Board of Review

Here are a resource of BSA guidelines for advancement, particularly with a Board of Review.

From this site, I have pasted many of the parts below that pertains specifically to advancing in our Troop up to and including Life rank:

8.0.0.1 Purpose and Timeliness of Boards of Review

After a Scout has completed the requirements for any rank or Eagle Palm, he appears before a board of review. Its purpose is to determine the quality of his experience and decide whether he has fulfilled the requirements for the rank. If so, the board not only approves his advancement or Palm but also encourages him to continue the quest for the next rank or Palm.  Because the board of review date becomes the effective advancement date, boards should be scheduled promptly as Scouts are ready or set up on a regular basis that assures Scouts are not delayed in beginning time-oriented requirements for the next rank.

8.0.2.0 Particulars for Tenderfoot Through Life Ranks (or Palms)

The preceding applies to boards of review for all ranks,but there are a few differences for the ranks other than Eagle, and for Eagle Palms:

1. The board is made up of three to six unit committee members—no more and no less. In units with fewer than three registered committee members available to serve, it is permissible to use knowledgeable parents(not those of the candidate) or other adults (registered or not) who are at least 21 years of age and who understand Boy Scouting's aims. Using unregistered adults for boards of review must be the exception,not the rule. Registered committee members familiar with the unit program, who have had a background check, and who are Youth Protection trained are preferred. Scheduling boards of review when and where committee members can attend usually alleviates the problem of not having enough committee members for a board.

2. For a Varsity Scout team, the committee member responsible for advancement, the advancement program manager (youth), and the coach serve on the board.

3. One member serves as chair. The unit committee decides how he or she is chosen. The chair conducts review meetings according to BSA procedures and reports results to the unit advancement coordinator.

4. The location should be comfortable, such as the unit meeting place, a camp, or a leader's home.

5. The review should take approximately 15 minutes,but not longer than 30 minutes.

6. Ranks and Palms shall not be presented until the signed advancement report is submitted to the local council.

7. If a Scout is to be reviewed for more than one rank(Tenderfoot, Second Class, or First Class), each rank should have a separate board of review. While these boards may be conducted on the same date, it is preferred—if feasible—that different members be involved on the boards to give the young man an enhanced experience and an opportunity to interact with a variety of adults.

8.0.0.2 Boards of Review Must Be Granted When Requirements Are Met

A Scout shall not be denied this opportunity. When he believes he has completed all the requirements for a rank,including a Scoutmaster conference, a board of review must be granted. Scoutmasters—or councils or districts in the case of the Eagle Scout rank—for example, do not have authority to expect a boy to request or organize one, or to "defer" him, or to ask him to perform beyond the requirements in order to be granted one. In a case where there is concern the Scout has not fulfilled the requirements for a rank as written, it is appropriate to advise the young man that he might not pass the board and to make suggestions about what he might do to improve his chances for success. It is, however, the Scout's decision to go ahead with a board of review or not.

8.0.1.4 Board Members Must Agree Unanimously on Decisions to Approve

After the board of review the Scout is asked to wait outside the room or out of hearing range while the board deliberates. To approve awarding a rank or Palm, the board must agree unanimously. Every effort should be made to deliberate with careful consideration of each member's perspective, and in sufficient detail as to avoid factual misunderstanding. It is appropriate to call the candidate back if additional questions may provide clarification. Still, if any member dissents, the decision cannot be for approval. In the case of such disagreement,the Scout shall not be informed about the specifics of the conversations or any arguments taking place.As indicated below ("After the Review," 8.0.1.5),he is told only how he can improve.

8.0.1.5 After the Review

If the members agree a Scout is ready to advance, he is called in and congratulated. The board of review date—not that of a subsequent court of honor—becomes the rank's effective date.

If a board does not approve, the candidate must be so informed and told what he can do to improve. Most Scouts accept responsibility for their behavior or for not completing requirements properly. If it is thought that a Scout, before his 18th birthday, can benefit from an opportunity to properly complete the requirements, the board may adjourn and reconvene at a later date. If the candidate agrees to this, then if possible, the same members should reassemble. If he does not agree, then the board must make its decision at that point. In any case, a follow-up letter must be promptly sent to a Scout who is turned down. It must include actions advised that may lead to advancement, and also an explanation of appeal procedures. (See"Appealing a Decision,"8.0.4.0, or—if applicable—"Appealing a Quartermaster Bridge of Review Decision," 4.4.2.8.) The council must keep a copy of the letter.

After any board of review, the unit leader is informed of the decision.