Youth Protection

Youth safety is the number one concern of the Boy Scouts of America. The BSA places the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for our youth members. To maintain such an environment, the BSA developed numerous procedural and leadership selection policies and provides parents and leaders with resources for the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing programs.

New leaders are required to take Youth Protection Training before they submit their application for registration. The certificate of completion for this training must be submitted at the time application is made and before volunteer service with youth begins. Youth Protection Training must be taken every two years. If a volunteer's Youth Protection Training record is not current at the time of recharter, the volunteer will not be reregistered.

What These Requirements Mean For Your Unit

Registered leaders are adults who have submitted an adult leader application and hold any position in Scouting, including district and council positions.

• In order for a new adult to be registered, they must submit a certificate of completion along with an adult leader application.
• Leaders changing positions within Scouting do not need to submit a certificate as long as their records show current trained status (within the last 2 years).
• If a leaders registration does not show current trained status, the registration will be dropped when the unit recharters. This could put the unit at risk of dropping if the registered leader is a required position.

How to Get Trained

The easiest and fastest way to take Youth Protection Training is online. This training takes about 45 minutes. If you have already taken Youth Protection Training online, you will want to make sure your MyScouting account is linked to your membership ID in order to update the council's registration records.