Eagle Scout Advancement Process

The Scout should first complete all of the requirements for the Eagle Scout rank, including the Scoutmaster Conference (except for the Board of Review).
1. Link to 2023 Eagle Scout requirements: https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/eagle-required/
2. Before starting the Eagle Scout Rank Application, the Scout MUST have his ESSP Workbook approved by the District Representative. After the ESSP workbook has been approved by the District Representative, the Scout should turn in completed ESSP Workbook to ESSP Coach. The binder should have a number of sections – marked with a tab for each section:
  1. Eagle Scout Rank Application and BAC’s Project Description form
  2. Ambitions and Life Purpose
  3. Honors, Awards, and Leadership
  4. Eagle Scout Service Project (with sub tabs for)
    1. Project Proposal
    2. Project Final Plan
    3. Project Report
3. All requirements for the Eagle Scout rank (except for the Board of Review) MUST be completed prior to the candidate’s 18th birthday.
The Scout should then meet with Scoutmaster/Advancement Chair to complete the Eagle Scout Rank Application. After this meeting, the Scout should have print out a copy of the Scout’s Internet Advancement report. The Scout needs to attach Internet Advancement report to the Eagle Scout Rank Application.
1. The Scout should bring to the meeting:
  1. Boy Scout Handbook
  2. A copy of all advancement cards (rank advancement, merit badge “blue cards,” etc.).
    1. It’s a great idea to put your advancement cards in a baseball card holder that is designed for a 3-ring binder.
      1. Link: Baseball Card Holder Pages
2. It is important that all of the information – the Troopmaster file, your advancement cards, and the information on your Eagle Scout Rank Application – ties. You will save a lot of time – and potential frustration to make sure all of your paperwork is in order. Please do not attempt to submit your Eagle Scout Rank Application until you have confirmed everything ties.
3. Before adding them to the Eagle Scout Rank Application, the Scout should personally contact (via telephone) each of the references on the application to 1) make sure each is willing to complete a reference and 2) can return it promptly.
  1. Requirement #2 asks for names of individual references – including a religious reference. If the Scout does not have a religious leader, he should list his parents – who provide religious guidance.
  2. The Scout will not send any documents to the potential references. He will just let each potential reference know to expect a reference form in the mail – and make sure the reference is willing to complete and return the form promptly.
4. The Scout will need to write a statement of his “Ambitions and Life Purpose” – Eagle Scout Rank Application requirement #6. This needs to be put in a page protector and included in the Scout’s ESSP Workbook – and should not be sent with his Eagle Scout Rank Application.
5. On a second page, the Scout will write about “Honors, Awards, and Leadership” he has received. He should list positions held in Scouting, at High Adventure Scout camps, in his religious institution, school, community, or other organizations during which he demonstrated leadership skills. He should highlight honors and awards received during the service. This needs to be put in a page protector and included in the Scout’s ESSP Workbook – and should not be sent with his Eagle Scout Rank Application.
6. The Scout needs to also include a copy of the Baltimore Area Council’s Project Description Form with his Eagle Scout Rank Application. Please provide a copy of this form for the Scoutmaster and Committee Chair – two copies in total. The Scoutmaster is responsible for entering the service project data into the BSA database.
After obtaining the appropriate signatures on the Eagle Scout Rank Application (Scout, Scoutmaster, and Committee Chair), the Scout will give the Eagle Scout Rank Application, BAC Project Description Form, and a copy of the Scout’s Internet Advancement record to the Committee Chair.
The Committee Chair will hand-carry the Eagle Scout Rank Application to the Council Service Center.
The Committee Chair will send reference letters to all six references (five if the Scout is not employed + a parent if the Scout is not associated with a religious organization).
1. The Committee Chair will send reference letters via mail (not via email) and will include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Once the reference letters have been returned, the Committee Chair will hold the letters (unopened) and provide them to the District Representative prior to the start of the Board of Review.
2. The Scout will not have an responsibility to collect reference letters. He should not have any role in the process. If an initial reference letter is not returned, the Committee Chair will make reasonable efforts to ensure the reference is returned promptly. Per the Guide to Advancement, the Board of Review cannot be denied or postponed because reference letter(s) we not returned.
