To sit for the CPP certification examination, the candidate must have received a Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited university. On the application, candidates must list education completed in order, starting with the Bachelor’s degree. Additional degrees may be added as appropriate.

Applications will be randomly selected for auditing. If audited, the candidate is responsible for submitting proof of education. Proof of education may be an original or copy of an official transcript or diploma from the academic institution where the Bachelor’s degree (or higher) was achieved. The candidate should provide any relevant work experience.  For example, the number of years practicing (if applicable), the number of patents drafted/prosecuted, any formalized education related to patent drafting/prosecution. The candidate must provide three professional references who can attest to the candidate’s education and experience. If audited, the candidate authorizes the references listed in the professional reference section to provide NCPP, Inc., with information substantiating the candidate’s current and/or previous education, employment, and experience. 

The first exam is slated to being in the fall of 2021, and the exact date with full registration details will be announced at least 6 months in advance. If you would like to begin the pre-registration process and be kept on the mailing list for updates, please send your resume to info@thencpp.org.

The exam is 8-hours long from 8am-12pm (morning session), and from 1pm-5pm (afternoon session). Candidates will be provided with a disclosure, prior art, and figures, and be prompted to draft a defensible patent application that complies with the United States Patent and Trademark (USPTO) standards as outlined by the Manual of Patenting Examining Procedures (MPEP).

Although NCPP will organize several study sessions and provide guidance on how to pass the exam, prior to the exam, it should be noted that NCPP does not have to be a candidate’s primary test preparation educator for a candidate to complete the CPP exam. Some candidates will have received on-the-job experience and will be able to pass the exam based on that experience. Other candidates should seek out a formal patent training program to understand the intricacies of patent drafting.

The CPP exam will be facilitated at testing centers throughout the United States, hosted by a certification and licensure testing company. Available testing sites will be announced with the 2019 test date.

• Be a member in good standing of the Patent Bar of the United States and have received no disciplinary actions.
• Have practiced continuously for 5 years within the previous 10 year period, or as in-house counsel with the primary role of overseeing patent prosecution, development, licensing, sales and/or acquisitions.
• Have drafted 50+ patent applications.
• Have drafted 50+ office action responses.
• Submit a reference or receive a referral from another CPP that attests to the same.
• Sign affidavit/declaration

For waive-in consideration, please register here.

Yes. Certified Patent Practitioners (CPPs) must maintain 6 patent-specific CLE credit hours per year. NCPP will host several patent-specific CLE courses per year to assist members in maintaining their credential. However, members may apply other patent-specific CLE’s, used to satisfy state bar requirements, to maintain their CPP credential. These CLE’s will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine if they can count towards the CPP credential.

Upcoming CLE topics to be hosted by NCPP include:

• Patent Quality – What does it mean to different entities? (Corporations, USPTO, Private Practice)
• Leveraging Big Data to Mitigate Alice Rejections
• Developing a Patent Portfolio Consistent with Your Corporate Strategy
• Recruiting & Hiring Knowledgeable Patent Practitioners

Find information about available NCPP scholarships here, and be sure to add your info to our interested applicant list.