Processed/Closed Patent Bar Status: What It Means
Related Resource: Complete Patent Bar Exam Guide
Key Takeaways
- “Processed/Closed” is a normal administrative status that appears after you complete your Patent Bar exam
- This status typically appears within 24-48 hours of taking your exam in your USPTO OED account
- “Processed/Closed” means your exam has been submitted for scoring but results are not yet finalized
- Official pass/fail results usually arrive 2-3 business days after your exam date via email
- The status does NOT indicate whether you passed or failed—it’s simply a processing indicator
- Your preliminary on-screen result (pass/fail) is separate from this administrative status tracking
What Does “Processed/Closed” Status Mean?
“Processed/Closed” is an administrative status designation in the USPTO Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) system that indicates your Patent Bar exam has been completed, submitted by Prometric to the USPTO for official scoring and verification, and is currently being reviewed. This status appears in your USPTO OED account and simply means your exam is in the queue for final processing—it does not reveal whether you passed or failed.
Where You See the “Processed/Closed” Status
USPTO OED Account Dashboard
The primary place you’ll encounter this status is in your USPTO OED online account:
Location:
- Log into your account at oedci.uspto.gov
- Navigate to your dashboard or exam history
- Look for your most recent exam registration
- Status field shows: “Processed/Closed”
What the dashboard typically displays:
| Field | Example Information |
|---|---|
| Exam Date | January 15, 2026 |
| Testing Center | Prometric – Arlington, VA |
| Authorization Number | ATT-123456789 |
| Status | Processed/Closed |
| Results | Pending |
Email Notifications
Some candidates receive automated email updates from the USPTO system indicating status changes:
Example email subject: “USPTO Examination Status Update”
Example email content:
- “Your examination scheduled for [date] has been processed and closed”
- “Official results will be available within 2-3 business days”
- “You will receive a separate notification when results are finalized”
Note: Not all candidates receive these automated emails—the absence of an email doesn’t mean anything is wrong.
Prometric Confirmation vs. USPTO Status
Important distinction:
Prometric’s system (where you scheduled your exam):
- May show “Complete” or “Attended”
- Indicates you showed up and finished the exam
- Does not process or score the exam
USPTO’s system (OED account):
- Shows “Processed/Closed” or similar
- Indicates USPTO has received exam data from Prometric
- Handles official scoring and results
These are two different systems that don’t always update simultaneously, which can cause confusion.
Is “Processed/Closed” Status Normal?
Yes—This Is the Expected Status
“Processed/Closed” is completely normal and appears for virtually all Patent Bar exam candidates after completing their exam. It is:
- Part of standard workflow: Everyone’s exam goes through this status
- Not an indicator of pass/fail: The status is the same whether you passed or failed
- Expected timing: Usually appears within 24-48 hours of exam completion
- Temporary status: Will remain until official results are released
The Normal Post-Exam Timeline
Here’s what typically happens after you finish your exam:
Day 0 (Exam Day):
- Hour 0: You submit your exam at Prometric
- Immediately: Preliminary pass/fail appears on screen
- Within minutes: Prometric transmits exam data to USPTO
- Within hours: Prometric’s system shows “Complete” or “Attended”
Day 1 (Day After Exam):
- Within 24 hours: USPTO system updates to “Processed/Closed”
- Your OED account dashboard reflects this status
- Some candidates receive automated status email
Days 2-3 (Business Days After Exam):
- USPTO completes verification: Reviews exam data for anomalies or technical issues
- Official results finalized: Pass/fail determination is confirmed
- Email notification sent: Official pass/fail results arrive in your email
- OED account updated: Status changes to “Pass” or “Fail”
Days 3-14:
- Physical results letter mailed: USPTO sends official notification by mail
- Typically arrives 7-14 days after exam date
What It Means About Your Results
“Processed/Closed” tells you:
- ✅ Your exam was successfully completed
- ✅ Prometric transmitted your results to USPTO
- ✅ USPTO received your exam data
- ✅ Your exam is in the verification queue
“Processed/Closed” does NOT tell you:
- ❌ Whether you passed or failed
- ❌ Your score or performance
- ❌ When exactly results will be released
- ❌ If there were any issues with your exam
Understanding the USPTO Verification Process
Why Results Take 2-3 Business Days
Even though you received a preliminary result on-screen immediately after submitting your exam, the USPTO takes 2-3 business days to verify and finalize results. Here’s why:
Technical Verification:
- Data integrity checks: Ensuring exam data transmitted correctly from Prometric
- Software validation: Confirming the scoring algorithm worked properly
- Question validation: Verifying no questions were flagged for removal due to errors
Administrative Review:
- Candidate verification: Confirming the correct person took the exam
- Irregularity review: Checking for any reported issues during exam administration
- Compliance checks: Ensuring all exam policies were followed
Quality Control:
- Score confirmation: Double-checking preliminary results
- Statistical analysis: Ensuring exam performance falls within expected ranges
- Record creation: Generating official pass/fail documentation
What “Closed” Means in This Context
The term “Closed” in “Processed/Closed” indicates:
- Your exam session is completed (you cannot retake or modify it)
- The testing window is closed for this particular attempt
- Your file is no longer “open” for test-taking but is now in “results processing” status
- This is the final exam record for this attempt
“Closed” does NOT mean:
- Your opportunity to retake is closed (if you failed)
- Your account or registration is closed
- Something negative happened
Think of it like “closed for business”—the exam-taking part is closed, and now the results-processing part has begun.
