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The Seven Requirements for the Eagle Scout Rank There are 7 requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout. Be sure you are on a path to meet all the requirements. Don't just concentrate on requirements 3 and 5 while forgetting to meet the other requirements. Requirement 1: Be active in your troop for at least six months as a Life Scout. Your troop defines their standard for what they consider active. Your Scoutmaster and troop committee chair will need to certify that you have met this requirement. Be sure you understand what they expect, and how well they feel you are meeting this requirement. Note that this requirement can be met in any 6 months (not necessarily consecutive months) any time after your Life board of review. They are not necessarily the last 6 months. Requirement 2: As a Life Scout, demonstrate Scout Spirit by living the Scout Oath and Law in your daily life. Tell how you have done your duty to God, how you have lived teh Scout Oath and Scout Law in your everyday life, and how your understanding of the Scout Oath and Scout Law will guide your life in teh future. List on your Eagle Scout Rank Application the names of individuals who know you personally and would be willing to provide a recommendation on your behalf, including parents/guardians, religious (if not affiliated with an organized religion, then the parent or guardian provides this reference), educational, employer (if employed), and two other references. You will be asked to name 6 references and get reference forms filled out by these people who can attest to the fact that you live by all parts of the Scout Oath and the Scout Law in your daily life. This is not just while you are at Scout activities. Be sure that these characteristics are obvious to everyone you come in contact with in all aspects of your life. Ask yourself if it would be clear to everyone you deal with that you live by these principles in all aspects of your life. Requirement 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 Society, (e) Citizenship in the World, (f) Communication, (g) Cooking, (h) Personal Fitness, (i) Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, (j) Environmental Science OR Sustainability, (k) Personal Management, (l) Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling, (m) Camping, and (n) Family Life. This list does change occasionally. When there are changes, there is a date set beyond which you must use the new requirements, even if you already have earned the merit badges you needed under the old rules. As you earn the merit badges, keep your part of the merit badge cards in case there is any question later. Note that Family Life, Personal Fitness, and Personal Management each include requirements that take three months. Be sure you contact the merit badge counselor before you start working on these requirements. You should have a merit badge card signed by your Scoutmaster before you meet with the counselor, or start working on the merit badge; or have your Scoutmaster connect you through Scoutbook. Requirement 4: While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of 6 months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility. 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, instructor, webmaster, or outdoor ethics guide. There are corresponding lists for Venturing crew/Sea Scout ship nad special definitions for a Lone Scout. See requirements on scouting.org if you are earning the Eagle Scout rank in one of these units. The word "actively" is very key. It is not enough to just have the position and wear the patch. Be sure that you are serving in one of the specific positions listed. Your Scoutmaster and troop committee chairman will need to certify that you have met this requirement. Be sure that you are in regular communication with them about what they expect, and how well you are doing the job. They should be giving you guidance on what is expected, training in how to do the job, and feedback on how you are doing. Don't wait until the last minute to find out that the Scoutmaster is not willing to sign off on your having completed this requirement. Be prepared to discuss how you showed your leadership in this position. It is often a good idea to be sure you have a written "job description" where you and your Scoutmaster agree on what you are expected to do. Requirement 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.) A project proposal must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your Scoutmaster and unit committee, and the council or district before you start. You must use the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, BSA publication 512-927, in meeting this requirement. You should start by downloading the Chester County Council Eagle Scout Handbook from http://www.eaglescout.itgo.com/handbook.pdf. This handbook includes instructions and links to the official Workbook and other forms and documents you will need. NOTE: The Workbook is a fillable PDF form that you complete with your computer using Adobe Reader. It will not work in a browser such as on a ChromeBook or a tablet. If you do not have access to a computer or the internet, contact your Scoutmaster or district advancement representative for assistance and guidance. If you have problems or questions, click here to send an e-mail question. Please describe your computer, internet provider, connection (dial up, DSL, fios, cable modem) and what word processor and version you are using. NOTE: The above handbook is specific to Chester County Council, BSA. The instructions and forms included in the handbook are specific to Chester County Council, BSA. Check with your Council, District, or Troop for instructions on how to submit your paperwork if you are not in Chester County Council, BSA. Requirement 6: Take part in a unit leader conference. This requirement will normally take place after you have completed the first 5 requirements, although it does not have to be the last step. Be prepared to review what you have done since becoming a Life Scout, and your future plans. Bring all your paperwork including your finished project write-up with you to the Scoutmaster's Conference. This requirement, and the first 5, must be completed BEFORE your 18th birthday. Requirement 7. Successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review. In preparation for your board of review, prepare and attach to your Eagle Scout Rank Application a statement of your ambitions and life purpose and a listing of positions held in your religious institution, school, camp, community, or other organizations during which you have demonstrated leadership skills. Include honors and awards received during this service. The Board may consist of adults from your troop and members of the District Advancement Committee. This requirement can be completed after your 18th birthday if all other requirements were completed before your 18th birthday. This is NOT additional time for you to do the paperwork or continue to work on your requirements after your 18th birthday. |
Links to Pages Around This Web Site HOME 7 REQUIREMENTS PROCESS PARENTS GUIDE HANDBOOK/WORKBOOK LIFE TO EAGLE SEMINARS FIND PROJECT PLAN PROJECT MATERIALS CARRY OUT PROJECT WRITE UP OTHER REQUIREMENTS APPLICATION SUBMIT PAPERWORK BOARD OF REVIEW COURT OF HONOR SCHOLARSHIPS CONTACTS EXTENSIONS If you have comments or questions about this website, send me an e-mail. This web site is a work-in-progress. If you find any mistakes, links that don't work, typos, or other inaccuracies, please let me know. If you have any suggestions of additional material that would be helpful to Scouts in earning their Eagle rank, I would always appreciate your input (Tom@Stalnaker.com). Web page last updated 11/3/2022 |
