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 Scout-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. There are currently 142 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.

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.

NameCreatedRequirementsrevisionPamphletrevisionNumber earned (2020)Number earned since creation (through 2020)Related subjectsAmerican Business1967202320134,96761,953Business, Economy of the United StatesAmerican Cultures1978200620132,90683,032Ethnic groups in the United StatesAmerican Heritage197520202019, 20206,700192,552History of the United States, Historic preservationAmerican Indian Culture1931200820087,2401,292,119Native American cultureAmerican Labor1987200620151,89229,926Trade unionsAnimal Science1975202320202,77883,893Animal husbandryAnimation2015202220154,44529,817AnimationArchaeology1997202120082,671192,293ArchaeologyArchery19112023200810,4871,797,351ArcheryArchitecture1911202320082,734237,322ArchitectureArt19112013201313,9531,436,561ArtArtificial Intelligence20252025AIAstronomy1911202220137,474727,496AstronomyAthletics1911202220081,5571,081,697Track and field athleticsAutomotive Maintenance2008200820127,108225,956Auto mechanicsAviation1952200620088,064684,527AviationBackpacking1982200720081,640233,724BackpackingBasketry1927200320087,3882,523,871Basket weavingBird Study1914200520083,950612,616OrnithologyBugling191120202008476172,979BugleCamping19112005200830,4904,954,170CampingCanoeing1927202220089,8533,166,116CanoeingChemistry1911202020087,166412,187ChemistryChess20112011201115,454239,164ChessCitizenship in the Community19522005201341,9873,753,138Citizenship, Local governmentCitizenship in the Nation19512022200843,2473,517,139Citizenship, Government of the United StatesCitizenship in the World19722005200842,7382,593,491Global citizenshipClimbing1997202220087,228521,055ClimbingCoin Collecting1938202220084,639524,111Coin collectingCollections1991202120086,429168,524CollectingCommunication19682003200836,6752,352,069CommunicationCompetitive Gaming20262026EsportsComposite Materials2006202320081,01122,472Composite materialsCooking19112023201436,4734,648,594CookingCrime Prevention1996202020085,628174,749Crime preventionCycling1911202320085,247610,301CyclingCybersecurity20252025202500Cyber SecurityDentistry1975202220081,924152,381DentistryDigital Technology2014202320148,81254,274TechnologyDisabilities Awareness1993202320086,334156,539DisabilityDog Care1938200320084,136449,515DogsDrafting1965200820081,026231,905Technical drawingElectricity1911202120086,235859,444ElectricityElectronics1963202120084,063259,193ElectronicsEmergency Preparedness19722023201624,7332,082,381Emergency managementEnergy1976200520082,16296,783Energy consumptionEngineering1967200820087,800213,737EngineeringEntrepreneurship1997200620083,28442,254EntrepreneurshipEnvironmental Science19722023200823,5713,016,109Environmental scienceExploration2017202020171,46410,012ExploringFamily Life19912023201348,4081,455,287Family valuesFarm Mechanics1928202320081,424233,871Agricultural machineryFingerprinting19382003200818,8981,891,477FingerprintingFire Safety1995200420087,9182,675,073Fire safetyFirst Aid19112022200831,6367,370,988First aidFish and Wildlife Management1972202120084,874718,006Wildlife managementFishing19522021200813,6012,126,476FishingFly Fishing2002202120082,43952,650Fly fishingForestry1911200520084,2691,213,719ForestryGame Design2013202320137,74092,506Game DesignGardening1911200220082,782397,570GardeningGenealogy1972202320086,020261,683Genealogy, Family historyGeocaching2010201020105,811149,929GeocachingGeology1953202320087,484747,259GeologyGolf1976202320082,369185,837GolfGraphic Arts1987200620082,22869,365Graphic designHealthcare Professions202120212021Health care, medicineHiking1921202320085,9771,370,957HikingHome