Current Merit Badge Pamphlets
and Requirement Revision Dates


Each merit badge has been assigned an ID number, which has been used in the BSA Advancement system, and now has been assigned an ID number for use with Scoutbook. Each merit badge pamphlet is assigned a 5 digit publication number which,. and a 5 or 6 digit inventory (SKU - Stock Keeping Unit) number to the booklet. The SKU number changes when a new edition is released. The publication number appears in the copyright statement typically on page 2, and below the UPC bar code on the back cover. The SKU appears on the back cover, above the UPC Code, and is used as the item number for ordering from Scoutshop.org. In some cases, the publication number and SKU are the same, because no revisions have been made since the pamphlet was first issued.

For each merit badge currently available, the first table below shows (in alphabetical order) the ID Numbers, the most recent year that the requirements were changed or the year the badge was added to the requirements booklet, along with the BSA Publication Number, the current SKU number for the printed pamphlet and the SKU number for the "Digital Download" (E-book) copy of the pamphlet. In addition, for many of the merit badges, we have included the Copyright date for the current pamphlet.

The Requirements Revision Dates in the tables below reflect the year the revisions (or the requirements for a new badge) first appear in Scouts BSA Requirements, which is typically the year after the new or revised requirements appear in a new edition of the merit badge pamphlet.

After the first table is a list of the merit badges, arranged by year (from most recent to oldest) of the last revision to the requirements. Following that table is a similar list of those pamphlets for which we have verified the the copyright date of the current pamphlet.

As new pamphlets are issued, when they contain new requirements, Scouts have the option of starting with the new requirements as soon as the pamphlets are issued, or they may start work using the old requirements until the next edition of Scouts BSA Requirements is issued. When Scouts start work after a new edition of Scouts BSA Requirements is issued, they must use the new requirements. In any case, once a Scout starts with a set of requirements they can continue using them until they complete the badge or turn 18. If they started using the old requirements, they also have the option of switching to the new requirements (which may in fact mean starting over in some cases). So long as they meet all of the requirements (either old or new) they can earn the badge. However, they can't use, for example, old requirements 1, 3, and 5 and new requirements 2, 4, and 6-8.

If you find a pamphlet with a later publication or copyright date or a stock (SKU) number higher than what we have listed below, or a copy of a current pamphlet where we have not listed the Copyright date, please write us, with the Merit Badge name, BSA publication and stock (SKU) numbers (e.g.. 35859 - 610461) and the Copyright date. If the booklet also has revised requirements, a copy of those requirements would also be appreciated so we can update this site. If it pamphlet lists a printing date more recent than the Copyright date, such as "Copyright 2020, 2023 Printing", that just means it's a new printing with no changes to the text.

To our knowledge, there is NOWHERE on the web where you can legally find FREE complete copies of merit badge pamphlets published by BSA (except for the Citizenship in Society merit badge which is available ONLY as a free PDF). The contents of all of the pamphlets are copyright by BSA, and they use the proceeds from the sale of the pamphlets to defray the cost of revising them periodically. If you do find a copy on line in PDF form, it was scanned and posted illegally. However, the merit badge pamphlets and many other BSA handbooks and guides are available for purchase as Kindle books, through Amazon.com, and/or as Digital Download E-books from Scoutshop.org.

Always check the current edition of Scouts BSA Requirements, or this site, when starting a merit badge, to be sure you have the most up to date requirements, as they may have changed since the pamphlet was printed.


Architecture and Landscape Architecture, which are separate Merit Badges, with separate requirements, are now covered in a single pamphlet - Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Prior to 2008, there were separate pamphlets for each badge. Music and Bugling, while separate Merit Badges, with separate requirements, are also covered in one pamphlet - Music and Bugling.


Key to the colors used in the tables below:
Green text on a yellow background = Recent Change to pamphlet, requirements, or new merit badge name
Red Text = unverified or missing information


The information on current requirements in the tables below reflects requirements issued through January 1, 2023. Copyright dates and SKU numbers are, as far as possible, correct as of December 1, 2022.

We formerly included information on current publication dates, based on the Merit Badge Library listing on the inside back cover of the annual Scouts BSA Requirements booklet. However, starting with the 2023 edition, that table now indicates that the dates are supposed to represent the last time the requirements changed. When we are able to determine the most recent Copyright date, we now show that date.

The SKU numbers were obtained from the listing on Scoutshop.org as of December 1, 2022.

