Shortly after coming into force in 2021, CPATA began working with independent provider Principia Assessments Ltd. on a multi-year project to develop and implement competency frameworks for patent agents and trademark agents. This initiative is one of the most significant projects undertaken in Canada to modernize, define and standardize qualifications within the patent agent and trademark agent professions.
What is a Competency Profile?
Broadly speaking, a competency profile describes what an agent needs to be able to do in order to serve their clients’ best interests. Competency frameworks are a cornerstone of professional regulation. The establishment of clear expectations for practitioners protects the public interest by ensuring that all new and current licensees understand what knowledge and skills are vital for a safe, effective, and sustainable practice. It also ensures that the competencies assessed during the training and examination processes are empirically linked to future agents’ ability to provide quality services to the public.
Purpose of the Competency Profiles
CPATA will use the Technical Competency Profiles and the Professional Foundations Competency Profile to:
- set qualifying examinations and pathways to licensure;
- guide future and current licensees in understanding the competencies required in the professions;
- support agents in their self-assessment and ongoing learning;
- guide future regulatory and educational activities;
- inform intellectual property educators about priorities for learning;
- guide employers and training supervisors to develop apprenticeship experiences for trainees;
- advance CPATA’s Regulatory Objective that licensees deliver ethical and competent services.
Phase 1: Technical Competency Profiles (complete)
The first step in this multi-year initiative was the creation of the Technical Competency Profiles for Patent Agents and Trademark Agents, a document that describes the technical knowledge and skills agents need to provide competent IP services to their clients. The profiles were developed through a rigorous process that allowed for input from agents and other IP stakeholders, including through working groups of licensees and a survey of the entire professions. The Technical Competency Profiles were adopted by CPATA’s Board of Directors on March 2, 2023.
Phase 2: Professional Foundations Competency Profile (ongoing)
In spring 2024, CPATA began to develop a Professional Foundations Competency Profile to define the professional skills (such as communication, file management, etc.) that must complement an agents’ technical knowledge for competent practice. This Professional Foundations Profile will apply to both patent agents and trademark agents and will be a companion document to the Technical Competency Profiles. Again employing a rigorous process including working groups of licensees, a draft profile was developed and a first round of consultation was conducted with internal stakeholder groups.
Licensees are invited to complete a 15-minute survey between September 5 and October 10 to validate the draft Professional Foundations Competency Profile. CPATA wants to hear from licensees to:
- confirm the competencies and performance criteria
- identify which are “critical” or more/most important to practice
- spot anything that needs clarification or is missing
- collect overall comments
The survey is administered by an independent consultant Principia Assessments Ltd. and data will only be provided to CPATA in aggregate.
Based on this data, any necessary changes will be made to the draft profile. The final profile will then be approved by CPATA’s Registration Committee and later adopted by CPATA’s Board of Directors.