While our in-person course materials are workshop-specific and designed for in-class use, they are derived from public material used to train USPTO patent examiners and are available on our Examiner Training Materials page or the Examination Guidance and Training Materials page. Here are specific courses we are currently offering:
Agent/Attorney and Inventor Combined 3-Day Course (in-person)
This in-person course is intended for registered patent attorneys and agents as well as current and future inventors. The training makes use of statutes, rules, and guidelines relevant to practicing before the USPTO.
This course will focus on how examiners review patent applications according to the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP). The training has three separate modules that build upon each other. Day 1 focuses on the role of examiners and the steps they take when reading an application for the first time. Day 2 uses the information gathered during Day 1 to plan and conduct a search and focuses on application formalities. Day 3 builds on Day 2 in mapping prior art to claims and focuses on writing an examiner’s office action. The course ends with a roundtable discussion. Similar to the training of new USPTO examiners, a sample application will be provided as the focus of exercises during each module.
Prior to attending, those accepted may wish to complete pre-activity homework. This includes reviewing several computer based training (CBT) modules and reading the sample application.
For a detailed schedule, please view the Combined 3-day Course General Schedule. Please note, the content and schedule of this course is subject to change.
Agent/Attorney 3-Day Course on Examination Practice and Procedure (virtual)
This course is limited to registered patent attorneys and agents for the purpose of representing applicants before the USPTO. The training makes use of statutes, rules, and guidelines relevant to practicing before the USPTO.
The training is broken into three separate modules that build on each other: Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3. Day 1 focuses on the role of an examiner and the steps an examiner takes when reading an application for the first time. Claim interpretation and 35 U.S.C. 101 and 112 are emphasized on Day 1. Day 2 uses the information gathered during Day 1 to plan a search, conduct a search, and map prior art to claims using 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103. Day 3 focuses on writing of an office action, as well as post-examination options such as the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU). Similar to the training of entry level examiners, a sample application will be provided to each trainee and will be the focus of exercises during each module. For a detailed schedule please view the Agent/Attorney 3-Day Course Schedule. Note, the content and schedule of this course is subject to change.
Agent/Attorney 4-Day Course (virtual) (Domestic/International)
This course is limited to registered patent attorneys and agents for the purpose of representing applicants before the USPTO. The training makes use of statutes, rules, and guidelines relevant to practicing before the USPTO. Prior to attending, those accepted will be required to review several computer-based training (CBT) modules and reading of resource materials as pre-activity homework.
The training is broken into four separate modules that build on each other: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 and Day 4. Day 1 focuses on the role of an examiner and the steps an examiner takes when reading an application for the first time. Day 2 uses the information gathered during Day 1 to plan a search, conduct a search. 35 U.S.C. 101 and 112 are emphasized on Day 2. Day 3 uses the information gathered during Day 2 to map prior art to claims using 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103. Day 4 finishes the mapping art to claim discussion and focuses on writing of an examiner’s office action. Similar to the training of entry level examiners, a sample application will be provided to each trainee and will be the focus of exercises during each module. For an exemplary detailed schedule, please view the Agent/Attorney 4-Day Course General Schedule. Please note the times reflected on this schedule may not be the actual times for each course offered.
Inventor 4-Day Course (virtual)
This course is administered by the USPTO's Office of Patent Training (OPT) and is intended for current and future inventors. It is limited to those who cannot represent applicants before the USPTO. Prior to attending, those accepted will be required to review several computer-based training (CBT) modules.
Day 1 of training begins with a discussion of the patent application process and the role OID plays in helping independent inventors throughout patent prosecution. The end of Day 1 uses exercises to cement/reaffirm your knowledge of CBT modules. Day 2 focuses how a patent examiner reads an application for the first time and maps prior art to claims. You will use the previous day’s lesson to work through an application. Day 3 starts with a discussion of examiner office actions and applicant responses to the sample application. The second half of Day 3 begins with a workshop on USPTO restriction practice and concludes with a discussion of additional resources available to inventors. Day 4 concludes the mapping art claim discussion and focuses on writing an examiner's office action. For a detailed schedule please view the Inventor 4-Day Course Schedule. Note, the content and schedule of this course is subject to change.
Course enrollment for interested STEPP participants
Entry into the STEPP program is granted based on available resources, slots available and intended target audience for each course.
