Central New Jersey Council, BSA

I've been talking to scouts and leaders from different troops and there seem to be differences in their advancement policies. In one troop scouts are not allowed to work on any merit badges untill they have earned 1'st Class. In other troops, younger scouts can work on basic rank advancement and merit badges at the same time. I've also been told that some troops will not allow credit to be given for higher rank requirements untill a scout has earned the previous rank. An example of this would be a Tenderfoot who has completed certain 1'st Class First Aid requirements. They would be told that those were just for practice and would have to be repeated after they had recieved their 2'nd class rank. I hope I haven't made this too confusing. Just how much leeway do troops have in setting their own advancement policies?

From the 2009 requirements book

Page 5:

Merit badges, badges of rank, and Eagle Palms are for boys who are registered Boy Scouts or Varsity Scouts. Any registered Boy Scout or Varsity Scout may earn these awards until his 18th birthday.

Page 7:

The requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks may be worked on simultaneously; however, these ranks must be earned in sequence.

No troop or individual may alter any requirements, ensuring that the advancement standards are fair and uniform for all Scouts.