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Scouts BSA Troop 101
Atlanta, Georgia · Building Leaders Through Scouting
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Home / How We Advance

Advancement Overview

Advancement happens at a scout's own pace, following guidelines set by Scouting America.

The Short Version

While rank and merit badge achievement are not required to participate in scouting, they are a fun and proven way to keep scouts engaged. A scout who never earns Eagle can still get everything scouting has to offer; a scout who does earn it has done something genuinely difficult.

The official rules live in Scouting America's Guide to Advancement.

The Four Steps of Advancement

  1. A scout learns Skills are taught at meetings, on campouts, and at summer camp, usually by older scouts.
  2. A scout is tested They demonstrate the skill to a designated leader or an older scout authorized to sign off.
  3. A scout is reviewed A scoutmaster conference, then a board of review with committee members, confirms the scout is ready for the rank.
  4. A scout is recognized The rank is presented at the next Court of Honor. We hold three a year.

Ranks

There are seven ranks. The four early ranks (Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class) are outdoor-skills focused and can be worked on simultaneously. Most of the requirements are met at summer camp. The three later ranks (Star, Life, Eagle) are merit badge, leadership, and service focused.

Full ranks overview →

Who to ask for help

Tamar Kapner is designated to help scouts with the early ranks.
Brad Johnson is our Trail to Eagle designee, helping scouts with later ranks and Eagle-required merit badges.

Merit Badges

Merit badges are theme-focused skill awards covering citizenship, outdoor skills, sports, hobbies, trades, and more. They are required for Star, Life, and Eagle. Every merit badge requires a registered counselor. How merit badges work →

Tracking Advancement in Scoutbook

Advancement is a personal journey, but leaders need to sign off and stay informed. Tracking is done in Scoutbook.

  • Scouts 14 and older can have their own Scoutbook login. Younger scouts need adult assistance.
  • Scouts and parents enter advancement completed outside the troop, with backup proof as applicable.
  • The troop enters advancement items for all scouts when they are worked on as a troop.

Keep Scoutbook current. A rank that is not recorded is a rank that does not get presented.

Time and Position Requirements

Star, Life, and Eagle each require serving in an approved troop leadership position for a set number of months, plus service hours. This is deliberate: it means the later ranks cannot be rushed, and a scout has to actually lead something. Positions are elected or appointed at the troop level; see troop positions for the full list.