{{portalpar|Scouting}}
:''For history regarding merit badges types, see [[History of merit badges (Boy Scouts of America)]].''
[[Image:MeritBadgeSash.JPG|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 Prepardness, 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  Study, Lifesaving; '''9''' Forestry, Citizenship in the World, Safety]]

'''Merit badges''' are awards earned by youth members of the [[Boy Scouts of America]] (BSA), a [[United States|U.S.]]-based organization, based on activities within an area of study by completing a list of periodically updated requirements.  Each merit badge has a pamphlet published by the Boy Scouts of America associated with it; the pamphlet contains information on completing the requirements for the badge.  Certain merit badges are required in order to achieve the rank of [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scout]], the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America.  Merit badges are displayed on a sash which may be optionally worn diagonally across the front of the [[Uniform and insignia of the Boy Scouts of America|Boy Scout uniform]].

The current merit badge system began in 1979; three merit badges have not been updated since that time – Athletics, Mammal Study and Pulp and Paper.  The most recent new merit badges Nuclear Science, created in 2005 as a redesigned Atomic Energy badge; Snow Sports, created in 1999 as a redesigned Skiing merit badge; and Fly Fishing, split off from the Fishing merit badge in 2002.  The most recent completely new merit badges are Composite Materials, created in 2006{{ref|Composite}}; Archaeology and Climbing, both  created in 1997; and Entrepeneurship, created in 1998.  The Boy Scouts of America are, as of 2005, field-testing a Hunting merit badge.{{ref|research}}

Besides the BSA, these Scouting organizations are known to issue or have issued merit badges: [[Scouts Canada|Canada]], [[Scout Association of Japan|Japan]], [[Federación de Escultismo en España|Spain]], [[The National Scout Organization of Thailand|Thailand]], [[Gerakan Pramuka|Indonesia]] and the [[The Scout Association|United Kingdom]].  [[Austrian Scouts and Girl Guides|Austria]] has a program similar to merit badges for certain age groups.

==List of current merit badges==
:''Click on the badge's name for an external list of requirements US Scouts.org.''{{ref|MBinfo}}

{| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#efefef;" | Name
! style="background:#efefef;" | Created
! style="background:#efefef;" | Last updated
! style="background:#efefef;" | Notes
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb015.html American Business]
|1967c
|2003
|[[Business|American Business]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb017.html American Cultures]
|1979
|2005
|[[Culture of the United States|American Cultures]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb016.html American Heritage]
|1975
|2005
|[[History of the United States|American Heritage]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb121.html American Labor]
|1987
|1987
|[[Trade union|American Labor]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb018.html Animal Science]
|1975
|2001
|[[Zoology|Animal Science]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb132.html Archaeology]
|1997
|1997
|[[Archaeology]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb019.html Archery]
|1911
|2005
|[[Archery]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb020.html Architecture]
|1911
|1995
|[[Architecture]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb021.html Art]
|1911
|2002
|[[Art]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb022.html Astronomy]
|1911
|2005
|[[Astronomy]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb023.html Athletics]
|1911
|prior to 1979
|[[Athletics]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb127.html Auto Mechanics]
|1992
|2001
|[[Auto mechanic]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb025.html Aviation]
|1911
|2001
|[[Aviation]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb026.html Backpacking]
|1982
|2003
|[[Backpacking (wilderness)|Backpacking]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb027.html Basketry]
|1927
|2004
|[[Basket weaving|Basketry]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb029.html Bird Study]
|1914
|2005
|[[Ornithology|Bird Study]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb032.html Bugling]
|1911
|2004
|<small>shares a merit badge pamphlet with ''Music''</small> [[Bugle (instrument)|Bugle]], [[Music]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb001.html Camping]
|1911
|2005
|''Eagle-required'' [[Camping]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb033.html Canoeing]
|1927
|2005
|[[Canoeing]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb034.html Chemistry]
|1911
|2005
|[[Chemistry]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb126.html Cinematography]
|1990
|2002
|[[Cinematography]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb002.html Citizenship in the Community]
|1952
|2005
|''Eagle-required'' [[Citizenship]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb003.html Citizenship in the Nation]
|1951
|2005
|''Eagle-required'' [[Citizenship]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb004.html Citizenship in the World]
|1972
|2006
|''Eagle-required'' [[Citizenship#Supranational_citizenship| Citizenship in the World]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb133.html Climbing]
|1997
|2000
|[[Climbing]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb035.html Coin Collecting]
|1938
|2003
|[[Coin collecting]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb128.html Collections]
|1991
|2004
|[[Collecting|Collections]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb005.html Communications]
|1965
|2004
|''Eagle-required'' [[Communication]]s
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb137.html Composite Materials]
|2006
|2006
|[[Composite material]]s
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb036.html Computers]
|1967
|2005
|[[Computers]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb038.html Cooking]
|1911
|2005
|[[Cooking]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb131.html Crime Prevention]
|1996
|1996
|[[National Crime Prevention Council|Crime Prevention]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb039.html Cycling]
|1911
|2005
|''Eagle-required'' [[Cycling]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb040.html Dentistry]
|1975
|2003
|[[Dentistry]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb060.html Disabilities Awareness]
|1993
|2005
|[[Disability]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb041.html Dog Care]
|1938
|2004
|[[Dog|Dog Care]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb042.html Drafting]
|1965
|1993
|[[technical drawing|Drafting]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb043.html Electricity]
|1911
|2005
|[[Electricity]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb044.html Electronics]
|1963
|2005
|[[Electronics]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb006.html Emergency Preparedness]
|1972
|2005
|''Eagle-required'' [[Emergency preparedness]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb045.html Energy]
|1976
|2005
|[[Energy]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb046.html Engineering]
|1967
|2001
|[[Engineering]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb134.html Entrepreneurship]
|1997
|1998
|[[Entrepreneurship]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb007.html Environmental Science]
|1972
|1999
|''Eagle-required'' [[Environmental science]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb129.html Family Life]
|1991
|2005
|''Eagle-required'', requires a minimum 90 days to earn [[Family values]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb048.html Farm Mechanics]
|1928
|1998
|[[Agricultural machinery|Farm Machinery]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb049.html Fingerprinting]
|1938
|2004
|[[Fingerprint|Fingerprinting]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb050.html Fire Safety]
|1995
|2005
|[[Fire safety]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb008.html First Aid]
|1911
|2005
|''Eagle-required'' [[First aid]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb051.html Fish and Wildlife Management]
|1972
|2005
|[[Wildlife management]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb052.html Fishing]
|1952
|2003
|[[Fishing]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb136.html Fly Fishing]
|2002
|2003
|[[Fly Fishing]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb054.html Forestry]
|1911
|1984
|[[Forestry]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb055.html Gardening]
|1911
|2003
|[[Gardening]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb056.html Genealogy]
|1972
|1983
|[[Family history|Genealogy]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb058.html Geology]
|1953
|2005
|[[Geology]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb059.html Golf]
|1976
|2003
|[[Golf]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb122.html Graphic Arts]
|1987
|1999
|[[Graphic Design|Graphic Arts]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb061.html Hiking]
|1921
|2000
|''Eagle-required'' [[Hiking]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb062.html Home Repairs]
|1943
|2003
|[[Home Repair]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb063.html Horsemanship]
|1911
|2004
|[[Equestrianism|Horsemanship]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb064.html Indian Lore]
|1931
|1995
|[[Native Americans in the United States#Cultural aspects|Indian culture]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb065.html Insect Study]
|1985
|2003
|[[entomology|Insect Study]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb066.html Journalism]
|1927
|1999
|[[Journalism]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb067.html Landscape Architecture]
|1967
|2003
|[[Landscape Architecture]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb068.html Law]
|1974
|2003
|[[Law]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb069.html Leatherwork]
|1951
|2003
|[[Leather]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb009.html Lifesaving]
|1911
|2001
|''Eagle-required'' [[lifeguard|Lifesaving]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb071.html Mammal Study]
|1985
|prior to 1979
|[[mammal|Mammal Study]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb130.html Medicine]
|1991
|2005
|[[Medicine]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb074.html Metalwork]
|1927
|2005
|[[Metal|Metalwork]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb075.html Model Design and Building]
|1963
|2004
|[[scale model|Model Design and Building]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb076.html Motorboating]
|1961
|1998
|[[Motorboat|Motorboating]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb077.html Music]
|1911
|2004
|<small>shares a merit badge pamphlet with ''Bugling''</small> [[Music]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb078.html Nature]
|1952
|2004
|[[Nature]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb024.html Nuclear Science]
|2005
|2005
|[[Atomic nucleus|Nuclear Science]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb079.html Oceanography]
|1964
|2004
|[[Oceanography]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb080.html Orienteering]
|1973
|2004
|[[Orienteering]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb081.html Painting]
|1911
|2003
|[[Painting]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb010.html Personal Fitness]
|1952
|1999
|''Eagle-required'', requires a minimum 90 days to earn [[physical fitness|Personal Fitness]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb011.html Personal Management]
|1972
|2004
|''Eagle-required'', requires a minimum 13 weeks to earn [[Personal finance|Personal Management]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb082.html Pet]
|1958
|2005
|[[Pet]]s
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb083.html Photography]
|1911
|2005
|[[Photography]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb084.html Pioneering]
|1911
|1993
|[[knot|Pioneer]]ing
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb085.html Plant Science]
|1974
|2005
|[[botany|Plant Science]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb086.html Plumbing]
|1911
|2005
|[[Plumbing]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb087.html Pottery]
|1927
|2003
|[[Pottery]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb089.html Public Health]
|1911
|2005
|[[public health|Public Health]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb090.html Public Speaking]
|1932
|2003
|[[public speaking|Public Speaking]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb091.html Pulp and Paper]
|1972
|2006
|[[Pulp and Paper Merit Badge]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb093.html Radio]
|1923
|2002
|[[Radio]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb094.html Railroading]
|1952
|2005
|[[Railroad]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb095.html Reading]
|1929
|2004
|[[Reading (activity)|Reading]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb096.html Reptile and Amphibian Study]
|1993
|2005
|[[Reptile]], [[Amphibian]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb123.html Rifle Shooting]
|1988
|2002
|[[Rifle]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb098.html Rowing]
|1933
|1999
|[[Sport rowing]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb012.html Safety]
|1927
|1998
|[[Safety]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb099.html Salesmanship]
|1927
|2004
|[[Sales]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb100.html Scholarship]
|1911
|2005
|[[Scholarship]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb101.html Sculpture]
|1911
|2003
|[[Sculpture]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb124.html Shotgun Shooting]
|1988
|1987
|<small>requirements predate merit badge because it was formerly part of ''Rifle and Shotgun Shooting'' merit badge</small>  [[Shotgun]], [[Shooting]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb103.html Skating]
|1973
|1999
|[[Ice skating]], [[Roller skating]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb105.html Small-Boat Sailing]
|1964
|2005
|[[Sailing]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb135.html Snow Sports]
|1999
|1999
|[[Winter sport]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb106.html Soil and Water Conservation]
|1952
|2005
|[[Soil]], [[Water]], [[Conservation ecology|Conservation]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb107.html Space Exploration]
|1965
|2005
|[[Space Exploration]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb013.html Sports]
|1972
|1996
|[[Sport]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb108.html Stamp Collecting]
|1932
|2001
|[[Stamp Collecting]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb109.html Surveying]
|1911
|2005
|[[Surveying]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb014.html Swimming]
|1911
|2002
|''Eagle-required''  [[Swimming]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb110.html Textile]
|1973
|2004
|[[Textile]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb111.html Theater]
|1967
|2005
|[[Theater]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb112.html Traffic Safety]
|1975
|2002
|[[Traffic]] [[Safety]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb113.html Truck Transportation]
|1973
|2005
|[[Truck]] [[Transportation]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb114.html Veterinary Medicine]
|1995
|2005
|[[Veterinary medicine]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb115.html Water Skiing]
|1969
|1999
|[[waterskiing | Water Skiing]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb116.html Weather]
|1927
|1987
|[[Weather]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb125.html Whitewater]
|1987
|2005
|[[Whitewater]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb117.html Wilderness Survival]
|1987
|2002
|[[Survival skills]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb118.html Wood Carving]
|1923
|2002
|[[Wood carving | Wood Carving]]
|-
|[http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb119.html Woodwork]
|1923
|2004
|[[Woodwork]]
|}