When the Status Appears and How Long It Lasts
Typical Timeline for Status Changes
Most common experience:
Saturday morning (example exam date):
- 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM: You take the exam
- 2:01 PM: Preliminary result appears on-screen
- 2:30 PM: You leave testing center with printed preliminary results
- 6:00 PM: Prometric’s system shows “Complete”
Sunday (Day 1):
- Status in OED account updates to “Processed/Closed”
- May receive automated email about status
Monday (Day 2 – First Business Day):
- USPTO begins official verification
- Status remains “Processed/Closed”
Tuesday (Day 3 – Second Business Day):
- USPTO completes verification
- Official results email sent
- Status changes to “Pass” or “Fail” in OED account
Variations in Timeline
Weekend and holiday considerations:
If you take the exam on:
Friday:
- Results typically arrive Monday or Tuesday (2-3 business days)
- Weekend doesn’t count as business days
Thursday before a 3-day weekend:
- Results may not arrive until Tuesday or Wednesday
- Holiday Monday doesn’t count as business day
Any day during a holiday week:
- Add 1-2 extra days to typical timeline
- Major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas) can cause longer delays
How Long “Processed/Closed” Status Remains Visible
Typical duration: 2-4 days total
After official results:
- Some candidates report status changes to “Pass” or “Fail”
- Others report status remains “Processed/Closed” even after receiving results
- Eventually (weeks later) may show final status in OED account history
This variation is normal: Different candidates see different status progression patterns, and all are acceptable as long as you receive your official email results.
What If Your Status Stays “Processed/Closed” Too Long?
When to Start Checking More Closely
Normal timeframe: 2-3 business days
Start monitoring if:
- 5 business days have passed with no results email
- 7 calendar days since your exam with no communication from USPTO
Consider contacting USPTO if:
- 7 business days with no results
- 10 calendar days since exam date
- You received preliminary “Pass” on-screen but no official confirmation after a week
Reasons for Delayed Results
Common legitimate delays:
Technical issues:
- Prometric data transmission problems
- Software glitches in scoring system
- Connectivity issues between Prometric and USPTO
Verification holds:
- Unusual testing center circumstances requiring review
- Question flagged for potential error (affects all candidates who saw that question)
- Statistical anomaly requiring additional review
Administrative reasons:
- High exam volume (many candidates testing same week)
- USPTO staff shortage or holiday periods
- Your exam flagged for random quality assurance review
None of these indicate failure or problems with your performance—they’re just logistical delays.
How to Follow Up with USPTO
If 5+ business days have passed without results:
Step 1: Verify your contact information
- Log into OED account and confirm email address is correct
- Check spam/junk folders thoroughly
- Verify physical mailing address if waiting for mail notification
Step 2: Check OED account for updates
- Log into oedci.uspto.gov
- Look for any status changes or messages
- Check if results were posted without email notification
Step 3: Contact USPTO Office of Enrollment and Discipline
Phone: (571) 272-4097
Email: OEDRegistration@uspto.gov
Information to provide:
- Full name (as registered)
- Exam date
- Testing center location
- Authorization to Test (ATT) number
- Confirmation number from Prometric
What to ask:
- “I took the Patent Bar exam on [date] and my status shows ‘Processed/Closed’ but I haven’t received official results. Can you provide an update?”
