Section 1. Introduction
- 1.0.1.0 How to Approach Issues Not Covered in the Guide to Advancement
- 1.0.2.0 Questions and Suggestions
- 1.0.3.0 Significant Changes
- 1.0.4.0 Frequently Asked Questions
- 1.0.4.1 General
- 1.0.4.2 Cub Scouting
- 1.0.4.3 Scouts BSA
- 1.0.4.4 The Eagle Scout Rank
- 1.0.4.5 Venturing
- 1.0.4.6 Special Needs Scouting
Section 2. Advancement Defined
- 2.0.0.1 It Is a Method—Not an End in Itself
- 2.0.0.2 Advancement Is Based on Experiential Learning
- 2.0.0.3 Personal Growth Is the Primary Goal
- 2.0.0.4 The Methods of Scouting
Section 3. Guidelines for Advancement and Recognition Committees
- 3.0.0.1 Council Advancement Committee Responsibilities
- 3.0.0.2 District Advancement Committee Responsibilities
- 3.0.0.3 Unit Advancement Responsibilities
- 3.0.0.4 Awards and Recognitions
- 3.0.0.5 Building an Advancement Committee
- 3.0.0.6 Orientation and Education Opportunities for Advancement Administrators
Section 4. The Mechanics of Advancement
- 4.0.0.1 Changes to Requirements
- 4.0.0.2 Reporting Advancement
- 4.0.0.3 Age Exception for Youth With Special Needs
4.1.0.0 Mechanics of Advancement in Cub Scouting
- 4.1.0.1 Delivering the Cub Scout Program
- 4.1.0.2 The Role of the Pack Committee
- 4.1.0.3 Who Approves Cub Scout Advancement?
- 4.1.0.4 “Do Your Best”
- 4.1.1.1 Lion
- 4.1.1.2 Bobcat
- 4.1.1.3 Tiger, Wolf, and Bear
- 4.1.1.4 Webelos and Arrow of Light
- 4.1.1.5 More on Webelos and Arrow of Light Adventure Pins
4.2.0.0 Mechanics of Advancement in Scouts BSA
4.2.1.0 Four Steps in Advancement
- 4.2.1.1 The Scout Learns
- 4.2.1.2 The Scout Is Tested
- 4.2.1.3 The Scout Is Reviewed
- 4.2.1.4 The Scout Is Recognized
- 4.2.1.5 After the Scout Is Tested and Recognized
4.2.2.0 Reserved
4.2.3.0 Rank Requirements Overview
- 4.2.3.1 Active Participation
- 4.2.3.2 Demonstrate Scout Spirit
- 4.2.3.3 Service Projects
- 4.2.3.4 Positions of Responsibility
- 4.2.3.4.1 Positions Must Be Chosen From Among Those Listed
- 4.2.3.4.2 Meeting the Time Test May Involve Any Number of Positions
- 4.2.3.4.3 Meeting Unit Expectations
- 4.2.3.4.4 Meeting the Requirement in the Absence of Unit Expectations
- 4.2.3.4.5 When Responsibilities Are Not Met
- 4.2.3.4.6 “Responsibility” and “Leadership”
- 4.2.3.5 Unit Leader (Scoutmaster) Conference
- 4.2.3.6 Fulfilling More Than One Requirement With a Single Activity
4.3.0.0 Mechanics of Advancement: In Venturing
4.3.1.0 Advancement in Venturing
- 4.3.1.1 The Venturing Awards
- 4.3.1.2 Past Credit for Venturers
- 4.3.1.3 Multiple Credit for Venturers
- 4.3.1.4 Scouts BSA Advancement in Venturing
4.3.2.0 The Venturing Summit Award Service Project
- 4.3.2.1 Service Project Focus Areas
- 4.3.2.2 Restrictions and Other Considerations
- 4.3.2.3 Evaluating the Summit Award Service Project After Completion
4.3.3.0 Time Extensions for Earning the Summit Award
4.3.4.0 Submitting the Summit Award Application
4.4.0.0 Mechanics of Advancement in Sea Scouts
4.4.0.1 Scouts BSA Advancement in Sea Scouts
4.4.1.0 Sea Scout Ranks and Awards
- 4.4.1.1 Apprentice Rank
- 4.4.1.2 Ordinary Rank
- 4.4.1.3 Able Rank
- 4.4.1.4 Quartermaster Rank
- 4.4.1.5 The Skipper Conference
- 4.4.1.6 Other Sea Scout Awards
- 4.4.1.7 Bridges of Honor
