #11b	Cinematography #3a
Citizenship in the Community #4b, 5, 7c	Citizenship in the Nation #6	Communications #5, 6, 7b	Computers #6e, #7c, 7d
Crime Prevention #7b	Disabilities Awareness #5a	Emergency Preparedness #8b, 9a	Engineering #1
Environmental Science #3e3	Family Life #4, 6a	First Aid #6c	Forestry #5
Geocaching #7, 8c	Geology #4a, 5c	Golf #8	Graphic Arts #4a
Home Repairs #2, 3, 4, 5, 6	Indian Lore #2b	Journalism #3b, 3c	Mammal Study #5
Medicine #10	Metalwork #5b, 3c3a	Model Design and Building #1, 3, 4a, 4c	Oceanography #8a, 8c
Painting #3	Personal Fitness #7	Pets #1	Photography #4a, 4b
Pioneering #10	Pottery #7	Public Health #5, 7	Pulp and Paper #7
Radio #7	Safety #2a	Salesmanship #3	Scholarship #4b
Scuba Diving #2	Sculpture #2c	Small-Boat Sailing #6c	Soil and Water Conservation #7f
Sports #5	Surveying #2	Welding #6	Weather #9a, 9b
Woodwork #6d

See also

Boy Scout portal Varsity Scout portal Venturing portal

Merit Badge information

• An Introduction to Merit Badges – how to get started, who chooses the counselor, etc.
• Merit Badge Worksheets & Requirements – with the revision dates, diagrams, charts, checklists, logs, and links you need.
• Merit Badge Application – offers online resources to let you print "Blue Cards," etc.
• Merit Badge FAQ – answers dozens of questions like: Who can be a counselor? Can requirements be added or removed?
• Merit Badges Requiring Prior Approval – Certain requirements need prior approval. Most do not. Here is the list.
• Also see: Most Popular Merit Badges – Merit Badge Policies – Eagle-Required Merit Badges – Merit Badge Days
• Additionally: List of Merit Badges by Field of Study – Merit Badge Pamphlets & Libraries
• Merit Badge Counselors must complete Youth Protection Training, file an Adult Application (and Merit Badge Counselor Information Form); and be approved by the local council. (See the Guide for Merit Badge Counselors for additional details.)