What the Congressional Award Gold Certificate takes: 90 hours of Voluntary Public Service, 45 of Personal Development and 45 of Physical Fitness over at least 6 months, and a 3-day expedition. A weekly plan, the rules and a free tracker.
What the Gold Certificate takes
| Area | Hours | Months of activity |
|---|
| Voluntary Public Service | 90 | 6 |
| Personal Development | 45 | 6 |
| Physical Fitness | 45 | 6 |
| Expedition/Exploration | 3 days, from one or more trips |
The levels are cumulative, so hours and months you already logged for a lower level count here too. A month of activity is a month with at least one hour in that area, and no more than 8 hours count in one day.
A weekly plan
Spread over the minimum 6 months, the 180 hours come to about 7 hours a week across the three areas. Log at least an hour in each area every month, so the month count keeps pace with your hours. Plan your own dates below.
The expedition
The Gold Certificate needs 3 days of expedition or exploration, and at the certificate levels you can add up several trips. Each day needs 6 to 8 hours of immersive activity that you planned. Camps, mission trips, cruises, competitions, conferences and internships do not count. For trips that do, and the virtual option, see Congressional Award expedition ideas.
What counts in each area
Service has to help the public, with no pay, class credit or hours used for a graduation requirement, and at most 25% indirect work such as planning or fundraising. Personal development and fitness goals have to be measurable and challenging, outside class and your daily routine. See what counts in Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development and Physical Fitness. Every rule, with examples, is on the Congressional Award tracker page and in the requirements guide. For goals to start from, see 24 goal examples; for who can sign, see Advisor and Validators. You can also print the activity log (PDF).
Frequently asked questions
How many hours is the Congressional Award Gold Certificate?
180 hours: 90 of Voluntary Public Service, 45 of Personal Development and 45 of Physical Fitness, plus a 3-day expedition.
How long does the Congressional Award Gold Certificate take?
At least 6 months of activity in each area: a month counts when you log at least one hour in that area. Months do not have to be consecutive.
What expedition does the Gold Certificate need?
3 days in total. At the certificate levels you can add up several trips, each day with 6 to 8 hours of activity.
Can I go straight to the Gold Certificate?
Yes. You can start at any level, and an approved level also recognizes the lower levels it includes. The national office suggests submitting a lower level first to make sure your goals are approved.