GUIDE TO ADVANCEMENT 2021

8.0.1.6 Boards of Review Through Videoconferencing8.0.2.0 P articulars for Tenderfoot ThroughLife Ranks8.0.3.0 Particulars for the Eagle Scout Rank8.0.3.1 E agle Scout Board of ReviewBeyond the 18th Birthday8.0.3.2 Initiating Eagle Scout Board of ReviewUnder Disputed Circumstances8.0.4.0 Appealing a Decision5455555656579.0.2.12 Addressing Common Misconceptions9.0.2.13 Evaluating the Project After Completion9.0.2.14 Risk Management and EagleScout Service Projects9.0.2.15 Insurance and Eagle Scout Service Projects9.0.2.16 E agle Scout Service Projects andMessengers of Peace9.0.3.0 About Eagle Palms9.0.4.0 Time Extensions8.0.4.1 Filing and Processing an Appeal8.0.4.2 Appeal Board Must Research the Case57588.0.5.0 Venturing Boards of Review598.0.5.1 Purpose and Timeliness ofVenturing Boards of Review598.0.5.2 Conducting the Venturing Boardof Review598.0.5.3 What Should Be Discussed at aVenturing Board of Review10.1.0.0 Registering Qualified MembersBeyond Age of Eligibility5910.1.0.1 P ossible Criteria for RegisteringBeyond Age of Eligibility10.1.0.2 How to Register a Member BeyondAge of Eligibility8.0.5.4 Unanimous Vote Is Required for Approvalof Venturing Advancement608.0.5.5 After the Venturing Board of Review608.0.6.0 Particulars for the Discoveryand Pathfinder Ranks8.0.7.0 Particulars for the Summit Rank60608.0.7.1 Initiating Summit Board ofReview Under Disputed Circumstances618.0.7.2 Summit Board ofReview Beyond the 21st Birthday619.0.0.0 Section 9. The Eagle Scout Rank9.0.1.0 The Eagle Scout Rank Application Process9.0.1.1 Complete All the Requirements9.0.1.2 Prepare the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook9.0.1.3 Complete the Application9.0.1.4 Obtain Required Signatures9.0.1.5 Submit to Council Service Center9.0.1.6 Council Verifies Application andBoard of Review Scheduled9.0.1.7 References Contacted9.0.1.8 A pplication Returned to Council Service Center9.0.1.9 Council Sends Application toNational Advancement Program Team9.0.1.10 National Advancement Program TeamReturns Credentials9.0.2.0 The Eagle Scout Service Project9.0.2.1 W hat an Eagle Scout Candidate Should Expect9.0.2.2 “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 OtherThan 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 Coach9.0.2.10 Fundraising Issues9.0.2.11 Routine Labor62626262626363646464646464646565659.0.4.1 Process for Requesting andReviewing a Time Extension9.0.4.2 Appealing a Time Extension Denial10.0.0.0 S ection 10. Advancement forMembers With Special Needs10.2.0.0 Advancement Flexibility Allowed10.2.1.0 Advancement for Cub ScoutsWith Special Needs10.2.2.0 A dvancement in Scouts BSAfor Scouts With Special Needs10.2.2.1 Using Alternative Requirements10.2.2.2 H ow to Apply for Alternative Requirements10.2.2.3 A lternative Merit Badges for Eagle Scout Rank10.2.2.4 A pproval for Special NeedsEagle Candidates Over Age 1810.2.3.0 Advancement for Venturers andSea Scouts With Special Needs10.2.3.1 W orking Toward Scouts BSA Advancement10.2.3.2 Working Toward Venturing Ranks10.2.3.3 Working Toward Sea Scout Ranks11.0.0.0 Section 11. Appendix11.1.0.0 R eporting Merit BadgeCounseling Concerns11.2.0.0 Request for Extension of Time11.2.1.0 Appeal of Extension Request Denial11.3.0.0 Belated Rank Application11.4.0.0 R equest for Registration Beyondthe Age of Eligibility11.5.0.0 I ndividual Scout Advancement 0808080818283848586878866666667686970GUIDE TO ADVANCEMENT 5