==Merit Badge Colleges==

Merit Badge Colleges, which are also called ''Merit badge weekends'' or ''Merit badge midways'' when held at a camporee or jamboree, are events held where several troops or merit badge counselors come together and focus on teaching merit badges. There is some controversy  whether [[Eagle Scout rank (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle]]-required merit badges should be available. Some believe that Scouts wishing to earn the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout should be able to seek out counselors for those badges themselves and do the requirements solo. Others believe all merit badges should be available to all Scouts.

==See also==
{{book}}
{{Commons}}
*[[Discontinued merit badges (Boy Scouts of America)]]
*[[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scout rank]]
*[[History of merit badges (Boy Scouts of America)]]

==Footnotes==
#{{note|Composite}} {{cite web|url=http://www.usscouts.org/advance/boyscout/advchanges06.html#Composite
|work=US Scouts.org|title=Requirements for new Composite Materials merit badge|accessdate=January 18|accessyear=2006}}
#{{note|research}} {{cite web|url=http://www.meritbadge.com/home.htm|work=Merit Badge Research Center|title=Helping Scouts Advance|accessdate=September 26|accessyear=2005}}
#{{note|MBinfo}} {{cite web|url=http://www.usscouts.org/advancementTOC.asp#merit|work=US Scouts.org Advancement section|title=Merit Badge Requirements|accessdate=February 09|accessyear=2006}}

==References==
*{{cite web|accessdate=September 26|accessyear=2005|title=Current Merit Badge Pamphlet and Merit Badge Requirement Revision Dates|work=US Scouts.org|url=http://www.usscouts.org/mb/mbbooks.html}} (dates of revision)
*{{cite web|accessdate=September 26|accessyear=2005|title=Merit Badges, Past and Present|work=Scouters' Pages|url=http://home.earthlink.net/~scouters/mb.html}} (dates of creation)

==External links==
*[http://www.meritbadge.info/ Free Merit Badge Online Registration Software. Allows troops, districts and councils to set up and manage merit badge events]

*[http://www.meritbadge.com/home.htm Merit Badge Requirements and Pamphlets]

*[http://www.boyscouttrail.com/boy-scouts/merit-badges.asp Merit Badge Requirements and Worksheets]

[[Category:Boy Scouts of America]]