A first-timer's guide, from application to resultsReviewed 9 November 2026
The Patent Bar ExamWysebridge Reference Check if you qualify

Before the exam

The Patent Bar Exam

Answer in brief

The patent bar is the USPTO's Examination for Registration to Practice in Patent Cases: 100 multiple-choice questions in two three-hour sections, taken on computer at a Prometric test center, open book on the MPEP. You need a qualifying technical background to sit it, and passing lets you register as a patent agent, or as a patent attorney if you are also a lawyer.

Exam rules reviewed 9 November 2026. The USPTO's General Requirements Bulletin is the authoritative source.

  1. Wysebridge
  2. Eligibility
  3. Test day
  4. Results
Wysebridge → Eligibility → Test day → Results

From application to registration

  1. Check eligibility (Category A, B, C or D).
  2. Apply to the USPTO's Office of Enrollment and Discipline.
  3. Receive a notice of admission with a window to sit the exam.
  4. Book and sit the exam at Prometric.
  5. Pass, then pay the registration fee.

Fees

FeePaid toAmount
Application (non-refundable)USPTO$118
Registration examinationUSPTO$226
Test administrationPrometric$221
Registration, after passingUSPTO$226

$565 per attempt; $791 for a first-time pass including registration.

Start with the right question

Exam basicsWhat is the patent bar exam?What the USPTO patent bar is, who it is for, and what passing lets you do.Read the entryBefore the examWho can take the patent bar?The USPTO's eligibility categories for the patent bar, and how to check yours.Read the entryTest dayPatent bar test dayWhat to expect on the day of the patent bar at Prometric, from check-in to the final question.Read the entry

Practical entries

Before the examApplying for the patent barHow to apply to the USPTO for the patent bar, what to include, and the scheduling window.Read the entryTest dayPatent bar scoring and resultsHow the patent bar is scored and how you learn whether you passed.Read the entryExam basicsPreparing for the patent barWhere first-time candidates should start preparing, and the resources in this network.Read the entry

Questions & answers

What is the patent bar exam?
The USPTO's registration exam for patent agents and attorneys: 100 multiple-choice questions, two three-hour sections, open book on the MPEP.
Where do you take the patent bar?
On computer at a Prometric test center, year-round, within the window in your USPTO notice of admission.
Do you need a law degree for the patent bar?
No. You need a qualifying science or engineering background. A law degree is needed only to become a patent attorney rather than an agent.

Sources for this entry

  1. USPTO — Registration examination USPTO
    The USPTO's page on the registration examination (the patent bar).
  2. USPTO — Becoming a patent practitioner (General Requirements Bulletin) USPTO
    The USPTO's authoritative source for eligibility categories, documents and filing.
  3. What Is the Patent Bar? FindLaw
    Exam format: 100 questions, 10 unscored, two three-hour sections, 70% of scored questions to pass.
  4. 37 CFR 1.21 — Miscellaneous fees (registration of attorneys and agents) eCFR
    Official USPTO fee rule: $118 application fee, $226 registration examination fee.

Practical guidance is original editorial content. Company-published figures are the company's own claims and are labeled as such.

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The Patent Bar Exam. “The Patent Bar Exam.” Wysebridge Reference. Content reviewed 9 November 2026.
https://thepatentbarexam.com/