The weekly picture
The table shows the average weekly time each medal needs if the hours are spread evenly across the minimum period.
| Level | Total hours | Minimum period | Average per week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze Medal | 200 hours (100 service, 50 personal development, 50 fitness) | 7 months | about 6 to 7 hours |
| Silver Medal | 400 hours (200, 100, 100) | 12 months | about 8 hours |
| Gold Medal | 800 hours (400, 200, 200) | 24 months | about 8 hours |
Hours carry over from one level to the next, so a student working toward the Gold Medal earns the Bronze and Silver Medal hours along the way. Source: The Congressional Award Program Book.
Why the months matter as much as the hours
From the Gold Certificate upward, each of the three main areas has a minimum number of months: 6 for the Gold Certificate, 7 for the Bronze Medal, 12 for the Silver Medal and 24 for the Gold Medal. The program asks for commitment over time, so a burst of 100 hours in two weeks does not meet a month requirement on its own. A month counts when the student logs activity in it, and steady weekly activity is the simplest way to make every month count.
Where the hours come from
Service can come from regular volunteering, such as tutoring, a food bank, a hospital or an environmental group, as long as it is unpaid, not for class credit and serves the wider community. Personal development covers learning or improving a skill, from an instrument or a language to coding or leadership. Physical fitness covers a sport, running, swimming, dance or a training plan with a measurable goal. A student who already plays a sport and volunteers weekly is often halfway there.
Rules that affect the weekly count
No more than eight hours of activity count per goal per day. Indirect service, such as planning, meetings, training, research and fundraising, can make up no more than a quarter of service hours. Regular club meetings do not count; the activities a club carries out do. And no hours count from before the student registered.
Should you submit each level, or go straight for Gold?
Students may skip levels and submit directly for a higher one. Since 15 October 2026, a student who submits a Silver or Gold Medal record book receives the physical medal for that level only; lower medals that were not submitted separately can be requested for a cost-recovery fee of $145 each. Submitting each medal level as it is earned means receiving each physical medal, and each approved level is a finished award on the way to Gold.
How Tallyhurst helps
We turn the totals into a weekly plan built around school, sport and exams, keep one activity log that tracks hours and months against each goal, and watch the log between sessions under the eight-day rule, so a quiet month is noticed within days. Parents receive a written progress report every month. The record book is always written in the student's own words.
Sources
Questions
What happens if my teenager logs more hours than the Gold Medal requires?
Extra hours are welcome. The minimums are only minimums, and the National Office records every hour submitted, so a full record book is always the right choice.
Does a month count if my teenager only logged one activity in it?
A month counts when activity is logged in it, but the program looks for genuine commitment over time. Steady weekly activity is the reliable way to meet each month requirement.
Can the Gold Medal be finished faster than 24 months?
No. The 24-month minimum applies to each of voluntary public service, personal development and physical fitness, however quickly the hours are completed.
Is it worth submitting the Bronze and Silver Medals separately?
Often, yes. Since 15 October 2026, students who skip straight to a higher medal receive only that medal, and each lower medal not submitted separately costs $145 to request.