# Earn 6 merit badges Part of the Star Scout guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://scouting.university/scouts-bsa/ranks/star/guide/index.md) > **3.** Earn six merit badges, including any four from the required list for Eagle. You may choose any of the merit badges on the required list for Eagle to fulfill this requirement. See Eagle rank requirement 3 for this list. Requirement 3 marks the beginning of the formal merit badge requirement path in Scouts BSA advancement. While you may have earned merit badges earlier in your Scouting career, Star is the first rank where earning merit badges is required to advance. Related Guide: [Eagle Scout Merit Badge Strategy Guide](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/eagle-required/strategy/): Complete 90-day time-lock badge planning, choice group analysis, and rank-by-rank roadmap on Merit Badge University. ## How Merit Badges Work The merit badge program introduces you to over 135 subjects ranging from outdoor survival and environmental science to aviation, robotics, personal finance, and public health. The official process for earning any merit badge involves four key steps: 1. **Discuss with Your Scoutmaster**: Before beginning work, express your interest to your Scoutmaster and obtain an Application for Merit Badge (commonly called a "blue card") or a digital approval in Scoutbook. 2. **Connect with a Registered Counselor**: Your Scoutmaster or unit advancement coordinator will provide the contact details of a qualified, registered merit badge counselor. 3. **Complete the Requirements**: Meet with your counselor (always following Youth Protection guidelines and the buddy system). Work through the requirements exactly as stated—nothing may be added, and nothing may be omitted. 4. **Final Sign-Off & Recording**: Once all requirements are fulfilled to the counselor's satisfaction, the counselor signs the blue card or submits completion via Scoutbook. Turn in your completed record to your troop advancement coordinator. ## Understanding the Eagle-Required Merit Badge Categories Eagle Scout requires a total of 21 merit badges, of which 13 specific subjects/categories are required. For the Star rank, you must earn a total of **six merit badges**, with at least **four** coming from the Eagle-required list: - **[First Aid](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/first-aid/guide/)**: Foundational emergency response and life-saving skills. - **[Citizenship in the Community](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/citizenship-in-the-community/guide/)**: Local government, civic involvement, and community organizations. - **[Citizenship in the Nation](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/citizenship-in-the-nation/guide/)**: Federal government structure, national symbols, and historic documents. - **[Citizenship in the World](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/citizenship-in-the-world/guide/)**: International relations, global treaties, and world cultures. - **[Communication](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/communication/guide/)**: Public speaking, digital communication, interviewing, and writing skills. - **[Cooking](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/cooking/guide/)**: Camp culinary skills, nutrition, meal planning, and food safety. - **[Personal Fitness](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/personal-fitness/guide/)**: Physical fitness, nutrition, and a mandatory 12-week (90-day) fitness tracking program. - **[Emergency Preparedness](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/emergency-preparedness/guide/) OR [Lifesaving](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/lifesaving/guide/)**: Choose one to fulfill the requirement. - **[Environmental Science](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/environmental-science/guide/) OR [Sustainability](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/sustainability/guide/)**: Choose one to fulfill the requirement. - **[Personal Management](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/personal-management/guide/)**: Financial planning, budgeting, project tracking, and a mandatory 13-week budget record. - **[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/)**: Choose one outdoor physical skill to fulfill the requirement. - **[Camping](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/camping/guide/)**: Outdoor living, campsite selection, packing, and a requirement for at least 20 days and nights of camping. - **[Family Life](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/family-life/guide/)**: Family roles, responsibilities, projects, and a mandatory 90-day tracking of family chores. > **Did You Know?** > > Any merit badge you earned as a Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, or First Class counts toward your six merit badges for Star. You do not need to earn all six during your four months as a First Class Scout. ## Strategic Selection: Picking Your Four Eagle-Required Badges Choosing which Eagle-required badges to complete for Star is an important strategic decision: 1. **Leverage Existing Rank Skills**: Badges like **First Aid**, **Camping**, and **Cooking** directly build on skills you mastered from Scout through First Class. 2. **Start Long-Lead Tracking Badges Early**: Badges like **Personal Fitness** (12 weeks/90 days), **Family Life** (90 days), and **Personal Management** (13 weeks) take three full months of consistent record-keeping. Starting one now helps prevent advancement bottlenecks later on the path to Life and Eagle. 3. **Balance with Electives**: Your remaining two merit badges can be any elective badges that spark your curiosity—such as *Wilderness Survival*, *Archery*, *Woodwork*, *Robotics*, *Game Design*, or *Leatherwork*. **Merit Badge Roadmap Checklist** — Ensure your 6 badges meet all criteria - [ ] Total badges earned: at least 6. - [ ] Eagle-required badges: at least 4 from the official categories. - [ ] Elective or additional badges: 2 of your choice. - [ ] Blue cards or digital advancement records: signed by registered counselors and submitted to the unit advancement chair. > **Tip** > > Keep your signed blue card applicant stubs in a dedicated three-ring binder with baseball-card protective sleeves. These paper records serve as permanent proof of completion if there is ever a database discrepancy. --- - Previous: [Demonstrate Scout spirit](https://scouting.university/scouts-bsa/ranks/star/guide/req2/index.md) - Next: [Complete 6 hours of service](https://scouting.university/scouts-bsa/ranks/star/guide/req4/index.md)