By no means hard and fast rules. These are just some ideas and things to shoot for.
Basic ashigaru:
- Make one set of garb (yukata or shitagi and kobakama (short hakama for fighting))
- Have a tanto/aikuchi, daito and yari
- Have a basic Japanese name
Advanced ashigaru:
- Basic ashigaru +
- Second set of fighting garb
- Basic armor consisting of:
- Coned Jingasa, Kote and Suneate
- Torso armor should be minimally tatami-dou style (optional)
Basic samurai:
- Advanced ashigaru +
- One set of formal garb separate from fighting garb (yukata, kosode, pre-Edo kataginu, obi, ankle length hakama, footwear (waraji/zouri/geta/etc))
- Shoto to complete daisho
- Torso armor (minimally tatami-dou)
- Full formal Japanese name (family name - common name - formal name)
- Make a zabuton sitting cushion
- Must know the Japanese name for the articles of clothing and of the armor you own. Shouldn't be tough as I just listed them above.
Advanced samurai:
- Basic samurai +
- Second set of formal garb
- Full armor including minimally okegawa or hotoke dou style torso, haidate and kabuto
- Archery equipment - symmetrical recurve bows acceptable as hankyu
- Naginata or nodachi
- Make a sho-gi folding chair
No one has to go through each level of development. They're more of guidelines to view different levels of knowledge and experience. The combat training and fighting ability will be a given throughout. The same spirit is expected from basic ashigaru as is expected from most experienced samurai.