Spanish versions of all 18 of the Eagle Required merit badges were published a number of years ago, but only six (Camping, Citizenship in the Community, Communication, Family Life, Hiking, and Personal Fitness) are currently listed on Scoutshop.org, and they are also available as Digital Download (E-book) editions. The pamphlet for Citizenship in Society is available in both English and Spanish as a free PDF file from Scouting.org. As far as we know, the others are not currently available in print nor as Digital Downloads, and we do not know if the Spanish versions have been reissued to correspond with changes made to the current English versions.

MERIT BADGE Pamphlet Publication and SKU Numbers
and Merit Badge Requirements Revision Dates
Merit Badge
number
Scoutbook
ID
Number
Merit Badge Name Pamphlet
Publication
Number
Current
Pamphlet
SKU
Number
E-book
Digital
Download
SKU Number
Pamphlet
Copyright
Date
Requirements
Revision
Date
 
15 3 American Business 35850 654410 655970 2023
17 4 American Cultures 35851 655136 655971 2013 2006
16 5 American Heritage 35852 654548 655972   2020
121 6 American Labor 35853 647962 655973   2019
18 7 Animal Science 35854 641573 655974   2023
158 153 Animation 35778 655695 655975 2022 2022
132 8 Archaeology 35855 650864 655976 2021 2021
19 9 Archery 35856 641747 655977   2023
20 10 Architecture (Architecture and Landscape Architecture Pamphlet) 35857 656137 655978 202014 2023
21 11 Art 35858 655138 655979 2013 2014
22 12 Astronomy 35859 656137 655980 2022 2022
23 13 Athletics 35860 655702 655981 2022 2022
127 14 Automotive Maintenance 35861 636001 655982 2017 2017
25 15 Aviation 35862 650727 655984 2014 2014
26 16 Backpacking 35863 655139 655985   2015
27 17 Basketry 35864 650865 655986 2014 2015
29 18 Bird Study 35865 649738 655987   2019
32 19 Bugling (Music and Bugling Pamphlet) 35921 650736 656055   2020
1 20 Camping (Eagle) {English} 35866 655627 655988   2018
{Spanish}   619133 655989
33 21 Canoeing 35867 650866 655990 2022 2022
34 22 Chemistry 35868 654571 655991   2020
147 135 Chess 35973 613560 655992 2016 2013
160 154 Citizenship in Society (Eagle) {English} 35976 PDF ONLY Download from SCOUTING.ORG 2021 2021
{Spanish} 35976 PDF ONLY Download from SCOUTING.ORG 2021
2 24 Citizenship in the Community (Eagle) {English} 35870 655140 655995 2015 2016
{Spanish}   619134 655994  
3 25 Citizenship in the Nation (Eagle) {English} 35871 655629 655993 2022 2022
{Spanish}  
4 26 Citizenship in the World (Eagle) {English} 35872 655141 655996 2015 2016
{Spanish}  
133 27 Climbing 35873 650866 655997 2022 2022
35 28 Coin Collecting 35874 655142 655998 2022 2022
128 29 Collections 35875 655186 655999 2022 2021
5 30 Communication (Eagle) {English} 35876 653089 656000   2019
{Spanish}   619137 656001
137 31 Composite Materials 35877 35877 656002   2023
38 33 Cooking (Eagle) {English} 35879 655704 656003   2023
{Spanish}  
131 34 Crime Prevention 35880 641575 656004   2020
39 35 Cycling (Eagle) {English} 35881 655187 656005 2017 2023
{Spanish}  
40 36 Dentistry 35882 635746 656006 2021 2022
154 148 Digital Technology 35733 655632 656007   2023
60 37 Disabilities Awareness 35883 637683 656008 2021 2023
41 38 Dog Care 35884 655188 656009 2016 2017
42 39 Drafting 35885 35885 656010 2013 2015
43 40 Electricity 35886 651605 656011 2021 2021
44 41 Electronics 35887 654565 656012 2021 2021
6 42 Emergency Preparedness (Eagle) {English} 35888 641576 656013 2022 2023
{Spanish}  
45 43 Energy 35889 650728 656014   2018
46 44 Engineering 35890 650867 656015   2009
134 45 Entrepreneurship 35891 653088 656016 2013 2014
7 46 Environmental Science (Eagle) {English} 35892 650870 656017   2023
{Spanish}  
159 153 Exploration 35779 622522 656018 2016 2017
129 47 Family Life (Eagle) {English} 35893 635735 656019 2016 2023
{Spanish}   619142 656020  
48 48 Farm Mechanics 35894 650717 656021 2008 2023
49 49 Fingerprinting 35895 650716 656022 2019 2004
50 50 Fire Safety 35896   656023   2017
8 51 First Aid (Eagle) {English} 35897 655633 656024 2022 2022
{Spanish}  
51 52 Fish and Wildlife Management 35898 655190 656026 2021 2021
52 53 Fishing 35899 654377 656025 2021 2021
136 54 Fly Fishing 35900 650715 656027 2021 2021
54 55 Forestry 35901 650729 656028   2019
151 140 Game Design 35708 649741 656029   2023
55 56 Gardening 35902 654566 656030   2018
56 57 Genealogy 35903 655706 656031 2013 2023
145 58 Geocaching 35836 655707 656032   2019
58 59 Geology 35904 650730 656033   2023
59 60 Golf 35905 649742 656034   2023
122 61 Graphic Arts 35906 655693 656035 2013 2012
161 155 Health Care Professions 35975 35975 656817 2021 2021
61 62 Hiking (Eagle) {English} 35907 655700 656036 2016 2023
{Spanish}   619144 656037  
62 63 Home Repairs 35908 655709 656038 2022 2013
63 64 Horsemanship 35909 650731 656039 2013 2014
 
