Star Rank Requirements

These requirements became effective on January 1, 2010.

These requirements appear in the official Boy Scout Handbook, 12th Edition, which was issued in 2009,
but did not take effect until January 1, 2010.
If a Scout started work toward a rank before that date using requirements that were current before January 1, 2010,
he may complete that rank only using the old requirements.
Any progress toward a rank that is begun after January 1, 2010, must use the requirements as they are presented
in the Boy Scout Handbook (34622) or in Boy Scout Requirements book (34765)

To see the requirements with the changes highlighted, Click here.

To see the previous requirements, Click here.

To see the current requirements, Click here.

Be active in your troop and patrol for at least 4 months as a First Class Scout.
Demonstrate scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
Earn 6 merit badges, including 4 from the required list for Eagle.*
___________________________________(required for Eagle)*
___________________________________(required for Eagle)*
___________________________________(required for Eagle)*
___________________________________(required for Eagle)*
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
While a First Class Scout, take part in service projects totaling at least 6 hours of work. These projects must be approved by your Scoutmaster.
While a First Class Scout, serve actively 4 months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility (or carry out a Scoutmaster-assigned leadership project to help the troop):

Boy Scout troop.

Patrol leader,
assistant senior patrol leader,
senior patrol leader,
Venture patrol leader
troop guide,
Order of the Arrow troop representative,
den chief,
scribe,
librarian,
historian,
quartermaster,
bugler,
junior assistant Scoutmaster,
chaplain aide,
instructor ,
troop Webmaster, or
Leave No Trace trainer.

Varsity Scout team.

Captain,
cocaptain,
program manager,
squad leader,
team secretary,
Order of the Arrow team representative,
librarian,
historian,
quartermaster,
chaplain aide,
instructor,
den chief,
team Webmaster, or
Leave No Trace trainer.

Venturing crew / Sea Scout ship.

President,
vice president,
secretary,
treasurer,
den chief,
quartermaster,
historian,
guide,
boatswain,
boatswain's mate,
yeoman,
purser,
storekeeper,
crew/ship Webmaster, or
Leave No Trace trainer.

Take part in a Scoutmaster conference
Complete your board of review.

* Choose any of the 15 required merit badges in the 12 categories to fulfill requirement 3. See requirement 3 in the Eagle Scout requirements for a list of badges required for Eagle.

NOTE: The footnote to Requirement 3 means that, for example, a Scout can use both Lifesaving AND Emergency Preparedness and/or Swimming, Hiking, AND Cycling toward the requirement of 4 from the required list for Eagle when working toward Life Scout.) Also note that the asterisks are specifically placed on the lines marked "(required for Eagle)" signifying that the note applies to these badges. The Guide to Advancement explicitly states this on page 43:

7.0.4.5 Earning Eagle-Required Merit Badges for Star or Life Rank
Candidates for Star or Life, in the selection of “any four” or “any three,” respectively, of the merit badges required for Eagle, may choose from all those listed, including where alternatives are available: Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving; and Cycling OR Hiking OR Swimming. For example, Cycling, Hiking, and Swimming could count for Life rank, but only one of those would serve toward the 12 required merit badges for the Eagle Scout rank.

Please note that Requirement 7 - (Complete your Board of Review) MAY be done AFTER the Scout' has reached age 18. All other requirements must be completed BEFORE the Scout's 18th Birthday.

VENTURERS and SEA SCOUTS

The requirements above are those for boys enrolled as members of Boy Scout Troops (including Venture Patrols within Troops) or Varsity Scout Teams. The following requirements apply to boys registered in the Venturing Program including Sea Scouts.

Any male Venturer who has achieved the First Class rank as a Boy Scout in a troop or Varsity Scout in a team may continue advancement toward Star, Life and Eagle Scout ranks up to his 18th birthday.
He must meet the requirements as prescribed in the official Boy Scout Handbook and the current Boy Scout Requirements book.
The Venturer may fulfill leadership requirements by serving as president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer of his crew, or as boatswain, boatswain's mate, yeoman, purser, or storekeeper for his ship.
The Scoutmaster conference will be conducted by the Advisor or Skipper.
A board of review will be conducted by the crew or ship committee.