Administrative Updates to the General Requirements Bulletin for Admission to the Examination for Registration To Practice in Patent Cases Before the United States Patent and Trademark Office

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) announces that, after reviewing and evaluating the scientific and technical criteria for admission to practice in all patent matters, it is moving one Category B degree, Biomedical Science, to Category A, thereby expanding the admission criteria of the patent bar. In keeping pace with ever-evolving technology and related teachings that qualify someone to practice before the USPTO, this update will encourage broader participation of prospective patent practitioners. This action is being taken pursuant to the USPTO's periodic review of Category B degrees and the transition of commonly accepted Category B degrees to Category A on a predetermined timeframe, namely every three years.