# Earn 21 merit badges Part of the Eagle Scout guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://scouting.university/scouts-bsa/ranks/eagle/guide/index.md) > **3.** Earn a total of 21 merit badges (10 more than required for the Life rank), including these 13 merit badges: (a) First Aid, (b) Citizenship in the Community, (c) Citizenship in the Nation, (d) Citizenship in the World, (e) Communication, (f) Cooking, (g) Personal Fitness, (h) Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, (i) Environmental Science OR Sustainability, (j) Personal Management, (k) Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling, (l) Camping, and (m) Family Life. > > You must choose only one of the merit badges listed in categories h, i, and k. Any additional merit badge(s) earned in those categories may be counted as one of your eight optional merit badges used to make your total of 21. Requirement 3 represents the culmination of your merit badge career in Scouts BSA: earning a minimum of **21 total merit badges**, encompassing all **13 required categories**. Related Guide: [Eagle Scout Merit Badge Strategy Guide](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/eagle-required/strategy/): Complete roadmap for all 13 Eagle categories, time-lock badges, choice groups, and blue card verification on Merit Badge University. ## Comprehensive Breakdown of the 13 Eagle-Required Categories Every candidate for Eagle Scout must complete merit badges covering the following 13 specific subjects/categories: 1. **(a) [First Aid](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/first-aid/guide/)**: Advanced emergency assessment, CPR/AED techniques, triage, wilderness trauma care, and shock management. 2. **(b) [Citizenship in the Community](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/citizenship-in-the-community/guide/)**: Local municipal government structure, attending city/town council meetings, and volunteering with local charitable organizations. 3. **(c) [Citizenship in the Nation](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/citizenship-in-the-nation/guide/)**: Constitutional rights and duties, branches of the federal government, national landmarks, and communications with elected national representatives. 4. **(d) [Citizenship in the World](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/citizenship-in-the-world/guide/)**: International law, global treaties, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), foreign service, and world geopolitical issues. 5. **(e) [Communication](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/communication/guide/)**: Public speaking, interpersonal communication, digital messaging, interviewing, and writing and delivering formal presentations. 6. **(f) [Cooking](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/cooking/guide/)**: Camp kitchen hygiene, nutritional meal planning for patrol and trail backpacking, cooking methods, and food safety. 7. **(g) [Personal Fitness](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/personal-fitness/guide/)**: Comprehensive physical fitness assessment, nutrition, aerobic/strength training, and a **12-week (90-day) tracked physical improvement program**. 8. **(h) [Emergency Preparedness](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/emergency-preparedness/guide/) OR [Lifesaving](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/lifesaving/guide/)**: - *Emergency Preparedness*: Family disaster planning, community emergency response, search and rescue protocols. - *Lifesaving*: Advanced water rescue, active and passive victim towing, spinal injury management, water safety. - *(Choose one to fulfill category h. If you earn both, the second badge counts as an optional elective).* 9. **(i) [Environmental Science](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/environmental-science/guide/) OR [Sustainability](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/sustainability/guide/)**: - *Environmental Science*: Ecological studies, population dynamics, pollution monitoring, biodiversity, and outdoor lab experiments. - *Sustainability*: Resource conservation, waste reduction, carbon footprint analysis, sustainable community planning. - *(Choose one to fulfill category i. If you earn both, the second badge counts as an optional elective).* 10. **(j) [Personal Management](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/personal-management/guide/)**: Personal financial literacy, understanding investments, insurance, career planning, and maintaining a **13-week detailed financial budget**. 11. **(k) [Swimming](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/swimming/guide/) OR [Hiking](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/hiking/guide/) OR [Cycling](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/cycling/guide/)**: - *Swimming*: Water survival strokes, endurance swims, diving, water safety. - *Hiking*: Completing four 10-mile hikes and one continuous 20-mile hike. - *Cycling*: Road safety, bicycle maintenance, and completing two 10-mile, two 15-mile, two 25-mile, and one continuous 50-mile bike ride. - *(Choose one to fulfill category k. If you earn more than one, the additional badges count as optional electives).* 12. **(l) [Camping](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/camping/guide/)**: Low-impact outdoor living, wilderness campcraft, campsite planning, and completing at least **20 days and nights of scout camping**. 13. **(m) [Family Life](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/family-life/guide/)**: Family communication, roles, home safety, family projects, and a **90-day tracking of personal and family household responsibilities**. ## Optional Merit Badges (8 Electives) To reach the required 21 total merit badges: - 13 badges must satisfy the specific categories listed above. - The remaining **8 merit badges** may be any elective merit badges of your choice. - Any "alternate" badges earned from categories h, i, or k (for example, earning both Lifesaving and Emergency Preparedness, or both Swimming and Hiking) automatically count toward your 8 optional merit badges. > **Did You Know?** > > **Alternative Merit Badges for Scouts with Disabilities**: Under *Guide to Advancement* Section 10, a Scout with a permanent physical or cognitive disability that prevents completing specific required merit badges (e.g., Swimming or Lifesaving) may apply for council approval to complete alternative merit badges. The application must be approved by the council advancement committee before work on alternative badges begins. ## Auditing and Recording Your Badges Before completing your Eagle Scout Rank Application, perform a meticulous audit of your merit badge records: **Merit Badge Audit Checklist** — Verify your records against Scoutbook - [ ] Confirm that all 21 merit badges are recorded in Scoutbook / Internet Advancement. - [ ] Match every completion date on your Eagle application to your signed blue card applicant stubs. - [ ] Verify that all 13 Eagle-required categories are fully satisfied. - [ ] Ensure that 8 elective badges are correctly listed in the optional section. - [ ] Cross-check that no merit badge is listed twice. > **Tip** > > Review your completed merit badge list with your troop advancement coordinator several months before your planned Scoutmaster conference to reconcile any date or database discrepancies. --- - Previous: [Demonstrate Scout spirit](https://scouting.university/scouts-bsa/ranks/eagle/guide/req2/index.md) - Next: [Serve in position of responsibility](https://scouting.university/scouts-bsa/ranks/eagle/guide/req4/index.md)