If you are a USPTO-registered patent attorney or agent, it helps to think like a USPTO patent examiner. Get a better understanding of how examiners make decisions by attending the Stakeholder Training on Examination Practice and Procedure (STEPP) agent-attorney four-day course, January 21-24.
Registration for this interactive, virtual course will be open through Tuesday, January 14, or until registration is full.
Virtual courses are led by USPTO trainers, and the course material is based on the same training material developed for new USPTO examiners. The training focuses on how our examiners review patent applications according to the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP). Attendees are encouraged to complete preactivity homework, which includes several computer-based training modules and reading of resource materials.
Each day of the course builds on the last:
- Day one focuses on the role of an examiner and the steps an examiner takes when reading an application for the first time.
- Day two uses the information gathered during day one to plan and conduct a search, emphasizing relevant legal statutes.
- Day three builds on day two in applying relevant statutes to the mapping of prior art to the sample claims.
- Day four finishes discussing the mapping of art to claims and focuses on writing an office action.
For a detailed schedule, please view the Agent/attorney 4-day course general schedule.
Visit the STEPP webpage to learn more about the program, or for more information, email STEPP@uspto.gov.
Accessibility accommodation
If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please submit your request to the contact information listed above.