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Patent examiner education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a patent examiner. Patent examiners usually study electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or law. 72% of patent examiners hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,052 real patent examiner resumes to see exactly what patent examiner education sections show.
The most common colleges for patent examiners are the University of Maryland - College Park and the University of Maryland - College Park.
There are also many online patent examiner courses to help get the education required to be a patent examiner.
What education do you need to become a patent examiner?
What degree do you need to be a patent examiner?
- Bachelor's, 72%
- Master's, 15%
- Doctorate, 10%
- Associate, 3%
- Other Degrees, 0%
What should I major in to become a patent examiner?
- Law, 7%
- Other Majors, 39%
Most common colleges for patent examiners
| Patent examiner common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Maryland - College Park | 14.41% |
| Morgan State University | 9.01% |
| George Mason University | 8.71% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 8.41% |
| George Washington University, The | 7.21% |
Best majors for patent examiners
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical Engineering | 31.9% |
| 2 | Mechanical Engineering | 16.3% |
| 3 | Law | 7.1% |
| 4 | Computer Engineering | 6.2% |
| 5 | Computer Science | 5.1% |
Best colleges for patent examiners
The best colleges for patent examiners are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.
A patent examiner with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for patent examiners. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become patent examiners.
1. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
5. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
6. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
7. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
8. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
9. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
In-state tuition
$53,430
Enrollment
5,963
10. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
20 best online courses for patent examiners
Advertising disclosure
1. Intellectual Property Law
Intellectual property is the currency of the tech world. The pharmaceutical patent for Lipitor generated over $100 billion in revenue, the copyright for the Harry Potter franchise has generated over $25 billion to date, and the trademarked brands of the world’s largest tech companies now eclipse $100 billion in value. But what makes these intangible assets so valuable?\n\nThrough the courses in this specialization, you will learn the differences between the various forms of U.S. intellectual...
2. Intellectual Property in the Healthcare Industry
This course begins with an overview of general intellectual property law in the United States, then examines how the policy choices behind those laws shapes the behavior of major players in the healthcare industry. We will examine how patents and trademarks shape the behavior of pharmaceutical companies, and how complex issues involving medical research in university settings, and ownership of genetic information and material, are resolved by intellectual property laws. The course concludes...
3. Patents & Trademarks: Learn the Patent and Trademark Process
2 courses in 1. Learn the process for patenting your idea, invention and how to trademark you brand...
4. Do-It-Yourself Patent Searching Using Free Web Resources
Is what you invent patentable? Use free websites to thoroughly search patents. For the novice inventor and entrepreneur...
5. Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship
By its nature, the law touches on many aspects of entrepreneurship, making it an applicable and versatile topic of study. For aspiring entrepreneurs, it's important to understand how to form the business, work with the initial customers, and hire. For active entrepreneurs, there are critical considerations on employment law, operating policies, and managing contracts. For everyone, the role that the law plays in managing the company, and its associated risks, must be properly understood to...
6. Introduction to Intellectual Property
Intellectual property is the currency of the tech world, with the world’s most valuable intellectual property assets dwarfing the value of their real-world counterparts. Apple’ trademarked brand was valued at over $100 billion as of 2017. J.K. Rowling’s Harry potter franchise has generated over $25 billion to date. But how did the law come to create such enormous value in intangible assets? This course will introduce the various types of U.S. intellectual property: patents, which cover...
7. Certificate course in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
This course has been designed by experts to cover the basics of IPR and understand Patents, Trademarks and Copyright...
8. Intellectual Property Security Awareness
How to Use Social Media without Infringing on Trademarks, Copyrights, Trade Secrets and Patents...
9. Artificial Intelligence and legal issues
The purpose of the course is to help students understand the legal implications related to the design and use of artificial intelligence systems, providing an overview of the risks and legal protections that can be envisaged and giving an overview of the legislation and legal principles currently applicable on the subject. In particular, the profiles of civil and criminal liability, protection in terms of intellectual property and the impacts of AI on the fundamental rights of the individual -...
10. Legal Tech and the Digital Transformation of Law
The digital revolution changed the way we communicate and trade. Now, it is coming into the world of law. This program will give you a broad overview of the main trends that are affecting the legal industry: - The birth of the legal tech market and the application of technology in law. - The role of artificial intelligence in the automation of the work of lawyers. - Blockchain technology and its impact on the way we sign and execute contracts. - Initiatives to ensure access to justice through...
11. Legal English
Legal language and communication skills...
12. Effective Legal Office Administration
Effective Legal Office Administration...
13. European Business Law: Understanding the Fundamentals
The European Union is one of the world’s largest and most important economies. This six week course is the first in a series of three that will provide students with an insight into European Business Law. The series ranges from considering the basic structures and principles of the European Union to focusing on various specialized areas of law. Each course will give the students an understanding of the laws and policies that regulate the internal market of European Union, as well as relevant...
14. European Business Law
The European Union is one of the world's largest and most important economies. This specialization is a 3-course bundle that will teach learners the fundamentals of European Business Law.\n\nIn the first course, Understanding the Fundamentals, the learner will examine core structures of the European Union and the main sources of law. This will include being able to understand relevant laws and regulations regarding the internal European Union market, understand how to apply the fundamental...
15. Legal Writing Master Class
Learn with lawyers by learning the correct use of prepositions and articles, drafting contracts and writing letters...
16. Legal English Language Certificate (LELC) Level 1 - CPD
Learn from Lawyers - Learn the CORRECT use of articles, prepositions, legal terms & start writing your letter!...
17. Protecting Business Innovation
The modern day business is bustling with ideas, products, and designs that often fail to benefit from their discoveries and inventions when they are unable to adequately protect those innovations. Protecting a business’s innovations entails essential skills, ranging from an understanding of intellectual property rights and trademark law, to the process of getting a patent.\n\nThis specialization covers business law and strategy, along with other essential skills and concepts, and what they mean...
18. English Literature: Be as Informed as a Literature Graduate
The development of English Literature from its earliest texts to the present day...
19. Requirements Engineering: Software Engineering
Everything you need to know about software requirements: elicitation, analysis, documentation, validation and management...
20. Business Analysis: Functional & Non-Functional Requirements
Simple Requirements Decomposition / Drill-Down Techniques for Defining Product Behaviors and Qualities (Now with AI)...
Top 10 most affordable universities for patent examiners
The most affordable schools for patent examiners are University of Florida, brigham young university, and florida international university.
If the best universities for patent examiners are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for patent examiners.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
3. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
4. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
5. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
6. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon
Bayamon, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$5,940
Cost of attendance
13,508
7. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
8. University of Missouri - Kansas City
Kansas City, MO • Private
In-state tuition
$8,178
Cost of attendance
20,934
9. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
10. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Cost of attendance
21,302
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for patent examiners
The hardest universities for patent examiners to get into are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.
Some great schools for patent examiners are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for patent examiners based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
3. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
5. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
6. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
7. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
8. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
9. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
10. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for patent examiners
The easiest schools for patent examiners to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, cleveland state university, and south dakota state university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a patent examiner without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for patent examiners.
1. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
2. Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,111
3. South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,149
4. University of Southern Maine
Portland, ME • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,050
5. Capitol Technology University
Laurel, MD • Private
Admissions rate
69%
SAT average
1,070
6. Suffolk University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,131
7. Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
1,111
8. Western New England University
Springfield, MA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,160
9. University of Nevada - Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
1,113
10. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, TX • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,068
Average patent examiner salary by education level
| Patent examiner education level | Patent examiner salary |
|---|---|
| Doctorate Degree | $67,458 |
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025