Resource Center

Eagle-Required Merit Badges

Scouting America

To earn the Eagle Scout rank, a Scout must complete 21 merit badges total. Thirteen (13) of those must come from the list below. Some requirements allow a choice between badges.

Required Merit Badges

Camping
Outdoor living skills including campsite selection, cooking, planning trips, and extended camping experiences.

Citizenship in the Community
Focuses on local government, service, and civic involvement.

Citizenship in the Nation
Covers U.S. government, history, and constitutional principles.

Citizenship in the World
Examines global issues, international cooperation, and world citizenship.

Communication
Develops skills in public speaking, writing, listening, and effective communication.

Cooking
Teaches nutrition, menu planning, food safety, and cooking skills for home and outdoor settings.

Family Life
Explores family responsibilities, relationships, and managing time and commitments.

First Aid
Covers emergency response, injury treatment, and lifesaving skills.

Personal Fitness
Emphasizes physical health, fitness planning, and tracking long-term wellness goals.

Personal Management
Introduces budgeting, financial responsibility, saving, and goal setting.

Required Choices (Earn ONE from each group)

· Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling – Builds endurance, safety awareness, and long‑distance physical skills.

· Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving – Advanced emergency planning, rescue skills, and lifesaving response.

· Environmental Science OR Sustainability – Understanding ecosystems, conservation, environmental impact, and responsible resource use.

Notes for Scouts

· Start long-term badges early (Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Family Life).

· Only ONE badge from each choice group counts as Eagle-required.

· Extra badges from choice groups may count as optional toward the total of 21.

Official Merit Badge References

Merit Badges A–Z: https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/all/

Merit Badge image library: http://clipart.usscouts.org/library/BSA_Boy_Scout_MeritBadges/

Resource Center

Eagle-Required Merit Badges

Scouting America

Notes for Scouts

Official Merit Badge References

Merit Badges A-Z

Camping (Eagle Required)

Citizenship in the Community (Eagle Required)

Citizenship in the Nation (Eagle Required)

Citizenship in the World (Eagle Required)

Communication (Eagle Required)

Cooking (Eagle Required)

Cycling (Eagle Required)

Emergency Preparedness (Eagle Required)

Environmental Science (Eagle Required)

Family Life (Eagle Required)

First Aid (Eagle Required)

Hiking (Eagle Required)

Lifesaving (Eagle Required)

Personal Fitness (Eagle Required)

Personal Management (Eagle Required)

Sustainability (Eagle Required)

Swimming (Eagle Required)