Items in BOLD are new for 2008

Boy Scout Joining Requirements

1. Meet age requirements. Be a boy who is 11 years old, or one who has completed the fifth grade or earned the Arrow of Light Award and is at least 10 years old, but is not yet 18 years old.

2. Complete a Boy Scout application and health history signed by your parent or guardian.

3. Find a Scout troop near your home.

4. Repeat the Pledge of Allegiance.

5. Demonstrate the Scout sign, salute, and handshake.

6. Demonstrate tying the square knot (a joining knot).

7. Understand and agree to live by the Scout Oath or Promise, Law, motto, and slogan, and the Outdoor Code.

8. Describe the Scout badge.

9. Complete the pamphlet exercises. With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide.

10. Participate in a Scoutmaster conference. Turn in your Boy Scout application and health history form signed by your parent or guardian, then participate in a Scoutmaster conference.

Tenderfoot Rank Requirements

1.	Present yourself to your leader, properly dressed, before going on an overnight camping trip. Show the camping gear you will use. Show the right way to pack and carry it.
2.	Spend at least one night on a patrol or troop campout. Sleep in a tent you have helped pitch.
3.	On the campout, assist in preparing and cooking one of your patrol's meals. Tell why it is important for each patrol member to share in meal preparation and cleanup, and explain the importance of eating together.
4a.	Demonstrate how to whip and fuse the ends of a rope.
4b.	Demonstrate that you know how to tie the following knots and tell what their uses are: two half hitches and the taut-line hitch.
5.	Explain the rules of safe hiking, both on the highway and cross-country, during the day and at night. Explain what to do if you are lost.
6.	Demonstrate how to display, raise, lower, and fold the American flag.
7.	Repeat from memory and explain in your own words the Scout Oath, Law, motto, and slogan.
8.	Know your patrol name, give the patrol yell, and describe your patrol flag.
9. 9b.	Explain why we use the buddy system in Scouting. Explain the importance of the buddy system as it relates to your personal safety on outings and in your neighborhood. Describe what a bully is and how you should respond to one.
10a.	Record your best in the following tests: Push-ups, Pull-ups, Sit-ups, Standing long jump, 1/4-mile walk/run. Record them again 30 days later.
10b.	Show improvement in the activities listed in requirement 10a after practicing for 30 days.
11.	Identify local poisonous plants; tell how to treat for exposure to them.
12a.	Demonstrate how to care for someone who is choking.
12b.	Show first aid for the following: Simple cuts and scratches Blisters on the hand and foot Minor burns or scalds (first-degree) Bites or stings of insects and ticks Venomous snakebite Nosebleed Frostbite and sunburn
13.	Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
14.	Participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
15.	Complete your board of review.

Notes

Alternate requirements for the Tenderfoot rank are available for Scouts with physical or mental disabilities - click here to learn more.
The requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks may be worked on simultaneously; however, these ranks must be earned in sequence.

