The 33 Degrees of the Rite
1° to 3° are conferred within a Craft Lodge
The Rite holds the ancient teachings of the 1st to 3rd Degrees; however, accepts the three Degrees of Craft Masonry as equivalent to the first three Degrees of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite. Those Degrees are:
Degree | Title | Conferred in |
1° | Entered Apprentice Freemason | Entered Apprentice Lodge |
2° | Fellow Craft Freemason | Fellow Craft Lodge |
3° | Master Mason | Master Mason Lodge |
4° to 18° are conferred within a Sovereign Chapter
A Master Mason in Australia1 , who maintains membership of a regularly constituted Craft Lodge, may petition to be Perfected to the 18° in a Sovereign Chapter. Although the titles of the Degrees may vary slightly between Supreme Councils across the globe, under the Supreme Council 33° of Australia they are named as follows:
Degree | Title | Conferred in |
4° | Secret Master | Lodge of Perfection |
5° | Perfect Master | Lodge of Perfection |
6° | Intimate Secretary | Lodge of Perfection |
7° | Provost and Judge | Lodge of Perfection |
8° | Superintendent of the Building | Lodge of Perfection |
9° | Elect of Nine | Lodge of Perfection |
10° | Elect of Fifteen | Lodge of Perfection |
11° | Sublime Elect | Lodge of Perfection |
12° | Grand Master Architect | Lodge of Perfection |
13° | Royal Arch of Enoch | Lodge of Perfection |
14° | Grand Elect Perfect and Sublime Master | Lodge of Perfection |
15° | Knight of the Sword | Council of Princes of Jerusalem |
16° | Prince of Jerusalem | Council of Princes of Jerusalem |
17° | Knight of the East and West | Lodge of Knights of the East and West |
18° | Knight of the Pelican and Eagle, Sovereign Prince Rose Croix of Heredom | Sovereign Chapter of Princes of Rose Croix of Heredom |
1Under a concordat agreed and signed by the Supreme Council 33° for Australia, and the United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT, a Master Mason under the Jurisdiction of NSW & ACT cannot be received within a Sovereign Chapter until he has served the Craft for two years as a Master Mason.
19° to 30° are conferred within a Sovereign Council
A member of the 18° in Australia, who meets the prerequisites and maintains membership of both a Sovereign Chapter and a Craft Lodge, may petition to be Elevated to the 30° in a Sovereign Council. Although the titles of the Degrees may vary slightly between Supreme Councils across the globe, under the Supreme Council 33° of Australia they are named as follows:
Degree | Title | Conferred in |
19° | Grand Pontiff | Assembly of Philosophers |
20° | Venerable Grand Master | Assembly of Philosophers |
21° | Patriarch Noachite | Assembly of Philosophers |
22° | Prince of Libanus | Assembly of Philosophers |
23° | Chief of the Tabernacle | Assembly of Philosophers |
24° | Prince of the Tabernacle | Assembly of Philosophers |
25° | Knight of the Brazen Serpent | Assembly of Philosophers |
26° | Prince of Mercy | Assembly of Philosophers |
27° | Commander of the Temple | Assembly of Philosophers |
28° | Knight of the Sun | Assembly of Philosophers |
29° | Knight of Saint Andrew | Assembly of Philosophers |
30° | Grand Elect Knight Kadosh | Sovereign Council of Grand Elect Knights Kadosh |
31° and 32° are conferred within a Grand Consistory
A member of the 30°, or the 31°, in Australia who meets the prerequisites and maintains membership of a Sovereign Council, a Sovereign Chapter and a Craft Lodge, may petition to be Advanced to the next Degree in a Grand Consistory. Although the titles of the Degrees may vary slightly between Supreme Councils across the globe, under the Supreme Council 33° of Australia they are named as follows:
Degree | Title | Conferred in |
31° | Grand Inspector Inquisitor Commander | Sovereign Tribunal |
32° | Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret | Grand Consistory |
33° is conferred within a Supreme Council
Admission to the 33rd Degree, the highest Degree within the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, is possible only by invitation. This protocol is universally observed by all Supreme Councils world wide.
Degree | Title | Conferred in |
33° | Sovereign Grand Inspector General | Supreme Council 33° |
A Comparitive Journey
Illustrating the sovereinty of Supreme Councils 33° across the globe

Australia
The Supreme Council 33° for Australia has directed that all members be afforded the opportunity to attain the full teachings and wonders of the Rite; however, a genuine demonstration of engagement and service to the Rite, in both time and Degree, is reasonably expected.
A member must serve three years at the 18° before being eligible for Elevation to the 30°. Further three year periods of service are required before the 31°, and then the 32°.
Each progression, therefore, acknowledges service to the Rite, adds immeasurably to the member’s sense of advancement and achievement, and underpins the respect, knowledge, and experience held for those who have attained the higher Degrees.

The United Kingdom
Under the Supreme Council for England & Wales, and also the Supreme Council for Scotland, advancement to the 31° and 32° is awarded strictly through invitation and merit.
Membership above the 30° in the UK is subsequently low when compared to membership numbers above the 30° in Australia.
Members of the Rite who visit England & Wales, or Scotland, will be warmly welcomed as visitors with full recognition of their higher Degree; however, if that visitor chose to affiliate under either Supreme Council he would be required, and reasonably so, to be welcomed at the 30° and thereafter advance through merit and service.

The United States
Under the Supreme Council for the Southern Jurisdiction of the USA, the 4° to 32° can be conferred through witnessing the working of each Degree, in sequence, delivered as a professionally choreographed and dramatic theatrical stage play.
These events are called Reunions and are conducted several times per year in regional areas. Master Masons may petition to join the Rite, attend a Reunion which is delivered over one or two weekends, and graduate at the 32°.
This method offers the unique opportunity to witness the complete ritual of all Degrees, from 4° to 32°, over one or two weekends which would otherwise require many years to attain in Australia.