What does it take?

The Eagle Scout rank is the highest achievement in the Scouts BSA program. Earning it requires fulfilling a set of demanding requirements that demonstrate a Scout's commitment to the ideals of Scouting. 

Here's a breakdown of the requirements:

Merit badges

• Total: A minimum of 21 merit badges are required.

• Eagle-required: 14 specific merit badges are mandatory. These include:

  1. First Aid

  2. Citizenship in the Community

  3. Citizenship in the Nation

  4. Citizenship in Society

  5. Citizenship in the World

  6. Communication

  7. Cooking

  8. Personal Fitness

  9. Personal Management

  10. Camping

  11. Family Life

  12. Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving

  13. Environmental Science OR Sustainability

  14. Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling

• Electives: 7 additional merit badges can be chosen based on the Scout's interests. 

Leadership and service

• Active Participation & Leadership: Serve actively as a Life Scout for a minimum of six months in a designated position of responsibility within the troop.

• Eagle Scout Service Project: Plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project beneficial to a religious institution, school, or the community (not the BSA). This project requires careful planning, organizing, leading, and managing volunteers. The project proposal must be approved by the beneficiary, the Scoutmaster and unit committee, and the local council/district before starting the project.

• Demonstrate Scout Spirit: Exemplify the principles of the Scout Oath and Scout Law in daily life.

• Scoutmaster Conference: Participate in a Scoutmaster conference. 

Final steps

• Complete Application: Fill out the official Eagle Scout Rank Application.

• Secure Recommendations: Obtain letters of recommendation from individuals who know the Scout personally and can speak to their character and adherence to Scout ideals (including educational, religious/faith community, and employer references, along with the Scoutmaster and possibly parents/guardians).

• Eagle Board of Review: Successfully complete a Board of Review. 

Important notes

• Age Limit: Generally, all requirements must be completed before the Scout's 18th birthday. However, exceptions exist for Scouts with disabilities or other challenging circumstances, or for those whose board of review was delayed after completing the requirements before age 18.

• Disabilities: Special accommodations can be made for Scouts with disabilities, potentially including alternative merit badges or continued advancement after age 18, under the guidelines in Section 10 of the Guide to Advancement.

• Details and Resources: For complete and up-to-date requirements and procedures, consult the official Scouts BSA handbooks, the Guide to Advancement, and the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook.