A Proficiency Badge List is available, showing all proficiency badges GSUSA used between the start of the program until the 1980s program replaced it. The Badge Archive has classified Proficiency Badges as all official skill based GSUSA badges from 1913 until the 1980 Program was introduced.

Who Can Earn These?

Ages 10-18
- Original Proficiency Badges could be earned by any Girl Scout, ages 10-17, until 1947.
Ages 10-14
- 1947-1963 Proficiency Badges could be earned by any Intermediary Girl Scout, ages 10-14.
Ages 9-14 (4th-9th Grade)
- 1963-1980 Proficiency Badges could be earned by:
- Green Borders – by any Junior Girl Scout, ages 9-11 or 4^th-6^th grade,
- Yellow Borders – by any Cadette Girl Scouts, ages 12-14 or 7^th-9^th grade.

Handbooks

The main handbooks and badge books for Proficiency Badges between 1913 and 1980:

1913 – How Girls Can Help Their Country, Handbook for the Girl Scouts
- – with original Proficiency Badges requirements
- – Reprinted with original 1913 content in 1972 and 2001.
1916 – How Girls Can Help Their Country, Handbook for the Girl Scouts
- – with updated Proficiency Badges selection
1920-26 – Scouting For Girls
- – with updated Proficiency Badges (requirements and selection)
1922 – The Brownie Book
- – with NO BADGES
- – Available on the Library of Congress
- – Images on Google
1928 – Scouting For Girls, Second Abridged Edition
- – with updated Proficiency Badges
- – NOT AVAILABLE on the Open Library
- – Images on Google
1930 – Girl Scout Handbook
- – with updated Proficiency Badges
- – NOT AVAILABLE on the Open Library
- Silhouette artwork on green cover for 1st impression, or green with black square GS Symbol for 2nd impression. – Images on Google
1933 – Girl Scout Handbook
- – with NO BADGES
- – Available on the Open Library: 1933 – Girl Scout Handbook
- Black lines on green cover with black square GSUSA Logo – Images on Google
1933 – Girl Scout Proficiency Badge Requirements and Special Awards 1934
- – with updated Proficiency Badges
- – NOT AVAILABLE on the Open Library
- (Yes, the title is 1934 but it was first printed in 1933 for changes to start on April 1, 1934)
- Green silhouette artwork – Images on Google
1938 – Girl Scout Program and Activities, Ranks and Badges
- – with new Proficiency Badge requirements
- – NOT AVAILABLE on the Open Library
- Teal cover – Images on Google
1941 – Girl Scout Handbook
- – with NO BADGES
- – NOT AVAILABLE on the Open Library
- Yellow lines and trefoil on green cover (w/o paper book cover) – Images on Google
1945 – Senior Girl Scouting
- – with NO BADGES
- – NOT AVAILABLE on the Open Library
- – Images on Google
1947 – Girl Scout Handbook
- – with new Proficiency Badge requirements
- – Available on the Open Library: 1947 – Girl Scout Handbook
- Yellow trefoil outline on green cover – Images on Google
1951 – Brownie Scout Handbook
- – with NO BADGES
- – Available on the Open Library: 1951 – Brownie Scout Handbook
- – Images on Google
1952 – Senior Girl Scouting, 2^nd edition
- – with NO BADGES
- – Available on the Open Library: 1952 – Senior Girl Scouting
- – Images on Google
1953 – Girl Scout Handbook Intermediate Program
- – with updated Proficiency Badges
- – Available on the Open Library: 1953 – Girl Scout Handbook Intermediate Program
- GSUSA symbol w/half black & half green cover – Images on Google
1963 – Brownie/Junior/Cadette/Senior Girl Scout Handbooks
- – with new Proficiency Badge requirements for Junior and Cadette
- – with NO BADGES for Brownie and Senior
- – Available on the Open Library: 1963 Junior Girl Scout Handbook
- – Available on the Open Library: 1963 Cadette Girl Scout Handbook
- Each a different color – Images on Google
1977 – Worlds to Explore Junior Badges and Signs
- – with new Proficiency Badge requirements
- – Available on the Open Library: 1977 – Worlds to Explore Junior Badges and Signs
- Red Cover – Images on Google

Book Images

Brief History of this Time Period

When the first Girl Scout Handbook was published in 1913, they called the badges Proficiency Badges. The first incarnation of badges could be earned by all Girl Scouts, ages 10-17. Girls who were not yet 10, but had completed 1^st grade, could be Brownie Scouts in the new Brownie Program in 1926. However, they did not have any official badges.

