Your application and the information you submit along with it your says a lot about the kind of person you are. You have one shot at making a great impression! This will also be good practice for you, since being able to present yourself in written form is an important life skill. Use the information here to help you put you materials together for both your Scoutmaster's Conference and board of review.

There has already been a lot written on this website about the paperwork you'll need. You should check with your local leadership for specific requirements for Scouts in your area (since there will be variances around the country). These are the things most frequently required, with links to where they are on the site (you should have these done already!):

Letters of Recommendation (Eagle requirement 2)

Your Service Project Final Report (Eagle Requirement 5)

Statement of Life Purpose and Ambitions (Eagle Requirement 6)

Completing your application

First and foremost, use a current version of the application (available from your council service center) and BE NEAT. The quality of your applications is, like everything else, a reflection of you. Also, check with your unit leader. They might want you to make a copy of your application and fill that out, while saving the original for when they meet with you.

Please note! The current application form (#512-728) is dated 2010 on the bottom of the back side, and it states "Please use the most current application found at www.scouting.org/scoutsource/media/forms.aspx". 

The top part of the front page is easy. Just make sure you use the actual board of review dates for the dates your achieved First Class Scout and Life Scout ranks. Check resources like your Scout Handbook (if you had it signed for your advancements), your unit Advancement Chairperson, etc. to verify dates.

PID Number:  (at the top of 2010 application, marked "Required").  Your PID number is your registration number in BSA.  You may not even know you have such a number, but you do. If you have your BSA membership card, you'll find the number there.

Even though it says "required", this is in the area marked "For council use only," so you don't have to fill it in.  As of 2004, most councils submit your application information through the national BSA "Scoutnet" membership system and do not send your physical application to the national Eagle Scout service office.  They need this number to make sure the Eagle application is recorded for the right Scout.  In most councils, the council registrar, staff member, or secretary whole certifies your application will look up the number and fill it in themselves.  Councils have different administrative procedures, so it is best to follow the recommendations of your district advancement committee, council registrar, or other knowledgeable person.

Requirement 1. As above, use the date of the actual board of review.

Requirement 2. If you are of Eagle quality, this area is not difficult. Simply list people who know you well. Try to get a varied selection - meaning, don't list four teachers, rather select people from different areas of your life.

If you do not have an employer, it is permissible to put a line through that title and use the space to list another reference.

Since a Scout is reverent, you will need a religious reference. If your personal religious practices don't include interaction with a pastor, rabbi, priest, or some similar person, list an acquaintance you consider to be a spiritual advisor.

I have seen Scouts who are home-schooled that don't know what to do with the "Educational" line. If this is the case for you, I suggest you think about other educational sources: music lessons; a sports coach; etc. It should be someone who has a major role in one of your educational pursuits.

Requirement 3. Before you fill out this section of your application, save yourself and the people at your council office a lot of headaches by doing the following:

List the merit badges you ACTUALLY used for Star and Life ranks, as well as the rest needed for Eagle. Many Scouts want to exclude those easy merit badges they earned earlier in their scouting careers (like Basketry and Woodcarving), and instead list on their Eagle Scout application the merit badges they are most proud of (like Wilderness Survival and Kodiak Bear Wrestling). Don't do it! Your council office checks all the dates you list on your application to ensure you are eligible to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. If you list alternate merit badges it will appear as though you did not have enough merit badges to earn your earlier ranks (Star Scout and Life Scout, per your board of review dates), and your application will be rejected. Then you'll enjoy the pleasure of correcting your Eagle Scout application and resubmitting it. Do it right the first time!

On the Eagle Application there are two sets of required merit badges from which you can choose to do one from each group (Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving; and Cycling or Hiking or Swimming). Both Star and Life ranks allow you to use two from one group, like using Cycling and Swimming as two required merit badges for your Star rank. If you have done this, make sure you select one as the required merit badge (cross out badges not used in items #6 and #9 of the application) and list the other required merit badge as a non-required merit badge (in one of the spaces numbered 13-21).

The date earned for the merit badge is the actual day the merit badge counselor signed and dated your merit badge card. Do not use the date you received it at your Court of Honor. Your unit or district advancement chairman can help you with dates if you do not have complete records.

Requirement 4. Make sure you remember to list at least six months of service since your Life Scout board of review. Check your date on the front of the application to double check.

Requirement 5. Input completion date as stated.

Requirement 6. Input project name, total volunteer hours, and completion date as stated.

Last modified 1/30/2011