2024
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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 a 5 or 6 digit inventory (SKU - Stock Keeping Unit) number for the booklet, and an SKU number for the Digital Download. The SKU numbers change when a new edition is released, while the publication number remains constant. 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 most recent SKU numbers for the printed pamphlet and "Digital Download" (E-book) copies of the pamphlet. In addition, for many of the merit badges, we have included the most recent Copyright date we have found.  NOTE: We have not recently verified the SKU numbers and Copyright dates, so they my be incorrect.

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. BSA typically issues a set of updates annually in January, and updates the official lists of requirements on scouting.org and issues a new edition of the Scouts BSA Requirements book at that time.  In 2024, they announced that requirements were revised for 30 merit badges, 14 with significant changes in content, and 16 with minor changes.  In addition, in a set of over 30 other merit badges (which were not identified in the BSA announcement), either small changes were made to correct editorial errors , or small changes were made to the wording of one or more instances of the term "parent's" which was revised to "parent or guardian's". We have listed all the merit badges that were in either group as having been revised in 2024.

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 2024
202418 7 Animal Science 35854 641573 655974 2024
158 153 Animation 35778 655695 655975 2022 2022
132 8 Archaeology 35855 650864 655976 2021 2024
19 9 Archery 35856 641747 655977 2023
20 10 Architecture (Architecture and Landscape Architecture Pamphlet) 35857 656137 655978 202014 2024
21 11 Art 35858 655138 655979 2013 2024
22 12 Astronomy 35859 656137 655980 2022 2022
23 13 Athletics 35860 655702 655981 2022 2024
127 14 Automotive Maintenance 35861 636001 655982 2017 2024
25 15 Aviation 35862 650727 655984 2014 2024
26 16 Backpacking 35863 655139 655985 2024
27 17 Basketry 35864 650865 655986 2014 2024
29 18 Bird Study 35865 649738 655987 2024
32 19 Bugling (Music and Bugling Pamphlet) 35921 650736 656055 2024
1 20 Camping (Eagle) {English} 35866 655627 655988 2024
{Spanish} 619133 655989
33 21 Canoeing 35867 650866 655990 2022 2024
34 22 Chemistry 35868 654571 655991 2024
147 135 Chess 35973 613560 655992 2016 2013
160 154 Citizenship in Society (Eagle) {English} 35976 PDF ONLY Download from SCOUTING.ORG 2021 2021
{Spanlish} 35976 PDF ONLY Download from SCOUTING.ORG 2021
2 24 Citizenship in the Community (Eagle) {English} 35870 655140 655995 2015 2016
{Spanlish} 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 2024
128 29 Collections 35875 655186 655999 2022 2021
5 30 Communication (Eagle) {English} 35876 653089 656000 2019
{Spanlish} 619137 656001
137 31 Composite Materials 35877 35877 656002 2024
38 33 Cooking (Eagle) {English} 35879 655704 656003 2024
{Spanish}
131 34 Crime Prevention 35880 641575 656004 2024
v39 35 Cycling (Eagle) {English} 35881 655187 656005 2017 2023km
{Spanish}
40 36 Dentistry 35882 635746 656006 2021 2022
154 148 Digital Technology 35733 655632 656007 2024
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 2024
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 2024
46 44 Engineering 35890 650867 656015 2024
134 45 Entrepreneurship 35891 653088 656016 2013 2014
7 46 Environmental Science (Eagle) {English} 35892 650870 656017 2024
{Spanish}
159 153 Exploration 35779 622522 656018 2016 2024
129 47 Family Life (Eagle) {English} 35893 635735 656019 2016 2023
{Spanlish} 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 2024
8 51 First Aid (Eagle) {English} 35897 655633 656024 2022 2024
{Spanish}
51 52 Fish and Wildlife Management 35898 655190 656026 2021 2021
52 53 Fishing 35899 654377 656025 2021 2024
136 54 Fly Fishing 35900 650715 656027 2021 2024
54 55 Forestry 35901 650729 656028 2024
151 140 Game Design 35708 649741 656029 2023
55 56 Gardening 35902 654566 656030 2018
56 57 Genealogy 35903 655706 656031 2013 2024
145 58 Geocaching 35836 655707 656032 2024
58 59 Geology 35904 650730 656033 2024
59 60 Golf 35905 649742 656034 2024
122 61 Graphic Arts 35906 655693 656035 2013 2024
161 155 Health Care Professions 35975 35975 656817 2021 2021
61 62 Hiking (Eagle) {English} 35907 655700 656036 2016 2023
{Spanlish} 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 2024
65 66 Insect Study 35911 649244 656041 2024
144 67 Inventing 35833 654378 656042 2024
66 68 Journalism 35912 629415 656043 2024
149 136 Kayaking 35702 650732 656044 2024
67 69 Landscape Architecture
(Architecture and Landscape Architecture Pamphlet)
35857 655137 656079 2014 2017
68 70 Law 35913 650871 656045 2024
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 2024
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 2024
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 2024
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 2024
{Spanish}
82 86 Pets 35929 655189 656064 2013 2013
83 87 Photography 35930 655192 656065 2021 2024
84 88 Pioneering 35931 655712 656066 2022 2022
85 89 Plant Science 35932 641677 656067 2024
86 90 Plumbing 35933 655193 656068 2012 2017
87 91 Pottery 35934 35934 656069 2008 2024
153 144 Programming 35710 655193 656070 2022 2024
89 92 Public Health 35935 650737 656071 2021 2024
90 93 Public Speaking 35936 655689 656072 2013 2003
91 94 Pulp and Paper 35937 649748 656073 2024
93 95 Radio 35938 655194 656074 2024
94 96 Railroading 35939 649659 656075 2022 2024
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 2024
99 102 Salesmanship 35945 650739 656081 2023
100 104 Scholarship 35946 650740 656082 2024
143 103 Scouting Heritage 35970 650741 656083 2024
138 105 Scuba Diving 35969 35969 656084 2009 2009
101 106 Sculpture 35947 650742 656085 2024
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 2024
105 109 Small Boat Sailing 35950 649749 656090 2018 2023
135 110 Snow Sports 35951 655196 656091 2024
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 2024
109 115 Surveying
35956 35956 656096 2004 2024
152 142 Sustainability (Eagle) {English} 35711 654372 656097 2024
{Spanish}
14 116 Swimming (Eagle) {English} 35957 650745 656098 2024
{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   2007
115 123 Water Sports 35963 649657 656104 2016
116 124 Weather 35964 650748 656105 2024
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 may occur during the preceding year.