1.0.0.0 Section 1.Oath and Scout Law, other applicable current and officialBSA resources—and common sense.IntroductionThe current edition of the Guide to Advancement is theofficial source for administering advancement in all BoyScouts of America programs: Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA,Venturing, and Sea Scouts. It replaces any previous BSAadvancement manuals and previous editions of the Guideto Advancement.Producing the Guide to Advancement has involved manymembers of the Boy Scouts of America’s national staff andmany volunteer advancement administrators and subjectmatter experts at all levels from across the country. Theresult is a resource intended to efficiently meet the needs ofthose who would most often consult it.Additional information and best practices appear in otherofficial BSA resources such as Advancement News and theAdvancement Resources web page found at www.scouting.org/advancement.Regardless the program—Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA,Venturing, or Sea Scouts—where advancement takesplace, it is nothing more and nothing less than one ofseveral methods. It is a means toward accomplishing theBoy Scouts of America mission. It is not an end in itself.When as advancement administrators—both volunteer andprofessional—we recognize this, we can expect success.To see it otherwise is to indicate we have forgotten ourpurpose.1.0.2.0 Questions and SuggestionsEvery effort has been made to provide clear proceduresand guidelines for a mission-oriented delivery ofadvancement. Its administration, however, largely takesplace locally. Therefore, volunteer advancementadministrators should always consult first with the districtand council—the district advancement chair, districtexecutive, council advancement chair, or the council’sprofessional staff advisor for advancement. These officials1.0.1.0 How to Approach Issues NotCovered in the Guide to AdvancementBe aware that statements or interpretations offered fromunofficial websites and other such sources may be out ofdate or incorrect. They will not be considered in resolvingadvancement questions and issues. In situations notspecifically covered in this guide, advancement chairs,coordinators, or other administrators should consult witheach other, study all related Guide to Advancementsections and topics, and make decisions based on theaims and mission of the Boy Scouts of America, the ScoutOnline and PDF VersionsAn online searchable and downloadable PDF of the mostcurrent and official version of the Guide to Advancementcan be accessed from www.scouting.org/advancement.6 GUIDE TO ADVANCEMENTcan provide many answers and a certain level ofinterpretation.For recommendations or suggested corrections to thispublication, or for questions that cannot be handled locally,send a message to advancement.team@scouting.org.Direct suggestions for new merit badges, or suggestedupdates to existing ones, to merit.badge@scouting.org.Note that the National Advancement ProgramTeam addresses many questions through thee-newsletter, Advancement News. You can find theAdvancement News archive atwww.scouting.org/advancement.

1.0.3.0 Significant ChangesAlmost every section of this guide has received some minoror major revisions since the last edition. Readers areencouraged to carefully review the entire guide, especiallythose topics frequently referenced. In particular, thefollowing sections merit close review:Section 4 Mechanics of AdvancementSection 7 The Merit Badge ProgramSection 8 Boards of Review:An Overview for All RanksSection 9 The Eagle Scout RankSection 10 Advancement for Memberswith Special NeedsIndex(Much improved and expanded)GUIDE TO ADVANCEMENT 7

2.0.0.3 Personal Growth Is the Primary Goal2.0.0.0 Section 2.Advancement DefinedAdvancement is the process by which youth members ofthe Boy Scouts of America progress from rank to rank.2.0.0.1 It Is a Method—Not an End in ItselfAdvancement is simply a means to an end, not an end initself. It is one of several methods designed to help unitleadership carry out the aims and mission of the BoyScouts of America. See the inside front cover for text ofthe aims and mission.2.0.0.2 Advancement Is Based onExperiential LearningEverything done to advance—to earn ranks and otherawards and recognition—is designed to educate or tootherwise expand horizons. Members learn and developaccording to a standard. This is the case from the time amember joins, and then moves through, the programs ofCub Scouting, Scouts BSA, and Venturing or Sea Scouts.Experiential learning is the key: Exciting and meaningfulactivities are offered, and education happens. Learningcomes from doing. For example, youth may read aboutfirst aid, hear it discussed, and watch others administer it,but they will not learn it until they practice it. Rushing aScout through requirements to obtain a badge is not thegoal. Advancement should be a natural outcome of awell-rounded unit program, rich in opportunities to worktoward the ranks.It is important to note, as with any educational opportunity,a rank or award is not the end of the learning process. InScouting, after a requirement has been passed, the Scoutis placed in practical situations that build retention throughrepeated use of skills. For example, the youth plays gamesthat feature the skills, teaches other Scouts, and perhapspractices the skills in “real-life” outdoor experiences. Awell-rounded and strong unit program takes advantage ofthese kinds of opportunities, using them to improveretention through practical application.8 GUIDE TO ADVANCEMENT2.0.0.3 Personal Growth Is the Primary GoalScouting skills—what a young person learns to do—areimportant, but not as important as the primary goal ofpersonal growth achieved through participating in a unitprogram. The concern is for total, well-roundeddevelopment. Age-appropriate surmountable hurdles areplaced before members, and as they face these challengesthey learn about themselves and gain confidence.Learning Scout skills and concepts through activeparticipation is a vehicle for personal growth, but it is notthe primary goal. For example, learning how to tie a knot,plan a menu, swim, or administer first aid may turn out tobe critical in one’s life, but they are secondary to the goalof personal growth that comes with learning. As Scoutslearn skills and are tested on them, and then reviewed andrecognized, they develop confidence. They come torealize they can learn and do other similar things. Theretention of Scouting skills and knowledge is important, ofcourse; but for retention to take place, it will be becauseScouting skills and knowledge are used in our programs.Success is achieved when we fulfill the BSA MissionStatement and when we accomplish the aims of Scouting:character development, citizenship training, leadership,and mental and physical fitness. We know we are on theright track when we see youth accepting responsibility,demonstrating self-reliance, and caring for themselves andothers; when they learn to weave Scouting ideals into theirlives; and when we can see they will be positivecontributors to our American society.

