There are seven ranks in Scouting, Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle. The youth must satisfy the requirement for each rank before advancing to the next rank. After satisfying the requirements, each boy must participate in a Scoutmaster conference. The Scoutmaster’s role is to assure that the boy has satisfied the requirements without completely re-testing him. With the exception of the rank of Scout, a boy seeking rank advancement must also participate in a Board of Review. The Board is not designed to re-test the boy, but to examine his attitude toward Scouting and Scouting Ideals. The advancement chair and two members of the board must sign the advancement sheet in order that it can be turned into the Scout Office to record the rank. A Board of Review must be of at least three (3) members, but no more than six (6) members.

Accurate troop and individual records should be maintained so as to provide a basis of proof should there be any discrepancy among the Council’s, the Troop’s, and the individual scout’s records. The scout’s proof of rank advancement is the certificate card for rank or merit badges or the blue cards from their merit badge counselor for the merit badges.

No leader may add or subtract requirements except for those based on certain permanent physical limitations. These must be waivedby the Troop Committee.

MERIT BADGE COUNSELORS

In order to advance beyond First Class, a scout must earn merit badges. These are circular emblems which are earned for demonstration of knowledge and proficiency in specialized areas. A scout must earn a total of twenty-one merit badges to earn the rank of Eagle, eleven of which are designated as required merit badges.

To begin the process, a scout contacts a registered merit badge counselor, whose name has been provided to him by his Scoutmaster. The scout, utilizing the buddy system, meets with his counselor to discuss what he has done or should do to satisfy the requirements for the particular merit badge. Many Council’s provide the opportunity to earn merit badges at summer camp or Merit Badge Universities. (MBU). The MBU allows a scout to earn one or two merit badges in a single day.

No counselor may add or subtract requirements.

An interesting anomaly occurs when the BSA changes requirements. For rank, there is a certain limited "grace" period to complete the rank by the old requirements. For merit badges, if the Scout has started on the merit badge, he may use the "old" requirements to earn the badge. See US Scouts.Org Advancement.