Year that Current Requirements were first published in the Scouts BSA Requirements book
2024
American Labor 2024
Animal Science 2024
Archaeology 2024
Architecture 2024
Art 2024
Athletics 2024
Automotive Maintenance 2024
Aviation 2024
Backpacking 2024
Basketry 2024
Bird Study 2024
Bugling 2024
Camping 2024
Canoeing 2024
Chemistry 2024
Coin Collecting 2024
Composite Materials 2024
Cooking 2024
Crime Prevention 2024
Digital Technology 2024
Drafting 2024
Energy 2024
Engineering 2024
Environmental Science 2024
Exploration 2024
Fire Safety 2024
First Aid 2024
Fishing 2024
Fly Fishing 2024
Forestry 2024
Genealogy 2024
Geocaching 2024
Geology 2024
Golf 2024
Graphic Arts 2024
Indian Lore 2024
Insect Study 2024
Journalism 2024
Kayaking 2024
Law 2024
Lifesaving 2024
Mining in Society 2024
Moviemaking 2024
Nuclear Science 2024
Personal Fitness 2024
Photography 2024
Plant Science 2024
Pottery 2024
2024
Programming 2024
Public Health 2024
Pulp & Paper 2024
Radio 2024
Railroading 2024
Safety 2024
Scholarship 2024
Scouting Heritage 2024
Sculpture 2024
Snow Sports 2024
Stamp Collecting 2024
Surveying 2024
Sustainability 2024
Swimming 2024
Weather 2024
2023
American Business 2023
Archery 2023
Cycling 2023
Disabilities Awareness 2023
Emergency Preparedness 2023
Family Life 2023
Farm Mechanics 2023
Game Design 2023
Hiking 2023
Mammal Study 2023
Nature 2023
Reptile and Amphibian Study 2023
Salesmanship 2023
Sports 2023
2022
Animation 2022
Astronomy 2022
Citizenship in Society 2022
Citizenship in the Nation 2022
Climbing 2022
Dentistry 2022
Health Care Professions 2022
Pioneering 2022
Reading 2022
Traffic Safety 2022
2021
Collections 2021
Electricity 2021
Electronics 2021
Fish & Wildlife Management 2021
Motorboating 2021
Rowing 2021
Theater 2021
Woodwork 2021
2020
American Heritage 2020
Model Design and Building 2020
Painting 2020
Space Exploration 2020
Whitewater 2020
2019
Communication 2019
Rifle Shooting 2019
Search and Rescue 2019
Soil & Water Conservation 2019
Welding 2019
2018
Gardening 2018
Wilderness Survival 2018
2017
Dog Care 2017
Landscape Architecture 2017
Leatherwork 2017
Music 2017
Plumbing 2017
Wood Carving 2017
2016
Citizenship in the Community 2016
Citizenship in the World 2016
2015
Signs, Signals, and Codes 2015
Water Sports 2015
2014
Entrepreneurship 2017
Horsemanship 2017
Shotgun Shooting 2017
2013
Chess 203
Home Repairs 2013
Oceanography 2013
Orienteering; 2013
Pets 2013
2011
Robotics 2011
2009
Scuba Diving 2009
2008
Metalwork 2008
2006
American Cultures 2006
Truck Transportation 2006
Veterinary Medicine 2006
2004
Fingerprinting 2004
Textile 2004

Page updated on: February 09, 2024



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