Starting in 2024, to become licensed as a Patent Agent, a person (in addition to meeting other requirements) must successfully complete the required training and the following qualifying examinations:
- Patent Knowledge Examination
- Patent Agent Skills Examination Part 1
- Patent Agent Skills Examination Part 2
Only Class 3 agents-in-training who have completed the training requirement are eligible to register for the exams.
2024 Dates
Patent Agent Skills Examinations – October 28-31, 2024
- Registration Deadline – September 20, 2024
- Accommodation Request Deadline – August 23, 2024
- Candidate Orientation – October 1, 2024 2-4pm ET
- Live Proctor Check-in – October 21-25, 2024
- Patent Agent Skills Examination – Part 1 – Component A; October 28, 2024; 1 – 4pm ET
- Patent Agent Skills Examination – Part 1 – Component B; October 29, 2024; 1 – 4pm ET
- Patent Agent Skills Examination – Part 2 – Component A; October 30, 2024; 1 – 4pm ET
- Patent Agent Skills Examination – Part 2 – Component B; October 31, 2024; 1 – 4pm ET
- Results Release – TBD
Tentative 2025 Dates
Winter Patent Knowledge Examination – February 25, 2025
- Registration Deadline –January 24, 2025
- Accommodation Request Deadline – January 24, 2025
- Candidate Orientation – February 4, 2025
- Live Proctor Check-in – February 17-21, 2025
- Results release – TBD
Spring Patent Knowledge Examination – June 10, 2025
- Registration Deadline – May 9, 2025
- Accommodation Request Deadline – May 9, 2025
- Candidate Orientation – May 20, 2025
- Live Proctor Check-in – June 2-6, 2025
- Results release – TBD
Exam Details
The Patent Knowledge Examination evaluates the patent-related, knowledge-
based technical competencies specified in the College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents Technical Competencies.
Format: Online, closed book
Length: 4 hours
Questions: 135 multiple-choice questions with 4 possible answers
A test-taker must successfully demonstrate competence on the Knowledge Examination before attempting the Agent Skills Examination.
PATENT AGENT KNOWLEDGE EXAMINATION TEST SPECIFICATIONS
The Patent Agent Skills Examination Part 1 and the Patent Agent Skills Examination Part 2 are independent examinations that can be completed in any order. Each evaluates a subset of the patent-related, skills-based technical competencies specified in the College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents Technical Competencies. Candidates who are successful with Part 1 (Components A and B) will be able to carry forward the successful attempt to future administrations if they are not successful on Part 2.
Part 1 (Components A and B)
Format: online, limited open-book format (test-takers receiving electronic access to the Patent Act, RSC 1985, c P-4 and Patent Rules, SOR/2019-251).
Length: 3 hours on day 1, 3 hours on day 2
Questions: long and short answer written responses
The 2 components are scored together as a single examination.
PATENT AGENT SKILLS EXAMINATION PART 1 TEST SPECIFICATIONS
Part 2 (Components A and B)
Part 2 of the Patent Agent Skills Examination assesses the prosecution-, validity-, and infringement-related skills required of Patent Agents specified in the College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents Technical Competencies.
Format: online, limited open-book format (test-takers receiving electronic access to the Patent Act, RSC 1985, c P-4 and Patent Rules, SOR/2019-251).
Length: 3 hours on day 1, 3 hours on day 2
Questions: long and short answer written responses
PATENT AGENT SKILLS EXAMINATION PART 2 TEST SPECIFICATIONS
Fees
Patent Knowledge Examination – $350 + applicable taxes
Patent Agent Skills Examination:
Part 1 (Component A and B) – $700 + applicable taxes
Part 2 (Component A and B) – $700 + applicable taxes
Request for Delayed Examinations
The By-laws require licensees to write examinations at the first sitting that follows the completion of their training program. However, if a licensee is not able to write the examinations as required, for a reason beyond their control, the Registrar may, on request of the licensee, allow them to write the examinations at the next administration. Please review the Registrar’s Policy on Requests for Delayed Examinations for more information regarding submitting a request.
Maximum Number of Attempts & Remedial Education
The By-laws allow agents in training who do not initially receive a passing mark on the qualifying examinations to write them only one additional time and must do so at the first sitting that takes place after they receive their examination results. Because agents in training complete their training programs at different times throughout the year and the dates of the examinations are fixed on an annual basis, to ensure fairness, the Registrar’s Policy on Maximum Number of Examination Attempts & Remedial Training was adopted. Please review the policy for more information.
Invalidating an Examination Result
Under certain circumstances, an examination result may be invalidated. The Registrar’s Policy on Invalidating an Examination Result was adopted for the consideration of those scenarios. Please review the policy for more information.
Candidates who Passed Part of the Qualifying Examinations Previously
Please note, there will be no carry forward of previously passed Papers after 2023. For example, if a candidate has passed Papers A and B but not Papers C and D in 2022 or 2023, they will not be able to carry forward Papers A and B after 2023. In other words, they will start the exam process from the beginning, with the Knowledge Exams, in 2024.
Questions
For any questions or concerns, please reach out to us by filling out our contact form.