The Patent Agent Career (PAC) Pathway was developed by Law, Policy, and Engineering (LPE) at Penn State for upper-level undergraduate students or graduate students in STEM interested in strengthening their intellectual property (IP) skills, or considering careers in the patent and intellectual property fields. As patent practitioners you can work in startups, technology transfer offices in universities and research institutes, research and development groups within corporations, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), patent law firms, or legal departments of corporations.
Patent Agents prepare, file, and prosecute patent applications and need to be registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). What do you need to be a patent agent? A technical or science background is important for understanding the science and engineering involved in many patent applications (see recognized STEM degrees below). Having strong communication skills to interface with the inventors and the USPTO. Strong attention to detail. Being a patent agent does NOT require a law degree! Patent agents have a competitive starting salary and are in high demand! The PAC Pathway helps STEM students at Penn State explore the patent agent career path. More detailed information is found in the USPTO General Requirements Bulletin for Admission: OED_GRB.
BEGIN YOUR PATENT CAREER JOURNEY THIS SUMMER!
Learn more and Apply for the IP & Patent Bootcamp, a 7 day in-person experiential learning opportunity taking place May 5 – 11, 2024. The Bootcamp provides practical experience and networking opportunities for students to explore “a day in the life” of a patent agent in Washington, D.C., while learning basic skills in patent drafting and prosecution. This Bootcamp was developed in collaboration with Harrity and Harrity LLC, a renown patent law firm in D.C.. The Bootcamp begins and ends in University Park with the remaining time spent in DC. Travel and meals, including hotels, are provided to all registered participants. Apply for the Bootcamp using this link: APPLY HERE
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are values front and center of this program!
In the patent field, women and racial minorities are severely underrepresented. A 2020 study by Harrity & Harrity LLC shows that overall, women make up 21.8 percent of USPTO registered attorneys and agents. Of those women, 75.6 percent are attorneys and 24.4 percent are agents. The breakdown for male registrations shows 85.7 percent of men registered as attorneys and 14.3 percent registered as agents. The average USPTO registration for racial minorities since 2000 has hovered around 6.5 percent, and in 2020, only 1.7 percent of all registered patent attorneys and agents were racially diverse women. Diversity of the patent bar is not only important to those practicing in this profession – it is essential for broadening participation in the innovation process by underrepresented groups (Harrity & Harrity Diversity & Inclusion Report, 2021). For this reason, students from underrepresented groups who are pursuing a degree in engineering, chemistry, computer science, physics, or biological sciences, are encouraged to participate. Through a collaboration with Harrity & Harrity LLC, Penn State students will have access to their diversity-focused initiatives.
Pursue the PAC Pathway with three simple steps highlighted below!
- IP & Patent Bootcamp at UP and D.C. May 5 – 11, 2024 (no prerequisites)
- Coming Soon:
- LPE 497 Class#8627: Patent Application Drafting online course (no prerequisites)
- LPE 497 Class#28563: Patent Filing & Prosecution online course (Patent Application Drafting course required)