• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Scouting.org ›
Donate ›
Boy Scouts of America, Northern New Jersey Council

Boy Scouts of America, Northern New Jersey Council

MENUMENU
  • About
        • Overview
          • Charter Organization
          • Mission Statement
          • History
          • 2021 Annual Report
        • Our Districts
          • Ramapo Valley District
          • Three Rivers District
          • Lenape Trail District
        • Leadership
          • Council Staff
          • Executive Board
  • Programs
        • Youth
          • Cub Scouts
          • Scouts BSA
          • Venturing
          • Sea Scouts
          • Exploring
          • Scouts w/ Special Needs
        • Adult
          • Volunteering
          • Commissioners
          • NESA/ Alumni
        • Activities
          • Order of the Arrow
          • COPE
          • National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)
  • Calendar
    • Calendar
  • Camping
        • Summer Camp
          • Scouts BSA Resident Camp
            • Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco
            • Camp Turrell
            • Floodwood Mountain Reservation
          • Cub Scout Camp
            • Camp Yaw Paw
        • Weekend Camping
          • Rentals
          • Range Rentals
          • COPE
        • Other Programs
          • Philmont Contingent
          • National Jamboree
          • National High Adventure Camp
  • Training
        • Adult Required
          • Cub Scouts
          • Scouts BSA
          • Venturing
          • Exploring
          • Sea Scouts
          • Introduction to Outdoor Leadership
          • Youth Protection
        • Adult Optional
          • STEM Supernova Counselor
          • STEM Nova Counselor
          • The Trainer’s EDGE
          • Merit Badge Counselor
          • Wood Badge
          • Powder Horn
          • Commissioners
        • Youth Optional
          • National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)
          • Powder Horn
  • Support
        • Direct Giving
          • Friends of Scouting
          • Campership
          • Endowment and Major Gifts
          • Family and Corporate Foundations
          • Workplace Giving and Matching Gifts
          • Program Partners
          • Fall Popcorn
        • Special Events
          • Champion Golf Classic
          • Three River Golf Outing
          • Sporting Clays Tournament
          • Healthcare and STEM Awards Dinner
          • Building Connections
          • Autumn Adventure
          • Prepared. For Life.
        • Our Funding Partners
          • Gold Partners
          • Silver Partners
          • Bronze Level
  • Resources
        • Forms
        • Scoutbook
        • Safety In Scouting
        • NNJ Scout Shop
        • Committees
          • Advancement
          • Awards and Recognition
          • Marketing Resources
          • Membership Resources
          • NESA/ Alumni
          • Religious Relationships

Merit Badge Counselor Training

Home › Training › Merit Badge Counselor Training

The merit badge counselor is a key player in the Scouts BSA advancement program. Whatever your area of expertise or interest—whether it is a special craft or hobby (basketry, leatherwork, coin collecting), a profession (veterinary medicine, aviation, engineering), or perhaps a life skill (cooking, personal management, communications)—as a merit badge counselor, you can play a vital role in stirring a Scout’s curiosity about that particular topic. By serving as a merit badge counselor, you offer your time, knowledge, and other resources so that Scouts can explore a topic of interest.

Four Steps to become a Merit Badge Counselor.

  • Complete Youth Protection Training (YPTP
    To become a merit badge counselor, a volunteer must complete Youth Protection Training (YPT) which can be found on My.Scouting.org. Once complete, you will be offered the opportunity to print a completion certificate. Please print it as you must submit this proof of completion with your application to be a merit badge counselor.
  • Complete the BSA Adult Leader Application
    Having completed Youth Protection Training, you need to complete a new adult application which can be found at these links. This form is required in addition to your current registration with your unit or District. Please pay special attention to filling in the “Council/District Position” as “Merit Badge Counselor”. The signature blocks for the unit committee chairman and chartered organization representative do not have to be signed. Those approvals are for a unit. The adult application must be submitted with the Merit Badge Counselor Information Sheet. NOTE: The entire application form must be filled in and signed, including the Disclosure/Authorization page located before the application form page itself. All applicants and currently Registered Scouters go through a background check – as noted and authorized on the Disclosure/Authorization page of the Adult Application form.
  • Complete the Merit Badge Counselor Information Form
    This form is used by the District to know which merit badges you want to teach, to show why you are qualified to teach the listed merit badges, and to approve your request.Before filling it out, read both sides of the form. If you have any questions or need assistance, please talk with your unit MB coordinator, the District MB Dean, or the District Advancement Chair. If you plan to only counsel within your unit, remember to check the “Only with Scouts in these units (indicate whether troop, team, or crew)” and fill in your unit number. If you wish to counsel Scouts outside the unit please check the “All Scouts in these districts” and fill in the District(s). MBCs are authorized to counsel anywhere within the NCAC.
    Merit Badge Counselor Information Form
  • Turn in all the Paperwork to Council

By becoming a Nova counselor, you’ll introduce Scouts to the basic principles of STEM and help them discover how fun and fascinating science, technology, engineering and math can be. You’ll help guide them as they earn the Nova awards as Cub Scouts, Webelos, Scouts, Sea Scouts or Venturers.

Link to Nationals https://www.scouting.org/stem-nova-awards/volunteer-support/

Training https://www.scouting.org/training/adult/

Citizenship in Society Merit Badge Counselor

Steps for Applicants:

  1. Fill out Merit Badge Counselor Form
  2. Fill out Citizenship in Society Merit Badge Counselor Attestation of Understanding.
  3. After review of application, Applicant will need to take NNJC training to be listed as a MBC for the Badge.

Useful Links

  • General BSA Merit Badge Counselor Information
  • The Essentials of Merit Badge Counseling
  • BSA Merit Badge Information
  • BSA Scouting Forms

Annual Renewal

All Merit Badge Counselors must confirm their registration annually, you will receive an email from council to verify your registration and merit the merit badges you are signed up for.

Footer

Our Office

25 Ramapo Valley Rd.
Oakland NJ, 07436
(201) 677-1000

Hours

Mon–Thur: 9am–5pm
Friday: 9am-3pm
Sat–Sun: Closed

Hours

Mon–Fri: 9am–5pm
Sat–Sun: Closed

Scout Shop

(201) 651-9743

Mon – Fri: 10am – 6pm
Sat: 10am – 2pm
Sun: Closed

© 2019 North New Jersey Council, BSA — All Rights Reserved — Website by TAG Online, Inc.