USPTO

Patent Bar

USPTO Registration Examination

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office registration exam — the licensure gateway to practice as a patent agent or patent attorney before the USPTO. It tests patent law, rules, and procedure as set out in the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP).

$344Six hours of testing (two three-hour sessions) plus a breakRequired to practice

What's on the exam

USPTO Registration Exam — MPEP Ninth Edition, Rev. 01.2024 (exam updated September 23, 2026); domain weights are estimates, USPTO does not publish them

Patentability and Examination

~30%

Novelty and statutory bars under 35 U.S.C. 102 · Obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 · Patent-eligible subject matter (101) · Specification, enablement, and written description (112) · Rejections and responses

Application Filing and Prosecution

~25%

Parts of a patent application and filing requirements · Claims drafting and amendments · Restriction and election practice · Information disclosure statements · Continuations, divisionals, and CIPs

Post-Filing Procedure and PTAB

~15%

Appeals to the PTAB · Reissue and certificates of correction · Reexamination · Post-grant and inter partes review · Petitions practice

PCT and International Practice

~12%

PCT filing and the international phase · National stage entry under 371 · Priority claims and benefit (119/120) · Foreign filing licenses · Time periods and deadlines

USPTO Rules, Ethics, and Practitioner Conduct

~10%

USPTO Rules of Professional Conduct · Duty of disclosure and candor · Representation and powers of attorney · Signature and certification requirements · Discipline and OED procedures

Fees, Maintenance, and Administrative Procedure

~8%

Entity status and fee reductions · Maintenance fees · Extensions of time and revival · Correspondence and filing methods · Assignment and recordation

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Patent Bar cost?

The Patent Bar costs $344. $118 non-refundable application fee plus $226 registration examination fee (test administration by a commercial entity); confirm current amounts in the USPTO fee schedule and General Requirements Bulletin.

How long is the Patent Bar and how many questions does it have?

100 items total; 90 scored, 10 unscored pretest items — Six hours of testing (two three-hour sessions) plus a break.

What do you need to pass the Patent Bar?

70% of scored questions correct (63 of 90).

Can you retake the Patent Bar?

Reapply after a notice of failure; must wait 30 days after the last examination, with a new application and fees.

What is the best way to study for the Patent Bar?

Start from the official outline and your primary study materials: the exam is weighted by domain (Patentability and Examination ~30%, Application Filing and Prosecution ~25%, Post-Filing Procedure and PTAB ~15%, PCT and International Practice ~12%, USPTO Rules, Ethics, and Practitioner Conduct ~10%, Fees, Maintenance, and Administrative Procedure ~8%). Once you've learned the material, spaced-repetition flashcards organized by those domains are an efficient way to retain it and refresh it before test day.

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