List of BSA merit badges

The following is a list of modern Boy Scouts of America merit badges. Merit badges in bold are required for scouts desiring the rank of Eagle Scout. Links are to the official requirements on the Merit Badge Research Center (http://www.meritbadge.com/), and are followed by the year the badge was instituted.

• American Business (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/015.htm) 1967
• American Cultures (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/017.htm) 1979
• American Heritage (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/016.htm) 1975
• American Labor (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/121.htm) 1987
• Animal Science (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/018.htm) 1975
• Archaeology (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/132.htm) 1997
• Archery (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/019.htm) 1911
• Architecture (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/020.htm) 1911
• Art (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/021.htm) 1911
• Astronomy (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/022.htm) 1911
• Athletics (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/023.htm) 1911
• Auto Mechanics (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/127.htm) 1992
• Aviation (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/025.htm) 1911 (though see below)
• Backpacking (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/026.htm) 1982
• Basketry (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/027.htm) 1927
• Bird Study (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/029.htm) 1914
• Bugling (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/032.htm) (shares merit badge pamphlet with Music merit badge) 1911
• Camping (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/001.htm) 1911
• Canoeing (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/033.htm) 1927
• Chemistry (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/034.htm) 1911
• Cinematography (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/126.htm) 1990
• Citizenship in the Community (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/002.htm) 1952
• Citizenship in the Nation (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/003.htm) 1951
• Citizenship in the World (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/004.htm) 1972
• Climbing (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/133.htm) 1997
• Coin Collecting (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/035.htm) 1938
• Collections (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/128.htm) 1991
• Communications (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/005.htm) 1965
• Computers (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/036.htm) 1967
• Cooking (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/038.htm) 1911
• Crime Prevention (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/131.htm) 1996
• Cycling (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/039.htm) 1911 (alternative to Hiking or Swimming)
• Dentistry (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/040.htm) 1975
• Disabilities Awareness (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/060.htm) 1993
• Dog Care (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/041.htm) 1938
• Drafting (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/042.htm) 1965
• Electricity (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/043.htm) 1911
• Electronics (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/044.htm) 1963
• Emergency Preparedness (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/006.htm) 1972 (alternative to Lifesaving)
• Energy (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/045.htm) 1976
• Engineering (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/046.htm) 1967
• Entrepreneurship (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/134.htm) 1997
• Environmental Science (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/007.htm) 1972
• Family Life (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/129.htm) 1991
• Farm Mechanics (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/048.htm) 1928
• Fingerprinting (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/049.htm) 1938
• Fire Safety (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/050.htm) 1995
• First Aid (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/008.htm) 1911
• Fish and Wildlife Management (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/051.htm) 1972
• Fishing (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/052.htm) 1952
• Fly Fishing (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/135.htm) 2002
• Forestry (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/054.htm) 1911
• Gardening (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/055.htm) 1911
• Genealogy (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/056.htm) 1972
• Geology (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/058.htm) 1953
• Golf (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/059.htm) 1976
• Graphic Arts (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/122.htm) 1987
• Hiking (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/061.htm) 1921 (alternative to Cycling or Swimming)
• Home Repairs (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/062.htm) 1943
• Horsemanship (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/063.htm) 1911
• Indian Lore (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/064.htm) 1931
• Insect Study (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/065.htm) 1985
• Journalism (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/066.htm) 1927
• Landscape Architecture (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/067.htm) 1967
• Law (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/068.htm) 1974
• Leatherwork (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/069.htm) 1951
• Lifesaving (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/009.htm) 1911 (alternative to Emergency Preparedness)
• Mammal Study (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/071.htm) 1985
• Medicine (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/130.htm) 1991
• Metalwork (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/074.htm) 1927
• Model Design and Building (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/075.htm) 1963
• Motorboating (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/076.htm) 1961
• Music (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/077.htm) (shares merit badge pamphlet with Bugling merit badge) 1911
• Nature (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/078.htm) 1952
• Nuclear Science (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/024.htm) 2005
• Oceanography (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/079.htm) 1964
• Orienteering (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/080.htm) 1973
• Painting (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/081.htm) 1911
• Personal Fitness (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/010.htm) 1952
• Personal Management (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/011.htm) 1972
• Pets (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/082.htm) 1958
• Photography (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/083.htm) 1911
• Pioneering (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/084.htm) 1911
• Plant Science (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/085.htm) 1974
• Plumbing (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/086.htm) 1911
• Pottery (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/087.htm) 1927
• Public Health (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/089.htm) 1911
• Public Speaking (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/090.htm) 1932
• Pulp and Paper (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/091.htm) 1972
• Radio (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/093.htm) 1923
• Railroading (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/094.htm) 1952
• Reading (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/095.htm) 1929
• Reptile and Amphibian Study (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/096.htm) 1993
• Rifle Shooting (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/123.htm) 1988
• Rowing (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/098.htm) 1933
• Safety (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/012.htm) 1927
• Salesmanship (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/099.htm) 1927
• Scholarship (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/100.htm) 1911
• Sculpture (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/101.htm) 1911
• Shotgun Shooting (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/124.htm) 1988
• Skating (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/103.htm) 1973
• Small-Boat Sailing (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/105.htm) 1964
• Snow Sports (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/104.htm) 1999
• Soil and Water Conservation (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/106.htm) 1952
• Space Exploration (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/107.htm) 1965
• Sports (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/013.htm) 1972
• Stamp Collecting (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/108.htm) 1932
• Surveying (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/109.htm) 1911
• Swimming (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/014.htm) 1911 (alternative to Cycling or Hiking)
• Textile (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/110.htm) 1973
• Theater (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/111.htm) 1967
• Traffic Safety (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/112.htm) 1975
• Truck Transportation (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/113.htm) 1973
• Veterinary Medicine (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/114.htm) 1995
• Water Skiing (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/115.htm) 1969
• Weather (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/116.htm) 1927
• Whitewater (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/125.htm) 1987
• Wilderness Survival (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/117.htm) 1987
• Wood Carving (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/118.htm) 1923
• Woodwork (http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/119.htm) 1923

