Your career path to becoming a professional representative before the European Patent Office (EPO)

Successful completion of the third phase of training is followed by the qualifying examination.

The examination consists of a written and an oral part and is usually held three times a year. The written exam consists of four exams, usually taken on four consecutive days. The oral examination is conducted as a group examination, with each candidate being examined for approximately 45 minutes.

Admission as a professional representative before the European Patent Office (EPO) is subject to passing the European qualifying examination (EQE). The purpose of this examination is to determine whether the candidate has the necessary skills and knowledge to represent applicants before the EPO.

To take the EQE, you must have a university degree in a science or engineering subject such as chemistry or biochemistry. You must then complete a three-year period of employment, for example in a law firm, during which you will carry out your professional activities under the supervision of a licensed European patent attorney. During this time, you will work on cases involving European and international patent applications and gain professional experience in all areas relevant to examination. You will also have the opportunity to attend part-time courses to learn the theoretical basics. Formal training, such as that required to become a German patent attorney, is not required.

The European qualifying examination, which usually takes place once a year, will be taken online from 2021 and is divided into different parts (tasks F and M1-M4). The first part (Task F) can be taken after the first year of employment. For tasks M1 and M2, you must have two years of employment, and for tasks M3 and M4, you must have three years of employment.

After successfully passing the European qualifying examination, it is possible to apply for admission as a European representative.

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