The Boy Scouts of America has announced changes to rank advancement and merit badge requirements effective January 1, 2023. Scouts who have:
- Already completed these ranks or rank requirements are NOT required to re-complete them with the new requirements.
- Obtained a blue card and contacted a counselor for a merit badge listed below may continue to follow the old requirements until completion (per the BSA Guide to Advancement Section 7.0.4.3).
- Otherwise, the updated requirements should be completed as shared below.
UPDATED REQUIREMENTS
- Scout – First Class and Eagle Scout Rank Requirement Changes: Many of the changes made are minor wording changes, however Scouts should not the following key changes:
- Introduction of “Citizenship in Society” as the 14th required merit badge to become an Eagle Scout
- Additional focus on the “Leave No Trace” principles in the Scout – First Class requirements.
- New Merit Badge requirements have been posted on Scouting.org for the following merit badges:
- American Business (2c)
- Animal Science (1, Avian Option a, c, e)
- Archery (1a, b, c, d, 3b, 4a, b, c, d, 5ac, 5af1cd, 5bc, 5bf1cd)
- Architecture (1b)
- Composite Materials (1c 3a)
- Cooking (2c, d, 4a, 5b, d, e, g, 6a, f)
- Cycling (1a, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Option A a1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Option B a1, 3, b1, 2, 3, c, d, e)
- Digital Technology (3a, 3e, 4a, 5a, 7c)
- Disabilities Awareness (6)
- Emergency Preparedness (3)
- Environmental Science (3, 3f2, 5)
- Family Life (6b1, 2, 3)
- Farm Mechanics (1d)
- Game Design (1b, 5b, 8a, b)
- Genealogy (1a, b, c, 4a, b, c, d, e, 8b, c)
- Geology (5d2)
- Golf (3, 7g)
- Hiking (2a, b, c, 4, 5)
- Inventing (6b)
- Mammal Study (3a, b, c)
- Nature (4g2, 4h1, 6a, b)
- Personal Fitness (4d)
- Plant Science (8 Option 3 Field Botany A2, B, F1d, F3c1, 2, 3)
- Programming (1b, 3a)
- Reptile and Amphibian Study (3d, 5)
- Salesmanship (2b, 2d, 3, 4, 6a3)
- Small-Boat Sailing (6i, j)
- Snow Sports (2b, 7 Downhill a, h, i; Cross country a, b, d, i; Snowboarding i, k; Snowshoeing e, i, j)
- Sports (5)
- Swimming (5a)