Second Class Rank Requirements

1a.	Demonstrate how a compass works and how to orient a map. Explain what map symbols mean.
1b.	Using a compass and a map together, take a five-mile hike (or 10 miles by bike) approved by your adult leader and your parent or guardian. (Note: If you use a wheelchair or crutches, or if it is difficult for you to get around, you may substitute "trip" for "hike.")
2a.	Since joining, have participated in five separate troop/patrol activities (other than troop/patrol meetings), two of which included camping overnight.
2b.	On one of these campouts, select your patrol site and sleep in a tent that you pitched.
2c.	On one campout, demonstrate proper care, sharpening, and use of the knife, saw, and ax, and describe when they should be used.
2d.	Use the tools listed in requirement 2c to prepare tinder, kindling, and fuel for a cooking fire.
2e.	Discuss when it is appropriate to use a cooking fire and a lightweight stove. Discuss the safety procedures for using both.
2f.	Demonstrate how to light a fire and a lightweight stove.
2g.	On one campout, plan and cook over an open fire one hot breakfast or lunch for yourself, selecting foods from the food pyramid. Explain the importance of good nutrition. Tell how to transport, store, and prepare the foods you selected.
3.	Participate in a flag ceremony for your school, religious institution, chartered organization, community, or troop activity.
4.	Participate in an approved (minimum of one hour) service project.
5.	Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of wild animals (birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, mollusks) found in your community.
6a.	Show what to do for "hurry" cases of stopped breathing, serious bleeding, and internal poisoning.
6b.	Prepare a personal first-aid kit to take with you on a hike.
6c.	Demonstrate first aid for the following: Object in the eye Bite of a suspected rabid animal Puncture wounds from a splinter, nail, and fishhook Serious burns (second-degree) Heat exhaustion Shock Heatstroke, dehydration, hypothermia, and hyperventilation
7a.	Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe swim.
7b.	Demonstrate your ability to jump feetfirst into water over your head in depth, level off and swim 25 feet on the surface, stop, turn sharply, resume swimming, then return to your starting place.
7c.	Demonstrate water rescue methods by reaching with your arm or leg, by reaching with a suitable object, and by throwing lines and objects. Explain why swimming rescues should not be attempted when a reaching or throwing rescue is possible, and explain why and how a rescue swimmer should avoid contact with the victim.
8 8b.	Participate in a school, community, or troop program on the dangers of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco and other practices that could be harmful to your health. Discuss your participation in the program with your family. Explain the three R's of personal safety and protection.
9.	Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
10.	Participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
11.	Complete your board of review.

Notes

Alternate requirements for the Second Class rank are available for Scouts with physical or mental disabilities - click here to learn more.

The requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks may be worked on simultaneously; however, these ranks must be earned in sequence.

First Class Rank Requirements

1.	Demonstrate how to find directions during the day and at night without using a compass.
2.	Using a compass, complete an orienteering course that covers at least one mile and requires measuring the height and/or width of designated items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.).
3.	Since joining, have participated in 10 separate troop/patrol activities (other than troop/patrol meetings), three of which included camping overnight.
4a.	Help plan a patrol menu for one campout that includes at least one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner, and that requires cooking at least two of the meals. Tell how the menu includes the foods from the food pyramid and meets nutritional needs.
4b.	Using the menu planned in requirement 4a, make a list showing the cost and food amounts needed to feed three or more boys and secure the ingredients.
4c.	Tell which pans, utensils, and other gear will be needed to cook and serve these meals.
4d.	Explain the procedures to follow in the safe handling and storage of fresh meats, dairy products, eggs, vegetables, and other perishable food products. Tell how to properly dispose of camp garbage, cans, plastic containers, and other rubbish.
4e.	On one campout, serve as your patrol's cook. Supervise your assistant(s) in using a stove or building a cooking fire. Prepare the breakfast, lunch, and dinner planned in requirement 4a. Lead your patrol in saying grace at the meals and supervise cleanup.
5.	Visit and discuss with a selected individual approved by your leader (elected official, judge, attorney, civil servant, principal, teacher) your constitutional rights and obligations as a U.S. citizen.
6.	Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of native plants found in your community.
7a.	Discuss when you should and should not use lashings.
7b.	Demonstrate tying the timber hitch and clove hitch and their use in square, shear, and diagonal lashings by joining two or more poles or staves together.
7c.	Use lashing to make a useful camp gadget.
8a.	Demonstrate tying the bowline knot and describe several ways it can be used.
8b.	Demonstrate bandages for a sprained ankle and for injuries on the head, the upper arm, and the collarbone.
8c.	Show how to transport by yourself, and with one other person, a person From a smoke-filled room With a sprained ankle, for at least 25 yards
8d.	Tell the five most common signs of a heart attack. Explain the steps (procedures) in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
9a.	Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe trip afloat.
9b.	Successfully complete the BSA swimmer test.
9c.	With a helper and a practice victim, show a line rescue both as tender and as rescuer. (The practice victim should be approximately 30 feet from shore in deep water.)
10.	Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
11 12.	Tell someone who is eligible to join Boy Scouts, or an inactive Boy Scout, about your troop's activities. Invite him to a troop outing, activity, service project, or meeting. Tell him how to join, or encourage the inactive Boy Scout to become active. Describe the three things you should avoid doing related to the use of the Internet. Describe a cyberbully and how you should respond to one.
13.	Participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
14.	Complete your board of review.

