Merit Badge Counselors

If you don't find a counselor in this list for the merit badge in which you are interested, contact our Merit Badge Coordinator, Venkat Subramanian, who may be able to find counselors in our district.

Merit Badge Counselor Responsibilities

Merit badge counselors are the key to success in the merit badge plan. They offer their time, experience, and knowledge to help guide Scouts in one or more of the merit badge subjects.

The counselor's responsibility is to

Assist the Scout as he plans the assigned projects and activities to meet the merit badge requirements.
Coach Scouts through interviews and demonstrations on how to do the required skills of the badge.
Certify the Scout after determining whether he completed the requirements for the merit badge.

The counselor also agrees to:

Ensure the Scoutmaster has approved the Scout can start the merit badge and Scout retains a blue card with the Scoutmaster's signature.
Follow the requirements of the merit badge, making no deletions or additions, ensuring that the advancement standards are fair and uniform for all Scouts.
Encourage the Scout to keep track of his progress using the merit badge's worksheet.
Maintain two deep adult leadership at all counseling sessions.
Renew BSA registration annually and YPT every two years.

Registering as a Merit Badge Counselor requires these steps:

If you haven't had Youth Protection Training (YPT) in the past two years, do the online training at Youth Protection Training.
Submit a copy of your YPT certificate with your BSA adult application, see the next step.
Complete a BSA Adult Application with position code 42. Submit your application to the Troop Committee Chairman or Merit Badge Coordinator. This must be done, even if you are already a registered adult with the troop.
Review the online The Essentials of Merit Badge Counseling training. Be sure to read the presenter's notes below each slide.
After completing the online training, complete the Merit Badge Training Form and submit to the Merit Badge Coordinator.
Complete the Merit Badge Counselor Information Form and submit to the Merit Badge Coordinator for approval. Write "life experience" if you are interested in counseling a badge due to personal interest. If the form does not allow enough room for all the merit badges you want to counsel, attached a list and make a notation on the form.
In order to participate as a Merit Badge Counselor, our sponsor The Knights of Columbus at Saint John Neumann also requires completion of Ethics and Integrity in Ministry Training. Training is provided free of charge and is held at different locations throughout the year. Fill out the online application and then attend the workshop. Check the Diocese of Austin Website for current workshop times and locations.

The Scout’s Responsibilities:

The Scout should:

Contact the Merit Badge Coordinator to begin your merit badge. (Note: you can obtain blue cards from the Advancement Chair or Scout Shop. You may also print a set of three cards on blue cardstock, front and back.)
The merit badge coordinator will suggest a merit badge counselor for your merit badge. (You can use that counselor or any other approved counselor for that badge. Approved merit badge counselors for all badges can be found in the list above.) Inform the counselor of your interest in the badge; their contact information can be found in the Troop Directory.
Work on the requirements of the MB under the guidance of the counselor. (Scouts can and are encouraged to work on the requirements on their own after initially contacting the MB Counselor.)
Keep track of all progress, preferably by using a Merit Badge's Worksheet (you will find this simplifies things!) and inform the counselor when all requirements have been met.
The counselor will inform the advancement chair that you have completed your merit badge.
Receive credit for the badge upon approval from the counselor and display it with pride on his Merit Badge Sash!

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