New Birth of Freedom Council > Advancement > Scouts BSA Advancement Changes for 2024 Announced

Scouts BSA Advancement Changes for 2024 Announced

As of January 1, 2024, the following changes to Scouts BSA requirements become effective. 

Rank Requirements

There were minor changes to Scout (6) and Star (6). 

The Cyberchip has been phased out. Scouts should use the Personal Safety Awareness training at https://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/scouts-bsa/ for both Scout and Star ranks. 

Eagle Palms

Scouts BSA will no longer have to wait three months between Eagle Palms. They must earn five additional merit badges and live by the Scout Oath and Law. 

Merit Badges with Significant Changes to Content are: 

  • Automotive Maintenance – updated to include electric/hybrid vehicles (1c,d,e,f,g,h) (2a,b,c,d,e) (3c) (8a,e,f) 
  • Canoeing – major reorganization (3) (4b) (7) (8) (9) 
  • Coin Collecting – reorganization and updated for new/retired coinages (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) 
  • Fire Safety – safety updates (1c) (2) (4) (6b,c,d,g) (7a) (9a) (10a) (11) 
  • First Aid *– more hands-on (2) (4) (7) (8d) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) 
  • Golf – reorganized and added disc golf option (1) (2) 
  • Insect Study – expanded requirements (2) (4) (6a,b) (12) 
  • Journalism – included social media (2a1) 
  • Nuclear Science – updated, more active options (1a,b,c,d,e) (2b) (3a,b) (4,4c) (6a,b) 
  • Safety – updated to include natural disasters (1c) (2c,d,e) 
  • Skating – added skateboarding option (1b)(2) (Skateboarding Option), Ice Skating Option (2b1) (2d2), Roller Skating Option (2c1)(2d2) 
  • Surveying – added use of drones (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) 
  • Sustainability* – major reorganization (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) 
  • Swimming* – added correct demonstration of strokes (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) 

Merit Badges with Minor Changes include: 

  • Backpacking* (11b) 
  • Bird Study (2) (4) (7) (8c) (9d) (11) (12) 
  • Camping* (9c) 
  • Chemistry (2c) (5) 
  • Cooking (5 a,b,c,d,e) 
  • Digital Technology (1) 
  • Engineering (5) (6c) 
  • Fly-Fishing (3 b,c) (10) 
  • Indian Lore (2) (3) (4) (5) 
  • Law (1) (5) (11) 
  • Mining in Society (8c) 
  • Photography (1b) 
  • Plant Science (8 Option 1: Agronomy E5c) 
  • Programming (1a) 
  • Radio (9a5) 
  • Scouting Heritage (2b3, b4) (3) (4c) 

The most current requirements are at https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/.