A Scout may earn merit badges at any time while he is a Scout. There are over a 120 possible merit badges that a Scout may earn. Of those badges, there is a special group of required merit badges that a boy must earn to advance to Star, Life, and Eagle. Earning merit badges often requires a boy to work with a merit badge counselor. Please see your Scout Master or Advancement Coordinator for more information. Before starting a merit badge a Scout must obtain a merit badge blue-card from the Scoutmaster.