New BSA Rank Requirements – January 2016

Posted on November 22, 2015 by tokeefe

BSA announced new rank requirements effective this January. In addition to converting the Boy Scout badge to the Boy Scout rank, every rank has been revised. Scout rank through Life rank have some significant changes. Follow this link to review a detailed comparison of the current requirements to the new requirements.

For scouts who started before January 1, 2016:

If working on the scout badge, may continue to use the old requirements (or switch to the new requirements,) but they must use the new requirements for subsequent badges.
If working on Tenderfoot through First Class, may use the old requirements, but must switch to the new requirements upon obtaining First Class
If First Class has been completed, may complete the rank they are working on using the old requirements, but must switch to the new requirements for subsequent ranks.

Boys joining after January 1, 2016 must use the new requirements.

Beginning January 1, 2017, all scouts must use the new requirements, regardless of rank.