To qualify for the design patent bar, the applicant must have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in one of the following fields or the equivalent:

• Industrial design

• Product design

• Architecture

• Applied arts

• Graphic design

• Fine/studio arts

• Art teacher education

Design-Related Degree Not Listed?

If an applicant’s design-related degree is not specifically listed, hope is not lost. The USPTO will also accept equivalent design-related degrees outside of the ones listed above on a case-by-case basis.

An applicant who fulfills these requirements and takes and passes a registration exam is eligible to act as a practitioner only in design patent applications, other design patent matters, or design proceedings. Lastly, an individual who has fulfilled all requirements for the design patent bar is required to identify themselves by including “Design” adjacent their signature and may use the designation “Design Patent Attorney” or “Design Patent Agent” (if the individual is not an attorney).

Registration on the design patent bar does not give a design patent practitioner the ability to prepare or prosecute utility or plant patents, however. And the creation of the design patent bar does not impact the ability of traditionally-registered patent attorneys and patent agents with science and technical backgrounds to practice in any patent matters, including the ability to practice in any design patent matters.