Merit Badge History

Since 1910, BSA has offered hundreds of merit badges. The following is a list of all of them, together with the years when they were available. Note that in many cases, the same badge was offered under slightly different names and/or with slightly different requirements. Each variation is listed below, through the most recent (Water Sports replacing Waterskiing). For example, Handicapped Awareness, Handicap Awareness, and the current Disability Awareness have all been used for essentially the same badge.

Since around 1986, BSA has assigned a number to each badge for internal recordkeeping purposes. Those numbers are shown below, as well.
Badge names in red italic have been discontinued or the name has changed. Badge names in bold are current.

Merit Badge Name	BSA ID No.	First Offered	Last Offered	Notes
Aerodynamics		1942	1952	Formerly part of Aviation
Aeronautics		1942	1952	Formerly part of Aviation
Agribusiness	120	1987	1995	Formerly Farm & Ranch Management
Agriculture		1911	1975
Airplane Design		1942	1952	Formerly part of Aviation
Airplane Structure		1942	1952	Formerly part of Aviation
Ambulance		1910	1911	Became First Aid
American Business	15	1967	current	Formerly Business
American Cultures	17	1979	current
American Heritage	16	1975	current
American Labor	121	1987	current
Angling		1911	1951	Became Fishing
Animal Industry		1928	1975	Became Animal Science
Animal Science	18	1975	current	Formerly Animal Industry
Archaeology	132	1997	current
Archery	19	1911	current
Architecture	20	1911	current
Art	21	1911	current
Astronomy	22	1911	current
Athletics	23	1911	current
Atomic Energy	24	1963	2004	Became Nuclear Science
Auto Mechanics	127	1992	2008	Became Automotive Maintenance
Automobiling		1911	1963
Automotive Maintenance	127	2008	current	Formerly Auto Mechanics
Automotive Safety		1962	1974	Became Traffic Safety
Aviation		1911	1942	Became Aerodynamics, Aeronautics, Airplane Design, and Airplane Structure
Aviation	25	1952	current
Backpacking	26	1982	current
Basketry	27	1927	current	Formerly part of Craftsmanship
Bee Keeping		1915	1955	Formerly Beefarming Became Beekeeping
Beef Production		1928	1975
Beefarming		1911	1914	Became Bee Keeping
Beekeeping	28	1956	1995	Formerly Bee Keeping
Bird Study	29	1914	current	Formerly Ornithology
Blacksmithing		1911	1952
Bookbinding	30	1927	1987	Formerly part of Craftsmanship Became part of Graphic Arts
Botany	31	1921	1995
Bugling	32	1911	current
Business		1911	1966	Formerly Clerk Became American Business
Camping	1	1911	current
Canoeing	33	1927	current
Carpentry		1911	1952
Historic Carpentry	139	2010	2010	Historic Program for 2010 only
Cement Work		1927	1952	Formerly part of Craftsmanship
Chemistry	34	1911	current
Chess	147	2011	current
Cinematography	126	1990	current
Citizenship (Civics)		1947	1951	Formerly Civics Became Citizenship in the Community Citizenship in the Home and Citizenship in the Nation
Citizenship in the Community	2	1952	current	Formerly part of Citizenship (Civics)
Citizenship in the Home		1952	1972	Formerly part of Citizenship (Civics)
Citizenship in the Nation	3	1951	current	Formerly part of Citizenship (Civics)
Citizenship in the World	4	1972	current	Formerly World Brotherhood
Citrus Fruit Culture		1931	1952
Civics		1911	1946	Became Citizenship (Civics)
Clerk		1910	1911	Became Business
Climbing	133	1997	current
Coin Collecting	35	1938	current
Collections	128	1991	current
Communications	5	1965	current
Composite Materials	137	2006	current
Computers	36	1967	current
Conservation		1911	1952
Conservation of Natural Resources		1966	1972	Became Environmental Science
Consumer Buying	37	1975	1995
Cooking	38	1911	current
Corn Farming		1928	1975
Cotton Farming		1931	1975
Craftsmanship		1911	1926	Became Basketry, Bookbinding, Cement Work, Leathercraft, Metalwork, Pottery, Wood Carving, and Woodwork,
Crime Prevention	131	1996	current
Cycling	39	1911	current	Formerly Cyclist
Cyclist		1910	1911	Became Cycling
Dairying		1911	1975
Dentistry	40	1975	current
Disabilities Awareness	60	1993	current	Formerly Handicap Awareness
