Exam booking

Patent bar exam: applying, booking and retakes

There is no exam calendar to wait for. Apply to OED, and once you are admitted, book a Prometric appointment within your window. Book it when your mock scores say you are ready. Facts checked 12 Oct 2026.

The exam

100 multiple-choice questions with five choices each (90 scored, 10 unidentified beta items), in two sessions of 50 questions and three hours each. You need 70% of the scored questions (63 of 90) to pass.

How to apply and book

Apply to OED on Form PTO-158 or through the OEDCI applicant portal, with official transcripts, the US$118 application fee and the US$226 examination fee.
OED reviews your scientific and technical training (Categories A-D) and character, then sends an admission notice.
Book Prometric online, by phone or through a test center, and pay Prometric's US$221 fee.
Bring a current government photo ID whose name matches your application exactly, and arrive 30 minutes early.
Moving the appointment 6-30 days ahead costs US$60; 0-5 days ahead costs US$221. A no-show forfeits the fees paid to the USPTO.

Full rules: USPTO registration examination and the OED General Requirements Bulletin (uspto.gov).

If you fail

File a new application and pay again. The new window starts no sooner than 30 days after the failed attempt. See patent bar retake rules.

After you pass

Complete the registration steps OED sends with your result and pay the US$226 registration fee. You are then registered as a patent agent, or as a patent attorney if you are a member of a state bar.

Frequently asked questions

When is the next patent bar exam date?

There are no fixed dates. Once OED admits you, you book your own Prometric appointment on any available slot within your admission window (about 90 days, extendable for a fee).

How much does the patent bar cost?

About US$565 an attempt as at 12 Oct 2026: US$118 application and US$226 examination fees to the USPTO, and US$221 to Prometric. Registration after passing is US$226.

How soon can I retake the patent bar?

You reapply and pay again; under a temporary waiver you may reapply at once, but the new window starts no sooner than 30 days after the failed attempt. Attempts after the fifth need a petition.

When do I get my result?

On a one-day sitting, an unofficial result appears on screen at the end. The USPTO says official results generally follow within 5 business days.

Not sure you are ready to book?

Take a free timed practice test. Book when you pass full two-session mocks with questions you have not seen.

Take the free practice test →

Independent. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO. Rules and fees are set by the USPTO and Prometric and can change; confirm before you apply.