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Edition 2026Active Merit Badge
Health Care Professions
Official Requirements & Fillable Workbook · 2026 Edition
Health Care Professions explores the diverse spectrum of medical, nursing, therapy, and diagnostic careers. You will examine the clinical responsibilities, education, and licensing requirements for 12 health care roles across 4 career groups, conduct an informational interview with a healthcare provider at their workplace, analyze medical ethics and the Physician's Oath, study HIPAA patient privacy laws, evaluate recent medical innovations, and volunteer at a community health event.
Key Requirements Covered:
- Healthcare Specialties & Delivery Systems
- Patient Confidentiality & Medical Ethics
- Clinical Diagnostic Tools & Procedures
- Health Careers & Educational Pathways
7Printable Pages
9Requirements
2026Reqs Revised
What is on the worksheet: Health Care Professions Requirements
Every requirement for the Health Care Professions merit badge, word for word as published, with room to write under each one on the printed worksheet.
1Group 1: Primary Diagnosticians and Advanced Clinicians
Select three of the professions from Group 1 listed below which interest you, then complete the following:Group 1: (1) Allopathic physician (MD)—all specialties (2) Osteopathic physician (DO)—all specialties (3) Podiatrist (DPM) (4) Chiropractor (DC) (5) Nurse Practitioner (NP)(6) Psychologist (PhD or PsyD)(7) Optometrist (OD)(8) Audiologist (AudD)
- a Briefly describe to your counselor the roles these professionals play in the delivery of health care.
- b Describe to your counselor the educational and licensing requirements for the professionals you selected.
2Group 2: Nursing, Pharmacy, and Emergency Medical Services
Select three of the professions from Group 2 listed below which interest you, then complete the following:Group 2: (1) Physician Assistant (PA)(2) Registered Nurse (RN)(3) Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)(4) Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)(5) Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN)(6) Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)(7) Pharmacist (PharmD)(8) Pharmacy Technician(9) Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)/Paramedic
- a Briefly describe to your counselor the roles these professionals play in the delivery of health care.
- b Describe to your counselor the educational and licensing requirements for the professionals you selected.
3Group 3: Therapy, Rehabilitation, and Nutrition
Select three of the professions from Group 3 listed below which interest you, then complete the following:Group 3:(1) Physical Therapist (DPT)(2) Occupational Therapist (OT)(3) Orthotist/Prosthetist(4) Medical Appliance Technician(5) Respiratory Therapist (RT)(6) Medical Assistant(7) Dietitian (RD)(8) Speech-Language Pathologist (Speech Therapist) (SLP)
- a Briefly describe to your counselor the roles these professionals play in the delivery of health care.
- b Describe to your counselor the educational and licensing requirements for the professionals you selected.
4Group 4: Biomedical, Diagnostic Imaging, and Laboratory
Select three of the professions from Group 4 listed below which interest you, then complete the following:Group 4:(1) Biomedical Engineer (BME)(2) Medical Technologist(3) Phlebotomist(4) Radiology Technologist(5) Sonographer(6) Medical Records Specialist(7) Cytopathologist(8) Histotechnologist
- a Briefly describe to your counselor the roles these professionals play in the delivery of health care.
- b Describe to your counselor the educational and licensing requirements for the professionals you selected.
5Health Professional Workplace Visit and Interview
Select one career from any of the lists in requirements 1, 2, 3, or 4 and arrange to visit that professional at their workplace. Discuss with your counselor the following:
- a Why did they choose their particular career?
- b What do they most like about their job?
- c What are their biggest challenges in doing their job?
- d Identify the tools/instruments that may be used in their jobs.
- e What has been the most surprising aspect of their career?
- f What continuing education requirements are required to maintain certification?
6The Physician's Oath and Medical Ethics
Discuss with your counselor your understanding of the meaning of the Physician's Oath.
7Patient Confidentiality and HIPAA
Describe the role of confidentiality between a patient and the health care provider. What is HIPAA?
8Recent Medical Advancement or Breakthrough
Identify a medical advancement or discovery that has been in the news recently. Discuss with your counselor how this can affect patient care.
9Community Health Volunteer Service
With your parent or guardian's and counselor's approval, serve as a volunteer at a health-related event or facility in your community (e.g. blood drive, health fair, blood pressure screening event). Report to your counselor what you did and learned from the experience.
Two dates, two different things
Requirements Revision vs. Worksheet Date
Scouting America last revised the Health Care Professions requirements in 2026. That is the badge, not this sheet — an older year does not mean the worksheet is out of date.
Verbatim Fidelity & Verification
This worksheet was checked against https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/health-care-professions/ in Aug 2026 and reproduces the requirements word for word. Both dates are printed on the sheet, so a copy in a binder can always be placed in time.
Requirement text is © Scouting America, reproduced verbatim. The worksheet layout and design are original to this project.
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