Former merit badges now discontinued with years (badges in bold currently exist):

• Aerodynamics and Aeronautics merit badges instituted in 1941, replacing Aviation, which was then brought back in 1952, replacing both badges
• Agribusiness 1987-1995
• Agriculture 1911-1975 (replaced by Animal Science and Plant Science)
• Airplane Design and Airplane Structure merit badges 1942-1952, then replaced by Aviation
• Ambulance 1910-1911 (replaced by First Aid)
• Angling 1911-1951 (replaced by Fishing and Fly Fishing)
• Animal Industry 1928-1975 (replaced by Animal Science)
• Atomic Energy 1963-2005 (replaced by Nuclear Science)
• Automobiling (1911-1963) and Automotive Safety (1962-1974) were replaced by Traffic Safety in 1975
• Bee Keeping 1915-1955 (replaced by Beekeeping)
• Beekeeping 1995 (replaced Bee Keeping)
• Beef Production 1928-1975 (replaced by Animal Science)
• Beefarming 1911-1914
• Beekeeping 1956-1995
• Blacksmithing 1911-1952
• Bookbinding 1927-1987 (replaced Craftsmanship)
• Botany 1921-1995
• Business 1911-1966 (replaced Clerk, replaced by American Business and Entrepreneurship)
• Carpentry 1911-1952
• Cement Work 1927-1952
• Consumer Buying 1995
• Citizenship 1947-1951 (replaced Civics and World Brotherhood, replaced by Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the Home)
• Citizenship in the Home 1952-1972 (replaced Citizenship, replaced by Family Life)
• Citrus Fruit Culture 1931-1952
• Civics 1911-1946
• Clerk 1910-1911 (replaced by Business)
• Conservation 1911-1952 (replaced by Conservation of Natural Resources and Wildlife Management)
• Conservation of Natural Resources 1966-1972 (replaced Conservation, replaced by Environmental Science)
• Consumer Buying 1975-1995
• Corn Farming 1928-1975 (replaced by Plant Science)
• Cotton Farming 1931-1975 (replaced by Plant Science)
• Craftsmanship 1911-1927 (replaced by Basketry, Bookbinding, Cement Work, Leathercraft, Metalwork, Pottery, Wood Carving and Woodwork)
• Cyclist 1910-1911 (replaced by Cycling)
• Dairying 1911-1975 (replaced by Animal Science)
• Dramatics 1932-1966 (replaced by Theatre)
• Electrician 1910-1911 (replaced by Electricity)
• Farm and Ranch Management 1980-1987 (replaced Farm Records)
• Farm Arrangement 1960-1973 (replaced Farm Home and Its Planning, replaced by Farm Arrangements)
• Farm Arrangements 1974-1979 (replaced Farm Arrangement)
• Farm Home and Its Planning 1928-1959 (replaced by Farm Arrangement)
• Farm Records and Bookkeeping 1928-1958 (replaced by Farm Records)
• Farm Records 1959-1980 (replaced Farm Records and Bookkeeping, replaced by Farm and Ranch Management)
• Fireman 1910-1911 (replaced by Firemanship)
• Firemanship 1911-1995 (replaced Fireman, replaced by Fire Safety)
• First Aid to Animals 1911-1972 (replaced by Veterinary Science)
• Food Systems 1978-1987 (replaced Agriculture)
• Forage Crops 1959-1975 (replaced Grasses, Legumes and Forage Crops, replaced by Plant Science)
• Foundry Practice 1923-1952
• Fruit and Nut Growing 1953-1975 (replaced Fruit Culture and Nut Culture, replaced by Plant Science)
• Fruit Culture 1928-1952 (replaced by Fruit and Nut Growing)
• Gardener 1910-1911 (replaced by Gardening)
• General Science 1972-1995 (replaced Zoology)
• Grasses, Legumes and Forage Crops 1938-1958 (replaced by Forage Crops)
• Handicap Awareness 1985-1993 (replaced Handicapped Awareness, replaced by Disabilities Awareness)
• Handicapped Awareness 1980-1984 (replaced Handicap Awareness)
