In the early days only those who had been Master of the Lodge were eligible to be exalted into the Royal Arch and the degree was often conferred at the end of his year as Master. In 1822 the qualification was reduced to having been one year as a Master Mason and in 1893 this was changed to four weeks as a Master Mason.

All who have been Master Masons for four weeks are, therefore, eligible to be exalted into the Royal Arch.