The Committee Chair will request a Unit Leader’s reference from the Scoutmaster.
After the Eagle Scout Rank Application has been verified at the Council Service Center, the Council Service Center will mail a postcard to the Scout. This is the only way the Council Service Center will communicate that the application is approved. It is IMPERATIVE that the Scout brings the postcard to the Committee Chair ASAP.
Upon receipt of the postcard from the Scout, the Committee Chair will communicate with the Board of Review Coordinator to schedule the Board of Review.
1. Under no circumstances should a Board of Review be scheduled until the postcard is returned from the Council Service Center.
2. Reference checks are confidential, and their contents are not to be disclosed to any person who is not a member of the Board of Review.
3. The Board of Review for an Eagle Scout Candidate is composed of at least three but not more than six members. One member – typically the District Representative – serves as chairman.
4. At least one District or Council Advancement Representative must be a member of the Eagle Board of Review if the Board of Review is conducted on a unit level. A Council or District may designate more than one person to serve as a member of Eagle Scout Boards of Review when requested to do so by the unit. For the Eagle Scout Board of Review only, it is not required that the Board Members be members of the Troop Committee; however, they must have an understanding of the importance of the Eagle Scout Board of Review.
5. Relatives/guardians of the Eagle Scout Candidate MAY NOT serve as members of a Board of Review.
6. The Board of Review members should convene at least 30 minutes before the Scout appears – in order to review the Eagle Scout Rank Application, references, and the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook.
7. The Scoutmaster may introduce the Scout to members of the Board of Review. The Scoutmaster may remain in the room, but he/she does not participate in the Board of Review. The Scoutmaster is not permitted to remain in the room if he/she is related to the Eagle Scout Candidate – an Assistant Scoutmaster should instead perform this role.
  1. The Scoutmaster should sit next to (or preferably slightly behind) the Eagle Scout candidate.
  2. He/she should not sit with the other members of the Board of Review. In no case should a relative or guardian of the candidate attend the review – even as Scoutmaster.
8. There is no standard set of questions that an Eagle Scout Candidate should be asked. However, the Board of Review should be assured of the Scout’s participation in the Scouting program. This is the highest award that a boy may achieve in Scouting and, consequently, the Board should thoroughly discuss the Scout’s successes and experiences in Scouting.
9. After the Board of Review, the Scout and his Scoutmaster will leave the room while the Board Members discuss the acceptability of the candidate as an Eagle Scout. The decision must be unanimous.
  1. If the Scout meets the requirements, he is asked to return and is informed that he will receive the Board’s recommendation to earn the Eagle Scout rank.
  2. If the Scout does not meet the requirements, he is asked to return and he is told the specific reasons he did not successfully complete the Board of Review. The Board Chair (almost always a District or Council representative) will go over the appeal process with the Scout – following the procedures in the Guide to Advancement.
10. The District Representative on the Board of Review is responsible for forwarding the Eagle Scout Rank Application, ESSP Workbook, references, and a properly completed Advancement Report to the Council Service Center.
11. When the application arrives at the Council Service Center, the Scout Executive signs it to certify that the proper procedure has been followed and that the Board of Review has recommended the candidate for the Eagle Scout rank. The Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook may be returned to the Scout after Council approval.
12. The National Eagle Scout Service screens the application to verify the accuracy of information on the form – such as proper signatures, positions of responsibility, tenure between ranks, and age of the candidate.
  1. Any item not meeting National standards will cause the application to be returned for more information.
  2. If the application is in order, the Scout is then certified as an Eagle Scout by the Eagle Scout Service on behalf of the National Council. Notice of approval is given by sending the Eagle Scout certificate to the local Council. The date used on the certificate will be the date of the Board of Review.
  3. The Eagle Scout Award must not be sold or given to any unit until after the certificate is received by the Council Service Center. The Eagle Scout Court of Honor should not be scheduled until the local Council receives the Eagle Scout rank credentials.