A Patent of Arms is the highest award that can be bestowed in the SCA. It is rarely given on its own, rather an individual is normally inducted into one of four polling orders: the Order of the Chivalry, the Order of the Laurel, the Order of the Pelican, and the Order of Defense. Together, these orders are known as Peerages, and their members are known as Peers of the Realm. They all hold equal rank.

Patents of Arms are a Society wide Award that is recognized in every Kingdom in the Knowne World. As such, the qualifications for each peerage are laid out in Corpora.

These qualities must be met by every potential peer, independent of the order they are being elevated to. Any peerage candidate “shall have:

• been obedient to the governing documents of the Society and the laws of the kingdom
• consistently shown respect for the Crown of the kingdom
• set an example of courteous and noble behavior suitable to a peer of the realm
• demonstrated support for the aims and ideals of the Society by being authentic in dress, equipment and behavior as is within their power
• shared their knowledge and skills with others
• practiced hospitality according to their means and as appropriate to the circumstances
• made every effort to learn and practice those skills desirable at and worthy of a civilized court. To this end they should have some knowledge of a wide range of period forms, including but not limited to literature, dancing, music, heraldry, and chess, and they should have some familiarity with combat as practiced in the Society
• participated in Society re-creations of several aspects of the culture of the Middle Ages and Renaissance” (Corpora, Article VIII.A.1)

In addition to the Peerage Qualities listed above, each Order has an additional set of requirements that a candidate must meet before being inducted into said Order.

• The Order of the Chivalry recognizes martial prowess in armoured combat.
• The Order of the Laurel recognizes excellence in the arts & sciences.
• The Order of the Pelican recognizes exemplary service.
• The Order of Defense recognizes martial prowess in Fencing.

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.