About the PEB

Qualification purpose

As an IPReg accredited Examination Agency, the PEB provides, in relation to the admission of an individual to the patent attorney register kept under section 275 of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 as amended, Qualifying Examinations (QE), consisting of five Foundation Certificate and four Final Diploma examinations, as laid down in the Patent Attorney and Trade Mark Attorney Qualification and Registration Regulations 2009 and the Rules for the Examination and Admission of Individuals to the Registers of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 2011.

Syllabus for the examinations

The QE syllabi give details of the content of the five Foundation Certificate and four Final Diploma examinations.

Eligibility

The Foundation Certificate examinations and Final Diploma examinations Eligibility Policy can be read on the PEB website.

Application for candidacy

Applications to take the examinations must be submitted during the published registration period using the PEB QE Registration Form, and applications are subject to the PEB Registration, Payment and Refund Policy, and the PEB Late Examination Entry Policy.

The correctly completed application form and the correct fee must be received by the PEB by the stated examination registration closing date.

Reasonable adjustments

The PEB seeks to ensure fair and equal access to its examinations and operates a Reasonable Adjustments Policy. Details can be found here.

Policies and procedures

Qualifying Examinations (QE) PEB Examination Regulations

The PEB QE examinations are subject to all these regulations and the PEB policies and procedures. In applying to take the PEB QE, a candidate is agreeing to be bound by both these regulations and all the PEB policies and procedures.

The QE Exemptions Policy can be read on the PEB website. Dates and frequency of examinations

The PEB QE examinations will normally be offered once a year. Actual dates will be published here in accordance with the PEB Publishing Key Dates Policy.

Disruption to an examination

Should an examination be so disrupted that a meaningful outcome is not possible, the PEB may declare the examination void, and seek to make alternative arrangements for affected candidates.

Fees

Fees for the QE examinations are published on the PEB website.

Publication of results

Due to GDPR regulations, candidate results will no longer be published on the PEB website.

Resitting the examination

Please read the PEB Examination Resit Policy for details about resitting the QE examinations.

Enquiries about Results

Any candidate who has failed any examination may choose to apply for an Enquiry about Result in accordance with the stated policy and procedure on the PEB website.

Quality assurance and governance of the QE

The QE examinations are administered by the PEB, and are subject to the scrutiny of the PEB Governance Board, in accordance with its governance and quality assurance policies and processes.

These include the quality of question paper setting, the quality of marking, and the monitoring of standards over time.

Customer Feedback Policy

The PEB welcomes customer feedback via its Customer Feedback Policy. Appeals

The PEB investigates appeals against administrative decisions in accordance with its Appeals Policy.

Communications

All communications under these regulations should be addressed to:

The Patent Examination Board
The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, 2nd Floor Halton House
20 – 23 Holborn
London
EC1N 2JD

E: [email protected]

Qualification purpose

This Patent Examination Board qualification covers the underlying principles, the essential legal background, and the practice of Patent and Design Administration.

The examination tests the understanding and application of the skills required in the formalities role.

Syllabus for the examination

The ICPA syllabus gives details of the content of the course and the examination for this qualification.

Eligibility

The ICPA Eligibility Policy can be read on the PEB website.

Application for candidacy

Applications to take the examination must be submitted using the PEB ICPA Registration Form, and applications are subject to the PEB Registration, Payment and Refund Policy, and the PEB Late Examination Entry Policy.

The correctly completed application form and the correct fee must be received by the PEB by the stated examination registration closing date.

Reasonable Adjustments

The PEB seeks to ensure fair and equal access to its examinations and operates a Reasonable Adjustments Policy. Details can be found here.

Policies and procedures