When and How to Include Eagle Scout on a Resume

Becoming an Eagle Scout is no small feat. It represents leadership, perseverance, and service—qualities employers value across industries. It’s no wonder some professionals highlight this achievement well into their careers.

But how do you list Eagle Scout on a resume, especially when you're just starting out? This guide will walk you through the best ways to do it effectively, with real examples and best practices to strengthen your application, not just fill space.

What is an Eagle Scout?

An Eagle Scout is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), earned through years of dedication and hands-on learning. So, if you’ve reached this level, you’re one of the 6.5% of Scouts who put in the time and effort to do it—a rare and prestigious honor.

To get there, you:

• Received at least 21 merit badges, mastering skills from survival to citizenship.
• Led a significant community service project, making a lasting impact.
• Held leadership positions, guiding and mentoring fellow Scouts.
• Passed an Eagle Scout Board of Review, proving your readiness to uphold Scouting’s values.

With only a small percentage of Scouts achieving this rank, it’s an honor that speaks volumes about your character.

When is Eagle Scout worth including on a resume?

Above all, your resume should be tailored to the job you’re applying for. Every detail should serve a purpose, whether it highlights your skills, experience, or leadership potential. So, where does Eagle Scout fit in?

However, as your work trajectory progresses, adding it or not depends on a few key factors.

Relevance to the role

If the skills and values gained from earning Eagle Scout—such as leadership, project management, or collaboration—align with the job, it’s a strong addition. This is especially true for positions in government, military, law enforcement, or outdoor industries.

Continued involvement

If you’re still active in scouting—as an Assistant Scoutmaster, mentor, or council member—it’s worth keeping on your resume. Ongoing involvement demonstrates your commitment to community service.

Space and prioritization

If resume space is tight, prioritize recent and highly relevant experiences over older achievements. Eagle Scout is impressive, but it shouldn’t take the place of professional skills, certifications, or career-related projects.

Industry perception

Some industries respect and recognize the Eagle Scout rank more than others. Employers in public service, leadership roles, engineering, or sports often see it as a mark of dedication and responsibility. If your field values discipline and problem-solving, it could be a great addition—no matter your career stage.

Recency of achievement

Listing Eagle Scout on your resume for a 16-year-old would be particularly impressive. However. as you move beyond college and gain professional experience, your resume should focus more on recent, job-related achievements. While Eagle Scout carries weight early on, its impact may diminish once you have several years of industry experience or leadership roles.

Bottom line: Early in your career? Include it. If you're further along, consider whether it adds real value to your application. When in doubt, prioritize what best presents your qualifications for the job.

Here’s how your scouting experience can translate into work-related skills to feature on your resume:

Next, let’s dive into the various ways you can list your Eagle Scout rank on your resume.

Where to include Eagle Scout on a resume

While it's a strong credential, Eagle Scout shouldn’t be buried in an outdated extracurriculars section or thrown in as an afterthought. Instead, it should be positioned where it adds the most value based on your career stage and target job.

One of the best places to list Eagle Scout—especially if you want to highlight initiative or personal accomplishments—is in the achievements or awards section.

Achievements section

This is the best spot for your BSA rank because:

• It separates Eagle Scout from general experience or volunteering, allowing it to grab attention.
• It allows you to detail projects, rather than just participation.
• It keeps the focus on what the rank represents: discipline, perseverance, and service.
• You can visually set it apart by including an icon.

An equally suitable resume placement is the awards section.

See how it looks when created with Enhancv’s resume builder:

Keep in mind that the achievements section may be a stronger option, as it allows you to underscore the effort behind the result—not just the date of completion. This is especially valuable early in your career, as it shifts focus away from limited work experience.

Education section

Listing Eagle Scout in the education section can be a bit tricky because scouting is not directly tied to school and takes years of dedication rather than being a standard academic achievement. While this placement keeps it visible, it may not fully emphasize the essential qualities that went into earning the rank.

However, this can still be a good choice if you recently received an Eagle Scout award or if your resume is light on experience, helping to fill out your qualifications while keeping the focus on personal growth and commitment.

Volunteer experience section

If your Eagle Scout project had a strong community impact, the volunteering section is one of the best places to highlight it. It allows you to focus on leadership, teamwork, and measurable contributions rather than just the rank itself.

Just like in the work experience section, your volunteer entry should include:

• Your role in the organization or project.
• Duration and location to establish context.
• Three to five bullet points illustrating measurable achievements with strong action verbs.

How to list Eagle Scout on a resume—best practices

Even though some employers—especially international companies—may not be familiar with the Boy Scouts of America, every employer cares about your skills and impact. The key to framing Eagle Scout on your resume is to focus on leadership, initiative, and measurable achievements rather than just stating the title.

Here’s how to do it right:

• Translate scouting successes into transferable abilities: Instead of just listing “Eagle Scout,” underline transferable skills like team leadership, project management, fundraising, and teamwork.
• Use numbers to show impact: Employers love measurable results, so include details like team size, volunteer hours, funds raised, or people benefited.
• Tailor your phrasing for a global audience: If applying to an international company, avoid assuming they know what Eagle Scout means. Instead, describe it as “a leadership and service honor awarded to top-performing scouts”.
• Place it strategically based on relevance: For entry-level resumes, include it in Achievements, Education, or Volunteer Experience. For mid-career professionals, it’s best to put in the cover letter where it serves as a testament to your management narrative and character.
• Prioritize leadership over participation: Leading a service project is more impressive than just having earned the rank. Show how you managed and influenced teams.
• Use action-driven, professional language: Instead of saying “Completed an Eagle Scout project,” say “Directed a 120-hour community service initiative, managing 10+ volunteers and securing $5,000 in funding.”

Tailor your Eagle Scout rank to your industry

Eagle Scout is a versatile achievement, but to make the biggest impact, you should align it with the skills your industry values most. Frame it in a way that directly connects to the role you're applying for.

For instance:

• Business and management: Spotlight leadership, budgeting, and fundraising to show your ability to organize teams and manage resources.
• Engineering and technology: Underscore problem-solving, logistics, and hands-on skills, such as planning complex projects or troubleshooting real-world challenges.
• Public service and nonprofits: Focus on community engagement and volunteerism, demonstrating your ability to mobilize teams..

When it’s best to remove Eagle Scout from your resume

While Eagle Scout is a prestigious achievement, there comes a point when it may no longer be the most relevant item on your resume. Employers care most about your most recent and impactful accomplishments, so as your career progresses, consider whether keeping it adds value to your application.

Even if you remove it from your resume, Eagle Scout can still be an asset.

Here’s where it’s worth keeping:

• LinkedIn profile: Mention it in your About section or under Honors & Awards for networking value.
• Cover letter: The cover letter is the perfect spot to describe how Eagle Scout shaped your personality and career direction.
• Interviews and networking: If it comes up naturally, it can be a great conversation starter, especially with hiring managers who recognize the commitment and values behind the rank.
• Resume summary: If you’re in a mission-driven field like education, healthcare, and environmental work, Eagle Scout is relevant beyond the early career stages. Include it in the summary, weaving it into a leadership narrative.

Conclusion

Whether you’re just starting your career or looking for a way to reinforce your professional profile, placing Eagle Scout on your resume can help emphasize key skills and achievements that matter to employers. However, as your career progresses, it’s best to omit it as it adds less and less value to your application.