Dog Care	41	1938	current
Drafting	42	1965	current	Formerly Mechanical Drawing
Dramatics		1932	1966	Became Theater
Electrician		1910	1911	Became Electricity
Electricity	43	1911	current	Formerly Electrician
Electronics	44	1963	current
Emergency Preparedness	6	1972	current
Energy	45	1976	current
Engineering	46	1967	current
Entrepreneurship	134	1997	current
Environmental Science	7	1972	current	Formerly Conservation of Natural Resources
Family Life	129	1991	current
Farm & Ranch Management	47	1980	1987	Formerly Farm Records Became Agribusiness
Farm Arrangement		1960	1973	Formerly Farm Home & Its Planning and Farm Layout & Building Arrangements Became Farm Arrangements
Farm Arrangements		1974	1979	Formerly Farm Arrangement
Farm Home & Its Planning		1928	1959	Became part of Farm Arrangement
Farm Layout & Building Arrangements		1928	1959	Became part of Farm Arrangement
Farm Mechanics	48	1928	current
Farm Records		1959	1980	Formerly Farm Records & Bookkeeping Became Farm & Ranch Management
Farm Records & Bookkeeping		1928	1958	Became Farm Records
Fingerprinting	49	1938	current
Fire Safety	50	1995	current	Formerly Firemanship
Firemanship	50	1911	1995	Became Fire Safety
First Aid	8	1911	current	Formerly Ambulance
First Aid To Animals		1911	1972	Became Veterinary Science
Fish & Wildlife Management	51	1972	current	Formerly Wildlife Management
Fishing	52	1952	current	Formerly Angling
Fly Fishing	136	2002	current
Food Systems	53	1978	1987
Forage Crops		1959	1975	Formerly Grasses, Legumes, & Forage Crops
Forestry	54	1911	current
Foundry Practice		1923	1952
Fruit & Nut Growing		1953	1975
Fruit Culture		1928	1954
Gardener		1910	1911	Became Gardening
Gardening	55	1911	current	Formerly Gardener
Genealogy	56	1972	current
General Science	57	1972	1995
Geocaching	145	2010	current
Geology	58	1953	current	Formerly Rocks & Minerals
Golf	59	1976	current
Graphic Arts	122	1987	current	Formerly Printing/Communications and Bookbinding
Grasses, Legumes, & Forage Crops		1938	1958	Became Forage Crops
Handicap Awareness	60	1985	1993	Formerly Handicapped Awareness Became Disabilities Awareness
Handicapped Awareness		1980	1985	Became Handicap Awareness
Handicraft		1911	1942	Became Home Repairs
Hiking	61	1921	current
Hog & Pork Production		1928	1958	Became Hog Production
Hog Production		1959	1975	Formerly Hog & Pork Production
Home Repairs	62	1943	current	Formerly Handicraft
Horseman		1910	1911	Became Horsemanship
Horsemanship	63	1911	current	Formerly Horseman
Indian Lore	64	1931	current
Insect Life	65	1923	1987	Became Insect Study
Insect Study	65	1987	current	Formerly Insect Life
Interpreting		1911	1952
Invention		1911	1917
Inventing	144	2010	current
Journalism	66	1927	current
Landscape Architecture	67	1967	current	Formerly Landscaping
Landscape Gardening		1930	1958	Became Landscaping
Landscaping		1959	1966	Formerly Landscape Gardening Became Landscape Architecture
Law	68	1974	current
Leather Work		1928	1951	Became Leatherwork
Leathercraft		1927	1952	Formerly part of Craftsmanship
Leatherwork	69	1951	current	Formerly Leather Work
Leatherworking		1911	1927	Became Leathercraft
Life Saving		1911	1959	Became Lifesaving
Lifesaving	9	1959	current	Formerly Life Saving
Machinery	70	1911	1995
Mammal Study	71	1987	current	Formerly Mammals
Mammals	71	1972	1987	Became Mammal Study
Marksman		1910	1911	Became Marksmanship
Marksmanship		1911	1966	Formerly Marksman Became Rifle & Shotgun Shooting
Masonry	72	1911	1995
Master-at-Arms		1910	1911
Mechanical Drawing		1933	1964	Became Drafting
Medicine	130	1991	current
Metallurgy		1965	1971	Became Metals Engineering
Metals Engineering	73	1972	1995	Formerly Metallurgy
Metalwork	74	1927	current	Formerly part of Craftsmanship
Mining		1911	1937	Became Rocks & Minerals
Model Design & Building	75	1963	current
Motorboating	76	1961	current
Music	77	1911	current	Formerly Musician
Musician		1910	1911	Became Music
Nature	78	1952	current
Nuclear Science	24	2005	current	Formerly Atomic Energy
Nut Culture		1928	1954
Oceanography	79	1964	current