Repairs1943202220083,4422,435,429Home repairsHorsemanship1911201120084,798693,845EquestrianismInsect Study1985200820081,734180,460EntomologyInventing2010202320101,83329,178InventionJournalism1927200620081,516113,468JournalismKayaking20122020201611,083261,710KayakingLandscape Architecture1967200820081,40090,412Landscape architectureLaw1974200320085,962218,325LawLeatherwork19512002200810,8552,637,286Leather craftingLifesaving1911202120085,8423,150,759LifeguardingMammal Study1985202320087,8451,302,419ZoologyMetalwork1927200720084,2731,202,235MetalworkingMining in Society2014202220143,78929,397MiningModel Design and Building1963202020081,359235,108Scale modelsMotorboating1961202120082,638635,883MotorboatMoviemaking2013201320135,77961,305FilmmakingMultisport20252025TriathlonMusic19112003200810,0691,388,218MusicNature1952202320086,0561,737,920NatureNuclear Science2005201120083,493210,965Nuclear physicsOceanography1964200320084,442336,423OceanographyOrienteering1973200320085,337888,402OrienteeringPainting1911202020083,163584,778PaintPersonal Fitness19522023200840,3552,793,990Physical fitnessPersonal Management19722003200840,8972,100,383Personal finances, time managementPets1958200320088,333690,228PetsPhotography19112021201511,618590,968PhotographyPioneering1911202220086,1292,492,888PioneeringPlant Science1974202320081,65358,456BotanyPlumbing1911200420082,761417,612PlumbingPottery1927200820082,842427,803PotteryProgramming2013202320134,47329,163Computer programmingPublic Health19112021200811,5101,539,459Public healthPublic Speaking1932200220085,570684,343Public speakingPulp and Paper1972200620084,054150,884Pulp, PapermakingRadio1923200820083,550205,747RadioRailroading1952202220084,105275,919Rail transportReading1929202220085,6351,508,324ReadingReptile and Amphibian Study1993202320083,526682,587HerpetologyRifle Shooting19882001200811,0811,533,240Rifle, ShootingRobotics2011201120115,452123,337RoboticsRowing1933202120082,1181,763,164RowingSafety1927202020086,3052,959,333SafetySalesmanship1927202320085,121362,051SalesScholarship1911200420087,2871,307,274ScholarshipScouting Heritage2010201020106,51762,290History of Scouting AmericaScuba Diving2009200920091,32324,100Scuba DivingSculpture1911200720083,188350,848SculptureSearch and Rescue2012201220124,08279,782Search and rescueShotgun Shooting1988200520085,631627,238Shotgun, shootingSigns, Signals, and Codes2015201520154,58038,454Signs, signals, codesSkating1973200520081,700184,647Ice skating, Roller skatingSmall-Boat Sailing1964202320083,142725,921SailingSnow Sports1999202320085,860493,109Skiing, SnowboardingSoil and Water Conservation1952200420085,0671,174,015Soil conservation, Water conservationSpace Exploration1965202020088,750667,365Space explorationSports1972202320083,5571,184,127SportsStamp Collecting1932200720081,278395,283Stamp collectingSurveying191120042008603157,073SurveyingSustainability2013202020138,47749,748SustainabilitySwimming19112023200821,2206,659,181SwimmingTextile1973200320081,929157,902TextilesTheater1967202120081,59297,833TheatreTraffic Safety1975202220085,758194,271Road traffic safetyTruck Transportation1973200520081,991151,364Truck driverVeterinary Medicine1995200520082,55292,251Veterinary medicineWater Sports1969200720081,064266,295WaterskiingWeather1927200620089,215651,891WeatherWelding2012201220124,70986,233WeldingWhitewater1987202020081,508105,245Whitewater raftingWilderness Survival19742007200811,6041,805,803Wilderness, Survival skillsWildland Fire Management20262026Wildfire suppressionWood Carving1923200620089,4302,462,368Wood carvingWoodwork1923202120083,066999,863Woodworking

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.

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)

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