Step 4: Contact Prometric (if USPTO suggests)
Sometimes USPTO will ask you to confirm with Prometric that your exam was properly transmitted:
Prometric USPTO Exam Support: 1-800-479-6369
Red Flags That Require Immediate Contact
Contact USPTO immediately if:
- Your preliminary on-screen result was “PASS” but you receive email saying you failed (or vice versa)
- 10+ business days have passed with no results
- Your OED account status changed to “Incomplete” or shows no exam record
- You receive conflicting information from different USPTO communications
- Testing center staff indicated there was a problem during your exam
Differences Between Prometric and USPTO Status Systems
Two Separate Systems
Understanding that Prometric and USPTO use different systems helps reduce confusion:
Prometric System:
- Purpose: Scheduling, check-in, exam delivery
- Status shown: “Scheduled” → “Complete” or “Attended”
- Access: www.prometric.com/uspto with your confirmation number
- Function: Confirms you showed up and finished the exam
USPTO OED System:
- Purpose: Registration, verification, official results
- Status shown: “Registered” → “Processed/Closed” → “Pass” or “Fail”
- Access: oedci.uspto.gov with your OED account credentials
- Function: Handles official scoring and registration
Why They Don’t Always Match
Timing discrepancies:
- Prometric updates immediately after you leave testing center
- USPTO updates 12-48 hours later after receiving data
- They’re not synchronized in real-time
Different terminology:
- Prometric: “Complete” (means you finished taking it)
- USPTO: “Processed/Closed” (means we received it and are scoring it)
- Both are correct for their respective systems
Different purposes:
- Prometric cares that you attended and completed the exam session
- USPTO cares about verification, scoring, and registration
- Neither system’s status predicts the other
Which Status Should You Trust?
For exam completion confirmation: Prometric
- If Prometric shows “Complete,” your exam was successfully delivered
For official results: USPTO only
- Only USPTO email and OED account status provide official pass/fail
- Prometric cannot and does not provide results
Bottom line: Check USPTO OED account and email for results; ignore Prometric status after exam day.
Common Status-Related Anxieties and Misconceptions
Misconception 1: “Processed/Closed Means I Failed”
Reality: “Processed/Closed” appears for all candidates regardless of pass/fail outcome.
Why this misconception exists:
- The word “closed” sounds negative
- Anxiety after the exam makes candidates interpret everything negatively
- Some candidates who failed remember seeing this status (but passing candidates see it too)
Truth: This status is completely neutral and administrative. It has zero correlation with your results.
Misconception 2: “If It Takes Longer, That Means Something’s Wrong”
Reality: Results timing varies by 1-3 days for completely normal administrative reasons.
Why this happens:
- Exams taken Thursday-Friday take longer due to weekends
- High-volume testing weeks have slightly longer processing times
- Random quality assurance reviews affect some exams (doesn’t mean anything is wrong)
Truth: Unless you’re at 7+ business days, variation is normal and not meaningful.
Misconception 3: “My Status Should Match My Friend’s Who Tested the Same Day”
Reality: Different candidates’ exams may process at different speeds through USPTO systems.
Why this varies:
- Exams are processed in batches
- Different testing centers transmit data at different times
- Individual exam records may go through different verification paths
Truth: Your timeline is independent of other candidates. Don’t compare.
Misconception 4: “I Can Deduce My Results from the Status”
Reality: No status, timing, or pattern indicates your results before official notification.
Attempted “signals” people look for (all meaningless):
- “Status changed quickly—must mean I passed” ❌
- “Status took longer—must mean they’re reviewing my failure” ❌
- “Status still says Processed/Closed after 3 days—must be bad news” ❌
Truth: Ignore pattern-seeking. Wait for official email. That’s the only signal that matters.