Orienteering	80	1973	current
Ornithology		1911	1913	Became Bird Study
Painting	81	1911	current
Pathfinding		1911	1952
Historic Pathfinding	140	2010	2010	Historic Program for 2010 only
Personal Finances		1962	1971	Became Personal Management
Personal Fitness	10	1952	current	Formerly Personal Health and Physical Development
Personal Health		1911	1952	Became part of Personal Fitness
Personal Management	11	1972	current	Formerly Personal Finances
Pets	82	1958	current
Photography	83	1911	current
Physical Development		1914	1952	Became part of Personal Fitness
Pigeon Raising		1933	1980
Pioneer		1910	1911	Became Pioneering
Pioneering	84	1911	current	Formerly Pioneer
Plant Science	85	1974	current
Plumbing	86	1911	current
Pottery	87	1927	current	Formerly part of Craftsmanship
Poultry Farming		1911	1913	Became Poultry Keeping
Poultry Keeping		1914	1975	Formerly Poultry Farming
Printing		1911	1981	Became Printing/Communications
Printing/Communications	88	1982	1987	Formerly Printing Became part of Graphic Arts
Public Health	89	1911	current
Public Speaking	90	1932	current
Pulp & Paper	91	1972	current
Rabbit Raising	92	1943	1993
Radio	93	1923	current	Formerly Wireless
Railroading	94	1952	current
Reading	95	1929	current
Reptile & Amphibian Study	96	1993	current	Formerly Reptile Study
Reptile Study	96	1927	1993	Formerly Reptiles Became Reptile and Amphibian Study
Reptiles		1926	1926	Became Reptile Study
Rifle & Shotgun Shooting	97	1967	1987	Formerly Marksmanship Became Rifle Shooting and Shotgun Shooting
Rifle Shooting	123	1987	current	Formerly part of Rifle & Shotgun Shooting
Robotics	146	2011	current
Rocks & Minerals		1937	1953	Formerly Mining Became Geology
Rowing	98	1933	current
Safety	12	1927	current	Formerly Safety First
Safety First		1916	1926	Became Safety
Salesmanship	99	1927	current
Scholarship	100	1911	current
Scouting Heritage	143	2010	current
Scuba Diving	138	2009	current
Sculpture	101	1911	current
Seaman		1910	1911	Became Seamanship
Seamanship		1911	1964	Formerly Seaman Became Small Boat Sailing
Sheep Farming		1928	1975
Shotgun Shooting	124	1987	current	Formerly part of Rifle & Shotgun Shooting
Signaling	102	1911	1991	Formerly Signaller
Historic Signaling	141	2010	2010	Historic Program for 2010 only
Signaller		1910	1911	Became Signaling
Skating	103	1973	current
Skiing	104	1938	1999	Became Snow Sports
Small Boat Sailing	105	1964	current	Formerly Seamanship
Small Grains		1959	1975	Formerly Small Grains & Cereal Foods
Small Grains & Cereal Foods		1943	1958	Became Small Grains
Snow Sports	135	1999	current	Formerly Skiing
Soil & Water Conservation	106	1952	current	Formerly Soil Management
Soil Management		1928	1952	Became Soil & Water Conservation
Space Exploration	107	1965	current
Sports	13	1972	current
Stalker		1910	1911	Became Stalking
Stalking		1911	1952	Formerly Stalker
Stamp Collecting	108	1931	current
Surveying	109	1911	current
Swimming	14	1911	current
Taxidermy		1911	1952
Textile	110	1973	current	Formerly Textiles
Textiles		1927	1972	Became Textile
Theater	111	1967	current	Formerly Dramatics
Historic Tracking	142	2010	2010	Historic Program for 2010 only (Original name was Stalking)
Traffic Safety	112	1975	current	Formerly Automotive Safety
Truck Transportation	113	1973	current
Veterinary Medicine	114	1995	current	Formerly Veterinary Science
Veterinary Science	114	1973	1995	Formerly First Aid to Animals Became Veterinary Medicine
Waterskiing	115	1969	2007	Became Water Sports
Water Sports	115	2007	current	Formerly Water Skiing
Weather	116	1927	current
Welding	148	2012	current
Whitewater	125	1987	current
Wilderness Survival	117	1973	current
Wildlife Management		1952	1972	Became Fish & Wildlife Management
Wireless		1919	1923	Became radio
Wood Carving	118	1927	current	Formerly part of Craftsmanship
Wood Turning		1930	1952
Woodwork	119	1927	current	Formerly part of Craftsmanship
World Brotherhood		1952	1972	Became Citizenship in the World
Zoology		1930	1972

Thanks to Steve Henning for the original research used to develop this page.

Page updated on: March 25, 2012