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New Volunteer Onboarding

Step-By-Step, What You Need to Know!

Welcome and congratulations on becoming an adult volunteer in Scouting America! This page is for new volunteers and current unit leaders. These are the steps a volunteer and a unit leader must take to fully ensure compliance with Scouting America membership standards.  Thank you for playing a big part in shaping the leaders of tomorrow!

Adult Leaders Using Dutch Ovens at LEAD 2023
Adult Leaders and Dutch Oven Delights at L.E.A.D. 2023

All New Volunteers Must*:

STEP 1 - Create a My Scouting Account
(Important: click each step for additional info)
To obtain a BSA member ID:

1) Register for an account on my.scouting.org.
2) Login and write down your Member ID.

You will need your Member ID number for future steps.
Click here to go to my.scouting.org
STEP 2 - Complete Scouting America Youth Protection Training
Take the full Youth Protection Training course:

1) Overview & Policies
2) Sexual Abuse
3) Bullying
4) YPT Certification test

You will need to be logged into My Scouting.
Click here for YPT
STEP 3 - Complete CA AB-506 Mandated Reporter Training
Create an account on the California Mandated Reporter Training site. The zip code for GGAC is 94588. Follow the instructions to complete the training. This is a "one and done" training, meaning it does not expire. Your Certificate will be automatically filed by the training vendor. You do not need to upload or send it to Council.

Fee issue: If prompted to pay $7.99, you have accessed the wrong site. Click the 'Help' button and indicate you are with the Golden Gate Area Council to resolve the issue. .
Link to Mandated Reporter Training
STEP 4a - Complete Background Consent Form
Download the online Background check consent form using the link button, complete the form. Save the form on your computer. See next section for instructions to upload the completed form.
Background Check Consent Form
STEP 4b - Upload Background Consent Form
After completing the Consent form, click the the link below to upload it. Scroll down the page to ITEM 2, Upload Background Consent Form and then click on: Choose File.
California Scouting
STEP 5 - Obtain LiveScan Fingerprinting
Use the button link below to complete your LiveScan request, schedule a fingerprinting appointment at a location near you, and complete initial payment ($26 rolling fee, $17 FBI fee) for the service request.
LiveScan Applicant Services
STEP 6 - Apply to Your Unit, Provide Verification
Discuss your application with your unit leader. You should show them your YPT certification, AB-506 training certificate, and LiveScan Application.

Apply online at the link below. If your unit is not accepting online applications, your unit leader may ask you to fill out a paper application. Complete the application and return the form to your unit leader.
Apply Online Here
*You must complete YPT training in order to submit an online application. If you do not complete AB-506 requirements within 60 days, your membership will be suspended until the steps are completed. All volunteers must be compliant with BSA and State of California youth safety guidelines. This page is updated frequently - AB-506 requirements are evolving and may be adjusted by the State of California.
STEP 7 - Join the GGAC Communications List
Stay informed! Join the GGAC Communications List.

Our twice monthly eNews covers the latest Scouting updates and provides information about upcoming training, camping, and other general program events. Don't miss out on important info!
Sign Up for eNews
STEP 8 - (Ongoing) Complete Position Specific Training
These instructor-led courses are designed to help Scout leaders learn how to be effective in their Scouting roles. In most cases, after completing the course a leader is “trained” for the role(s) covered in the course. E-learning versions of some courses may be found on My Scouting.
BSA Position Specific Training

When a New Volunteer Completes an Application, the Unit Leader Must:

STEP 1 - Verify YPT and AB-506 Compliance
Confirm that the adult applicant has a valid BSA YPT and Mandated Reporter Training certification valid through the end of their registration period and has completed LiveScan fingerprinting. Although YPT is valid for 2 years, GGAC requires it to be valid through a registration period and may need to be updated annually. Mandated Reporter Training, required by the State of California, is a 'one and done' certificate and does not expire.

Verify compliance with the BSA ID number and last name:

To verify YPT, login to My Scouting and click the blue circle at the bottom right of the page. Click the option to check YPT status.

For AB-506 verification, leaders should review the AB-506 report for their unit using the link below.
AB-506 Report
STEP 2 - Accept the Adult Leader Application
The COR and a COR delegate have the necessary permission to login to My Scouting in order to accept an adult leader application in Application Manager.
My Scouting
STEP 3 - Address an Adult Leader with "Suspended" Status
If an application is processed for a leader that is not compliant with YPT and AB-506 requirements within 60 days, their membership may be moved into a 'Suspended' status until they become compliant.

If the unit leader has any questions or concerns about a volunteer's AB-506 compliance, please escalate to your district staff. We hope to have an automated process that allows a unit level search in the future and will update this page accordingly if the process should change.
Professional Staff Directory

How to verify an out of Council Merit Badge Counselor.

First, try to connect the Scout and counselor in Scoutbook. If that is successful, the counselor is registered and qualified. If unsuccessful, go to the counselor’s home council and search for their Advancement Administrators. Most will have an email address for either the Council Advancement Committee or Professional Advisor. Send an email asking if the counselor has been registered and qualified for the merit badge(s) in question and the status of their Youth Protection Training. Ask California councils if the counselor has completed AB506 training and LiveScan. The unit leader’s “blue card” signature verifies their counselor credentials verification.

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