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About PETTP

The USPTO's Patent Examiner Technical Training Program (PETTP) is requesting voluntary assistance from technologists, scientists, engineers, and other experts from industry and academia to participate as guest lecturers and provide technical training and expertise to patent examiners regarding the state of the art.

Guest lecturers provide relevant, historic and current technical knowledge, including industry practices/standards in technological areas of interest. Guest lecturers must also have relevant technical knowledge and industry practices/standards in areas of technologies where such lectures would be beneficial.

Guest lecturers have the option of presenting a lecture in-person or virtually from their own location. In-person presentations can be made at our Alexandria, Virginia headquarters or at one of our regional offices in Dallas, TX, Denver, CO, Detroit, MI and San Jose, CA. Training delivered at each location will be broadcast to patent examiners across the entire USPTO.

PETTP is not intended as an opportunity for applicants to discuss pending applications with USPTO employees or to circumvent normal communication between applicants or applicants' representatives and USPTO employees. In addition, PETTP participants are not to provide advice or recommendations to the USPTO. The PETTP is envisioned only as an opportunity to provide patent examiners with necessary training from scientists and experts working directly in the various technologies throughout the USPTO.

For more information you may contact:

PETTP@uspto.gov or view our PETTP flyer.

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PETTP Technology Fairs

PETTP is now seeking guest lecturers for several Technology Center Tech Fairs.  If you are interested in participating as a guest lecturer, please submit an interest form.   Scheduled 2024 Tech Fairs for each Technology Center are provided below.

Please see list of topics that may be of interest to examiners. Additional topics may be proposed by guest volunteer lecturers and considered for presentation. 

2024 PETTP Tech Fairs

Technology CenterTechnology descriptionDates
1600Biotechnology and organic chemistryJune 18 and 20
1700Chemical and materials engineeringSept. 4 - 5
2100Computer architecture and software

 

 

May 6 - 17

 

2400Networking, multiplexing, cable, and security
2600Communications
2800Semiconductors, memory, optics, photocopying, electrical circuits & systems, printing, and measuring & testingMay 22 - 23
2900DesignsMay 9
3600Transportation, construction, electronic commerce, agriculture, and national securityMay 20 - 24
3700Mechanical, medical, and gaming technologiesMay 6 - 9
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Policy/Guidance

Operating procedures for interested PETTP guest lectures

Requests to serve as a PETTP guest lecturer are granted depending upon resources, training time available, and appropriateness of the topic suggested. For granted requests, audience size will vary.

View the standard operating procedures for interested Patent Examiner Technical Training Program guest lectures.

Invited Speaker Consent Form

Prior to giving a presentation, all PETTP guest lectures must sign the USPTO's Invited Speaker Consent Form. Preferably, PETTP presentations are recorded and made available to employees for viewing or listening at a later time.

View the Invited speaker consent form.

Federal Register Notice

View the September 15, 2010 Federal Register notice (link is external) for the Patent Examiner Technical Training Program.

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Sign-up Now

Sign-up Now to participate in PETTP.

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Thank you PETTP Volunteers!

The USPTO would like to thank the following organizations and their representatives who have participated in the Patent Examiner Technical Training Program. Their contributions ensure that patent examiners keep pace with the latest advancements in the state of the art across all disciplines. Their contributions also serve as a keen reminder that, by working together, we can build a stronger intellectual property system.

Thank you to those who Participated!
2023 Organizations and Speaker(s)
2022 Organizations and Speaker(s)
2021 Organizations and Speaker(s)
2020 Organizations and Speaker(s)
2019 Organizations and Speaker(s)
2018 Organizations and Speaker(s)
2017 Organizations and Speaker(s)
2016 Organizations and Speaker(s)
2015 Organizations and Speaker(s)
2014 USPTO Tech Week and Organizations and Speaker(s)

Inclusion on the lists of specific organizations, attorneys, law firms, individuals, or corporations does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the USPTO.

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Site Experience Education (SEE) Program

The Site Experience Education program provides commercial, industrial, and academic institutions, within the continental U.S., the opportunity to voluntarily host patent examiner technical site visits.  The USPTO funds all SEE travel costs for patent examiner visits to host organizations. 

To learn more, visit the Site Experience Education (SEE) Program page.

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Stakeholder Training on Examination Practice and Procedure (STEPP)

The Stakeholder Training on Examination Practice and Procedure program offers those interested training opportunities to better their understanding  of the examination process at the USPTO.  Training material used is derived from material developed for training patent examiners. 

To learn more visit the Stakeholder Training on Examination Practice and Procedure (STEPP) page.

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Stakeholder Offerings and Resources (SOaR) Program

The SOaR program offers:

  • Interactive online courses
  • In-depth topic discussions
  • Legal and CLE trainings
  • Expanded trainings for non-professional (pro se) applicants

See a list of SOaR program training sessions and learn how to attend.

For more information on the SOaR program, please contact SOaR@uspto.gov.

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