1. Meet the age requirements.
2. Find a Scout troop near your home.
3. Complete a Boy Scout application and health history signed by your parent or guardian.
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, Scout Law, motto, and slogan, and the Outdoor Code
8. Describe the Scout badge.
9. Complete the pamphlet exercises (Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide)
10. Participate in a Scoutmaster conference

For more information and other resources for Scout rank, visit MeritBadge.org.

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.
4. Knots
   1. Demonstrate how to whip and fuse the ends of a rope.
   2. Demonstrate 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. 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.
10. Fitness
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
12. First Aid
    1. Demonstrate how to care for someone who is choking.
    2. Show first aid for the following: Simple cuts and scrapes, Blisters on the hand and foot, Minor (thermal/heat) burns or scalds (superficial, or first degree), Bites and 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.

For more information and other resources for Tenderfoot rank, visit MeritBadge.org.

1. Outdoor Skills
   1. Demonstrate how a compass works and how to orient a map. Explain what map symbols mean.
   2. 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.*
2. Discuss the principles of Leave No Trace.
3. Cooking/Camping
   1. Since joining, have participated in five separate troop/patrol activities (other than troop/patrol meetings), two of which included camping overnight.
   2. On one of these campouts, select your patrol site and sleep in a tent that you pitched. Explain what factors you should consider when choosing a patrol site and where to pitch a tent.
   3. Demonstrate proper care, sharpening, and use of the knife, saw, and ax, and describe when they should be used.
   4. Use the tools listed in requirement 3c to prepare tinder, kindling, and fuel for a cooking fire.
   5. Discuss when it is appropriate to use a cooking fire and a lightweight stove. Discuss the safety procedures for using both.
   6. In an approved place and at an approved time, demonstrate how to build a fire and set up a lightweight stove. Note: Lighting the fire is not required.
   7. On one campout, plan and cook one hot breakfast or lunch, selecting foods from the food guide pyramid. Explain the importance of good nutrition. Tell how to transport, store, and prepare the foods you selected.
4. Participate in a flag ceremony for your school, religious institution, chartered organization, community, or troop activity. Explain to your leader what respect is due the flag of the United States.
5. Participate in an approved (minimum of one hour) service project.
6. Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of wild animals (birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, mollusks) found in your community.
7. First Aid
   1. Show what to do for "hurry" cases of stopped breathing, serious bleeding, and ingested poisoning.
   2. Prepare a personal first aid kit to take with you on a hike.
   3. 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 (partial thickness, or second-degree)
      • Heat exhaustion
      • Shock
      • Heatstroke, dehydration, hypothermia, and hyperventilation
8. Safe Swim
   1. Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe swim.
   2. 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.
   3. 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.
9. Substance Addictions
   1. 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
   2. Explain the three R's of personal safety and protection.
10. Earn an amount of money agreed upon by you and your parent, then save at least 50 percent of that money.
11. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life. Discuss four specific examples (different from those used for Tenderfoot requirement 13) of how you have lived the points of the Scout Law in your daily life.
12. Participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
13. Complete your board of review.

For more information and other resources for Second Class rank, visit MeritBadge.org.

* If you use a wheelchair or crutches, or if it is difficult for you to get around, you may substitute "trip" for "hike" in 2nd requirement.

1. Demonstrate how to find directions during the day and at night without using a compass.
2. Using a map and 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. Demonstrate the principles of Leave No Trace on these outings.
4. Cooking/Camping
   1. 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.
   2. 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.
   3. Tell which pans, utensils, and other gear will be needed to cook and serve these meals.
   4. 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.
   5. 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.
7. Outdoor Skills
   1. Discuss when you should and should not use lashings. Then 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.
   2. Use lashing to make a useful camp gadget.
8. First Aid
   1. Demonstrate tying the bowline knot and describe several ways it can be used.
   2. Demonstrate bandages for a sprained ankle and for injuries on the head, the upper arm, and the collarbone.
   3. 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
   4. Tell the five most common signs of a heart attack. Explain the steps (procedures) in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
9. Safety Afloat
   1. Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe trip afloat.
   2. Successfully complete the BSA swimmer test.*
   3. 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. 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.
11. 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.
12. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life. Discuss four specific examples (different from those used in Tenderfoot requirement 13 and Second Class requirement 11) of how you have lived the points of the Scout Law in your daily life.
13. Participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
14. Complete your board of review.

For more information and other resources for First Class rank, visit MeritBadge.org.

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 four from the required list for Eagle.

   (required for Eagle)*

   (required for Eagle)*

   (required for Eagle)*

   (required for Eagle)*

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):

6. Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.
7. Complete your board of review.

For more information and other resources for Star rank, visit MeritBadge.org.

* A Scout may choose any of the 15 required merit badges in the 12 categories to fulfill requirement 3.

1. Be active in your troop and patrol for at least four 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 three more from the required list for Eagle.

   (required for Eagle)*

   (required for Eagle)*

   (required for Eagle)*

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 following positions of responsibility (or carry out a Scoutmaster-assigned leadership project to help the troop):

6. While a Star Scout, use the EDGE method to teach a younger Scout the skills from ONE of the following six choices, so that he is prepared to pass those requirements to his unit's leader's satisfaction.
   1. Second Class - 7a and 7c (first aid)
   2. Second Class - 1a (outdoor skills)
   3. Second Class - 3c, 3d, 3e, and 3f (cooking/camping)
   4. First Class - 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d (first aid)
   5. First Class - 1, 7a, and 7b (outdoor skills)
   6. First Class - 4a, 4b, and 4d (cooking/camping)
7. Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.
8. Complete your board of review.

For more information and other resources for Life rank, visit MeritBadge.org.

* A Scout may choose any of the 15 required merit badges in the 12 categories to fulfill requirement 3.

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:
   1. First Aid
   2. Citizenship in the Nation
   3. Citizenship in the World
   4. Communications
   5. Personal Fitness
   6. Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving*
   7. Environmental Science
   8. Personal Management
   9. Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling*
   10. Camping, and
   11. 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, Venture Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, Order of the Arrow Troop Representative, Den Chief, Scribe, Librarian, Historian, Quartermaster, Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, Chaplain Aide, Instructor, Webmaster, or Leave No Trace Trainer.
   • Varsity Scout Team. Captain, Cocaptain, Program Manager, Squad Leader, Team Secretary, Order of the Arrow Team Representative, Librarian, Historian, Quartermaster, Chaplain Aide, Instructor, Den Chief, Webmaster, or Leave No Trace Trainer.
   • Venturing Crew/Ship. President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Quartermaster, Historian, Den Chief, Guide, Boatswain, Boatswain's Mate, Yeoman, Purser, Storekeeper, Webmaster, or Leave No Trace Trainer.
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. 521-927, in meeting this requirement.
6. Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.
7. Successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review.

Official notes (part of the rank requirements)

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 Eagle Scout Service 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.

Main article: Eagle Scout Rank - Alternate Requirements

A Scout or Venturer with a disability may work toward rank advancement after he is 18 years of age if he meets the guidelines outlined in the Advancement and Recognition Policies and Procedures. See Advancement Policies #33088 for details.

For more information and other resources for Eagle rank, visit MeritBadge.org.

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.*
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.**
5. Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.
6. Complete your 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.

* Eagle Palms must be earned in sequence, and the three-month tenure requirement must be observed for each Palm.

** Merit Badges earned any time since becoming a Boy Scout may be used to meet this requirement.

For more information and other resources for Eagle Palms, visit MeritBadge.org.