64 65 Indian Lore 35910 655636 656040 2008 2017
65 66 Insect Study 35911 649244 656041   2018
144 67 Inventing 35833 654378 656042   2023
66 68 Journalism 35912 629415 656043   2017
149 136 Kayaking 35702 650732 656044   2020
67 69 Landscape Architecture
(Architecture and Landscape Architecture Pamphlet)
35857 655137 656079 2014 2017
68 70 Law 35913 650871 656045   2019
69 71 Leatherwork 35914 653091 656046 2016 2017
9 72 Lifesaving (Eagle) {English} 35915 650874 656047   2021
{Spanish}  
 
71 73 Mammal Study 35916 650873 656048 2014 2023
74 75 Metalwork 35918 35918 656050   2008
 155 147 Mining in Society 35737 618952 656051 2022 2022
75 76 Model Design and Building 35919 648315 656052   2020
76 77 Motorboating 35920 650734 656053 2021 2021
156 23 Moviemaking 35869 650735 656054 2013 2014
77 78 Music (Music and Bugling Pamphlet) 35921 650736 656055   2017
78 79 Nature 35922 655693 656056 2018 2023
24 80 Nuclear Science 35923 655710 656057   2017
79 81 Oceanography 35924 35826 656058 2012 2013
80 82 Orienteering 35925 649767 656059 2012 2013
81 83 Painting 35926 650872 656060   2020
10 84 Personal Fitness (Eagle) {English} 35927 641577 656061   2023
{Spanish}   619146 656062
11 85 Personal Management (Eagle) {English} 35928 655699 656063   2019
{Spanish}  
82 86 Pets 35929 655189 656064 2013 2013
83 87 Photography 35930 655192 656065 2021 2021
84 88 Pioneering 35931 655712 656066 2022 2022
85 89 Plant Science 35932 641677 656067   2023
86 90 Plumbing 35933 655193 656068 2012 2017
87 91 Pottery 35934 35934 656069 2008 2009
153 144 Programming 35710 655193 656070 2022 2023
89 92 Public Health 35935 650737 656071 2021 2021
90 93 Public Speaking 35936 655689 656072 2013 2003
91 94 Pulp and Paper 35937 649748 656073   2017
93 95 Radio 35938 655194 656074   2018
94 96 Railroading 35939 649659 656075 2022 2022
95 97 Reading 35940 655191 656076 2022 2022
96 98 Reptile and Amphibian Study 35941 649156 655928   2023
23 99 Rifle Shooting 35942 35823 656077   2019
146 132 Robotics 35972 612017 656078   2011
98 100 Rowing 35943 650738 656079 2021 2021
 
12 101 Safety 35944 655686 656080   2020
99 102 Salesmanship 35945 650739 656081   2023
100 104 Scholarship 35946 650740 656082   2017
143 103 Scouting Heritage 35970 650741 656083   2019
138 105 Scuba Diving 35969 35969 656084 2009 2009
101 106 Sculpture 35947 650742 656085   2018
150 137 Search and Rescue 34016 647940 656086 2012 2019
12 107 Shotgun Shooting 35948 650743 656087   2014
157 151 Signs, Signals, and Codes 35777 620095 656088 202015 2015
103 108 Skating 35949 650744 656089   2016
105 109 Small Boat Sailing 35950 649749 656090 2018 2023
135 110 Snow Sports 35951 655196 656091   2023
106 111 Soil and Water Conservation 35952 649768 656092   2019
107 112 Space Exploration 35953 654567 656093   2020
13 113 Sports 35954 655673 656094   2023
108 114 Stamp Collecting 35955 623013 656095 2021 2007
109 115 Surveying
35956 35956 656096 2004 2005
152 142 Sustainability (Eagle) {English} 35711 654372 656097   2020
{Spanish}      
14 116 Swimming (Eagle) {English} 35957 650745 656098   2023
{Spanish}  
 
