The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is a global youth award, founded in 1956 and offered in the United States through The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award USA. Young people aged 14 to 24 earn Bronze, Silver and Gold by keeping up voluntary service, physical recreation and a skill over months, and completing an Adventurous Journey, with a residential Gold Project at Gold.
Last reviewed: November 2026
Tallyhurst is an independent coaching service that supports students doing the Award through Award USA.
The US route
Families often find the UK charity's website first, but the UK program is for young people in the United Kingdom. In the United States the Award is delivered by The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award USA, known as Award USA, through licensed Award Centers such as schools and youth organizations. Students without a local Award Center can join Award USA's virtual Open Award Center as independent participants. Progress is recorded in the Award's Online Record Book, and a parent or guardian gives consent for participants under 18.
Who can take part
The Award is open from age 14 until the 25th birthday. All activities must be finished by the 25th birthday, although the Award can be submitted afterward. Students can start at Bronze from 14, at Silver from 15 and at Gold from 16, and do not need to complete one level before starting the next. Award USA charges a participant fee for each level, and need-based financial assistance is available. Current fees are on the official site.
The sections
Voluntary Service. Giving time to help others or the community, without pay.
Physical Recreation. Any sport, dance or fitness activity, kept up regularly and improved over time.
Skills. Developing a personal interest or talent, from music and cooking to coding or a language.
Adventurous Journey. A team expedition by foot, bike, paddle or other means, planned by the participants themselves.
Gold Project. At Gold only, a residential project away from home with people the participant has not met before.
Each of the first three sections asks for at least one hour a week, or two hours every two weeks. Participants set a goal for each activity, and an adult assessor who knows the activity confirms it was completed. Assessors cannot be parents or immediate family.
How long each level takes
Time is measured in months of regular activity, not in total hours. A student who starts at a level without the previous Award is a direct entrant and spends extra time in one section of their choice.
| Level | Starting age | Voluntary Service | Physical Recreation and Skills | Additional time for direct entrants | Minimum overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 14 | 3 months | 3 months each | a further 3 months in one section | 6 months |
| Silver | 15 | 6 months | 6 months in one, 3 in the other | a further 6 months in one section | 6 months with Bronze, 12 months without |
| Gold | 16 | 12 months | 12 months in one, 6 in the other | a further 6 months in one section | 12 months with Silver, 18 months without |
Timescales follow the Award framework used by Award USA. Confirm current requirements in the participant handbook on usaward.org.
The Adventurous Journey
Every level includes a team journey of four to seven participants, who plan the route, the goal and the logistics themselves. An adult Supervisor is responsible for safety and an adult Assessor evaluates the journey. Silver and Gold require a practice journey first, and it is strongly recommended at Bronze.
| Level | Qualifying journey | Purposeful activity per day |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 2 days, 1 night | at least 6 hours |
| Silver | 3 days, 2 nights | at least 7 hours |
| Gold | 4 days, 3 nights | at least 8 hours |
Independent participants submit their journey plan to Award USA at least four weeks before the trip and a written report within four weeks after it.
The Gold Project
At Gold, participants spend at least five consecutive days and four nights away from home with a group that includes at least five people they do not already know, doing a shared activity such as training, a course or volunteering. Vacations, school trips, paid work and the Adventurous Journey itself do not count, and the project must be approved in advance.
Doing the Award independently
Independent participants in Award USA's Open Award Center plan and secure their own activities, find qualified assessors, organize their own Adventurous Journey, attend scheduled online calls with their Award Leader and reply within 72 hours. Missing several meetings, or going quiet for months, can lead to an inactive status and the loss of a place. It is a demanding framework for a busy teenager, and it is where most of our work takes place.
How we coach the International Award
We help your teenager choose the right level and activities, set goals an assessor can confirm, and keep one activity log behind the Online Record Book. Regular online sessions, with a parent or guardian present, keep every section moving at the one-hour-a-week pace the Award requires. The eight-day rule means a quiet section is noticed long before it puts a place at risk. We coach the Adventurous Journey planning, help find assessors and approved Gold Projects, and check the record against the Award's rules before submission; every reflection and report is your teenager's own. Parents receive a written progress report every month. Students who join us at 13 use that year to plan, so they can start Bronze on their 14th birthday.
Questions about the International Award
Is the Duke of Edinburgh's Award available in the United States?
Yes. American students do The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award through The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award USA, either at a licensed Award Center or through its virtual Open Award Center for independent participants.
What is the difference between the DofE and the International Award?
The DofE is the UK program, run for young people in the United Kingdom. The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is the same framework delivered in more than 100 countries, including the United States through Award USA.
How old do you have to be?
The Award is open from age 14 until the 25th birthday. Bronze can start at 14, Silver at 15 and Gold at 16.
How long does each level take?
At least 6 months for Bronze, 6 months for Silver after Bronze or 12 months without it, and 12 months for Gold after Silver or 18 months without it.
How much time does it take each week?
At least one hour a week, or two hours every two weeks, in each of Voluntary Service, Physical Recreation and Skills, plus time to prepare for the Adventurous Journey.
Does my teenager have to do Bronze first?
No. A student can start at any level once old enough. Starting without the previous Award means spending extra time in one section.
Can a parent be an assessor?
No. Assessors must be qualified adults who know the activity, and parents or immediate family cannot assess.
Does Tallyhurst run the Adventurous Journey?
No. Participants plan and lead their own journey, with an adult Supervisor and Assessor as the Award requires. We coach the planning, and any adult support we arrange follows our safeguarding standard.
Is Tallyhurst part of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award?
No. Tallyhurst is an independent coaching service, not affiliated with or endorsed by The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation or Award USA. Your teenager registers directly with Award USA.