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Gulf Coast Council > Leader Resources > How to Become a Merit Badge Counselor

How to Become a Merit Badge Counselor

Share your skills. Inspire a Scout. Follow the path that fits you.

Merit badge counselors are registered adult volunteers who coach and test Scouts in a subject they know well. Gulf Coast Council registers and approves every counselor who serves units across Northwest Florida and South Alabama. The steps below show what to send, where to send it, and what happens once the council has it.

Before You Start

Every counselor, on every path below, meets all four of these.

  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Be qualified in the merit badges you want to counsel, through your training, experience, or occupation.
  • Keep your Safeguarding Youth Training current.
  • Complete merit badge counselor training.

Choose the Path That Fits You

What you send depends on whether you are already registered with Scouting America.

New to Scouting

You have never registered as an adult volunteer. Send all three of these.

  • An Adult Application, with position code 42.
  • Your signed background check authorization.
  • The Merit Badge Counselor Information form.

A counselor-only registration costs $25. Confirm your payment with the council before you send the packet.

Already a Registered Adult

You already hold an adult position in a unit, district, or council. Send both of these.

  • A separate Adult Application for position code 42, using your existing member ID.
  • The Merit Badge Counselor Information form.

There is no additional national fee if you are already registered in another adult position.

Current Counselor Making Changes

You are already an approved counselor and want to add or drop badges. Send one thing.

  • The Merit Badge Counselor Information form, listing the changes you are requesting and your qualifications for any badge you are adding.

Keep your registration and your training current, or your counselor status lapses with them.

Forms and Guides

What Happens After You Submit

  1. Submit your packet. Email everything to MBC@GulfCoastCouncil.org.
  2. Registrar check. The council registrar confirms your registration, your training, and your background check authorization.
  3. Advancement review. The council advancement committee reviews your qualifications for each merit badge you asked to counsel.
  4. Council updates your record. Once you are approved, the advancement committee notifies the MBC team, and the MBC team updates your counselor status in my.Scouting.
  5. Watch for your confirmation email. Start counseling only after that email arrives, and counsel only the badges you were approved for.

If Something Is Missing

If your packet is incomplete, you will get an email listing exactly what to correct. Send the corrections to the same address and your review picks up where it left off. Nothing has to start over.

Questions

Email the council merit badge counselor team at MBC@GulfCoastCouncil.org. For other volunteer resources, see Leader Resources.