Advanced Patent Paralegal Course
The Advanced Patent Paralegal Course (‘APPC’) launched in 2025, having been in development for over two decades. The course comprised four units; GB, EP PCT, Professional Conduct and Ethics, delivered through a combination of Zoom sessions and online pre-recorded content. Early feedback from examiners reviewing the assessments was overwhelmingly positive. The majority of submissions were of a very high standard, demonstrating strong subject knowledge and thoughtful application.
Feedback from APPC students has been collected and evaluated by the course leads. As a result, we anticipate seeing a number of improvements for the 2026 iteration of the course, including:
- Clearer instructions on how to use PebblePad for APPC students.
- More time allocated at the beginning of each module to engage with webinars.
Introductory Patent Paralegal Course
The Introductory Patent Paralegal Course (‘IPPC’) concluded with another successful year, continuing its role as a cornerstone of foundational training for paralegals. Registration opened in June 2025, with 120 participants enrolling, whilst this represented a decrease of approximately 20% compared with the previous year, we remain positive that so many new paralegals are beginning their journey within the profession.
Course materials were hosted on PebblePad, an online learning platform that enables mentors to engage directly with mentees’ activities while allowing course organisers to monitor participant engagement more effectively.
The course followed its established structure, beginning with an introductory webinar for mentors, followed by the staged release of materials for each unit. Activity review webinars were held live after each unit, giving participants the opportunity to ask questions directly of the course leads and to deepen their understanding of the subject matter.
Ahead of the final examination, an optional online tutorial was offered between the mock and final assessments. This session allowed candidates to raise any final questions and clarify key points. Engagement levels were high, and feedback confirmed that this tutorial was particularly well received.
With results for those who sat the ICPA due to be released for the end of April 2026, we look forward to welcoming the successful ‘IPPC Class of 2026’ into CIPA membership.
Webinars
In 2025, the IP Paralegal Committee set a target of delivering at least eight webinars specifically for IP Paralegal members. This target was met through a varied and relevant programme addressing both technical and professional development topics.
Three joint webinars were delivered in collaboration with the European Platform of Intellectual Property Administrators, focusing on the impact and application of artificial intelligence for IP paralegals. Additional webinar topics included Information Disclosure Statements, foreign filing licences, EU Designs, professional liability, the Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court, as well as sessions on the paralegal apprenticeship programme currently in development and the paralegal CPC requirements.
Valuable feedback and topic recommendations were collected through post-webinar feedback forms. These insights will directly inform the planning and development of the 2026 webinar programme, ensuring that future content continues to reflect the evolving needs and interests of CIPA IP Paralegal members.
Continued Professional Competency
The 2025 Continued Professional Competency (‘CPC’) monitoring process has now concluded, and we extend our thanks to all members who participated and submitted their documentation during this cycle.
This year represents an important transition point, as it is the final year in which CPC completion was recommended rather than mandatory for paralegal members. Submissions were reviewed and assessed by members of the IP Paralegal Committee. From 2026 onwards, all CIPA paralegal members will be required to complete CPC as part of their ongoing membership obligations.
To maintain professional standards and ensure the integrity of the process, CIPA will continue to randomly select paralegal members to provide evidence and documentation demonstrating that CPC requirements have been met.
CPC plays a vital role in supporting high professional standards and ensuring members remain up to date with developments in intellectual property law and best practice. We thank members for their continued commitment and encourage early planning of CPC activities each year to remain on track.