4.4.2.0 The Sea Scout Bridge of Review
- 4.4.2.1 Purpose and Timeliness of Bridges of Review
- 4.4.2.2 Composition of the Bridge of Review
- 4.4.2.3 Conducting the Bridge of Review
- 4.4.2.4 Particulars for Apprentice Through Able Ranks
- 4.4.2.5 Particulars for the Quartermaster Rank
- 4.4.2.6 Quartermaster Bridge of Review Beyond the 21st Birthday
- 4.4.2.7 Initiating Quartermaster Bridge of Review Under Disputed Circumstances
- 4.4.2.8 Appealing a Quartermaster Bridge of Review Decision
Section 5. Special Considerations
5.0.1.0 Advancement in Camp Settings
- 5.0.1.1 Procedures Established by Council Advancement Committee
- 5.0.1.2 Procedural Examples
- 5.0.1.3 Advancement Committee Approves Merit Badge Counselors
- 5.0.1.4 Statement on Unauthorized Changes to Advancement in Camp Programs
- 5.0.1.5 Advancement Committee as a Partner in Camp-Related Advancement
5.0.2.0 Extended Absence From Scouting
- 5.0.3.1 Lone Scout Advancement Procedures
- 5.0.3.2 Lone Scouts and Merit Badges
- 5.0.3.3 Eagle Scout Applications for Lone Scouts
5.0.4.0 Youth From Other Countries
5.0.6.0 Bestowing Posthumous Awards
5.0.7.0 Spirit of the Eagle Award
5.0.8.0 Using Technology-Based Tools in Advancement
Section 6. Electronic Advancement Reporting
- 6.0.0.1 Importance and Benefits of Electronic Advancement Reporting
- 6.0.0.2 About Internet Advancement
- 6.0.0.3 The Next Generation in Electronic Advancement Reporting
- 6.0.0.4 Electronic Advancement Miscellany
Section 7. The Merit Badge Program
- 7.0.0.1 The Benefits of Merit Badges
- 7.0.0.2 About the Application for Merit Badge (“Blue Card”)
- 7.0.0.3 The Scout, the Blue Card, and the Unit Leader
7.0.1.0 About Merit Badge Counselors
- 7.0.1.1 Qualifications of Counselors
- 7.0.1.2 Sources of Merit Badge Counselors
- 7.0.1.3 Venturing Consultants as Merit Badge Counselors
- 7.0.1.4 Counselor Approvals and Limitations
- 7.0.1.5 Registration and Reregistration
- 7.0.1.6 Training for Counselors
7.0.2.0 Merit Badge Counselor Lists
7.0.3.0 The Process of Counseling
- 7.0.3.1 Counseling Sessions and Certifying Completion
- 7.0.3.2 Group Instruction
- 7.0.3.3 Partial Completions
7.0.4.0 Merit Badge Miscellany
- 7.0.4.1 New Merit Badges
- 7.0.4.2 Revising Merit Badges
- 7.0.4.3 What to Do When Requirements Change
- 7.0.4.4 Discontinued Merit Badges
- 7.0.4.5 Earning Eagle-Required Merit Badges for Star or Life Rank
- 7.0.4.6 Once It Is Earned, It’s Earned
- 7.0.4.7 Limited Recourse for Unearned Merit Badges
- 7.0.4.8 Unofficial Worksheets and Learning Aids
- 7.0.4.9 Merit Badge Opportunities With Non-Scouting Organizations or Businesses
- 7.0.4.10 Charging Fees for Merit Badge Opportunities
- 7.0.4.11 About Merit Badge Prerequisites
Section 8. Boards of Review: An Overview for All Ranks
- 8.0.0.1 Purpose and Timeliness of Boards of Review
- 8.0.0.2 Boards of Review Must Be Granted When Requirements Are Met
- 8.0.0.3 Composition of the Board of Review
- 8.0.0.4 Wearing the Uniform—or Neat in Appearance
8.0.1.0 Conducting the Board of Review
- 8.0.1.1 Not a Retest or “Examination”
- 8.0.1.2 What Should Be Discussed
- 8.0.1.3 How Boards Can Lead to Program Improvement
- 8.0.1.4 Board Members Must Agree Unanimously on Decisions to Approve