Though certainly goal-oriented, advancement is not acompetition. Rather, it is a joint effort involving the leaders,the members, other volunteers such as merit badgecounselors or Venturing consultants, and the family. Thoughmuch is done individually at their own pace, youth oftenwork together in groups to focus on advancement at CubScout den meetings, for example, or participate in aScouts BSA campout or Sea Scout cruise. As they do this,we must recognize each young person’s uniquecombination of strengths and weaknesses. As watchfulleaders, either adult or youth, we lend assistance as calledfor and encourage members to help each other accordingto their abilities.2.0.0.4 The Methods of ScoutingFrom Cub Scouting through Venturing and Sea Scouts, weput the methods to work. Together they lead to missionfulfillment. For example, the methods of the Scouts BSAprogram are Scouting ideals, the patrol method,advancement, adult association, outdoor program, theuniform, personal growth, and leadership development.Scouting ideals, put forth in the timeless instruments of theScout Oath and Scout Law, represent the most basicmethod. Moving on, we know young people want tobelong to groups. Throughout the Scouting program, weprovide a place where the sense of belonging—as in apatrol—is an outcome of practicing skills, exploringinterests, learning values, forming friendships, andenjoying adventure. Associations within families and witha variety of adults are critical too, especially in terms ofproviding support and recognition and in developingmutual respect.Advancement is the method by which we promote andencourage the ongoing involvement and commitment thatkeeps members coming back for more. It works best whenit is built into a unit’s program so that simply participatingleads to meaningful achievement and recognition—and toa continually improving readiness for more complexexperiences.For more about these and the othermethods of Scouting, see the leadermanuals specific to each program.GUIDE TO ADVANCEMENT 9

A full, functioning council advancement committee shouldbe organized to accomplish the following.3.0.0.0 Section 3.Guidelines forAdvancement andRecognition CommitteesCouncil and district advancement and recognitioncommittees (generally referred to in this guide simply ascouncil or district advancement committees) areresponsible for implementing and facilitating advancementand processing most special awards and recognitions.This is done according to national procedures and localpractices under the direction of the council executiveboard. Advancement committees operate under the BoyScouts of America program function. They shouldcooperate with the other program function elements—outdoor programs, activities and civic service, andtraining—and also with the membership, finance, andunit-service functions. Accepting the responsibilitiesoutlined in the following pages will help to accomplish this.Advancement committees operate under theBoy Scouts of America program function. Theyshould cooperate with the other program functionelements—outdoor programs, activities andcivic service, and training—and also with themembership, finance, and unit-service functions.3.0.0.1 Council AdvancementCommittee ResponsibilitiesThe council advancement committee often falls under avice president for program. The committee’s membersshould represent a breadth of experience in all Scoutingprograms. Normally, district advancement chairs areincluded. The council professional staff advisor foradvancement provides coaching and guidance—especially as it relates to national policies and procedures.The advancement chair and the staff advisor work togetherclosely, and in harmony with the other efforts and functionsinvolved in delivering and supporting the Scoutingprogram.10 GUIDE TO ADVANCEMENT1. Recruit enough committee members to fulfill theresponsibilities described below and achieve counciladvancement objectives.2. Ensure that all advancement administrators in the councilreceive periodic, ongoing training to maintainawareness of updated procedures, best practices, anddetails related to all programs of the Boy Scouts ofAmerica—Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing, andSea Scouts. See “Building an AdvancementCommittee,” 3.0.0.5.3. Establish objectives and action plans that stimulateadvancement and lead to maximum success.4. Inspire a positive working relationship with districtadvancement committees, providing clear guidanceand direction on their responsibilities and objectives.5. Plan, present, and submit for the council calendarthose advancement conferences and trainingexperiences that will strengthen the performance ofdistrict and unit advancement volunteers.6. As appropriate, support advancement elementsinvolved in training, and in events and activitiespresented by other council committees.7. Support outdoor programs where advancement maytake place, such as day camps, Cub Scout residentcamp, long-term camping experiences, andspecialized activities featuring advancement. See“Advancement in Camp Settings,” 5.0.1.0.8. Establish local practices for adhering to NationalCouncil advancement procedures at outdoorprograms, summer camp, and events such as meritbadge fairs or midways. See especially “GroupInstruction,” 7.0.3.2.9. Support and promote Scoutbook and the BSA’s otherinternet portals for advancement reporting. See“Importance and Benefits of Electronic AdvancementReporting,” 6.0.0.1. Accurate advancement recordsare critical to program planning and analysis.Councils should work toward 100 percent electronicdata entry.10. Share advancement statistics for use in councilfundraising materials and for supporting membershiprecruitment and retention efforts and commissionerservice.11. See to an effective merit badge program administeredat a council or district level that functions according tonational procedures and recruits, approves, trains,and makes known sufficient counselors to meet theneeds of the council.12. Determine, according to national procedures,consistent and appropriate methods for approvingEagle Scout and Quartermaster service projectproposals and Eagle Scout, Summit, and

