All worksheets / Veterinary Medicine
Edition 2026Active Merit Badge
Veterinary Medicine
Official Requirements & Fillable Workbook · 2026 Edition
Veterinary Medicine explores animal healthcare, disease prevention, and the clinical work of veterinarians. You will examine animal anatomy, zoonotic illnesses, and veterinary pharmacology. Requirement 6 involves spending time in an active animal hospital or veterinary clinic observing professional patient examinations.
Key Requirements Covered:
- Veterinary Medicine & Clinical Specialties
- Animal Anatomy, Physiology & Vital Signs
- Zoonotic Diseases, Vaccines & Pharmacology
- Clinical Observation, Surgery & Animal Welfare
5Printable Pages
7Requirements
2026Reqs Revised
What is on the worksheet: Veterinary Medicine Requirements
Every requirement for the Veterinary Medicine merit badge, word for word as published, with room to write under each one on the printed worksheet.
1Roles in Animal Medicine
Discuss with your counselor the roles a veterinarian plays in the following:
- a Companion or small animal medicine, and equine medicine
- b Food animal or large animal medicine
- c Exotic animal medicine
- d Marine animal medicine (mammal and fish)
- e Poultry medicine
- f Wildlife medicine and aquaculture medicine
2Roles in Public Health and Beyond
Discuss with your counselor the roles a veterinarian plays in the following:
- a Public health medicine and zoonotic disease surveillance and control
- b The military
- c Food safety and inspection
- d Laboratory animal medicine and research
- e Teaching and government
3Becoming a Veterinarian
Describe the training required to become a veterinarian. Where is the veterinary medical college in your state or nearest to you? Describe the prerequisites for applying to veterinary school.
4Veterinary Technicians
Tell your counselor what a registered veterinary technician (R.V.T.) or animal health technician (A.H.T.) is. Describe the training required to become an R.V.T. or A.H.T. Where is the school or training facility for R.V.T. or A.H.T. in your state or nearest to you? Describe the role an R.V.T. or A.H.T. would play in assisting a veterinarian working in three of the practice types listed in requirement 1.
5The Human-Animal Bond
Discuss with your counselor the role a veterinarian plays in the human-animal bond.
6Option Selection
Do ONE of the following:
- a Visit a veterinary clinic, hospital, or veterinary referral teaching hospital that does work in one of the practices listed in requirement 1. Spend as much time as you can observing the veterinarians and their staff. Prepare a presentation on what you observed and learned at the facility and share with your counselor.
- b Spend as much time as possible with a veterinarian who works in one of the fields listed in requirement 2. Learn what special training beyond veterinary medical school may have been required for that position. Learn about any special or unusual activities required of this position. Prepare a presentation and share what you have learned about this field of veterinary medicine with your counselor. Include how this field serves the needs of the general public.
7Careers
Select one career from any of the lists in requirements 1 or 2. Discuss the following with your counselor:
- a Why would one choose this particular career field?
- b What would you like about this job?
- c What would be the biggest challenges in doing this job?
- d What to you has been the most surprising aspect of this job?
- e What continuing education requirements are required to maintain certification for this job?
Two dates, two different things
Requirements Revision vs. Worksheet Date
Scouting America last revised the Veterinary Medicine 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/veterinary-medicine/ 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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