Advancement in Scouts BSA is build on four key steps:

• Learn: Scouts learn and practice the skills needed to complete a rank or merit badge requirement.  This may be done at a troop meeting, an outing, or by the Scout on their own.
• Test: When the Scout feels he has mastered a skill, he asks to be tested on it by a leader, an older Scout, or the Merit Badge Counselor (depending on the type of requirement).  This will be covered in the Rank, Merit Badge, and Other Awards lessons.
• Review: When all of the requirements have been completed for a rank, the Scout participates in a “Board of Review”.  (More of that in the Board of Review lesson.)
• Recognize: After completing the Board of Review or obtaining a Merit Badge Counselor’s approval, the Scout is recognized with a patch or medal that they can wear on their Class A uniform.  (see the Courts of Honor lesson)