Advancement

Advancement is how a Scout grows through Scouts BSA: setting a goal, learning something, being tested, and being recognized. A Scout plans their own advancement and moves at their own pace. Rank is a way to reach the goals of Scouting, not the goal itself.

Troop 33 tracks every Scout's advancement in Scoutbook, the BSA's records system. New to Scoutbook? See the Scoutbook tutorial for parents. Every Scout also has a Patrol Advisor, the adult leader (or leaders) assigned to their patrol, who follows their progress. Scouts can look theirs up in the Patrol tab of the roster app. Parents can see their Scout's record there, and Scouts should check their own record before asking for a conference or a board of review.

Four steps for every rank

1. Learn. The Scout studies and practices a requirement. In the First-Year Program, older Scouts called Troop Guides teach the basic skills: camping, cooking, knots, first aid, lashings, plant and wildlife identification, and more.
2. Test. The Scout shows what they have learned to a Troop Guide, Troop Instructor, Patrol Leader or adult leader, who signs the requirement off in Scoutbook.
3. Review. When every requirement except the board of review is done, the Scout holds a Scoutmaster Conference and then goes before a Board of Review. These are two separate steps. The conference is a conversation with the Scoutmaster. The board is a panel of parent volunteers.
4. Recognition. A Scout becomes the new rank the day they pass the board of review. The badge is presented at the next Court of Honor, but the Scout can start on the next rank as soon as they complete the Board of Review.

The ranks and requirements

A new Scout first earns the Scout rank by completing the joining requirements. After that come Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle.

• Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class are the learning ranks. Scouts learn the fundamentals, and the First-Year Program is built to get an active Scout to First Class in their first year. See Trail to First Class.
• Star, Life and Eagle focus on merit badges, service, leadership and participation. See Trail to Eagle.

The BSA sets the requirements for every rank and updates them from time to time, so Troop 33 links to the source instead of copying them. The BSA's advancement and awards page lists the requirements for Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, Eagle and the Eagle Palms (see the Eagle Palms requirements, a PDF). In Scoutbook, each Scout's record lists the requirements for the rank they are working on and shows what has been signed off. A Scout works under the requirements in effect when they started the rank, so ask a leader if you are unsure which version applies.

For parents

Most Scouts do best when they own their advancement. Help your Scout set a goal and make a plan, encourage them to come to meetings and go on outings, and let them make requests themselves instead of asking leaders on their behalf. Leaders work directly with Scouts on readiness. There is no need for a parent to negotiate it.

Many Scouts reach Eagle between about 15 and 17. Eagle is about planning, leading and following through, and it means more when the Scout decides they are ready.

In this section

• Trail to First Class: how the learning ranks work and how requirements get signed off.
• Trail to Eagle: Star, Life and Eagle, the Eagle project, and what happens at the end.
• Merit badges: how to choose a badge, find a counselor and finish it.
• Scoutmaster Conference: how to arrange one and what to bring.
• Board of Review: how to sign up, what to expect, and why every parent is asked to volunteer.
• Leadership policies: terms, elections and how leadership counts toward rank.