Merit Badge Counselor

Interested in becoming a Merit Badge Counselor?

Please follow these steps.

1. Must be a registered adult in the Middle Tennessee Council

Fill out the adult application. Fillable Adult Application - Click HERE

2. A copy or proof of your current Youth Protection Training certificate.

For more information about Youth Protection Training visit https://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection.

To take Youth Protection training go to My.Scouting.org and create an account. You’ll receive an email notification with your account information, including a member ID/reference number.

Volunteers MUST NOT work with Scouts in any capacity WITHOUT current/valid Youth Protection Training.

3. Merit Badge Counselor Information form 34405.

Click HERE to fill out the Merit Badge Counselor form

Once filled out please send information to Cheryl Leach at cleach@mtcbsa.org Or send it in to The Middle Tennessee Council 3414 Hillsboro Pike Nashville, TN 37215

All Merit Badge Counselors must be:

Qualified: "They must be men and women of good character, age 18 or older, and recognized as having the skills and education in the subjects for which they are to serve as merit badge counselors, as well as the ability to work with youth
Registered: "as a merit badge counselor"
Approved: "for each specific merit badge."
Trained: "in the aims of Scouting and in advancement procedures."

Special Qualifications are required to instructors for certain merit badges and require additional documentation. These badges are explained in Chapter 7 of the Guide to Advancement. For these badges, the prospective Merit Badge Counselor must provide a copy of current certification, with the Merit Badge Application. Link to Guide to Safe Scouting: 33088.pdf (scouting.org)

4. Merit Badge Training

While training is not mandatory, All New Merit Badge Counselors are expected/encouraged to do all of the following:

Intro to MB
MBC Position Specific Training
MBC Before First Meeting
MBC Positioned Trained

What is MBC?

These can all be found on myscouting.org under training, under Scouts BSA, under Catalog, then search Merit Badge Training

5. Approval Process

Once the application is received it may take 2 to 4 weeks for approval. You will be notified by email when the process is complete.

Merit Badge Information please visit - https://www.scouting.org/programs/boy-scouts/advancement-and-awards/merit-badges/