There are five rank badges and the Arrow of Light Award in Cub Scouting. All Cub Scouts, no
matter the age, earn their Bobcat rank first. The remainder of the ranks are earned based on a
the age of the boy. Unlike Boy Scouts and Venturing, earning one rank is not dependent on
another. Instead, a boy earns the rank of his age group whether he has earned previous badges
or not (with the exception of the Bobcat Badge). Learn more about each rank badge; for exact
requirements, please consult the handbook for that particular rank.
Bobcat Rank
The new Cub Scout, regardless of his age, earns the Bobcat badge soon after registering. This
rank involves learning the Scout Oath and Law, the Cub Scout sign, handshake, motto and Salute.
Finally, with the boys parent or guardian, they have to complete the exercises in the pamphlet
"How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide". The requirements for the
Bobcat badge can be found in all of the Cub Scout handbooks (there is no Bobcat handbook),
as it is a requirement for all boys that enter Cub Scouting.
Tiger Rank
First-grade boys join a Tiger den, where each boys works with an adult
partner on the requirements to earn his Tiger badge, after having first
completed the aforementioned Bobcat rank.
Wolf Rank
When a boy is in the second grade (or as soon as he completes the Bobcat requirements if he
joins at this age), he starts work on the 6 Adventures and 1 Elective for the Wolf rank.
Bear Rank
When the boy is in the third grade (or as soon as he completes the Bobcat requirements if he
joins at this age), he begins work toward the Bear rank.
Webelos Rank
When the boy is in the fourth grade (or as soon as he completes the Bobcat requirements if he
joins at this age), he begins work toward the Webelos rank.
Arrow of Light Award
The Arrow of Light Award is the highest rank that a Cub Scout can achieve, it is also the only
Award that a Cub Scout earns which can be worn on his Boy Scout uniform. The AOL is usually
awarded to the boy as he makes a transition from the Cub Scout pack to a Boy Scout troop
in an impressive pack ceremony. The Webelos badge and Arrow of Light requirements include many,
but not all, of the joining requirements for the Boy Scout badge. Having earned these, the
boy should have less difficulty in meeting the requirements for joining a troop and
receiving his Boy Scout badge.
For detailed criteria that each boy must complete to meet their respective rank requirements click on the link below: