Inventors: Learn to think like a patent examiner with STEPP's four-day course

If you are an inventor, it helps to think like a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (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. This virtual training is scheduled for August 22-25, 2023, from noon to 4:15 p.m. ET.

Registration is now open. Space is limited due to the interactive nature of the course. Registration will be open until August 3 or until the course is full. If you have questions, please email us at STEPP@uspto.gov.

Virtual courses are led by USPTO trainers and the course material is based on the same training material developed for training new USPTO examiners. We will focus on how our examiners review patent applications according to the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP). Attendees must complete pre-activity homework. These include several computer-based training (CBT) modules and reading of resource materials.

The training has four separate modules that build upon each other, from days one to four. Similar to the training of new examiners at the USPTO, a sample application will be provided to each trainee and will be the focus of exercises during each module.

• 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. In addition, 35 U.S.C. 101 and 112 are emphasized.
• Day three uses the information gathered during day two to map prior art to claims using 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103.
• Day four finishes the mapping art to claim discussion and focuses on how examiners write their office actions.

Learn more about STEPP.

For a detailed schedule, please view the Inventors: STEPP four-day course schedule.

For more information, contact STEPP@uspto.gov by email.