Editing Merit badge

{{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 Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|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 [[Uniform and insignia of Scouting America|Scouts BSA uniform]] on formal occasions. The [[BSA National Council|National Council]] reviews and updates badges each year. There are currently 139 merit badges.

[[Scouting]] organizations in other countries issue or have issued merit badges, including [[Scouts Canada|Canada]], [[Tanda Kecakapan Khusus|Indonesia]], [[Scout Association of Japan|Japan]], [[Federación de Escultismo en España|Spain]], [[The National Scout Organization of Thailand|Thailand]], and the [[The Scout Association|United Kingdom]]. [[Austrian Scouts and Girl Guides|Austria]] has a program similar to merit badges for certain age groups.

[[Image:Merit badge sash.png|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''' Sustainability, Reptile 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 (see above paragraph for details).<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 Labor
|1987
|2006
|2015
|1,892
|29,926
|[[Trade union]]s
|-
|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]]
|-
|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 mechanic]]s
|-
|Aviation
|1952
|2006
|2008
|8,064
|684,527
|[[Aviation]]
|-
|Backpacking
|1982
|2007
|2008
|1,640
|233,724
|[[Backpacking (wilderness)|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 (instrument)|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]]
|-
|style="background:#c0c0c0;"|Citizenship in the Nation
|1951
|2022
|2008
|43,247
|3,517,139
|[[Citizenship]]
|-
|style="background:#c0c0c0;"|Citizenship in Society
|2021
|2021
|2021
|
|
|[[Diversity_(politics)|Diversity]], [[Inclusion_(disability_rights)|Inclusion]]
|-
|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 material]]s
|-
|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]]
|-
|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
|[[Dog]]s
|-
|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
|[[Fingerprint]]ing
|-
|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 repair]]s
|-
|Horsemanship
|1911
|2011
|2008
|4,798
|693,845
|[[Equestrianism]]
|-
|Indian Lore
|1931
|2008
|2008
|7,240
|1,292,119
|[[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American culture]]
|-
|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
|[[Lifeguard]]ing
|-
|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 model]]s
|-
|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 (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 (Scouting)|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 finance]]s, [[time management]]
|-
|Pets
|1958
|2003
|2008
|8,333
|690,228
|[[Pet]]s
|-
|Photography
|1911
|2021
|2015
|11,618
|590,968
|[[Photography]]
|-
|Pioneering
|1911
|2022
|2008
|6,129
|2,492,888
|[[Pioneering (Scout Movement)|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 (paper)|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 (process)|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 (sport)|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
|[[Sign (semiotics)|Sign]]s, [[International Code of Signals|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
|[[Sport]]s
|-
|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 (sport)|Swimming]]
|-
|Textile
|1973
|2003
|2008
|1,929
|157,902
|[[Textile]]s
|-
|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 the Boy Scouts of America]]
[[Category:Scouting uniform]]