Quartermaster project fundraising applications,providing Eagle Scout service project coaches andVenturing boards of review chairs, and conductingEagle, Summit, and Quartermaster boards of review.13. Determine methods of collecting Eagle Scout orQuartermaster references.14. Know and precisely follow official procedures forappeals and time-extension requests.15. Establish procedures for the use of technology-basedtools like Scoutbook according to “Using TechnologyBased Tools in Advancement,” 5.0.8.0.16. Know and follow proper procedures for consideringspecial needs cases involving alternative requirementsand merit badges, and registration beyond thenormal age of eligibility.17. Participate in considering and presenting specialawards and recognitions according to establishedcouncil procedures. This responsibility may or maynot include the Silver Beaver Award.18. Support and promote awards such as the religiousemblems and the STEM Nova awards, as well asthose approved by the local council executive board.19. Process lifesaving and meritorious action awardsaccording to council practices and nationalprocedures.20. Notify the media to recognize significant youthachievements, such as Eagle Scout, Summit, orQuartermaster ranks; lifesaving and meritoriousaction awards; and other noteworthyaccomplishments.3.0.0.2 District AdvancementCommittee ResponsibilitiesAlthough the council advancement committee or executiveboard determines specific responsibilities for districtadvancement committees, district advancement chairsreport to their respective district chairs. The following is aguide to the responsibilities that might be established.1. Recruit enough members to fulfill the responsibilitiesand accomplish any objectives established by thecouncil advancement committee or executive board.2. Provide members with ongoing training to maintainawareness of updated procedures, best practices,and details related to Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA,Venturing, and Sea Scouts. See “Building anAdvancement Committee,” 3.0.0.5.3. Establish objectives and implement action plans thatstimulate advancement and lead to maximumsuccess.4. Maintain advancement records and share them withcommissioners, trainers, and other district volunteerswho serve units. Identify and work with units that areexperiencing little or no advancement.5. Plan, present, and submit for the district and councilcalendars those advancement conferences andtraining experiences that will improve the results ofunit advancement volunteers.6. As appropriate, support advancement elementsinvolved in training, and in events and activitiespresented by other committees of the district.7. Support outdoor programs where advancement maytake place, such as district day camps, camporees, etc.8. Support and promote Scoutbook and the BSA’s otherinternet portals for advancement reporting. See“Importance and Benefits of Electronic AdvancementReporting,” 6.0.0.1. Accurate advancement recordsare critical to program planning and analysis.Districts should work toward 100 percent electronicdata entry.9. Follow national and local council procedures inadministering the merit badge program and inrecruiting, approving, and training a sufficientnumber of merit badge counselors. Provide units,especially those that do not yet use Scoutbook, withaccess to a current listing of council-approved meritbadge counselors.10. Follow national and local council procedures asprescribed regarding appeals; Eagle Scout andQuartermaster references; Eagle Scout andQuartermaster project proposal approvals; Venturingboard of review chair selection; boards of reviewsupport; and time extensions.11. Support and promote awards such as the religiousemblems and the STEM Nova awards, as well asthose approved by the local council exec

Merit Badge (“Blue Card”) 40 7.0.0.3 The Scout, the Unit Leader and the Merit Badge Counselor 41 7.0.1.0 Merit Badge Counseling Risk Management and Quality Control 42 7.0.1.1 Supervisory Qualifications and Certifications 42 7.0.1.2 Merit Badge Counselor Approvals 44