{{Short description|Award of Scouting America}} {{for|the Irish merit badges|Personal progression in Scouting Ireland#Merit badges}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2014}} {{Infobox WorldScouting |name=Merit badges |image=File:First Aid Merit Badge.png |caption=First Aid merit badge |type=award |owner=Scouting America |f-date=1910 |defunct = |website = }} '''Merit badges''' are awards earned by members of Scouting America, based on activities within the area of study by completing a list of periodically updated requirements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scouting.org/meritbadges.aspx|title=Merit Badges – Boy Scouts of America|website=www.scouting.org}}</ref> The purpose of the merit badge program is to allow Scouts to examine subjects to determine if they would like to further pursue them as a career or vocation. The program also introduces Scouts to life skills such as contacting an adult they had not met before, arranging a meeting, and demonstrating their skills, similar to a job or college interview.
The merit badge award is represented by a circular patch with an image representing the badge's topic. The patches for the Eagle-required merit badges are distinguishable by the silver border on the outside edge. Merit badges are displayed on a sash which can be worn with the Scouts BSA uniform on formal occasions. The National Council reviews and updates badges each year. As of 2026, there are currently 140 merit badges available to be earned.
Scouting organizations in other countries issue or have issued merit badges, including Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. Austria has a program similar to merit badges for certain age groups.
right|thumb|A sample merit badge sash: From left to right, starting at top; '''1''' Swimming, Mammal Study, Environmental Science; '''2''' Basketry, Wood Carving, Dog Care; '''3''' Wilderness Survival, Emergency Preparedness, Bird Study; '''4''' Public Speaking, Scholarship, Law; '''5''' Rifle Shooting, Archery, Metalwork; '''6''' Fish and Wildlife Management, Citizenship in the Nation, Orienteering; '''7''' Citizenship in the Community, Communications, Personal Management; '''8''' Soil and Water Conservation, Reptile and Amphibian Study, Lifesaving; '''9''' Forestry, Citizenship in the World, Safety
==Current badges== :The last revision date indicates the date of the latest requirement changes; the copyright or printing dates of merit badge pamphlets may have a different date. The Eagle Scout required merit badges are shaded in gray.<ref name="mbinfo">{{cite web |url=http://www.usscouts.org/advancementTOC.asp#merit |work=US Scouts.org Advancement section |title=Merit Badge Requirements |access-date=February 9, 2006}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable sortable" !Name !Created !Requirements<br />revision !Pamphlet<br />revision !Number earned (2020)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Wendell|first=Bryan|date=2021-02-24|title=2020 merit badge rankings: A list rewritten by the pandemic|url=https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2021/02/24/2020-merit-badge-rankings-a-list-rewritten-by-the-pandemic/|access-date=2021-04-09|website=Bryan on Scouting|language=en-US}}</ref> !Number earned since creation (through 2020)<ref name=":0" /> !Related subjects |- |American Business |1967 |2023 |2013 |4,967 |61,953 |Business, Economy of the United States |- |American Cultures |1978 |2006 |2013 |2,906 |83,032 |Ethnic groups in the United States |- |American Heritage |1975 |2020 |2019, 2020 |6,700 |192,552 |History of the United States, Historic preservation |- |American Indian Culture |1931 |2008 |2008 |7,240 |1,292,119 |Native American culture |- |American Labor |1987 |2006 |2015 |1,892 |29,926 |Trade unions |- |Animal Science |1975 |2023 |2020 |2,778 |83,893 |Animal husbandry |- |Animation<ref>{{cite press release|title=Boy Scouts of America Introduces Animation Merit Badge|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boy-scouts-of-america-introduces-animation-merit-badge-300084804.html|website=PR Newswire|access-date=19 May 2015}}</ref> |2015 |2022 |2015 |4,445 |29,817 |Animation |- |Archaeology |1997 |2021 |2008 |2,671 |192,293 |Archaeology |- |Archery |1911 |2023 |2008 |10,487 |1,797,351 |Archery |- |Architecture |1911 |2023 |2008 |2,734 |237,322 |Architecture |- |Art |1911 |2013 |2013 |13,953 |1,436,561 |Art |- |Artificial Intelligence<ref>{{cite web|title=Scouts BSA Develops New Tech Merit Badges|url=https://www.scouting.org/program-updates/scouts-bsa-develops-new-tech-merit-badges/|website=Scouting.org|access-date=15 Oct 2025}}</ref> |2025 |2025 |2025 |0 |3 |AI |- |Astronomy |1911 |2022 |2013 |7,474 |727,496 |Astronomy |- |Athletics |1911 |2022 |2008 |1,557 |1,081,697 |Track and field athletics |- |Automotive Maintenance |2008 |2008 |2012 |7,108 |225,956 |Auto mechanics |- |Aviation |1952 |2006 |2008 |8,064 |684,527 |Aviation |- |Backpacking |1982 |2007 |2008 |1,640 |233,724 |Backpacking |- |Basketry |1927 |2003 |2008 |7,388 |2,523,871 |Basket weaving |- |Bird Study |1914 |2005 |2008 |3,950 |612,616 |Ornithology |- |Bugling |1911 |2020 |2008 |476 |172,979 |Bugle |- |style="background:#c0c0c0;"|Camping |1911 |2005 |2008 |30,490 |4,954,170 |Camping |- |Canoeing |1927 |2022 |2008 |9,853 |3,166,116 |Canoeing |- |Chemistry |1911 |2020 |2008 |7,166 |412,187 |Chemistry |- |Chess |2011 |2011 |2011 |15,454 |239,164 |Chess |- |style="background:#c0c0c0;"|Citizenship in the Community |1952 |2005 |2013 |41,987 |3,753,138 |Citizenship, Local government |- |style="background:#c0c0c0;"|Citizenship in the Nation |1951 |2022 |2008 |43,247 |3,517,139 |Citizenship, Government of the United States |- |style="background:#c0c0c0;"|Citizenship in the World |1972 |2005 |2008 |42,738 |2,593,491 |Global citizenship |- |Climbing |1997 |2022 |2008 |7,228 |521,055 |Climbing |- |Coin Collecting |1938 |2022 |2008 |4,639 |524,111 |Coin collecting |- |Collections |1991 |2021 |2008 |6,429 |168,524 |Collecting |- |style="background:#c0c0c0;"|Communication |1968 |2003 |2008 |36,675 |2,352,069 |Communication |- |Composite Materials |2006 |2023 |2008 |1,011 |22,472 |Composite materials |- |style="background:#c0c0c0;"|Cooking |1911 |2023 |2014 |36,473 |4,648,594 |Cooking |- |Crime Prevention |1996 |2020 |2008 |5,628 |174,749 |Crime prevention |- |style="background:#c0c0c0;"|Cycling |1911 |2023 |2008 |5,247 |610,301 |Cycling |- |Cybersecurity<ref>{{cite web|title=Scouts BSA Develops New Tech Merit Badges|url=https://www.scouting.org/program-updates/scouts-bsa-develops-new-tech-merit-badges/|website=Scouting.org|access-date=15 Oct 2025}}</ref> |2025 |2025 |2025 |0 |0 |Cyber Security |- |Dentistry |1975 |2022 |2008 |1,924 |152,381 |Dentistry |- |Digital Technology |2014 |2023 |2014 |8,812 |54,274 |Technology |- |Disabilities Awareness |1993 |2023 |2008 |6,334 |156,539 |Disability |- |Dog Care |1938 |2003 |2008 |4,136 |449,515 |Dogs |- |Drafting |1965 |2008 |2008 |1,026 |231,905 |Technical drawing |- |Electricity |1911 |2021 |2008 |6,235 |859,444 |Electricity |- |Electronics |1963 |2021 |2008 |4,063 |259,193 |Electronics |- |style="background:#c0c0c0;"|Emergency Preparedness |1972 |2023 |2016 |24,733 |2,082,381 |Emergency management |- |Energy |1976 |2005 |2008 |2,162 |96,783 |Energy |- |Engineering |1967 |2008 |2008 |7,800 |213,737 |Engineering |- |Entrepreneurship |1997 |2006 |2008 |3,284 |42,254 |Entrepreneurship |- |style="background:#c0c0c0;"|Environmental Science |1972 |2023 |2008 |23,571 |3,016,109 |Environmental science |- |Exploration |2017 |2020 |2017 |1,464 |10,012 |Exploring |- |style="background:#c0c0c0;"|Family Life |1991 |2023 |2013 |48,408 |1,455,287 |Family values |- |Farm Mechanics |1928 |2023 |2008 |1,424 |233,871 |Agricultural machinery |- |Fingerprinting |1938 |2003 |2008 |18,898 |1,891,477 |Fingerprinting |- |Fire Safety |1995 |2004 |2008 |7,918 |2,675,073 |Fire safety |- |style="background:#c0c0c0;"|First Aid |1911 |2022 |2008 |31,636 |7,370,988 |First aid |- |Fish and Wildlife Management |1972 |2021 |2008 |4,874 |718,006 |Wildlife management |- |Fishing |1952 |2021 |2008 |13,601 |2,126,476 |Fishing |- |Fly Fishing |2002 |2021 |2008 |2,439 |52,650 |Fly fishing |- |Forestry |1911 |2005 |2008 |4,269 |1,213,719 |Forestry |- |Game Design |2013 |2023 |2013 |7,740 |92,506 |Game Design |- |Gardening |1911 |2002 |2008 |2,782 |397,570 |Gardening |- |Genealogy |1972 |2023 |2008 |6,020 |261,683 |Genealogy, Family history |- |Geocaching |2010 |2010 |2010 |5,811 |149,929 |Geocaching |- |Geology |1953 |2023 |2008 |7,484 |747,259 |Geology |- |Golf |1976 |2023 |2008 |2,369 |185,837 |Golf |- |Graphic Arts |1987 |2006 |2008 |2,228 |69,365 |Graphic design |- |Healthcare Professions |2021 |2021 |2021 | | |Health care, medicine |- |style="background:#c0c0c0;"|Hiking |1921 |2023 |2008 |5,977 |1,370,957 |Hiking |- |Home Repairs |1943 |2022 |2008 |3,442 |2,435,429 |Home repairs |- |Horsemanship |1911 |2011 |2008 |4,798 |693,845 |Equestrianism |- |Insect Study |1985 |2008 |2008 |1,734 |180,460 |Entomology |- |Inventing<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2010/06/inventing-mb.html |title=Boy Scouts and Lemelson-MIT Program introduce Inventing merit badge |date=June 17, 2010 |work=Scouting |access-date=June 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620211855/http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2010/06/inventing-mb.html |archive-date=June 20, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> |2010 |2023 |2010 |1,833 |29,178 |Invention |- |Journalism |1927 |2006 |2008 |1,516 |113,468 |Journalism |- |Kayaking |2012 |2020 |2016 |11,083 |261,710 |Kayaking |- |Landscape Architecture |1967 |2008 |2008 |1,400 |90,412 |Landscape architecture |- |Law |1974 |2003 |2008 |5,962 |218,325 |Law |- |Leatherwork |1951 |2002 |2008 |10,855 |2,637,286 |Leather crafting |- |style="background:#c0c0c0;"|Lifesaving |1911 |2021 |2008 |5,842 |3,150,759 |Lifeguarding |- |Mammal Study |1985 |2023 |2008 |7,845 |1,302,419 |Zoology |- |Metalwork |1927 |2007 |2008 |4,273 |1,202,235 |Metalworking |- |Mining in Society |2014 |2022 |2014 |3,789 |29,397 |Mining |- |Model Design and Building |1963 |2020 |2008 |1,359 |235,108 |Scale models |- |Motorboating |1961 |2021 |2008 |2,638 |635,883 |Motorboat |- |Moviemaking |2013 |2013 |2013 |5,779 |61,305 |Filmmaking |- |Multisport<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2025/02/28/scouting-america-launching-multisport-merit-badge/ |title=Scouting America launching Multisport merit badge; here are the requirements |author=Aaron Derr |date=February 28, 2025 |magazine=Scouting }}</ref> |2025 |2025 | | | |Triathlon |- |Music |1911 |2003 |2008 |10,069 |1,388,218 |Music |- |Nature |1952 |2023 |2008 |6,056 |1,737,920 |Nature |- |Nuclear Science |2005 |2011 |2008 |3,493 |210,965 |Nuclear physics |- |Oceanography |1964 |2003 |2008 |4,442 |336,423 |Oceanography |- |Orienteering |1973 |2003 |2008 |5,337 |888,402 |Orienteering |- |Painting |1911 |2020 |2008 |3,163 |584,778 |Paint |- |style="background:#c0c0c0;"|Personal Fitness |1952 |2023 |2008 |40,355 |2,793,990 |Physical fitness |- |style="background:#c0c0c0;"|Personal Management |1972 |2003 |2008 |40,897 |2,100,383 |Personal finances, time management |- |Pets |1958 |2003 |2008 |8,333 |690,228 |Pets |- |Photography |1911 |2021 |2015 |11,618 |590,968 |Photography |- |Pioneering |1911 |2022 |2008 |6,129 |2,492,888 |Pioneering |- |Plant Science |1974 |2023 |2008 |1,653 |58,456 |Botany |- |Plumbing |1911 |2004 |2008 |2,761 |417,612 |Plumbing |- |Pottery |1927 |2008 |2008 |2,842 |427,803 |Pottery |- |Programming |2013 |2023 |2013 |4,473 |29,163 |Computer programming |- |Public Health |1911 |2021 |2008 |11,510 |1,539,459 |Public health |- |Public Speaking |1932 |2002 |2008 |5,570 |684,343 |Public speaking |- |Pulp and Paper |1972 |2006 |2008 |4,054 |150,884 |Pulp, Papermaking |- |Radio |1923 |2008 |2008 |3,550 |205,747 |Radio |- |Railroading |1952 |2022 |2008 |4,105 |275,919 |Rail transport |- |Reading |1929 |2022 |2008 |5,635 |1,508,324 |Reading |- |Reptile and Amphibian Study |1993 |2023 |2008 |3,526 |682,587 |Herpetology |- |Rifle Shooting |1988 |2001 |2008 |11,081 |1,533,240 |Rifle, Shooting |- |Robotics |2011 |2011 |2011 |5,452 |123,337 |Robotics |- |Rowing |1933 |2021 |2008 |2,118 |1,763,164 |Rowing |- |Safety |1927 |2020 |2008 |6,305 |2,959,333 |Safety |- |Salesmanship |1927 |2023 |2008 |5,121 |362,051 |Sales |- |Scholarship |1911 |2004 |2008 |7,287 |1,307,274 |Scholarship |- |Scouting Heritage |2010 |2010 |2010 |6,517 |62,290 |History of Scouting America |- |Scuba Diving |2009 |2009 |2009 |1,323 |24,100 |Scuba Diving |- |Sculpture |1911 |2007 |2008 |3,188 |350,848 |Sculpture |- |Search and Rescue |2012 |2012 |2012 |4,082 |79,782 |Search and rescue |- |Shotgun Shooting |1988 |2005 |2008 |5,631 |627,238 |Shotgun, shooting |- |Signs, Signals, and Codes |2015 |2015 |2015 |4,580 |38,454 |Signs, signals, codes |- |Skating |1973 |2005 |2008 |1,700 |184,647 |Ice skating, Roller skating |- |Small-Boat Sailing |1964 |2023 |2008 |3,142 |725,921 |Sailing |- |Snow Sports |1999 |2023 |2008 |5,860 |493,109 |Skiing, Snowboarding |- |Soil and Water Conservation |1952 |2004 |2008 |5,067 |1,174,015 |Soil conservation, Water conservation |- |Space Exploration |1965 |2020 |2008 |8,750 |667,365 |Space exploration |- |Sports |1972 |2023 |2008 |3,557 |1,184,127 |Sports |- |Stamp Collecting |1932 |2007 |2008 |1,278 |395,283 |Stamp collecting |- |Surveying |1911 |2004 |2008 |603 |157,073 |Surveying |- |style="background:#c0c0c0;"|Sustainability |2013 |2020 |2013 |8,477 |49,748 |Sustainability |- |style="background:#c0c0c0;"|Swimming |1911 |2023 |2008 |21,220 |6,659,181 |Swimming |- |Textile |1973 |2003 |2008 |1,929 |157,902 |Textiles |- |Theater |1967 |2021 |2008 |1,592 |97,833 |Theatre |- |Traffic