Rank Requirements
Seven ranks stand between you and Eagle. Click any rank to see resources.
All rank requirements are in the official Scouts BSA Handbook and at scouting.org. Many requirements can be completed on your own — just make sure an adult leader signs off when required.
Merit Badges
138 available — Eagle-required badges are highlighted. Find worksheets and video help for each.
First AidEagle Required
CampingEagle Required
SwimmingEagle Required
Citizenship in SocietyEagle Required
Citizenship in the CommunityEagle Required
Citizenship in the NationEagle Required
Emergency PreparednessEagle Required
Personal FitnessEagle Required
RoboticsElective
ProgrammingElective
Wilderness SurvivalElective
AviationElective
Free worksheets for every merit badge are available at usscouts.org — print them, fill them out, and bring them to your counselor. All official requirements are at scouting.org/merit-badges.
Outdoor Skills
Core field skills every Scout should master — with step-by-step video guides.
Fire Building
Safely build and extinguish a fire using tinder, kindling, and fuel wood.
Tent Setup & Camping
Pitch a tent correctly and set up a comfortable, safe campsite.
Leave No Trace
Seven principles to protect the outdoors for future generations.
Camp Cooking
Prepare safe, nutritious meals over a fire or camp stove.
Weather Awareness
Read cloud patterns, predict weather changes, and stay safe in the field.
Wildlife & Plant Safety
Identify dangerous plants, avoid wildlife encounters, and handle bites/stings.
First Aid & Safety
These skills can save a life — yours or someone else's. Practice until they feel natural.
CPR & AED
Hands-only CPR and how to use an automated defibrillator.
Bleeding Control
Clean wounds, apply pressure, use a tourniquet when necessary.
Shock, Burns & Fractures
Recognize shock, treat burns by degree, and safely splint a fracture.
Heat & Cold Emergencies
Prevent and treat heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and hypothermia.
Choking & Rescue Breathing
Heimlich maneuver for adults, children, and infants. Rescue breathing basics.
Bites, Stings & Allergic Reactions
Treat insect bites, snake bites, and recognize anaphylaxis signs.
The Red Cross offers free or low-cost CPR and first aid certification classes. Getting certified means you can help in real emergencies — and it looks great on college applications.
Knots & Navigation
Tie the required knots confidently and find your way anywhere with a map and compass.
Basic Knots
Square knot, two half-hitches, taut-line hitch — the first three knots every Scout learns.
Advanced Knots
Bowline, clove hitch, sheet bend, timber hitch — for Second Class and above.
Lashings
Square, diagonal, and shear lashings to build camp structures and gadgets.
Map Reading
Read topographic maps, understand contour lines, and identify terrain features.
Compass & Orienteering
Take a bearing, follow an azimuth, and navigate a course without GPS.
Pace Counting & Triangulation
Estimate distances on foot and pinpoint your location on a map.
Citizenship & Values
What it means to be a Scout, a citizen, and a leader in your community.
The Scout Oath
On my honor I will do my best
to do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
to help other people at all times;
to keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.
to do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
to help other people at all times;
to keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.
The Scout Law
01
Trustworthy
02
Loyal
03
Helpful
04
Friendly
05
Courteous
06
Kind
07
Obedient
08
Cheerful
09
Thrifty
10
Brave
11
Clean
12
Reverent
Scout Oath & Law — Deep Dive
Understand what each point of the Scout Law really means in daily life.
Outdoor Code & Scout Motto
"Be Prepared" — and what the Outdoor Code means for how we treat nature.
Community Service Projects
How to plan, execute, and document a meaningful service project.
Leadership in Your Troop
Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, and other positions of responsibility.
Service to others is the heart of Scouting. Libraries, food banks, parks, animal shelters, and veterans' organizations all welcome youth volunteers — many can count toward rank and merit badge requirements.