These badges went through countless revisions and updates. But the biggest change was in 1945, when the Senior Girl Scouting handbook was published. Girl Scouts were now Intermediary Girl Scouts, from ages 10-14. The older scouts were called Senior Girl Scouts and did not have any badges. The Proficiency Badges were meant to be earned as an Intermediary Girl Scout and the skills learned used in the Senior Girl Scout activities.

More revisions and updates continued through the years, until the 1963 program. This is when Junior and Cadette Levels were introduced. The Brownies and Seniors still had no badges, but the Proficiency Badges were updated and divided between the Junior and Cadette levels.

It wasn’t until 1980 when a completely new program of badges was planned and started to be released, starting with Junior level. Brownies would get badges in 1986, and Cadettes and Seniors would share the IP Badges in 1987. While some badges had a version in the new program, the standard images and names for the Proficiency Badges was largely unused in the 1980 Program.

1980 GSUSA Program

While it went through many revisions, the Proficiency Badges were the main badges of GSUSA until they revamped the program between 1980 and 1987. While the 1980 GSUSA Program kept some of the images used in the Proficiency Badge program, it did a complete redesign of all requirements for Juniors and gave Seniors the chance to work on the same badge program they gave to the Cadettes. Brownies were given badges for the first time and Daisy level was introduced.

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For More Fun Ideas and Plans

Join the Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Leader Help Facebook Group
_{(Not an official GSUSA Group)}

Join the Girl Scout Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Leader Help Facebook Group
_{(Not an official GSUSA Group)}

See other Recommended Facebook Groups for some Scouting Organizations
_{(No official Groups)}

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Updated on September 6, 2026. Published on November 10, 2021. Author:

Tia Kennard

Click Here -> To see information References:

Disclaimer: The information published on The Badge Archive is built from the references listed below. These sources demonstrate that our content is grounded in facts and research, not opinion or speculation. Readers may consult them directly when looking for additional material.

Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. The Brownie Book: A Manual for Leaders of Junior Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., 1922, https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcmassbookdig.browniebookmanua00girl/.
Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. Girl Scout Handbook: Intermediate Program. 1947. Thirteenth Impression ed., New York, NY, Girl Scouts, Inc., 1952.
Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. Girl Scout Handbook Intermediate Program. First Impression ed., New York, NY, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Sept. 1953.
Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. Girl Scout Proficiency Badge Requirements and Special Awards 1934. 1933. 1934 Edition ed., New York, NY, Girl Scouts, Inc., 1934.
Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. Girl Scout Program Activities Ranks and Badges. New York, NY, Girl Scouts, Inc., 1938.
Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. Brownie Girl Scout Handbook. 1963. Ninth Impression, New York, NY, Girl Scouts of the United States of America, Apr. 1968.
Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. Cadette Girl Scout Handbook. 1963. Nineteenth Printing ed., New York, NY, Girl Scouts of the United States of America, Apr. 1975.
Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. Junior Girl Scout Handbook. 1963. Nineteenth Printing ed., New York, NY, Girl Scouts of the United States of America, Apr. 1975.
Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. Senior Girl Scout Handbook. 1963. Sixteenth Printing ed., New York, NY, Girl Scouts of the United States of America, Apr. 1975.
Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. Scouting for Girls. 1920. Sixth Reprint ed., New York City, NY, The Girl Scouts, Inc., 1925.
Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. Scouting for Girls. 1920. 2nd Abridged ed., New York City, NY, The Girl Scouts, Inc., June 1928.
Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. Worlds to Explore Junior Badges and Signs. First Impression ed., New York, NY, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., 1977.
Gordon Low, Juliette, et al. How Girls Can Help Their Country. M. S. & D. A. Byck co., 1916.
Hoxie, W. J., et al. How Girls Can Help Their Country. New York, The Knickerbocker Press, 1913.
Hoxie, W. J. How Girls Can Help Their Country. 1913. Bedford, Massachusetts, Applewood Books, 2001.