Scouts BSA Advancement Changes
BSA has released information on the 2023 changes to Scouts-BSA advancement requirements on their website at https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/all/. The changes to rank requirements included in the 2023 edition of Scouts BSA Requirements were formally announced on June 24, 2022, as a set of Minor Modifications to Scouts BSA Rank Requirements. To see that announcement, click here. There were changes to each rank (Scout to Eagle), but not to the requirements for Eagle Palms, which are not considered to be a rank,
On August 1, 2022, the modifications announced in June for the ranks of Scout through Star took effect. From August 1 through December 31, 2022, Scouts could continue using the previous requirements for the rank on which they were currently working, or they could choose to use the new requirements. but they had to use the new requirements once they advanced to their next rank. Beginning on January 1, 2023, all Scouts must use only the new requirements.
In addition, beginning July 1, 2022, the Citizenship in Society merit badge became required for the rank of Eagle Scout and as a result, minor changes were made to the wording of the requirements for Eagle Scout.
The 2023 list of merit badges with changes, includes 30 of the 138 currently available merit badges. Over half of those 30 merit badges include only minor changes. While the list of changes on the inside front cover of the 2023 Scouts-BSA Requirements book does not include information of any changes to the topics in the Special Opportunities section, the requirements for the Cyber Chip, and information on the Nova and Supernova Awards has been deleted, and minor changes were made to the requirements for the Outdoor Ethics Action Award, information about the National Park Service Resource Stewardship Scout Ranger Program, and to an entry in the Religious Emblems listing.
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