• A merit badge counselor can counsel any Scout, including his own son—although this is discouraged in order to offer a Scout the chance to meet a diverse group of outstanding adults.

• A counselor may be certified in unlimited merit badge subjects, but he or she must be approved for each one.

• There is no limit on the number of merit badges that a counselor may counsel with one Scout. However, the Scout will benefit the most from working with a variety of outstanding adults.

• A merit badge counselor may limit his or her services to a specific Boy Scout Troop but the counselor must be approved by the councils advancement committee.

• Scoutmasters and assistant Scoutmasters are not automatically merit badge counselors.

• Group instruction is acceptable, but each Scout must be tested on and pass the Merit Badge review individually.

• There is no time limit to complete an individual merit badge, but all work must be completed before the Scout's 18th birthday.

Summary of the steps to become a Merit Badge counselor can be downloaded here

View a current list of Merit Badges at Scouting.org