Eagle Rank

The eagle rank Is the highest rank in BSA. Only about 4% of all scouts earn this rank. 

After You Become Eagle…
Becoming an Eagle Scout is not the end of the journey — it’s the beginning of a lifetime of leadership and service. Many of our troop’s Eagles have gone on to make significant contributions in their communities and professions. Some may even be eligible for honors like the NOESA or Distinguished Eagle Scout Award (DESA) later in life.

We are proud of every Scout who earns the Eagle rank — and even prouder to see where the trail leads them next.

Eagle Scout History of our troop:

• List of the most recent Eagle projects
• List of all eagle scouts from our troop

Eagle Rank Requirements

• 1. Be active in your troop for at least six months as a Life Scout.
• 2. As a Life Scout, demonstrate Scout Spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Tell how you have done your duty to God, how you have lived the Scout Oath and Scout Law in your everyday life, and how your understanding of the Scout Oath and Scout Law will guide your life in the future. List on your Eagle Scout Rank Application the names of individuals who know you personally and would be willing to provide a recommendation on your behalf, including parents/guardians, religious (if not affiliated with an organized religion, then the parent or guardian provides this reference), educational, employer (if employed), and two other references.
• 3. Earn a total of 21 merit badges (10 more than required for the Life rank), including these 14 merit badges: (a) First Aid, (b) Citizenship in the Community, (c) Citizenship in the Nation, (d) Citizenship in Society, (e) Citizenship in the World, (f) Communication, (g) Cooking, (h) Personal Fitness, (i) Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, (j) Environmental Science OR Sustainability, (k) Personal Management, (l) Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling, (m) Camping, and (n) Family Life. You may choose only one of the merit badges listed in categories i, j and l. Any additional merit badge(s) earned in those categories may be counted as one of your seven optional merit badges used to make your total of 21.
• 4. While a Life Scout, serve actively in your troop for six months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility:¹
  • Scout troop. Patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, troop guide, Order of the Arrow troop representative, den chief, scribe, librarian, historian, quartermaster, junior assistant Scoutmaster, chaplain aide, instructor, webmaster, or outdoor ethics guide.
  • Venturing crew. President, vice president, secretary, treasurer, den chief, historian, guide, quartermaster, chaplain aide, or outdoor ethics guide.
  • Sea Scout ship. Boatswain, boatswain's mate, purser, yeoman, storekeeper, crew leader, media specialist, specialist, den chief, or chaplain aide.
  • Lone Scout. Leadership responsibility in your school, religious organization, club, or elsewhere in your community.
• 5. While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. (The project must benefit an organization other than Scouting America.) A project proposal must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your Scoutmaster and unit committee, and the council or district before you start. You must use the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, Scouting America publication No. 512-927, in meeting this requirement. (To learn more about the Eagle Scout service project, see the Guide to Advancement, topics 9.0.2.0 through 9.0.2.16.)
• 6. While a Life Scout, participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
  In preparation for your board of review, prepare and attach to your Eagle Scout Rank Application a statement of your ambitions and life purpose and a listing of positions held in your religious institution, school, camp, community, or other organizations, during which you demonstrated leadership skills. Include honors and awards received during this service.
• 7. Successfully complete your board of review for the Eagle Scout rank.² (This requirement may be met after age 18, in accordance with Guide to Advancement topic 8.0.3.1.³)

Since February 27, 2026: Scouting America discontinued the Citizenship in Society merit badge. Eagle now requires 13 merit badges from the list in requirement 3 instead of 14, and eight optional merit badges instead of seven; the total stays at 21. A Scout who started Citizenship in Society before that date should ask the council advancement chair how it counts toward Eagle.

¹ Assistant patrol leader and bugler are not approved positions of responsibility for the Eagle Scout rank. Likewise, a Scoutmaster-approved leadership project shall not be used in lieu of serving in a position of responsibility.

² Appeals and extensions. If a Scout believes all requirements for the Eagle Scout rank have been completed but a board of review is denied, the Scout may request a board of review under disputed circumstances in accordance with Guide to Advancement topic 8.0.3.2. If the board of review does not approve the Scout’s advancement, the decision may be appealed in accordance with Guide to Advancement topic 8.0.4.0. A Scout who foresees that, due to no fault or choice of their own, it will not be possible to complete the Eagle Scout rank requirements before age 18 may apply for a limited time extension in accordance with Guide to Advancement topic 9.0.4.0. These are rarely granted and reserved only for work on Eagle.

³ Age requirement eligibility. Merit badges and badges of rank may be earned by a registered Scout or a qualified Venturer or Sea Scout. Scouts may earn these awards until their 18th birthday. Any Venturer or Sea Scout who has achieved the First Class rank as a Scout in a troop or as a Lone Scout may continue working up to their 18th birthday toward the Star, Life, and Eagle Scout ranks. An Eagle Scout board of review may occur, without special approval, within 24 months after the 18th birthday. Consult the Guide to Advancement topic 8.0.3.1, if a Board of Review is to be conducted more than 24 months after the candidate’s 18th birthday.

Requirement text as published by Scouting America in Scouts BSA Requirements (2025 edition), word for word. No council, district, unit or individual may add to or take away from these requirements.

For Venturers working on Scouts BSA requirements, replace “troop” with “crew” and “Scoutmaster” with “Crew Advisor.” For Sea Scouts working on Scouts BSA requirements, replace “troop” with “ship” and “Scoutmaster” with “Skipper.”

Eagle Palms

An Eagle Scout who keeps earning merit badges is recognized with Eagle Palms: Bronze, Gold and Silver, one for every five merit badges beyond the 21 that Eagle requires. What each new Palm asks is on Eagle Palms.

Beyond Eagle: NOESA (NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award)

The NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award (NOESA) recognizes Eagle Scouts who continue to lead, serve, and inspire well beyond their youth Scouting experience.

While the rank of Eagle Scout marks the pinnacle of youth achievement, the journey doesn't end there. NOESA honors Eagle Scouts who have demonstrated exceptional impact and achievement at the local, state, or regional level, often in fields such as business, education, science, public service, the military, or the arts.

About the Award

• NOESA is presented by a local council’s NESA committee.
• Unlike the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, NOESA does not require a 25-year tenure as an Eagle.
• It celebrates life-long service, leadership, and excellence in adult life.
• Recipients are role models who reflect the values of Scouting in their careers, communities, and personal commitments.

Who Can Be Nominated?

• Eagle Scouts in good standing
• Must live in or be registered within the nominating council’s territory
• Demonstrated record of exceptional impact in their field or community
• Nomination is reviewed and approved by the council’s NESA committee

Learn More or Nominate Someone

For details on eligibility and nomination instructions, visit:
🔗 NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award (NOESA)

Distinguished Eagle Scout Award (DESA)

The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is the highest national recognition for Eagle Scouts who have achieved remarkable success in their careers and communities over many years. This honor is reserved for Eagle Scouts who have held the rank for at least 25 years and have made a significant impact at the national or international level.

Recipients of the DESA are leaders in fields such as science, government, business, education, military service, and the arts. Like the NOESA, this award reflects a life of ongoing service, character, and distinction — and serves as an inspiration to younger Scouts just beginning their own journeys.

Learn more about the DESA and view a list of recipients at nesa.org.