Re: How do I become a patent examiner?

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Kay,

Are you interested in working as a patent examiner or a
patent agent? A patent examiner works dirctly for the USPTO
whereas a patent agent works in private practice. However,
the requirements are pretty much the same. You do not need a
law degree to do either of these, but you do need a law
degree to work as a patent attorney.

You must meet the technical education requirements. These
requirements are set by the USPTO. Typically a BSEE, BSME,
chemistry, etc. automatically satifies these requirements. A
computer science degree also does qualify as long as the
degree program is accredited by the CSAB or ABET. Go to
www.abet.org to see if your degree program is accrdited. If
not, there are other ways to qualify but they are too
detailed to list here.

After you meet the technical education requirement, take the
patent bar exam if you want to be a patent agent. If you
pass, then you can call yourself a patent agent. Later, if
you get a law degree, you can hang out a shingle as a patent
attorney.

If you want to work as a patent examiner, apply on the USPTO
website. The USPTO will train you as an examiner and you do
not have to take the exam. Also, after 2 years as a patent
examiner, you can go to work in private practice as a patent
agent without having to take the patent bar exam.

You can read the link below for all the exam registration
details.

See
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/dcom/olia/oed/grb15oct03.pdf

Ken Buffington, Esq.

Re: How do I become a patent examiner?, 8/16/03, by Ken Buffington.

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