• Handicraft 1911-1942 (replaced by Home Repairs)
• Hog and Pork Production 1928-1958 (replaced by Hog Production)
• Hog Production 1959-1975 (replaced Hog and Pork Production, replaced by Animal Science)
• Horseman 1910-1911 (replaced by Horsemanship)
• Insect Life 1923-1984 (replaced by Insect Study)
• Interpreting 1911-1952
• Invention 1911-1917
• Landscape Gardening 1930-1958 (replaced Landscaping, replaced by Landscape Architecture)
• Landscaping 1959-1966 (replaced by Landscape Gardening)
• Leather Work 1928-1951 (replaced Leatherworking, replaced by Leatherwork)
• Leathercraft 1927-1952 (replaced Craftsmanship)
• Leatherworking 1911-1927 (replaced by Leather Work)
• Machinery 1911-1995
• Mammals 1972-1984 (replaced by Mammal Study)
• Marksman 1910-1911 (replaced by Marksmanship)
• Marksmanship 1911-1966 (replaced Marksman, replaced by Rifle and Shotgun Shooting)
• Masonry 1995
• Masonry 1911-1995
• Master-At-Arms 1910-1911
• Mechanical Drawing 1933-1964 (replaced by Drafting)
• Metallurgy 1965-1971 (replaced by Metals Engineering)
• Metals Engineering 1995 (replaced Metallurgy)
• Mining 1911-1937 (replaced by Rocks and Minerals)
• Musician 1910-1911 (replaced by Music)
• Nut Culture 1928-1954 (replaced by Fruit and Nut Growing)
• Ornithology 1911-1913 (replaced by Bird Study)
• Pathfinding 1911-1952 (replaced by Pathfinding)
• Personal Finances 1962-1971 (replaced by Personal Management)
• Personal Health 1911-1952 (replaced by Personal Fitness)
• Physical Development 1914-1952 (replaced by Personal Fitness)
• Pigeon Raising 1933-1980
• Pioneer 1910-1911 (replaced by Pioneering)
• Poultry Farming 1911-1913 (replaced by Poultry Keeping)
• Poultry Keeping 1914-1974 (replaced Poultry Farming, replaced by Animal Science)
• Printing 1911-1981
• Printing/Communication 1982-1987
• Rabbit Raising 1943-1993
• Reptile Study 1927-1993 (replaced Reptiles, replaced by Reptile and Amphibian Study)
• Reptiles 1923-1927 (replaced by Reptile Study)
• Rifle and Shotgun Shooting 1967-1987 (replaced Marksmanship, replaced by Rifle Shooting and Shotgun Shooting)
• Rocks and Minerals 1937-1953 (replaced Mining, replaced by Geology)
• Safety First 1916-1926 (replaced by Safety)
• Seaman 1910-1911 (replaced by Seamanship)
• Seamanship 1911-1964 (replaced by Small Boat Sailing)
• Sheep Farming 1928-1975 (replaced by Animal Science)
• Signaller 1910-1911 (replaced by Signalling)
• Signalling 1911-1991 (replaced Signaller)
• Skiing -- 1938-1999 (replaced by Snow Sports)
• Small Grains 1959-1975 (replaced Small Grains and Cereal Foods, replaced by Plant Science)
• Small Grains and Cereal Foods 1943-1958 (replaced by Small Grains)
• Soil Management 1928-1952 (replaced by Soil and Water Conservation)
• Stalker 1910-1911 (replaced by Stalking)
• Stalking 1911-1952 (replaced Stalker)
• Taxidermy 1911-1952
• Textiles 1927-1972 (replaced by Textile)
• Veterinary Science -- 1973-1995 (replaced First Aid to Animals, replaced by Veterinary Medicine)
• Wildlife Management 1952-1972 (replaced Conservation, replaced by Fish and Wildlife Management)
• Wireless 1919-1923 (replaced by Radio)
• Wood Turning 1930-1952
• World Brotherhood 1952-1972 (replaced by Citizenship and Citizenship in the World)
• Zoology 1930-1972 (replaced by General Science)

External links

• Merit Badge Research Center (http://www.meritbadge.com/)
• U. S. Scouting Service Project Merit Badges webpage (http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/meritbadges.asp)