ELECTRONICS


REQUIREMENTS were REVISED effective January 1, 2004.

The requirements below appear in the new edition of the Electronics merit badge pamphlet which was issued in 2003. However, the changes did not appear in the 2004 Boy Scout Requirements Book, even though the badge was listed as having been revised. The omission was an editorial error.

New text is in bold underlined text like this sentence.
Deleted portions are struck through italic text like this sentence.

Click Here for the OLD requirements.

To see the NEW requirements without the changes highlighted,
Click Here


  1. Describe the safety precautions you must exercise when using, building, altering, or repairing electronic devices.
  2. 1. Do the following:
    1. Draw a simple schematic diagram. It must show resistors, capacitors, and transistors or integrated circuits, Use the correct symbols. Label all parts.
    2. Tell the purpose of each part.
  3. 2.  Do the following:
    1. Show the right way to solder and desolder unsolder.
    2. Show how to avoid heat damage to electronic components.
    3. Tell about the function of a printed circuit board. Tell what precautions should be observed when soldering printed circuit boards.
  4. 3. Discuss each of the following with your merit badge counselor, and then choose Select ONE of the following and build a circuit to show the techniques used:
    1. Tell how you can use electronics for a control purpose, and then build a control device circuit. Build a circuit to show this.
    2. Tell about the basic principles of digital techniques, and then build a digital circuit. Show how to change three decimal numbers into binary numbers, and. Show how to change three binary numbers into decimal numbers. Build a circuit to show digital techniques.
    3. Tell about three audio applications of electronics, and then build an audio circuit. Build a circuit to show audio techniques.

    Show how to read the schematic diagram of the project you choose and, to the best of your ability, explain to your counselor how the circuit you built operates.
    4. Do the following for the project you built in requirement 3:

    1. Show how to read the schematic diagram of the project.
    2. Show how the project works. To the best of your ability, tell how it operates.
  5. Do the following:
    1. Show how to solve a simple problem involving current, voltage, and resistance using Ohm's law.
    2. Tell about the need for and the use of test equipment in electronics.  Name three types of test equipment. Tell how they operate.
    3. Tell about three jobs in electronics. Tell what training is needed for each job.
  6. Find out about three career opportunities in electronics that interest you. Discuss with and explain to your counselor what training and education are needed for each position.

BSA Advancement ID#: 44
Pamphlet Revision Date: 2003
Requirements last revised in 2003


Page updated on: November 18, 2021



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