Can I Take the Patent Bar with a BSEE and Passed FE Exam?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the eligibility requirements for taking the US Patent Bar, specifically whether an individual with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) and a passed Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam can qualify to take the exam before officially receiving their degree.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses interest in taking the Patent Bar after receiving their BSEE and passing the FE exam, questioning if they can take the exam before officially graduating.
  • Another participant, identified as an admin director, asserts that a bachelor's degree is required to sit for the Patent Bar examination.
  • A later reply references the "General Requirements Bulletin" from the USPTO, claiming that passing the FE exam alone qualifies an individual to take the exam without needing a B.S. degree.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is disagreement among participants regarding the necessity of a bachelor's degree to take the Patent Bar. One participant insists on the degree requirement, while another cites official documentation suggesting otherwise.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights potential ambiguities in the requirements for taking the Patent Bar, particularly regarding the interpretation of the qualifications related to the FE exam and the necessity of a degree.

tyler1215
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I have been thinking about taking the US Patent Bar to become a Patent Agent and possibly a Patent Attorney later down the road. I was looking at the requirements for one to be able to qualify to take the Patent Bar; the requirements are 1 of 3 things: 1) BS in Engineering or other related science, 2) about 20+ hours of Physics courses and other sciences, or 3) taken and passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam.

I will be receiving my BSEE this December, but I have already passed the FE exam back in April. Could I take the Patent Bar now or do I need to (or should I) wait until after I receive my degree?

Please answer this post based off of information you may know or collect, not based off of the information I provided above. Thank you for your help.
 
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Sorry, but the Patent Office always requires that you have a bachelor's degree before sitting for their Registration Examination.

Mark Dighton
Admin. Director, PLI's Patent Bar Review
 
Mark,

Thank you very much for a quick response back to my post.
 
Page eight of "General Requirements Bulletin for Admission to the Examination for Registration to Practice in Patent Cases Before the United States Patent and Trademark Office" states that having passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam you qualify to take the USPTO. You DO NOT need a B.S. degree.

http://www.uspto.gov/ip/boards/oed/grb.pdf
 
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