To become a patent examiner, a science or engineering degree is required, and knowledge of the patent office’s jurisdictional rules is important. The primary duties involve reviewing patent applications and disputes. Patent offices require at least a Bachelor of Science degree, and professional experience is not necessary. In the US, patent examiners work at the USPTO, and in Europe, they work at the EPO, where they must complete a comprehensive training program.
The steps to becoming a patent examiner are many, but they always start with a college degree in science or engineering. To be an attractive candidate for a patent examiner job, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the kind of mathematical and scientific training necessary to effectively review the inner workings of patent applications. Specific requirements of patent examiners beyond education are largely a matter of jurisdiction. US law requires examiners to be US citizens, for example, while the European Patent Office requires competence in the office’s three official languages. Researching your locale’s rules before you apply will increase your chance of becoming a patent examiner.
As the job title suggests, the primary duties of the patent examiner focus on examining or reviewing patent applications and disputes. A patent is highly scientific in nature, and applications often describe very different chemical reactions, mechanical processes, and the like. Careers for patent examiners often involve a lot of dense reading and interpretation. To become a patent examiner, you must prove that you have the basic understanding of not only reading applications, but also understanding them.
Patent offices around the world require their agents to have at least a Bachelor of Science degree. Chemistry, engineering, and physics are typically the most desirable backgrounds. Taking as many classes as possible during college — and doing well — will help you become a patent examiner later on.
It is generally not necessary to have professional experience to become a patent examiner, which means that you are eligible to apply after you graduate and receive your degree. Patent examiners typically work at the headquarters of the government’s patent office. Universally, patent offices are operated as government-run entities.
In the United States, patent examiners work at the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Aside from education, the only requirement for the USPTO to become a patent examiner is that he be a US citizen. As long as you meet these requirements and are willing to move to Washington, DC, you can apply and start your career.
The process is a little different in Europe. Patents from all members of the European Union are channeled through the European Patent Office, or EPO. The EPO requires its examiners to be citizens of any of the EU countries and also to be competent – i.e. possess basic reading and speaking skills – in the three official languages of the EPO. These languages are English, French and German. The EPO is based in three different cities, and applications are generally accepted in specific locations.
European patent examiners must also complete a comprehensive patent examiner training program before commencing work. This training is a paid part of an examiner’s job, but serves as a sort of probationary period for new hires. Typical training combines coursework and classroom training with one-on-one mentoring and typically lasts two years. The USPTO also provides training for its examiners, but generally on a more informal basis.
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