By the time you are working on your project, you have probably mostly finished the other requirements.  You want to be sure that there will not be any problems with the other requirements, especially if you are approaching your 18th birthday.

Requirement 1:  Be active in your troop and patrol for at least 6 months as a Life Scout.

Your troop defines their standard for what they consider active.  Your Scoutmaster and troop committee chairman will need to certify that you have met this requirement.  Be sure you understand what they expect, and how well they feel you are meeting this requirement.  By the time you get this close, you should be in regular communication with your Scoutmaster, and should know from him that he is satisfied with your participation.

Requirement 2:  Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.

You will be asked to name 6 references and get reference forms filled out by these people who can attest to the fact that you live by all parts of the Scout Oath (Promise) and the Scout Law in your everyday life.  This is not just while you are at Scout activities.  Be sure that these characteristics are obvious to everyone you come in contact with in all aspects of your life.  Ask yourself if it would be clear to everyone you contact that you live by these principles in all aspects of your life.  As you get close to finishing up the first 5 requirements and your Scoutmaster Conference is about a month away, it is time to start getting your reference letters.  The 6 references should be written by:  

• One of your Parents or guardians.
• A religious leader (not necessarily ordained clergy) or someone who will attest to the fact that you are reverent (12th point of the Scout Law) and that you do your "Duty to God" (Scout Oath).
• An educational reference, a teacher or other educator.
• An employer.  If you have not had a paying job, some adult for whom you have done work, such as a neighbor or volunteer project leader.
• Two other references of your selection.  

Don't skip any of the six people.  You should have the reference letters sent directly to the Scoutmaster or Eagle Advisor by their writers, not to you.  You are not allowed to receive or be involved in transporting these reference letters.  The reference form is included near the end of the Workbook document.  You will need 6 copies of the form.  Either print it out 2 sided (you will probably need to print 1 side and then run the form back through your printer a second time to print the back side) or print the front and back separately and have them copied 2 sided.  When you give out the reference form, include a stamped envelope addressed to your Scoutmaster or Eagle Advisor.  On the outside write “CONFIDENTIAL REFERENCE FOR” and your name.  Be sure to put on the return address of the person who will be filling out the reference form.  Check with your Scoutmaster to be sure he has received all six references.  He will know who they are from and who they are for because of what you have put on the outside of the envelope.  Follow up if necessary.  

Requirement 3: Earn a total of 21 merit badges (10 more than you already have), including the following: (a) First Aid, (b) Citizenship in the Community, (c) Citizenship in the Nation, (d) Citizenship in the World, (e) Communications, (f) Personal Fitness, (g) Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, (h) Environmental Science, (I) Personal Management, (j) and Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling, (k) Camping, and (l) Family Life.

This list does change occasionally.  When there are changes, there is a date set beyond which you must use the new requirements, even if you already have earned the merit badges you needed under the old rules.  As you earn the merit badges, keep your part of the merit badge cards in case there is any question later.  Note that Family Life, Personal Fitness, and Personal Management each include requirements that take three months.  Be sure you contact the merit badge counselor before you start working on these requirements.  You should have a merit badge card signed by your Scoutmaster before you meet with the counselor, or start working on the merit badge.  Be sure you have all your signed merit badge cards in case there is a problem with the records at the Council Office.  the web site http://www.meritbadge.com has useful information about many merit badges and links to web resources for additional information.

Requirement 4:  While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of 6 months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility: Patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, troop guide, Order of the Arrow troop representative, den chief, scribe, librarian, historian, quartermaster, junior assistant Scoutmaster, chaplain aide, or instructor.

The word "actively" is very key.  It is not enough to just have the position and wear the patch.  Be sure that you are serving in one of the specific positions listed.  Your Scoutmaster and troop committee chairman will need to certify that you have met this requirement.  Be sure that you are in regular communication with them about what they expect, and how well you are doing the job. Don't wait until the last minute to find out that the Scoutmaster is not willing to sign off on your having completed this requirement. Be prepared to discuss how you showed your leadership in this position.

If you are a venture scout, there is a different list of positions with the same 6 month requirement.

Requirement 5:  While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community.  (The project should benefit an organization other than Boy Scouting.)  The project idea must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your Scoutmaster and troop committee, and the council or district before you start.  You must use the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, No. 18-927A, in meeting this requirement. 

The project is covered on many other pages of this web site.

Requirement 6: Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.

Before you have your Scoutmaster conference, you need to write a "statement of your ambitions and life purpose and a listing of positions held in your religious institution, any school, camp, community, or other organizations during which you demonstrated leadership skills.  Include honors and awards received during this service."  Print two copies of this statement and put one in your project book and give the second copy to your Scoutmaster at the Scoutmaster conference.  

The Scoutmaster conference will take place only after you have completed the first 5 requirements.  Be prepared to review what you have done since becoming a Life Scout, and your future plans.  Bring all your paperwork including your finished project write-up with you to the Scoutmaster's Conference.  This requirement, and the first 5, must be completed BEFORE your 18th birthday.

Requirement 7: Successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review.

As long as the first 6 requirements have been completed BEFORE your 18th birthday, the board of review can be held up to 3 months after your 18th birthday (longer in special circumstances).  This will be a review of your entire Scouting career.  It is not a retesting of the skills you have already demonstrated.  More information is available on this web site.