QUIZ TIME
LAKEVIEW DISTRICT
MERIT BADGE
COUNSELOR QUIZ
ANSWERS
LAKEVIEW DISTRICT
Merit Badge Program Quiz
* Answers are given at the end.
TRUE or FALSE:
1. A merit badge counselor may be a counselor for only up to six merit badges.
2. A merit badge counselor may not coach his own son or close relative (i.e.,
nephew) unless he is part of a group of Scouts all working on the same merit
badge.
3. A merit badge counselor may provide group instruction for a merit badge, but
each Scout must be evaluated on the requirements independently of other
Scout’s efforts.
4. A merit badge counselor who works only with a single unit needs only the unit
committee's approval before being approved by the Scout Executive.
LAKEVIEW DISTRICT
Merit Badge Program Quiz
5. Persons serving as merit badge counselors must be registered as a merit badge
counselor with the Boy Scouts of America.
6. Registered Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters who also serve as merit
badge counselors are required to separately re-register as a merit badge
counselor.
7. A Scout may earn no more than five merit badges from the same merit badge
counselor.
8. Once an adult is approved as a merit badge counselor, s/he is approved for life
and never has to be reapproved.
9. A unit Board of Review may not approve the awarding of a merit badge in lieu of
an approved merit badge counselor.
LAKEVIEW DISTRICT
Merit Badge Program Quiz
10. The merit badge pamphlet and a blue card are not required to earn a merit
badge.
11. A Scout may start work on a merit badge’s requirements before the initial
meeting with his merit badge counselor.
12. A Scout must complete all the requirements for a merit badge within 12 months
or he must start over.
13. A Scout with several partially completed merit badges must complete one or
more of these before starting work on a new merit badge.
14. A merit badge counselor may require the Scout to work beyond the specific
requirements of the merit badge so he may discover more about the subject and
continue the learning process.
LAKEVIEW DISTRICT
Merit Badge Program Quiz
15. Due to the BSA policies related to Youth Protection and two-deep leadership, a
merit badge counselor must have another adult present during all merit badge
counseling sessions.
16. A merit badge counselor for areas such as Pioneering, Cooking, Hiking, and
Camping must accompany the Scout on these activities; therefore, it is usually
more appropriate for the Scoutmaster or an Assistant Scoutmaster to be the
merit badge counselor.
17. A unit Board of Review, at the option of the Advancement Chairman, may
examine a Scout on any part of a completed merit badge.
18. If the weather, locale, or some other condition makes meeting all of the
conditions of the merit badge requirements impractical, the merit badge
counselor may substitute requirements for those stated for the merit badge.
LAKEVIEW DISTRICT
Merit Badge Program Quiz
19. Merit badge counselors must be at least 18 years old.
20. If the requirements for a merit badge differ between the merit badge pamphlet
and the current edition of Boy Scout Requirements, the requirements in the Boy
Scout Requirements book supersede all others.
21. Have you completed the Adult Application and the Merit Badge Counselor
Information form and turned them into your troop?
22. Have you completed or renewed your Youth Protection Training within the last
two years?
LAKEVIEW DISTRICT
Quiz Answers
1. False. A counselor may be approved for as many badges as he or she is qualified. Since
this is up to the members of the approving body to decide, they also may decide how
many merit badges they feel it is necessary for a counselor to coach based upon need
within the district or council.
2. False. A duly approved counselor may counsel any Scout who contacts him or her
through proper procedures. However, it is suggested that wherever possible, Scouts
should experience a variety of adult contacts and therefore, should use a diverse group
of counselors.
3. True. Each Scout must meet the stated requirements on his own.
4. False. All counselors must be approved by the district/council advancement committee.
5. True.
6. True. Even volunteers who serve in multiple positions must fill out another form and
show registration as a merit badge counselor.
LAKEVIEW DISTRICT
Quiz Answers
7. False. A Scout may earn as many badges from a counselor as the counselor is qualified
and approved to coach. However, since it is in the Scout’s best interest that he
experience a diversity of adult contacts, it is not in the spirit of the program to do so
unless conditions warrant.
8. False. Counselor approvals are for one year only.
9. True. Only an approved merit badge counselor for that merit badge can sign off the
completion of requirements.
10. True. Although it is not required, the pamphlet is written specifically on the Scout’s
level of learning and he is strongly encouraged to read it. The blue card is used by most
local councils as a tool that makes record keeping easier for the Scout, the merit badge
counselor, and the unit leader.
11. True. At the first meeting, the Scout should also discuss work he has already started or
possibly completed. Work for a requirement can be started at any time.
LAKEVIEW DISTRICT
Quiz Answers
12. False. There is no time limit except that all requirements work must be completed
before the Scout’s 18th birthday.
13. False. There is no requirement to complete any merit badge after a Scout begins work
on it. He is free to explore any subject and to earn as many or few merit badges he
wants according to his interest and ambition.
14. False. No additions or deletions are permitted. The requirements are to be completed
exactly as written. However, a counselor may share additional information or resources
in the hope of encouraging the Scout to challenge himself.
15. False. There must always be a third person present, but it may be any other adult
familiar to the Scout, a Scout’s parent, or a Scout’s “buddy”. Common sense dictates
that two adult counselors alone with only one Scout should be avoided.
16. False. A counselor may not need to be present in all cases. When appropriate, the Scout
can take pictures or have an adult tell in writing what he has done.
LAKEVIEW DISTRICT
Quiz Answers
17. False. The counselor is the only person who examines a Scout on a merit badge’s
requirements. The date of completion signed by the counselor is the date the merit
badge is earned, and cannot be undone or reviewed.
18. False. No additions or deletions are permitted. The requirements are to be completed
exactly as written.
19. True.
20. True. The Boy Scout Requirements book is revised annually and reflects any changes
that have been made, whereas the merit badge pamphlets are not revised annually and
may be outdated.