Merit badge


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. 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 2025, there are currently 141 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.
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 Soil and Water Conservation, Reptile and Amphibian Study, Lifesaving; 9 Forestry, Citizenship in the World, Safety

Current badges

NameCreatedRequirements
revision		Pamphlet
revision		Number earned Number earned since creation Related subjects
American Business1967202320134,96761,953Business, Economy of the United States
American Cultures1978200620132,90683,032Ethnic groups in the United States
American Heritage197520202019, 20206,700192,552History of the United States, Historic preservation
American Indian Culture1931200820087,2401,292,119Native American culture
American Labor1987200620151,89229,926Trade unions
Animal Science1975202320202,77883,893Animal husbandry
Animation2015202220154,44529,817Animation
Archaeology1997202120082,671192,293Archaeology
Archery19112023200810,4871,797,351Archery
Architecture1911202320082,734237,322Architecture
Art19112013201313,9531,436,561Art
Artificial Intelligence20252025202500AI
Astronomy1911202220137,474727,496Astronomy
Athletics1911202220081,5571,081,697Track and field athletics
Automotive Maintenance2008200820127,108225,956Auto mechanics
Aviation1952200620088,064684,527Aviation
Backpacking1982200720081,640233,724Backpacking
Basketry1927200320087,3882,523,871Basket weaving
Bird Study1914200520083,950612,616Ornithology
Bugling191120202008476172,979Bugle
Camping19112005200830,4904,954,170Camping
Canoeing1927202220089,8533,166,116Canoeing
Chemistry1911202020087,166412,187Chemistry
Chess20112011201115,454239,164Chess
Citizenship in the Community19522005201341,9873,753,138Citizenship, Local government
Citizenship in the Nation19512022200843,2473,517,139Citizenship, Government of the United States
Citizenship in Society202120212021Diversity, Inclusion
Citizenship in the World19722005200842,7382,593,491Global citizenship
Climbing1997202220087,228521,055Climbing
Coin Collecting1938202220084,639524,111Coin collecting
Collections1991202120086,429168,524Collecting
Communication19682003200836,6752,352,069Communication
Composite Materials2006202320081,01122,472Composite materials
Cooking19112023201436,4734,648,594Cooking
Crime Prevention1996202020085,628174,749Crime prevention
Cycling1911202320085,247610,301Cycling
Cybersecurity20252025202500Cyber Security
Dentistry1975202220081,924152,381Dentistry
Digital Technology2014202320148,81254,274Technology
Disabilities Awareness1993202320086,334156,539Disability
Dog Care1938200320084,136449,515Dogs
Drafting1965200820081,026231,905Technical drawing
Electricity1911202120086,235859,444Electricity
Electronics1963202120084,063259,193Electronics
Emergency Preparedness19722023201624,7332,082,381Emergency management
Energy1976200520082,16296,783Energy
Engineering1967200820087,800213,737Engineering
Entrepreneurship1997200620083,28442,254Entrepreneurship
Environmental Science19722023200823,5713,016,109Environmental science
Exploration2017202020171,46410,012Exploring
Family Life19912023201348,4081,455,287Family values
Farm Mechanics1928202320081,424233,871Agricultural machinery
Fingerprinting19382003200818,8981,891,477Fingerprinting
Fire Safety1995200420087,9182,675,073Fire safety
First Aid19112022200831,6367,370,988First aid
Fish and Wildlife Management1972202120084,874718,006Wildlife management
Fishing19522021200813,6012,126,476Fishing
Fly Fishing2002202120082,43952,650Fly fishing
Forestry1911200520084,2691,213,719Forestry
Game Design2013202320137,74092,506Game Design
Gardening1911200220082,782397,570Gardening
Genealogy1972202320086,020261,683Genealogy, Family history
Geocaching2010201020105,811149,929Geocaching
Geology1953202320087,484747,259Geology