110 117 Textile 35958 650746 656099 2014 2004
111 118 Theater 35959 650747 656100 2021 2021
112 120 Traffic Safety 35960 656262 656101 2022 2022
113 121 Truck Transportation 35961 35961 656102 2005 2007
 
114 122 Veterinary Medicine 35962 35962 656103 202015 2007
115 123 Water Sports 35963 649657 656104   2016
116 124 Weather 35964 650748 656105   2018
148 133 Welding 35974 650750 656106   2019
125 125 Whitewater 35965 618652 656107   2020
117 126 Wilderness Survival 35966 649750 656108   2018
118 127 Wood Carving 35967 650749 656109 2016 2017
119 128 Woodwork 35968 647963 656110 2015 2021

The following list shows the most recent year that the requirements for each merit badge were issued or revised in the annual Scouts BSA Requirements book, sorted by Date (newest to oldest) . Keep in mind that the actual release of the changes is usually during the preceding year.

Year that Current Requirements were first published in the Scouts BSA Requirements book
American Business 2023
Animal Science 2023
Archery 2023
 Architecture 2023
Composite Materials 2023
Cooking 2023
Cycling 2023
Digital Technology 2023
Disabilities Awareness 2023
Emergency Preparedness 2023
Environmental Science 2023
Family Life 2023
Farm Mechanics 2023
Game Design 2023
Genealogy 2023
Geology 2023
Golf 2023
Hiking 2023
Inventing 2023
Mammal Study 2023
Nature 2023
Personal Fitness 2023
Plant Science 2023
Programming 2023
Reptile and Amphibian Study 2023
Salesmanship 2023
Small Boat Sailing 2023
Snow Sports 2023
Sports 2023
Swimming 2023
Animation 2022
Astronomy 2022
Athletics 2022
Canoeing 2022
Citizenship in Society 2022
Citizenship in the Nation 2022
Climbing 2022
Coin Collecting 2022
Dentistry 2022
First Aid 2022
Health Care Professions 2022
Mining in Society 2022
Pioneering 2022
Railroading 2022
Reading 2022
Traffic Safety 2022
 
Archaeology 2021
Collections 2021
Electricity 2021
Electronics 2021
Fish & Wildlife Management 2021
Fishing 2021
Fly Fishing 2021
Lifesaving 2021
Motorboating 2021
Photography 2021
Public Health 2021
Rowing 2021
Theater 2021
Woodwork 2021
American Heritage 2020
Bugling 2020
Chemistry 2020
Crime Prevention 2020
Kayaking 2020
Model Design and Building 2020
Painting 2020
Safety 2020
Space Exploration 2020
Sustainability 2020
Whitewater 2020
American Labor 2019
Bird Study 2019
Communication 2019
Forestry 2019
Geocaching 2019
Law 2019
Personal Management 2019
Rifle Shooting 2019
Scouting Heritage 2019
Search and Rescue 2019
Soil & Water Conservation 2019
Welding 2019
Camping 2018
Energy 2018
 Gardening 2018
Insect Study 2018
Radio 2018
Sculpture 2018
Weather 2018
Wilderness Survival 2018
 
Automotive Maintenance 2017
Dog Care 2017
Exploration 2017
Fire Safety 2017
Indian Lore 2017
Journalism 2017
Landscape Architecture 2017
Leatherwork 2017
Music 2017
Nuclear Science 2017
Plumbing 2017
Pulp & Paper 2017
Scholarship 2017
Wood Carving 2017
Citizenship in the Community 2016
Citizenship in the World 2016
Skating 2016
Water Sports 2015
Backpacking 2015
Basketry 2015
Drafting 2015
Signs, Signals, and Codes 2015
Art 2014
Aviation 2014
Entrepreneurship 2014
Horsemanship 2014
Moviemaking 2014
Shotgun Shooting 2014
Chess 2013
Home Repairs 2013
Oceanography 2013
Orienteering 2013
Pets 2013
Graphic Arts 2012
Robotics 2011
Engineering 2009
Pottery 2009
Scuba Diving 2009
Metalwork 2008
Stamp Collecting 2007
American Cultures 2006
Truck Transportation 2006
Veterinary Medicine 2006
Surveying 2005
Fingerprinting 2004
Textile 2004

Page updated on: December 22, 2022



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