- 8.0.1.5 After the Review
- 8.0.1.6 Boards of Review Through Videoconferencing
8.0.2.0 Particulars for Tenderfoot Through Life Ranks
8.0.3.0 Particulars for the Eagle Scout Rank
- 8.0.3.1 Eagle Scout Board of Review Beyond the 18th Birthday
- 8.0.3.2 Initiating Eagle Scout Board of Review Under Disputed Circumstances
8.0.5.0 Venturing Boards of Review
- 8.0.5.1 Purpose and Timeliness of Venturing Boards of Review
- 8.0.5.2 Conducting the Venturing Board of Review
- 8.0.5.3 What Should Be Discussed at a Venturing Board of Review
- 8.0.5.4 Majority Vote Is Required for Approval of Venturing Advancement
- 8.0.5.5 After the Venturing Board of Review
8.0.6.0 Particulars for the Discovery and Pathfinder Awards
8.0.7.0 Particulars for the Summit Award
- 8.0.7.1 Initiating Summit Award Boards of Review Under Disputed Circumstances
- 8.0.7.2 Summit Award Boards of Review Beyond the 21st Birthday
Section 9. The Eagle Scout Rank
9.0.1.0 The Eagle Scout Rank Application Process
- 9.0.1.1 Complete All the Requirements
- 9.0.1.2 Prepare the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook
- 9.0.1.3 Complete the Application
- 9.0.1.4 Obtain Required Signatures
- 9.0.1.5 Submit to Council Service Center
- 9.0.1.6 Council Verifies Application and Board of Review Scheduled
- 9.0.1.7 References Contacted
- 9.0.1.8 Application Returned to Council Service Center
- 9.0.1.9 Council Sends Application to National Advancement Program Team
- 9.0.1.10 National Advancement Program Team Returns Credentials
9.0.2.0 The Eagle Scout Service Project
- 9.0.2.1 What an Eagle Scout Candidate Should Expect
- 9.0.2.2 “While a Life Scout . . .”
- 9.0.2.3 “Plan, Develop . . .”
- 9.0.2.4 “Give Leadership to Others . . .”
- 9.0.2.5 “Helpful to Any Religious Institution, Any School, or Your Community”
- 9.0.2.6 “Benefit an Organization Other Than the Boy Scouts of America”
- 9.0.2.7 “Proposal Must Be Approved . . . Before You Start”
- 9.0.2.8 “Use the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook“
- 9.0.2.9 Eagle Scout Service Project Coach
- 9.0.2.10 Fundraising Issues
- 9.0.2.11 Routine Labor
- 9.0.2.12 Addressing Common Misconceptions
- 9.0.2.13 Evaluating the Project After Completion
- 9.0.2.14 Risk Management and Eagle Scout Service Projects
- 9.0.2.15 Insurance and Eagle Scout Service Projects
- 9.0.2.16 Eagle Scout Service Projects and Messengers of Peace
Section 10. Advancement for Members With Special Needs
10.1.0.0 Registering Qualified Members Beyond Age of Eligibility
- 10.1.0.1 Possible Criteria for Registering Beyond Age of Eligibility
- 10.1.0.2 How to Register a Member Beyond Age of Eligibility
10.2.0.0 Advancement Flexibility Allowed
10.2.1.0 Advancement for Cub Scouts With Special Needs
10.2.2.0 Advancement in Scouts BSA for Scouts With Special Needs
- 10.2.2.1 Using Alternative Requirements
- 10.2.2.2 How to Apply for Alternative Requirements
- 10.2.2.3 Alternative Merit Badges for Eagle Scout Rank
- 10.2.2.4 Approval for Special Needs Eagle Candidates Over Age 18
10.2.3.0 Advancement for Venturers and Sea Scouts With Special Needs
- 10.2.3.1 Working Toward Scouts BSA Advancement
- 10.2.3.2 Working Toward Venturing Awards
- 10.2.3.3 Working Toward Sea Scout Ranks