The Order of the Pelican is a Society wide Award that is recognized in every Kingdom in the Knowne World and conveys to the member a Patent of Arms, no matter which Crown of which Kingdom bestowed the Award. Each Crown may chose to elevate Subjects of Their Kingdom to the Order, but the Crown must ensure the Subject meets the criteria as described in Corpora for Peerage Awards, and The Crown has consulted with the current members of the Order in Their Kingdom.

The Order of the Pelican is bestowed on those people who have “attained the standard of service to the Society or any of its branches equal to that of his or her prospective peers, which is above and beyond that normally expected of members of the Society.” (Corpora, Article VIII.A.4.c)

The Order of the Pelican is one of the four SCA Peerages, along with the Order of the Chivalry, the Order of the Laurel, and the Order of Defense.