Safety |1975 |2022 |2008 |5,758 |194,271 |Road traffic safety |- |Truck Transportation |1973 |2005 |2008 |1,991 |151,364 |Truck driver |- |Veterinary Medicine |1995 |2005 |2008 |2,552 |92,251 |Veterinary medicine |- |Water Sports |1969 |2007 |2008 |1,064 |266,295 |Waterskiing |- |Weather |1927 |2006 |2008 |9,215 |651,891 |Weather |- |Welding |2012 |2012 |2012 |4,709 |86,233 |Welding |- |Whitewater |1987 |2020 |2008 |1,508 |105,245 |Whitewater rafting |- |Wilderness Survival |1974 |2007 |2008 |11,604 |1,805,803 |Wilderness, Survival skills |- |Wood Carving |1923 |2006 |2008 |9,430 |2,462,368 |Wood carving |- |Woodwork |1923 |2021 |2008 |3,066 |999,863 |Woodworking |} {{notelist}}
==Historical program== Offered only in 2010, the Historical Merit Badge program, part of the Boy Scouts of America centennial, allowed Scouts to earn the discontinued Carpentry, Pathfinding, Signalling, and Tracking (originally called Stalking) merit badges. The patches for these historical merit badges are distinguished by a gold ring on the outside edge. All were based on merit badges that were among the original 57 issued in 1911.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2010/01/historical-merit-badges-help-boy-scouts-celebrate-scoutings-past.html |title=Historical merit badges help Boy Scouts celebrate Scouting's past |date=January 12, 2010 |journal=Scouting |publisher=Boy Scouts of America |access-date=January 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115072250/http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2010/01/historical-merit-badges-help-boy-scouts-celebrate-scoutings-past.html |archive-date=January 15, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb141.asp|title=Historic Signaling Merit Badge|website=www.usscouts.org}}</ref>
==See also== * Discontinued merit badges (Boy Scouts of America) * History of merit badges (Boy Scouts of America) * Original 57 merit badges (Boy Scouts of America)
==References== {{reflist}}
===Bibliography=== * {{cite web |url=http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/resources/32215/mb/library.html |title=Merit Badge Library |access-date=June 6, 2007 |date=June 2007 |work=Boy Scout Requirements |publisher=Boy Scouts of America |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200429/http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/resources/32215/mb/library.html |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |df=mdy-all }} * {{cite web |url=http://www.usscouts.org/mb/mbbooks.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001003032428/http://usscouts.org/mb/mbbooks.html|title=Current Merit Badge Pamphlet and Merit Badge Requirement Revision Dates |access-date=June 6, 2007 |date=June 5, 2007 |work=U.S. Scouting Service Project |archive-date=2000-10-03}} * {{cite web |url=http://home.earthlink.net/~scouters/mb.html |title=Merit Badges, Past and Present |access-date=June 6, 2007 |author=Steve Henning |date=July 20, 1999 |work=Henning's Scouters' Pages }}
==External links== {{Commons category|Scouting badges of the United States}} {{Wiktionary|merit badge}}
*{{cite web|title=Introduction to Merit Badges|url=http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/MeritBadges.aspx|publisher=Boy Scouts of America}}
{{Scoutorg BSA}} {{Scouting}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Merit Badge (Boy Scouts Of America)}} Category:Advancement and recognition in Scouting America Category:Scouting uniform