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. Agents in training should review the competency profiles to understand what knowledge and skills they will need to acquire in their training in order to be successful on the qualifying exams and as a practitioner.
Technical Competency Profiles
CPATA has developed new technical competency profiles, one for patent agents and one for trademark agents. A technical competency profile is a description of the knowledge and skills agents need to provide competent IP services to their clients. The establishment of clear expectations for practitioners will protect the public interest by ensuring that all new and current licensees have the skills necessary to serve their clients in a competent and ethical manner. CPATA’s Board of Directors adopted the profiles at its March 2, 2023, meeting, following the profiles’ approval by the Registration committee at the end of 2022.
Technical Competency Profiles for Patent Agents and Trademark Agents
Professional Foundations Competency Profile
CPATA has developed a Professional Foundations Competency Profile to define the professional skills (such as communication) that must complement an agents’ technical knowledge for competent practice. This Professional Foundations Profile applies to both patent agents and trademark agents and is a companion document to the Technical Competency Profiles. CPATA’s Board of Directors adopted the profile at its March 24, 2025, meeting, following the profile’s approval by the Registration committee at the end of 2024.
Questions
If you have questions, please contact registration-inscription@cpata-cabamc.ca.