Ranks Overview

Rank Advancement

A Scout’s advancement is the natural outcome derived from consistent participation in regular Scouting activities, campouts and other events. At Troop meetings and on outings, Scouts will have opportunities to learn and practice the skills necessary to advance, with the guidance of older and more experienced Scouts. The Advancement Chairperson is responsible for enforcement of all advancement policies.

Scouting Skills Instruction and Testing

The Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, Troop Guides, Instructors, parents and outside experts will all be called upon to provide Scouting Skills instruction. The Boy Scout Handbook is our primary resource for learning these skills. Regular meetings and outings of the Troop provide ample opportunity for demonstrations and practice.

Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class Skills’ testing is a relatively informal process intended to be supportive rather than intimidating. When the Scout feels he has mastered a skill required for advancement to Tenderfoot, Second Class or First Class rank, his next step is to meet with an Assistant Scoutmaster, a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster or an Eagle, Life or Star Scout. The Scout will then demonstrate the skill, and the leader will observe and determine if the Scout has indeed mastered the skill and satisfied that requirement for rank advancement. The leader certifying the successful accomplishment of the skill will then record the achievement in the Scout’s Handbook.            

Parents are not allowed to sign off on their own son’s rank advancement, regardless of their position within the Troop. As the Scout progresses, he is expected to retain his knowledge of all skills previously learned. In addition to developing important skills, this process builds confidence, and the Scout will in turn be relied upon to teach the skills he has mastered to new and less experienced Scouts, thereby fulfilling one of the goals of the Boy Led Troop.

Below are links to the Advancement Requirements for each Rank

• Scoutbook: Login > References > Boy Scouting > Boy Scout Advancement > Choose Rank

• Scouting.org (Printable PDF documents):

  • Scout Requirements

  • Tenderfoot Requirements

  • Second Class Requirements

  • First Class Requirements

  • Star Requirements

  • Life Requirements

  • Eagle Requirements

More Advancement Links

• Advancement Guidelines - Advancement Guidelines (Rank and Merit Badges)

• First Day to First Class, 2nd Edition,  by Troop 431's Scoutmaster