Starting January 1, 2017 all Boy Scouts MUST transition to the 2016 requirements regardless of rank. Scouts will receive credit for any requirements where the wording has not changed, even if it was previously for a different rank.
2016 Boy Scout Rank Requirements – Printable Insert
2016 Boy Scout requirements FAQs
On January 1, 2017, the new Boy Scout rank requirements will be fully in effect. Any Scouts who have not completed all requirements for their rank, including Board of Review, must transition to the 2016 requirements. This does not mean they have to start completely over; if the wording of a requirement has not changed, their current approval transfers to the new requirement. Note that sometimes the new requirement may be in a different rank. Most of the changes are in Tenderfoot through First Class, so Scouts should focus on completing those ranks in 2016.