Notes

Alternate requirements for the First Class rank are available for Scouts with physical or mental disabilities - click here to learn more.

The requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks may be worked on simultaneously; however, these ranks must be earned in sequence.

Alternate Requirements: Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class Ranks

A Scout who is unable to complete any or all of the requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, or First Class rank because he is physically or mentally disabled may complete alternative requirements if the following criteria are met:

1. The physical or mental disability must be of a permanent rather than a temporary nature.

2. A clear and concise medical statement concerning the Scout's disabilities must be submitted by a physician licensed to practice medicine. In the alternative, an evaluation statement certified by an educational administrator may be submitted. The medical statement must state the doctor's opinion that the Scout cannot complete the requirement(s) because of a permanent disability.

3. The Scout, his parents, or leaders must submit to the council advancement committee, a written request that the Scout be allowed to complete alternate requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, or First Class rank. The request must explain the suggested alternate requirements in sufficient detail so as to allow the advancement committee to make a decision. The request must also include the medical statement required in paragraph two above. The written request for alternate requirements must be submitted to and approved by the local council prior to completing alternate requirements.

4. The Scout must complete as many of the regular requirements as his ability permits before applying for alternate requirements.

5. The alternate requirements must be of such a nature that they are as demanding of effort as the regular requirements.

6. When alternate requirements involve physical activity, they must be approved by the physician.

7. The unit leader and any board of review must explain that to attain Tenderfoot, Second Class, or First Class rank a candidate is expected to do his best in developing himself to the limit of his resources.

The written request must be approved by the council advancement committee, utilizing the expertise of professional persons involved in Scouting for disabled youth. The decision of the council advancement committee should be recorded and delivered to the Scout and his leader.

Star Rank Requirements

1.	Be active in your troop and patrol for at least four months as a First Class Scout.
2.	Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
3.	Earn six merit badges, including any four from the required list for Eagle. (See the Eagle Rank Requirements, number 3, for this list.) A Scout may choose any of the 15 required merit badges in the 12 categories to fulfill this requirement.
4.	While a First Class Scout, take part in service projects totaling at least six hours of work. These projects must be approved by your Scoutmaster.
5.	While a First Class Scout, serve actively for four months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility (or carry out a Scoutmaster-assigned leadership project to help the troop): Boy Scout troop. Patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, troop guide, Order of the Arrow troop representative, den chief, scribe, librarian, historian, quartermaster, bugler, junior assistant Scoutmaster, chaplain aide, or instructor. Varsity Scout team. Captain, co-captain, program manager, squad leader, team secretary, Order of the Arrow troop representative, librarian, historian, quartermaster, chaplain aide, instructor, or den chief. Venturing crew/ship. President, vice president, secretary, treasurer, boatswain, boatswain's mate, yeoman, purser, or storekeeper.
6.	Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.
7.	Complete your board of review.

Life Rank Requirements

1.	Be active in your troop and patrol for at least six months as a Star Scout.
2.	Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
3.	Earn five more merit badges (so that you have 11 in all), including any three more from the required list for Eagle. (See the Eagle Rank Requirements, number 3, for this list.) A Scout may choose any of the 15 required merit badges in the 12 categories to fulfill this requirement.
4.	While a Star Scout, take part in service projects totaling at least six hours of work. These projects must be approved by your Scoutmaster.
5.	While a Star Scout, serve actively for six months in one or more of the troop positions of responsibility listed in requirement 5 for Star Scout (or carry out a Scoutmaster-assigned leadership project to help the troop).
6.	Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.
7.	Complete your board of review.

