Those familiar with the patent bar exam will remember that just under five (5) years ago, on July 26, 2004, the Patent Bar Exam moved to a computer-based, virtually on-demand exam, which is available at a Prometrics testing site near you.  Prior to this change the patent bar examination was administered twice a year using examination booklets and multiple choice grading forms. The move to a frequently administered computer-based examination has made it possible for those interested in taking the exam to schedule the exam around their own schedule, making it convenient to fit in a patent bar review course and take the exam at a time when appropriate study can be devoted.  Notwithstanding, some are uninterested, unwilling or unable to take a computer-based patent bar exam, so the United States Patent Office has continually offered a real-world, traditional, paper exam once a year.  The written exam will take place in July 2009, and the PLI run of live courses for the Summer of 2009 begins in May in New York City.

This year the written administration of the patent bar exam will once again take place in Alexandria, VA, and will be held July 21 and July 22, 2009.  The deadline for filing an application to take this written version of the patent bar examination is Friday, May 15, 2009.  Applications filed on or after Saturday, May 16, 2009 will not be considered for the July 2009 examination.  If you are interested in taking this written exam the USPTO must receive your application on or before May 15, 2009, or mailed on or before May 15, 2009, in full compliance with the certificate of mailing provisions of 37 CFR § 1.8, or 37 CFR § 1.10.

The USPTO administered patent bar examination is given only at the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Virginia. Due to limited seating and the uncertainty of the number of persons applying to take the examination, it is possible that not everyone will be able to take the examination on the same date. The first group of approved applicants filling the available seats will be scheduled to take the examination on Tuesday, July 21, 2009. The next group of approved applicants will be scheduled to take the examination on Wednesday, July 22, 2009. Applicants granted admission will be assigned a testing date for the first available date until all test dates are filled. The Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) will notify applicants of their scheduled examination date.

Those who are interested in taking the written patent bar examination and who also wish to take a patent bar review course should consider the PLI Patent Bar Review Course.  I am biased because I have taught this course together alongside John White for over 8 years.  Our pass rate is high, and year in and year out we teach over 50% of all those who will sit for the patent bar review course, so it is fair to say that we are the most popular patent bar review course.  We are not the cheapest, but I do believe we are the best.  So if you are interested in making the patent bar exam a one time event give the PLI course some consideration.  There are substantial discounts available for both students and PLI Privileged Members, and anyone can receive a 10% discount by calling and mentioning IPWatchdog.  Call PLI at 888-296-5973.

We will be soon starting our Summer run of live courses.  We will travel coast to coast giving live courses between mid-May and mid-August.  If you purchase a live course you also get the lectures on CD.  If you cannot make a live location we have a complete home study course.  Our Summer 2009 schedule is:

PLI is also trying to arrange a live course in Atlanta, GA between August 12 – 16, 2009.  If you are interested in a live course in Atlanta let me know, or call PLI at 888-296-5973.

We are also frequently asked by those interested in taking the patent bar how the Patent Office will handle the law and rule changes, and what if a course is purchased and the Patent Office subsequently announces changes to the examination. Let me put your fears to rest. PLI has always offered students 6 months of assurance. If the exam changes within 6 months of you purchasing a course you will automatically receive e-mail notice and then will get a copy of a detailed memo explaining the changes in the law and rules and what you need to know. The last time this happened was in the Summer of 2006 when the Patent Office announced it would begin testing the 8th Edition of the MPEP, Revision #4. The announcement was made in August 2006, with changes effective in October 2006. In the meantime, John White diligently prepared a 50+ page, single spaced memo explaining all the changes and exactly what you need to know. So rest assured that if changes are made within 6 months of your purchase of the course you are completely covered. Outside that 6 month window PLI works with individuals on a case by case basis. Our assumption is that within 6 months you will have taken and passed the exam, which is our history, so if a change occurs more than 6 months after you purchase the PLI course just give us a call and we will be happy to discuss how to help you moving forward. Our goal is to help everyone to pass!