Life
Rank Requirements*

Requirements were REVISED effective January 1, 2015.

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1. Be active in your unit (and patrol if you are in one) for at least 6 months as a Star Scout.
2. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
3. Earn 5 more merit badges (so that you have 11 in all), including any 3 more from the required list for Eagle.
   ___________________________________(required for Eagle)**
   ___________________________________(required for Eagle)**
   ___________________________________(required for Eagle)**
   ____________________________________________________
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4. While a Star Scout, take part in service project(s) totaling at least 6 hours of work. These project(s) must be approved by your Scoutmaster.
5. While a Star Scout, serve actively in your unit for 6 months in one or more of the positions of responsibility*** listed in requirement 5 for Star Scout (or carry out a unit leader-assigned leadership project to help your unit).
6. While a Star Scout, use the EDGE method to teach another Scout (preferably younger than you) the skills from ONE of the following seven choices, so that he is prepared to pass those requirements to his unit leader's satisfaction.
   1. Second Class - 7a and 7c (first aid)
   2. Second Class - 1a (outdoor skills)
   3. Second Class - 3c, 3d, 3e, and 3f (cooking/camping)
   4. First Class - 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d (first aid)
   5. First Class - 1, 7a, and 7b (outdoor skills)
   6. First Class - 4a, 4b, and 4d (cooking/camping)
   7. Three requirements from one of the Eagle-required merit badges, as approved by your unit leader.
7. Take part in a Scoutmaster conference
8. Successfully complete Complete your board of review.†

* For Varsity Scouts working on Boy Scout requirements, replace "troop" with "team" and "Scoutmaster" with "Varsity Scout Coach."
For Venturers working on Boy Scout requirements, replace "troop" with "crew" and "Scoutmaster" with "Crew Advisor."
For Sea Scouts working on Boy Scout requirements, replace "troop" with "ship" and "Scoutmaster" with "Skipper."

** A Scout may choose Choose any of the 15 17 required merit badges in the 12 13 categories to fulfill requirement 3. See page 16 of this book requirement 3 in the Eagle Scout rank requirements for a complete list of badges required badges for Eagle.

*** Assistant patrol leader is not an approved position of responsibility for the Life rank.

† 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.

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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 3 more 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 8 - (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.

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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 or Sea Scout may fulfill leadership requirements by serving as president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, quartermaster, historian, den chief, guide, webmaster, Leave No Trace trainer, boatswain, boatswain's mate, yeoman, purser, or storekeeper.
• The Scoutmaster conference will be conducted by the Advisor or Skipper.
• A board of review will be conducted by the crew or ship committee.

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