Have your say on the future of education and training

Debbie Slater kicks off a new series exploring the IPReg Education and Training Review. Over the coming weeks, we’ll break down the key issues raised in the review and highlight the different ways you can get involved. These updates will be posted online and in the CIPA Journal.

IPReg launched the review in late 2025 with a stated purpose: ‘to ensure the qualification routes into the patent attorney and trade mark attorney professions remain up-to-date and responsive to changes in professional practice, employer and consumer needs’ and ‘to understand and address current barriers to entry to each profession’.

This is a substantial piece of work, and the full implementation of any recommendations is expected to run through to 2028.

The Call for Evidence and Feedback

As part of the process, IPReg has opened a Call for Evidence and Feedback (‘CfE’). They are inviting views from anyone with an interest in the education and training of patent and trade mark attorneys – what works well today, what could be improved, and how the professions can evolve to meet future needs.

You can find full details of the CfE here. This page acts as the central hub for the review. It is where you can submit your response and access all supporting materials.

The CfE is open until 30 April 2026, so there’s plenty of time to contribute – but it’s worth starting early.  Patent and trade mark attorneys work to deadlines, but do not leave it until the last minute: we are not sure whether extensions of time are available!

What the CfE covers

The CfE is structured around four connected themes:

1. Changing practice needs within the patent and trade mark professions
2. The learning and development cultures within the professions
3. How professional learning, work‑based experience, and assessment can be better integrated
4. How to widen access to the professions while maintaining high standards

You can respond to all four themes or focus only on the areas most relevant to you.

IPReg is also keen to receive evidence that supports your views, so feel free to include examples or data where you can.

Helpful background materials

IPReg has published background materials to help respondents understand the context behind the review. These can be accessed via the links on the review’s home page. We recommend reading them before completing the CfE: they provide useful insight into the questions being asked.

How to submit your response

You can respond in two ways:

• Online survey – but note that it cannot be saved part‑way through.
• Word document – downloadable from the review page. This is ideal if you want to take your time, draft your answers offline, and then either paste them into the online survey or email the completed document to [email protected].

Who’s supporting the Review?

IPReg has convened an Expert Advisory Group made up of professionals, academics, consumer representatives, and sector specialists. Their role is to provide independent input and help ensure the review is robust, inclusive, and evidence‑based.

There will also be opportunities to engage through a series of webinars as part of a wider Review Reference Group. Details can be found here.

Why your input matters

Whether you’re new to the profession or have decades of experience, your perspective is valuable. You might have insights into a specific part of the qualification process, thoughts on accessibility, or ideas for improving training and assessment. Every submission helps build a clearer picture of what the future of the profession should look like.

We encourage individuals and firms, as well as other stakeholders to take part. The more voices involved, the stronger and more representative the final recommendations will be.

Also see the update from IPReg here.

Debbie Slater (Fellow) is Chair of CIPA’s Education Committee.