USPTO Exam

So, I’m taking the patent bar exam in 6 days. Anyone with a degree in math, science, or engineering can take the patent bar….no JD required. If you pass, you are a registered patent agent, which means you can file patent applications with the USPTO. I’m hoping that becoming a patent agent will help me to get a job in an IP law firm. These firms often hire PhDs as technology specialists and then support them in passing the patent bar and in eventually going to law school, so that they can litigate as patent lawyers. A few years ago, technology specialist positions were easier to find. But now, like in every other industry except debt collection, no one is hiring. If I pass the patent bar exam, I’m hoping it will give me a leg up by showing law firms that I’m dedicated to this career path.

The exam is 6 hours long and consists of 100 multiple choice questions. It covers all the information in the Manual of Patent Examination and Procedures (MPEP), a 2,000 page long and very dense, government document covering all aspects of patent application filing and examination. An electronic copy of the MPEP is available during the exam, but with a little over 3 minutes for each question, you definitely don’t have time to look everything up.

I’ve been studying since last October, using the Patent Resources Group patent bar course. It consists of a 4 volume 4000 page text, 50 hours of DVD lectures, and exam software. It’s certainly been a lot of work trying to cram so much information into my not so big head. And now that I’m thinking about just how much information it is, I’m realizing that I really should get back to studying. Wish me luck!