Print

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

[kravinmore]

HELLO,
i am a newly admitted attorney that has a Bachelors in International Politics. I need to take the patent bar. How do i do this? Shoudl I go back to College and get a Bachelors in the Category A Patent Bar Requirments? Or can I just take the required number of hours in Category B through a local Univeristy- Can I even do that? I know correspondence courses are not acceptable course work but is going to Online University acceptable? The kicker is that I know the MPRE so well as I work in an IP firm. I dont want any shortcuts- I just want to to do it right- How do i satisfy the Patent Bar Requirments in the most efficient way? Help!

[MrSnuggles]

The kicker is that I know the MPRE so well as I work in an IP firm. I dont want any shortcuts- I just want to to do it right- How do i satisfy the Patent Bar Requirments in the most efficient way? Help!

Do you mean the MPEP?  ;D

I only know of the MPRE = Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam

Anyway, to answer your question, the college or university needs only to be accredited.  My guess is that an accredited online university program would count.  If you have the pre-req's, then taking 24 semester hours of physics may only be 7 or 8 classes, which could be done in about 1.5-2 years (my guess, based on the sequencing of some courses, which would prohibit you from loading up in a fewer semesters).  But that would be less than getting a BS in another degree, I guess.

[plex]

You can either try and become a Category B or C.

B involves taking a certain number of hard science credits, about a year's worth, though as snuggles said, it may take as long as two years due to class pre-req requirements, that is intended for hard science majors/engineers. It also must include a lab component (which makes an online degree impossible).

C involves passing the fundamentals of engineering exam, I have not heard of anyone taking this path though, so I don't have much more information on it than that.

Check out the requirements in detail for yourself at:

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

[Extra Medium]

I'm not sure about other states, but in Illinois (when I looked into this a few years ago), you had to have an engineering degree just to qualify to take the PE (professional engineer) exam.  You would therefore qualify under Category A without needing to take the PE exam for Category C.

[prosdog]

I don't have a science/engineering degree, I went the option B route.  I took one online course in Human Embryology from a local state university, no problem.  

If you decide to go option b, I recommend having your course descriptions, transcripts and other information indexed in a binder, with each course having its own tab.  In each tab put a copy of the appropriate transcript page (with the course highlighted) and a copy of the course description from the catalog.  Put the originals in a separate tab.  Do a cover sheet describing each course, the tab number it's under, and a brief explanation as to why it meets their criteria.

Make it real easy for them to verify it.  I got my approval back in 2 1/2 weeks.

[Isaac]

I'm not sure about other states, but in Illinois (when I looked into this a few years ago), you had to have an engineering degree just to qualify to take the PE (professional engineer) exam.  You would therefore qualify under Category A without needing to take the PE exam for Category C.

Many states allow a combination of education and experience to substitute for their formal degree requirements for taking the FE and PE exams.   I know a couple of technician trained (2 year degree) folks who qualified for and passed the FE exam in North Carolina.  At least one state used to let you take the FE exam without any technical degree or work experience.   I believe Michigan used to let you take the FE exam without requiring any particular education/work experience..

And I think someone did post here about qualifying under Category C because they were going to litigate and just wanted the credential.   As I recall some posters gave him some grief about it.  Not sure why.

[kravinmore]

I don't have a science/engineering degree, I went the option B route.  I took one online course in Human Embryology from a local state university, no problem.  

If you decide to go option b, I recommend having your course descriptions, transcripts and other information indexed in a binder, with each course having its own tab.  In each tab put a copy of the appropriate transcript page (with the course highlighted) and a copy of the course description from the catalog.  Put the originals in a separate tab.  Do a cover sheet describing each course, the tab number it's under, and a brief explanation as to why it meets their criteria.

Make it real easy for them to verify it.  I got my approval back in 2 1/2 weeks.

THIS IS GREAT- THANKS TO ALL SO MUCH- I HAD A FEELING I WOULD FALL INTO CATEGORY B- BUT I WAS WONDERING - DID YOU HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING AN ONLINE UNIVERISTY THAT ALLOWED YOU TO TAKE THE 32- 40 SEMESTER HOURS NEEDED TO FALL IN TO CATEGORY B WITHOUT GOING TOWARDS A DEGREE?
I AM THINKING OF DOING EITHER CATEGORY B OPTION
Option 2: 8 hours of Chemistry or Physics AND 24 hours in Biology, Botany, Microbiology, or Molecular Biology. (TOTAL 32 HOURS) OR Option 4: 8 hours of Chemistry or Physics AND 32 semester hours of chemistry, physics, biology, botany, microbiology, molecular biology or engineering. (TOTAL 40)
IT WILL BE ABOUT A YEAR BUT AT LEAST IT WILL NOT HAVE TO BE A WHOLE OTHER DEGREE

[MrSnuggles]

... it may be close to getting a whole other degree...

Most classes have pre-reqs (of course) in the same area, ex: Bio I, Bio II, etc.  However, many classes also have pre-reqs in related areas, ex: Calc I, II to take Phys III.

Map it out carefully when you're setting up your program to maximize efficiency.  But I wouldn't count on "just" taking 32-40 credits in sciences.

After getting the required classes to get to the higher level science classes, I bet you would only have to take a few more classes (e.g., general eds, lib eds) to create the full degree program.

Just a thought.

[guestwhoknow]

You'd do well to read the OED requirements for the different options.  The 8 hours of physics is not generic online physics.  You will have to take labs with most of these classes.  The online human embryology sounds like an advanced level class that was used to complete the 24-biology hours requirement.

You sound like a litigator who cares nothing about the science.  Don't think that a reg number without a science degree will get you all that far.  You won't be able to prosecute yourself out of a box.
Plus, even if you stick with litigation, in-house counsel aren't stupid.  We know the difference between staffing a case with EEs, biotechies, and poli sci majors with reg numbers.

If you want the scientific knowledge so that you actually understand what you are doing, get a BS degree. If you just want a reg number, take the easy way out, but realize that the reg exam is all about the MPEP and actual patent practice is all about the science.

[Isaac]

If you just want a reg number, take the easy way out, but realize that the reg exam is all about the MPEP and actual patent practice is all about the science.

Well said.  

I'd modify this a little to say that CS majors from non-accredited programs are probably an exception in that they likely already know enough "science" and might understandably be looking for an easy way to qualify for the exam.

But trying to prosecute patents with a reg number and the minimum amount of cobled together science/engineering credits probably isn't the way to go.

[kravinmore]

AS I SAID IN MY ORIGINAL POST  I AM NOT LOOKING FOR THE EASY WAY OUT- IF THE BS DESGREE IS THE WAY TO GO THEN THATS WHAT I WILL DO.