Letters of Recommendation

* Educator
* Employer
* Parent or Guardian

Eagle Rank Requirements

1.	Be active in your troop, team, crew, or ship for a period of at least six months after you have achieved the rank of Life Scout.
2.	Demonstrate that you live by the principles of the Scout Oath and Law in your daily life. List the names of individuals who know you personally and would be willing to provide a recommendation on your behalf, including parents/guardians, religious, educational, and employer references.
3.	Earn a total of 21 merit badges (10 more than you already have), including the following: a. First Aid b. Citizenship in the Community c. Citizenship in the Nation d. Citizenship in the World e. Communications f. Personal Fitness g. Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving h. Environmental Science i. Personal Management j. Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling k. Camping l. Family Life You must choose only one merit badge listed in items g and j. If you have earned more than one of the badges listed in items g and j, choose one and list the remaining badges to make your total of 21.
4.	While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of six months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility: Boy Scout troop. Patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, troop guide, Order of the Arrow troop representative, den chief, scribe, librarian, historian, quartermaster, junior assistant Scoutmaster, chaplain aide, or instructor. Varsity Scout team. Captain, cocaptain, program manager, squad leader, team secretary, Order of the Arrow team representative, librarian, quartermaster, chaplain aide, instructor, or den chief. Venturing crew/ship. President, vice president, secretary, treasurer, boatswain, boatswain's mate, yeoman, purser, or storekeeper.
5.	While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. (The project should benefit an organization other than Boy Scouting.) The project plan must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your Scoutmaster and troop committee, and the council or district before you start. You must use the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, BSA publication No. 18-927, in meeting this requirement.
6.	Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.
7.	Successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review.

Notes

AGE REQUIREMENT ELIGIBILITY. Merit badges, badges of rank, and Eagle Palms may be earned by a registered Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Venturer. He may earn these awards until his 18th birthday. Any Venturer who achieved the First Class rank as a Boy Scout in a troop or Varsity Scout in a team may continue working for the Star, Life, and Eagle Scout ranks and Eagle Palms while registered as a Venturer up to his 18th birthday. Scouts and Venturers who have completed all requirements prior to their 18th birthday may be reviewed within three months after that date with no explanation. Boards of review conducted between three and six months after the candidate's 18th birthday must be preapproved by the local council. A statement by an adult explaining the reason for the delay must be attached to the Eagle Scout Rank Application when it is submitted to the Eagle Scout Service. The Boy Scout Division at the national office must be contacted for procedures to follow if a board of review is to be conducted more than six months after a candidate's 18th birthday.

If you have a permanent physical or mental disability, you may become an Eagle Scout by qualifying for as many required merit badges as you can and qualifying for alternative merit badges for the rest. If you seek to become an Eagle Scout under this procedure, you must submit a special application to your local council service center. Your application must be approved by your council advancement committee before you can work on alternative merit badges.

A Scout or Venturer with a disability may work toward rank advancement after he is 18 years of age. See Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures, No. 33088 for details.

Online Resources

The National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) provides a number of online resources to assist Scouts in earning the Eagle rank — including an electronic version of the Eagle Scout Rank Application and the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook — via their Web site at www.nesa.org.

Alternate Requirements: Eagle Scout Rank

1. The Eagle Scout rank may be achieved by a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or qualified* Venturer who has a physical or mental disability by qualifying for alternate merit badges. This does not apply to individual requirements for merit badges. Merit badges are awarded only when all requirements are met as stated.

2. The physical or mental disability must be of a permanent rather than a temporary nature.

3. A clear and concise medical statement concerning the Scout's disabilities must be made by a physician licensed to practice medicine, or an evaluation statement must be certified by an educational administrator.

4. The candidate must earn as many of the required merit badges as his ability permits before applying for an alternate Eagle Scout rank merit badge.

5. The candidate must complete as many of the requirements of the required merit badges as his ability permits.

6. The Application for Alternate Eagle Scout Award Merit Badges, No. 58-730, must be completed prior to qualifying for alternate merit badges.

