Become a registered patent agent

To become a registered patent agent, you have to qualify by passing an examination. The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) holds the exam at least once a year.

If you are interested in taking it, you must apply by the deadline published on our website.

Application

If you want to take the examination, you must show CIPO how you meet the qualifications set out in paragraph 12(a) of the Patent Rules.

You must send your request to sit for the exam, proof of how you meet the qualifications, any requests for special accommodation, the prescribed examination fee and the CIPO Fee Payment Form by fax to 819-953-CIPO (2476) or addressed to:

Commissioner of Patents
Place du Portage l
50 Victoria Street
Gatineau QC K1A 0C9

Please note that you can send your application by either fax or mail. We will not accept your application if you send it by email.

You should read CIPO's refund policy for the patent agents qualifying examination, pursuant to subsection 4(11) of the Patent Rules. You will only be given a refund for the examination, for a given paper if, after you have applied to take the examination, you received notification that you passed an equivalent paper of a previous examination. You must request the refund within 30 days of receiving that notification.

References

• Candidate guide to writing the exams
• Patent Rules and Patent Act
• Manual of Patent Office Practice
• Archived versions of previous patent agent exams

Reports on previous exams

• 2018 Report
• 2017 Report
• 2016 Report
• 2015 Report
• 2014 Report
• 2012 Report

Questions

For inquiries relating to the administration of the patent agent and trademark agent examinations, please email IC.CIPOAgentExams-OPICExamenAgent.IC@canada.ca.