First-Time Filer Expedited Examination Pilot Program

The applicant must certify that:

1. The inventor or, where there are joint inventors, each joint inventor has not been named as the sole inventor or a joint inventor on any other nonprovisional application,  
2. The applicant and the inventor or, where there are joint inventors, the applicant and each joint inventor qualify for micro entity status under the gross income basis requirement. Note:  Applicant must separately and properly establish micro entity status by filing USPTO Form SB/15A (Certification of Micro Entity Status – Gross Income Basis) no later than the date that the petition to participate in this pilot is filed, and
3. The inventor or, where there are joint inventors, each joint inventor, named on the application is reasonably trained on the basics of the USPTO’s patent application process. More information about patent application training resources is provided below.

This program is open to non-continuing original utility nonprovisional applications that do not claim the benefit of the filing date of any prior-filed nonprovisional U.S. applications or international applications designating the United States under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c).  Note that claiming the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of one or more prior provisional applications will not affect eligibility for this pilot program.

This program is not open to:

• Design or plant applications
• Continuation, continuation-in-part, divisional, and bypass applications.
• Applications claiming a right of foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d) or (f) to one or more foreign applications.
• Applications entering the national stage under the Patent Cooperation Treaty as set forth in 35 U.S.C. 371.

Your patent application must be complete under 37 CFR 1.51 no later than the date the petition to make special under this program is filed. That is, your application must include:

• A specification,
• Drawing(s) if necessary,
• At least one claim,
• An oath or declaration in compliance with 37 CFR 1.63 (or a substitute statement in compliance with 37 CFR 1.64) for each named inventor, and
• Payment of all appropriate fees (that is, basic filing, search, and examination fees, and an application size fee if required) prior to or concurrently with filing the petition to make special under this program. To determine which fees are appropriate for your patent application, please refer to the current USPTO fee schedule.

You may delay filing your petition to make special until a filing receipt is issued and you are sure the application includes the above-noted items, to help avoid dismissal of your petition for being incomplete under 37 CFR 1.51. Your petition must still be filed before the examiner sends a first Office action in your application.

The patent application must be filed electronically using Patent Center, and the specification, claims, and abstract must be submitted in DOCX format on filing. To learn more about filing in DOCX format, please consider attending a DOCX training webinar or visiting the DOCX information page.

You must use Form PTO/SB/464 to make the required certifications and petition for participation in this program. Form PTO/SB/464 must be properly signed and filed electronically using Patent Center. Modified versions of this form will not be accepted.

More details regarding the program procedures and requirements may be found in the 2023 Federal Register notice for this program.

The USPTO is committed to supporting and advancing intellectual property education for inventors. Participation in the First-Time Filer Expedited Examination Pilot Program will be most impactful for inventors who are prepared to actively engage in the patent application process. The following free USPTO training resources can help inventors build this knowledge:

• The USPTO’s Patent Basics Webpage
• The USPTO’s live and interactive Path to Patent Series
• The USPTO’s self-paced Patent Process Training modules (scroll to the section titled “Patent process training – Tools for Filing an Application”)
• The USPTO Patents Pro Bono Program’s self-paced Basic Patent Training Certification Course
• The USPTO’s Nonprovisional Utility Application Filing Guide

These non-USPTO resources are also available:

• Invent Together’s self-paced Inventor’s Patent Academy
• The Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property’s self-paced intellectual property education program

1. Complete and sign Form PTO/SB/464 (Titled: Certification and Petition for the First-Time Filer Expedited Examination Pilot Program. If the application is being filed by joint inventor-applicants, either a single copy of this form must be signed by a patent practitioner or each joint inventor-applicant must sign a separate copy of the form. Be sure to clearly identify the number of forms that are being submitted in the section at the bottom of the form.
2. Save and upload the executed Form(s) PTO/SB/464 via Patent Center.
3. When uploading Form PTO/SB/464, select the document description “Petition for First-Time Filer Pilot” (found under the Petition Category) on the Patent Center screen to ensure timely and appropriate processing.