Boy Scout Rank Advancement

Scout “Rank” - Upon Joining Boy Scouts

After completing the few simple tasks required to join a troop, a Boy Scout can wear the Scout patch on his uniform. This is not truly a rank, but serves to show that he has joined and has started down his Scouting trail.

• BSA Joining Requirements
• The Application Form to Join Boy Scouting is available online.
• The Scout Zone web site (www.thescoutzone.org) will show some cool reasons to join Boy Scouts.
• The pamphlet How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide is available online.

Trail to First Class

The first phase of Boy Scout Advancement is the Trail to First Class where Scouts learn the basic Scout skills. BSA encourages Scouts to progress to the rank of First Class by their first year or soon thereafter so that they can quickly master the Scout skills and become a productive member of their troop. Scouts can complete the requirements for these first three ranks in any order and do not need to finish one rank’s requirements completely before working on the next ranks requirements.

Tenderfoot Rank

• Tenderfoot Rank Requirements

Second Class Rank

• Second Class Rank Requirements

First Class Rank

• First Class Rank Requirements

Merit Badges and Leadership

After a Scout has completed his trail to first class, he begins the merit badge and leadership phase of his advancement. Although he can begin earning merit badges as soon as he becomes a Scout, it is not until the ranks of Star, Life and Eagle that merit badges are requirements for rank advancement. Showing leadership is also a requirement for these higher ranks.

• Merit Badge Information

Star Rank

• Star Rank Requirements

Life Rank

• Life Rank Requirements

Eagle Rank

• Eagle Rank Requirements

• Eagle Palm Requirements