From: chapin@ssvax.gte.com (Barry Chapin)
Subject: Requirments for patent bar
Organization: GTE/SCSD
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 21:42:54 GMT

Hi,

I called the U.S. Patent & Trademark office of Enrollment and
Discipline and they sent me a packet containing the
requirements and an application to take the patent bar exam.

The requirements for the exam are kind of lengthy, I'll try to
summarized here quickly, and you can order the thing yourself
if you need more info, its free by the way.

Basically, you need to have a Bachelors degree in one of the 
recognized 'engineering' disciplines.  These are things like
Biology, Checmistry, Engineering (Aeronautical, Electrical,
Biomedical, Computer, mechanical, etc...), physics, etc.  If
you have a degree in a major that they list, you are set.  

The fee to take the exam is $300, and I think Jan 15 is deadline.

If you do not have one of thier listed degree majors, there are a
few other options you can use to satisfy the requirements.  

24 Semester hours in Physics courses for majors only, no non-major
courses will count.

or

24 hours in Biological sciences along with 8 hours of chem or physics
with a lab.

or

30 hours of chemistry major courses.

or

40 hours of chemistry, physics, or biological science in any
combination (ie:a few physics, a few chem, etc), but they
have to be the courses for the major at the college., and this
40 hours must include at least 8 hours of chem or physics with
a lab.  Also under this 40 semester combo option, 4 hours may
be in design engineering or drafting.  Also, under this 40 hour
option, COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSES WHICH ARE COMPUTER ENGINEERING
IN NATUR WILL BE ACCEPPTED.  (This is my lucky strike). 

They say the following about computer science courses...
"Such courses include courses that provide in depth knowledge
of computer science, including digital computer system
architecture and system software organization, the representation
and transformation of information strucutres, and the theoretical
models for such representations and transformations.  Accepted 
courses would include linear circuits, logic circuits, networking,
fundamentals of computer science, algorithms, data strucutres,
software design with laboratory, programming languages with a
laboratory, operating systems, and computer architecture."

Then they go on to say you must supply a transcript from the
school with the courses you want applied highlighted, AND, a
an official course description which was current in the 
college courses description catalog.  Only grades of C or better
will count.

Then the stuff the sent me goes on to talk about special cases of
people that were emplyoed for the PTO and worked for a registered
patent attorney or patent agent. Also, if you have teken and passed the
Engineer-in-Training (EIT) test you are eligable to take the 
Patent bar.  

Then it talks about the exam itself.  1 day long.  2 parts, 1 in the
morning, 1 in the afternoon.  You must pass both sections.  3 hours
each one.  If you only pass one, you do not have to take that one
again, only the one (or both) that you failed.

Thats about it.  This was posted due to people E-mailing me to see
if I'd found out this info yet.  

Questions I have:  Somewhere in there they say "Also not accepted
are courses which repeat or which are substantially the same as
or are lessor included courses for which you have already been given
credit."

I have an undergraduate Digital Systems Design course in Computer
Science.  I also have a graduate course towards an uncompleted Master of
SCience in Software Engineering, called Digital Logic Design.  Would
the later cancel out the former??  What about an undergraduate
course called Data communications (computer science) and a
graduate course called Computer communications & networks (Software
Engineering)?  Would I get credit towards the 40 for both?


Lastly, If you are going to take this exam by using the 40 credit hours
option, be sure you have thoose science courses in physics or
chemistry, or you may have to take them be fore the exam, while
still in law school (hic!).

thats all I have,
later.
-Barry Chapin
Software Engineer
GTE Government Systems
Waltham, Mass.
CHAPIN%SCSD@GTE.COM

P>S> I lost the phne number for the PTO, sorry, they are in D.C
or virginia somehwere.


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