The biggest reward of participating in Scouting comes from the fun you have and the skills you learn. We use Rank Advancement as concrete recognition of those accomplishments. There are seven ranks in Scouting:
- Scout
- Tenderfoot
- Second Class
- First Class
- Star
- Life
- Eagle
As a Scout, it is your responsibility to know the rank requirements and to make sure you have an authorized adult or Scout sign off on the requirements when you can demonstrate the skill needed to complete the requirement. Leaders and other Scouts may not ask you to sign off on a requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rank Advancement
Rank Advancement
In Scouts BSA, there is only one set time requirement for earning Ranks. Any Scout wishing to become an Eagle Scout must complete all requirements (except the Eagle Scout Board of Review) by their 18th birthday. All other ranks can be earned at the Scout’s own pace.
Keep in mind that several ranks have requirements that include a minimum amount of time to complete. These include:
- Tenderfoot Requirements 6b and 6c (30 days)
- Second Class Requirement 7a (4 weeks)
- First Class Requirement 8a (4 weeks)
- Star Requirements 1 and 5 (4 months)
- Life Requirements 1 and 5 (6 months)
- Eagle Requirements 1 and 4 (6 months)
Many ranks also include requirements to participate in a specific number of Service Hours and Troop activities (including outdoor activities). These could add to the time needed to complete each rank based on the Troop’s schedule and Scout’s participation in these activities.
Finally, required and non-required merit badges must be earned for the Star, Life, and Eagle ranks. Some merit badges include requirements that must be completed for a specific period of time. (For example, Personal Fitness includes a requirement to develop and follow a 12 week fitness program. Family Life includes a requirement for the Scout to list home duties and chores and show that they have been completed over 90 days.)
Individual ranks must be earned sequentially (you must earn the Scout Rank before earning Tenderfoot, Tenderfoot before Second Class, etc.) However requirements may be worked on concurrently unless otherwise stated by the requirements.
Scout, Tenderfoot, Second and First Class rank requirements can be worked on at the same time except for the Scoutmaster Conference and Board or Review requirements. The Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review requirements must be completed after earning the previous rank. It is possible to have completed the non Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review requirements for the Second and First Class ranks but be unable to earn the ranks if a Tenderfoot requirement has not yet been completed.
Rank requirements for Star, Life and Eagle Scout must be completed after earning the previous rank. The exception to this rule are the merit badge requirements. Scouts may begin working on merit badges as soon as they join Scouts BSA and merit badges are applied to the rank requirements regardless of when they were earned.
Per the BSA’s Guide to Advancement:
That means that Leaders and Merit Badge Counselors are not permitted to add to, modify, or remove from the approved list of merit badge or rank requirements as published by the BSA. Some limited exceptions are permitted for Scouts with special needs.
REMEMBER: Advancement requirements must be passed as written. For example, if a requirement uses words like “show,” “demonstrate,” or “discuss,” then the leader / counselor should expect that the Scout show, demonstrate or discuss the requirement and would be appropriate if they rejected a completed worksheet as proof that the requirement had been completed. (Guide to Advancement 4.2.0.1)
Scouts should immediately inform the Scoutmaster, Troop Committee, or Council representative if leader or Merit Badge counselor takes any action that conflicts with the Guide to Advancement.
Your Scout Handbook is the primary record of your advancement requirements. The requirements are documented started on page 440. There is space for leaders and other Scouts to initial and date showing you have successfully demonstrated completion of the requirement.
Adult leaders may also track completion of requirements in TroopTrack. This provides our leadership with a quick glance look at a Scout’s advancement requirements and helps to ensure focus is provided to help Scouts achieve their next rank. Ideally, Adult Leaders will update TroopTrack at the same time as signing off on requirements in your Scout Handbook. However, an adult leader may period ask to see your handbook in order to true up TroopTrack with your requirement completion.
Every Rank in Scouts BSA has a requirement that a Scout participate in a Scoutmaster Conference and, with the exception of the Scout Rank, a Board of Review.
Scoutmaster Conference
The Scoutmaster Conference is a meeting between the Scout and the Scoutmaster (or their delegate) that allows the Scoutmaster to review:
- a Scout’s growth in his understanding of Scouting’s ideals
- how the Scout applies these ideals in his daily life and in the troop
- the requirements of the Scout’s next rank so that he can be properly encouraged
The Scoutmaster Conference is not a retest of the Scout’s completion of the requirements, however the Scoutmaster may ask questions about the Scout to ensure they have developed the skills needed for future ranks.
Board of Review
The purpose of a Board of Review is to determine the quality of the Scout’s experience and decide whether the requirements for the rank have been fulfilled. If so, the board not only approves the Scout’s advancement but also provides encouragement to continue the quest for the next rank.
Boards of Review are conducted by 3 to 6 committee members that are not the Scout’s parents, relatives, or guardians. The Scoutmaster is permitted to attend as an observer but is not an active participant unless called upon.
Boards of Review should not become a retest or “examination” or a challenge of the Scout’s knowledge. In most cases it should, instead, be a celebration of accomplishment.
Requesting a Scoutmaster Conference or Board of Review
Scouts may request a Scoutmaster Conference or Board of Review at any time when they are confident the requirements for their rank have been achieved. Adult leadership will do their best to accommodate requests in a timely fashion.
It is strongly encouraged that Scouts request a Scoutmaster Conference / Board of Review at least one week in advance since these meetings require multiple adults to participate. This can be done in person at a Troop meeting or by submitting a form on the Troop website.
REMEMBER:
- Scouts should come to the Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review prepared to demonstrate the skills they learned in the rank they are pursuing and any prior rank. This includes bringing any supplies needed to demonstrate the skills.
- A Board of Review should be requested after Scout has completed the Scoutmaster Conference requirement.
At Troop 457, rank requirements may be signed off by:
- Any registered leader
- Any Scout who has earned at least 2 ranks higher than the rank in which the requirement is being signed off (i.e., a Scout rank requirement may be signed off by a Scout who holds at least the Second Class rank, Tenderfoot requirements may be signed off by a Scout with the First Class rank or higher)
Parents or guardians are involved at home encouraging, mentoring, and supporting, but they do not sign for rank advancement requirements unless they serve as registered leaders and have been designated by the unit leader to approve advancement. (Guide to Advancement Section 4.2.0.0)
As a general rule of thumb, Troop 457 encourages Scouts to have rank requirements signed off by leaders who are not related to or guardians of the Scout.
On January 1, 2023 the BSA revised Scout and Star rank requirements (#6) as follows (edits in red):
With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide and earn the Cyber Chip Award for your grade or view the Personal Safety Awareness videos ( with your parent or Guardian’s permission)
There are two components of this requirement.
How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parents Guide
Parents and Scouts should read the Youth Protection pamphlet that is included at the front of your Scout’s Handbook. (An online version is available here.)
Discuss the questions at the end of the pamphlet and make sure everyone understands what the BSA’s policies are regarding youth protection.
Cyber Chip / Personal Safety Awareness videos
The BSA is phasing out the Cyber Chip program in favor of the Personal Safety Awareness videos so the Troop encourages our Scouts to watch these videos on Scouting.org.
The Troop typically spends one or two meetings each year for Scouts to watch the Personal Safety Awareness videos. If a Scout misses one of those meetings, they can watch these videos on Scouting.org.
After Completing These Activities
Once a Scout has completed the pamphlet exercises and watched the Personal Safety Awareness videos, parents should email the Scoutmaster to inform him the Scout has completed the requirement. At our next Troop meeting, the Scoutmaster or other leader may ask some quick questions to confirm understanding before approving the requirement.