Golf1976202320082,369185,837Golf
Graphic Arts1987200620082,22869,365Graphic design
Healthcare Professions202120212021Health care, medicine
Hiking1921202320085,9771,370,957Hiking
Home Repairs1943202220083,4422,435,429Home repairs
Horsemanship1911201120084,798693,845Equestrianism
Insect Study1985200820081,734180,460Entomology
Inventing2010202320101,83329,178Invention
Journalism1927200620081,516113,468Journalism
Kayaking20122020201611,083261,710Kayaking
Landscape Architecture1967200820081,40090,412Landscape architecture
Law1974200320085,962218,325Law
Leatherwork19512002200810,8552,637,286Leather crafting
Lifesaving1911202120085,8423,150,759Lifeguarding
Mammal Study1985202320087,8451,302,419Zoology
Metalwork1927200720084,2731,202,235Metalworking
Mining in Society2014202220143,78929,397Mining
Model Design and Building1963202020081,359235,108Scale models
Motorboating1961202120082,638635,883Motorboat
Moviemaking2013201320135,77961,305Filmmaking
Multisport20252025Triathlon
Music19112003200810,0691,388,218Music
Nature1952202320086,0561,737,920Nature
Nuclear Science2005201120083,493210,965Nuclear physics
Oceanography1964200320084,442336,423Oceanography
Orienteering1973200320085,337888,402Orienteering
Painting1911202020083,163584,778Paint
Personal Fitness19522023200840,3552,793,990Physical fitness
Personal Management19722003200840,8972,100,383Personal finances, time management
Pets1958200320088,333690,228Pets
Photography19112021201511,618590,968Photography
Pioneering1911202220086,1292,492,888Pioneering
Plant Science1974202320081,65358,456Botany
Plumbing1911200420082,761417,612Plumbing
Pottery1927200820082,842427,803Pottery
Programming2013202320134,47329,163Computer programming
Public Health19112021200811,5101,539,459Public health
Public Speaking1932200220085,570684,343Public speaking
Pulp and Paper1972200620084,054150,884Pulp, Papermaking
Radio1923200820083,550205,747Radio
Railroading1952202220084,105275,919Rail transport
Reading1929202220085,6351,508,324Reading
Reptile and Amphibian Study1993202320083,526682,587Herpetology
Rifle Shooting19882001200811,0811,533,240Rifle, Shooting
Robotics2011201120115,452123,337Robotics
Rowing1933202120082,1181,763,164Rowing
Safety1927202020086,3052,959,333Safety
Salesmanship1927202320085,121362,051Sales
Scholarship1911200420087,2871,307,274Scholarship
Scouting Heritage2010201020106,51762,290History of Scouting America
Scuba Diving2009200920091,32324,100Scuba Diving
Sculpture1911200720083,188350,848Sculpture
Search and Rescue2012201220124,08279,782Search and rescue
Shotgun Shooting1988200520085,631627,238Shotgun, shooting
Signs, Signals, and Codes2015201520154,58038,454Signs, signals, codes
Skating1973200520081,700184,647Ice skating, Roller skating
Small-Boat Sailing1964202320083,142725,921Sailing
Snow Sports1999202320085,860493,109Skiing, Snowboarding
Soil and Water Conservation1952200420085,0671,174,015Soil conservation, Water conservation
Space Exploration1965202020088,750667,365Space exploration
Sports1972202320083,5571,184,127Sports
Stamp Collecting1932200720081,278395,283Stamp collecting
Surveying191120042008603157,073Surveying
Sustainability2013202020138,47749,748Sustainability
Swimming19112023200821,2206,659,181Swimming
Textile1973200320081,929157,902Textiles
Theater1967202120081,59297,833Theatre
Traffic Safety1975202220085,758194,271Road traffic safety
Truck Transportation1973200520081,991151,364Truck driver
Veterinary Medicine1995200520082,55292,251Veterinary medicine
Water Sports1969200720081,064266,295Waterskiing
Weather1927200620089,215651,891Weather
Welding2012201220124,70986,233Welding
Whitewater1987202020081,508105,245Whitewater rafting
Wilderness Survival19742007200811,6041,805,803Wilderness, Survival skills
Wood Carving1923200620089,4302,462,368Wood carving
Woodwork1923202120083,066999,863Woodworking