Oficina española de Patentes y Marcas

Candidates are admitted to the EQE if, on the date of the examination, they meet the following requirements:

Qualifications

Candidates have to possess a higher education scientific or technical qualification; for example, in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, electronics, engineering, pharmacology, physics, etc.

If they do not possess such qualification, those candidates who have at least three years demonstrable experience in the field of patents may be admitted.

See below in Downloads: “Regulation on the European qualifying examination for professional representatives“, pages 18-21.

Professional activity

Candidates must have worked for three years under the supervision of a professional representative or as an employee or an assistant of an employee dealing with patent matters in an industrial company established in one of the contracting countries. This period of three years is extended to a total of six for those candidates who do not have higher education qualifications.

The mandatory period of practical training is very important, since a great deal of the knowledge required by a European Patent Agent is gained during this period. During this period the candidates must take part in a wide range of activities pertaining to patent applications or patents.

Only periods of professional activity completed after the required qualifications were obtained are taken into account. The training period must be completed by the date of the examination.

EPO examiners may enrol for the EQE if they have performed the duties of examiner for at least four years.

Deadlines

The EQE is held once a year, usually in March. A notice indicating the examination dates and the closing date for enrolment is published in the preceding year in the Official Journal of the OEP.

Examination fee

The fee payable depends on the number of papers for which the candidate enrols and the number of times he or she has already taken the EQE. The basic fee is €130 for the 2011 EQE.

Papers for which candidates may enrol

• All papers at the first sitting, or
• papers A and B as the first module at the first sitting and papers C and D as the second module at a subsequent sitting within the next three examinations;
• In the event of a resit, either for all papers not passed or only some of them, at the choice of the candidate. A candidate who fails one or more papers may resit them as many times as necessary.