Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[jessie]

Hello, and thanks in advance for your help. I have been wading around the USPTO site trying to find my answer, and have given up.

I want to know what the degree requirements are for becoming a patent agent. I have a BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences, which included a minor in Biology and one course shy of a minor in Chemistry.

Is that enough? Or do I need to go back to school? If so, would I need a whole new degree, or just extra coursework?

Also, I'd like to know the job prospects before I undertake more school. I've read that patent agents are in huge demand and are recession-proof, but I've also read that it is difficult to find a job as a patent agent.

Thank you again for your advice.

Jessie

[eric stasik]

Dear Jessie,

Here's a link to a pdf file with the general requirements for admittion to the registration exam:

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

On page 3 you'll find a list of the recognized degrees. Generally, you need a bachelor's degree in a technical subject. I don't think a minor in Chemistry is going to make it.

No job is recession proof. Patent agents/attorneys suffer the same ups and downs like everyone else. Five years ago the market was red-hot, today it's lukewarm. By the time you are ready to start practising, it could be completely different.

Regards,

Eric Stasik

[Isaac]

The Link Mr. Stasik provided will give you a requirements bulletin that summarizes what you need to do to qualify to take the patent bar exam.  If you do not have a technical degree, then you have to have 40 hours of hard science/engineering course work.  I would expect that a minor would fall short of the that amount of course work, but it is possible to take some courses without having to get a whole new degree.

The other issue is that the PTO will do a detailed your transcript including reviewing course description for each class you seek credit for if your degree is not on the approved list. There are some technically oriented courses that are geared towards liberal arts majors for which the PTO will give no credit.

Good Luck.  If you really want to be a patent attorney, don't let this stuff get in your way.  I know a few people with degrees in computer science or mathematics who found themselves in the same situation.

[jessie]

Well, thanks! That link really helped -- that website is awful -- and the words of encouragement were even better. I think I may actually qualify under Category B of the requirements. And if I don't, it won't take too many more courses to catch up.