Patriots' Path Council
Procedure for Processing Merit Badge Counselor Applications

The purpose of the Merit Badge Counselor Application is to provide a vehicle for registering adults in each of the districts who are found qualified to counsel and approve merit badge(s) for scouts working on advancement. A further purpose is to maintain the merit badge counselor list for each district.
1. Applications should be sent directly by the applicant to the Council Service Center mail or in person. The mailing address is 222 Columbia Tpke, Florham Park, NJ 07932.

2. Only the most recent Merit Badge Counselor Application (as of 10/06) will be accepted. If an older copy of the application is received, the Council Registrar will return the old copy long with a copy of the newest (10/06). An Adult Application MUST accompany it. If the application is found to be incomplete, or is an obsolete form, it will be returned to the applicant with a note of explanation as well as a new merit badge counselor application and/or adult application if needed. All applicants must include the adult registration application whether or not they are registered in another capacity.

3. The Council Registrar will immediately process the adult application, instituting the Criminal Background Check.

4. If the applicant passes the Criminal Background Check, the Merit Badge Counselor Application will be forwarded to the Merit Badge Dean. This will be completed every Friday, when the Council Registrar scans all approved Merit Badge Counselor Applications and then e-mails them to the appropriate deans. The Council Registrar will also send a letter to the applicant that notifies them that the application has been forwarded to their dean. This letter will also include the contact info for their dean.

5. If the applicant does not pass the Criminal Background Check, the application will not be shared with the dean and will be handled via the internal process already established by the Council Executive.

6. The Council Registrar will keep a monthly list of all application approved so that it can be provided to the Council Advancement Committee at its monthly meeting.

Steps 1-6 should take up-to 1 week, during heavy registration months it may take slightly longer.