Youth Protection Training

• Youth Protection training is required for all BSA registered volunteers and is a joining requirement.
• Youth Protection training must be taken every two years. If a volunteer's Youth Protection training record is not current at the time of re-charter, the volunteer will not be re-registered.  
• New to Scouting? Click here to login and take Youth Protection training. You do not have to be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America to take Youth Protection training.

  To take Youth Protection training go to My.Scouting.org and create an account. You'll receive an email notification with your account information, including a member ID/reference number.

  From the My.Scouting.org portal, click Menu then My Dashboard from the menu list. The My Training page displays to take Youth Protection training. Upon completion, you may print a training certificate to submit with a volunteer application. Your training will automatically be updated in our system and associated with the member ID/reference number issued when you created the account.

  When your volunteer application is approved, you will receive a BSA membership card that includes your member ID number.

  The Boy Scouts of America 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, Scouts BSA, and Venturing programs.

  Youth Protection Reporting Procedures for Volunteers

  There are two types of Youth Protection–related reporting procedures all volunteers must follow:

  • When you witness or suspect any child has been abused or neglected—See "Mandatory Report of Child Abuse" below.
  • When you witness a violation of the BSA's Youth Protection policies—See "Reporting Violations of BSA Youth Protection Policies" below.

  Mandatory Report of Child Abuse

  All persons involved in Scouting shall report to local authorities any good-faith suspicion or belief that any child is or has been physically or sexually abused, physically or emotionally neglected, exposed to any form of violence or threat, exposed to any form of sexual exploitation, including the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child pornography, online solicitation, enticement, or showing of obscene material. You may not abdicate this reporting responsibility to any other person.

  Reporting Violations of BSA Youth Protection Policies

  If you think any of the BSA's Youth Protection policies have been violated, including those described within Scouting's Barriers to Abuse, you must notify your local council Scout executive or his/her designee so appropriate action can be taken for the safety of our Scouts.

  Steps to Reporting Child Abuse

  1. Ensure the child is in a safe environment.
  2. In cases of child abuse injury or medical emergencies, call 911 immediately.
  3. In addition, if the suspected abuse occurred in the Scout's home or family, you are required by state law to immediately report/contact the local child abuse hotline.
  4. Notify the Scout executive or his/her designee, if he/she cannot be reached call the 24/7 Scouts First Helpline at 1-844-726-8871 or email, scoutsfirst@scouting.org