International agents and attorneys: Learn to think like a patent examiner with STEPP's four-day course

If you are a United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) registered patent attorney or an agent residing internationally, you can get a better understanding of how patent examiners make decisions at the Stakeholder Training on Examination Practice and Procedure (STEPP) international agent/attorney four-day course on February 13-16.

Registration is closed. For more information, email STEPP@uspto.gov.

Course acceptance will be sent to eligible candidates, based on the following:

• Active USPTO registration number
• USPTO registration status showing residence outside of the United States
• Available space

This course will be led by USPTO trainers and will be based on the same training material that new USPTO examiners receive. It will focus on how examiners review patent applications according to the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP).

If you are accepted, you will need to complete pre-activity homework. This includes completing several computer-based training modules and reading resource materials. Similar to the training of new USPTO examiners, you'll receive a sample application as the focus of exercises during each module. 

The training, held 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. each day, has four modules that build upon each other:

• Day One: You'll learn the role of examiners and the steps they take when reading an application for the first time.
• Day Two: You will use the information gathered during Day One to plan and conduct a search and emphasizes statutes 35 U.S.C. §§ 101 and 112.
• Day Three: Builds on Day Two in mapping prior art claims using 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103.
• Day Four: You will finish the mapping art claim discussion and focus on writing an examiner’s office action.

For a detailed schedule, please view the USPTO International agent/attorney four-day course general schedule.

Visit the STEPP webpage to learn more about the program, or for more information, email STEPP@uspto.gov.