Agents in Training must successfully complete the Qualifying Examination as a requirement for registration as a Patent Agent or Trademark Agent.
The Qualifying Examinations are designed to assess the candidate’s knowledge of the Trademarks Act, the Trademarks Regulations in the case of Trademark Agents, and Patent Act, Patent Rules, and patent application drafting in the case of Patent Agents, in addition to case law and practice required to practise independently as a Trademark Agent or Patent Agent. The examinations test candidates’ analytical and problem-solving skills, and their skills in communicating with clients and the Office of the Registrar of Trademarks or Patent Office, as applicable.
Eligibility
Class 3 licensees establish eligibility through the completion of the 24-month training requirement and the agent training course prescribed by the College. The details of the agent training course will be communicated as soon as they are available. Agents in Training are expected to attempt the Qualifying Examinations at the first sitting of the exams that follow the completion of their training period.
New writers are required to submit a letter of attestation issued by their Training Supervisor (Class 1 Licensee or approved representative from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office) who is familiar with their work and that clearly describes:
- the firm or office of the training supervisor with whom the candidate undertook training;
- the names of training supervisors who were most responsible for supervision of their work
- the training dates;
- the nature of the work done by the candidate during their training (e.g., preparing, filing and prosecuting applications, interviewing, research);
- the nature of the arrangement with the training supervisor or their office or firm (e.g., full time, part time etc.); and
- confirmation that, in the opinion of the training supervisor, the training has prepared the candidate for writing the Qualifying Examinations.
Previous writers are required to submit the exam registration form but are not required to re-submit the letter of attestation from their training supervisor.
Final Administration of Legacy Qualifying Examinations – 2023 Administration
The Qualifying Examinations will be administered electronically.
The Trademark Agent Qualifying Examination is written over two consecutive days, with one (1) part of the exam written on each day. Candidates are allowed three (3) hours for each paper. The parts are written from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
The Patent Agent Qualifying Examination is written over four (mostly) consecutive days, with one (1) paper of the exam written on each day. Candidates are allowed four (4) hours for each paper. The papers are written from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Additional details regarding the electronic administration process will be provided as soon as they are available.
Candidates may write the examination in English or French. Please note that the English and French versions of the examination may contain language differences because of the specialized subject matter.
2023 Important Dates
The deadline to register as a class 3 licensee (for those who have not done so already) to establish eligibility for the 2023 qualifying examinations is June 30, 2023.
| Trademark Agent Qualifying Examination | Patent Agent Qualifying Examination |
Registration Deadline | August 11, 2023 | September 15, 2023 |
Accommodation Request Deadline | August 25, 2023 | September 29, 2023 |
Candidate Orientation | September 5, 2023 | October 3, 2023 |
Live Proctor Check-in | September 11-15, 2023 | October 16-20, 2023 |
Exam Dates | September 19, 2023 – Part A September 20, 2023 – Part B | October 23, 2023 – Paper A October 24, 2023 – Paper B October 25, 2023 – Paper C October 26, 2023 – Paper D |
Fees
First Administration of New Exam Structure (2024) – Tentative
Class 3 registration deadline to be considered for 2024 exams – January 31, 2024
2024 Important Dates
| Trademark Knowledge Examinations | Patent Knowledge Examinations |
Registration Deadline | February 16, 2024 | March 1, 2024 |
Accommodation Request Deadline | February 23, 2024 | March 8, 2024 |
Candidate Orientation | February 13, 2024 | February 27, 2024 |
Live Proctor Check-in | February 26 – March 1, 2024 | March 11 – 15, 2024 |
Exam Dates | March 5, 2024 | March 19, 2024 |
Dates for the 2024 Skills Examinations will be posted as soon as they are available. Reminder, candidates must pass the Knowledge Examinations to establish eligibility for the Skills Examinations.
Exam Redevelopment for 2024
Please note the Qualifying Examinations will be changing in 2024 (Exam Redevelopment for 2024) as part of the Competency Initiative.