7. The alternate merit badges chosen must be of such a nature that they are as demanding of effort as the required merit badges.

8. When alternates chosen involve physical activity, they must be approved by the physician.

9. The unit leader and the board of review must explain that to attain the Eagle Scout rank a candidate is expected to do his best in developing himself to the limit of his resources.

10. The application must be approved by the council committee responsible for advancement, utilizing the expertise of professional persons involved in Scouting for the disabled.

11. The candidate's application for Eagle must be made on the Eagle Scout Rank Application, with the Application for Alternate Eagle Scout Award Merit Badges attached.

* In order for a Venturer to be an Eagle candidate, he must have achieved the First Class rank as a Boy Scout or Varsity Scout.

Eagle Palms

After becoming an Eagle Scout, you may earn Palms by completing the following requirements:

1. Be active in your troop and patrol for at least three months after becoming an Eagle Scout or after award of last Palm. (Eagle Palms must be earned in sequence, and the three-month tenure requirement must be observed for each Palm.)

2. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.

3. Make a satisfactory effort to develop and demonstrate leadership ability.

4. Earn five additional merit badges beyond those required for Eagle or last Palm. (Merit badges earned any time since becoming a Boy Scout may be used to meet this requirement.)

5. Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.

6. Complete a board of review.

You may wear only the proper combination of Palms for the number of merit badges you earned beyond the rank of Eagle. The Bronze Palm represents five merit badges, the Gold Palm 10, and the Silver Palm 15.

Selecting Leadership Service Projects

Leadership service projects shall be meaningful service not normally expected of a Scout as a part of his school, religious, or community activities.

Star and Life Ranks

For Star and Life ranks, a Scout must perform six hours of service to others. This may be done as an individual project or as a member of a patrol or troop project. Star and Life service projects may be approved for Scouts assisting on Eagle service projects. The Scoutmaster approves the project before it is started.

Eagle Rank

While a Life Scout, a Scout must plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project to any religious institution, school, or community.

As a demonstration of leadership, the Scout must plan the work, organize the personnel needed, and direct the project to its completion.

The Eagle service project is an individual matter; therefore, two Eagle candidates may not receive credit for the same project.

Eagle Scout leadership service projects involving council property or other BSA activities are not acceptable for an Eagle service project. The service project also may not be performed for a business, be of a commercial nature, or be a fund-raiser.

Routine labor, or a job or service normally rendered, should not be considered. An Eagle service project should be of significant magnitude to be special and should represent the candidate's best possible effort.

The Scout must submit his proposed project plan and secure the prior approval of his unit leader, unit committee, and district or council advancement committee, and the organization benefiting from the effort, to make sure that it meets the stated standards for Eagle Scout leadership service projects before the project is started. This preapproval of the project does not mean that the board of review will accept the way the project was carried out.

Upon completion of the project, a detailed report must be submitted with the Scout's Eagle application to include the following information:

What was the project?
How did it benefit others?
Who from the group benefiting from the project gave guidance?
Who helped carry out the project?
What materials were used and how were they acquired?

Although the project plan must be approved before work is begun, the board of review must determine if the project was successfully carried out. Questions that must be answered are:

Did the candidate demonstrate leadership of others?
Did he indeed direct the project rather than do all of the work himself?
Was the project of real value to the religious institution, school, or community group?
Who from the group benefiting from the project may be contacted to verify the value of the project?
Did the project follow the plan, or were modifications needed to bring it to its completion?

All the work on the project must be done while the candidate is a Life Scout and before the candidate's 18th birthday.

The variety of projects performed throughout the nation by Scouts earning their Eagle Scout Award is staggering. Only those living in an area can determine the greatest value and need for that area. Determine, therefore, whether the project is big enough, appropriate, and worth doing. For ideas and opportunities, the Scout can consult people such as school administrators, religious leaders, local government department directors, or a United Way agency's personnel.