What to Do While Waiting for Official Results
Productive Activities
If you felt confident about the exam:
Prepare for next steps:
- Download Form PTO-158A (Oath or Declaration)
- Locate a notary public or plan for declaration under penalty of perjury
- Update your resume and LinkedIn (but don’t claim “registered” yet)
- Research jobs if job hunting
Mentally prepare for practice:
- Review your employment agreement regarding patent prosecution work
- Plan your first days/weeks as a registered practitioner
- Read about effective patent prosecution strategies
If you’re uncertain about results:
Prepare for either outcome:
- Review the retake waiting period rules (currently 30 days under waiver)
- Identify which topics felt most difficult during the exam
- Don’t start intensive studying yet—wait for results first
Plan review session (if you think you failed):
- Calculate your 60-day deadline from exam date
- Research Prometric locations offering review sessions
- Budget $50-80 for review session fee
Unproductive Activities to Avoid
Don’t obsessively refresh your OED account
- Checking every hour won’t make results arrive faster
- Status won’t change until USPTO completes verification
- Increases anxiety unnecessarily
Don’t try to interpret preliminary results
- Your on-screen “Pass” was preliminary—trust it but wait for confirmation
- Your on-screen “Fail” may have felt wrong—but accept it and plan next steps
- Preliminary results are accurate 99%+ of the time
Don’t announce passing based on preliminary results
- Wait for official USPTO email before updating LinkedIn
- Wait before notifying employers or clients
- Preliminary results can (very rarely) change upon verification
Don’t start studying for a retake before getting results
- If you passed, you wasted study time
- If you failed, you don’t know your weak areas yet (wait for review session)
- Rest and decompress for a few days first
Managing Anxiety
Waiting for results is stressful—here are healthy approaches:
Acknowledge the anxiety:
- It’s normal to feel stressed waiting for important results
- The 2-3 day wait feels longer than it is
- Uncertainty is uncomfortable but temporary
Distract yourself productively:
- Catch up on work that got neglected during exam prep
- Spend time with family and friends
- Exercise or engage in hobbies
- Watch a series or read for pleasure (non-patent content!)
Set a “check-in schedule”:
- Rather than constantly checking email, check 3x per day (morning, lunch, evening)
- This reduces obsessive monitoring while ensuring you don’t miss results
Prepare yourself emotionally:
- If you pass: Celebrate appropriately, then start oath process
- If you fail: It’s disappointing but not career-ending—many successful practitioners failed first attempt
Official Results Notification Process
When Official Results Arrive
Email notification (2-3 business days typical):
From: USPTO Office of Enrollment and Discipline
Subject: “USPTO Registration Examination Results” or similar
Contains:
- Official pass or fail status
- Your exam date and confirmation information
- Next steps (oath instructions if passed, retake info if failed)
- Contact information for questions
Physical mail notification (7-14 days typical):
Arrives via: USPS First Class Mail
Contains:
- Official results letter on USPTO letterhead
- Same information as email (pass/fail, next steps)
- May include Form PTO-158A if you passed
After You Receive Results
If you passed:
Immediate actions:
- Save and print your official results email
- Begin preparing your Oath or Declaration (Form PTO-158A)
- Update your OED account if any information needs correction
- Notify employer (if applicable)
- Plan your oath submission timeline
Within 1 week:
- Complete and submit your oath form
- Update resume and LinkedIn (as “USPTO Patent Bar Qualified” or “Pending Registration”)
- Begin tracking your registration processing
If you failed:
Immediate actions:
- Take 24-48 hours to decompress and process disappointment
- Schedule your review session (within 60-day window)
- Review retake rules and calculate earliest retake date
- Don’t register for retake yet—wait until after review session
Within 1-2 weeks:
- Attend review session and identify weak areas
- Create targeted study plan based on review session findings
- Decide on realistic retake timeline (30-120 days depending on weak areas)
- Consider whether professional tutoring or different study materials would help
Common Mistakes
Panicking when you see “Processed/Closed” status and assuming something went wrong. This is the normal, expected status for all candidates. Seeing this status simply means your exam is being processed—nothing more, nothing less. Don’t waste emotional energy worrying about a routine administrative indicator.
Constantly refreshing your email and OED account every hour waiting for results. This increases anxiety without changing the outcome. Set specific check-in times (morning, afternoon, evening) and trust that USPTO will send results within the standard 2-3 business day timeframe.
Treating your preliminary on-screen result as unofficial and meaningless. While preliminary results are technically “unofficial” until verified, they are accurate 99%+ of the time. If your screen said “Pass,” you almost certainly passed. If it said “Fail,” you almost certainly failed. Plan accordingly while awaiting official confirmation.
Announcing your passing on social media or LinkedIn based on preliminary results before receiving official notification. Wait for the official USPTO email. In the rare event your preliminary result changes upon verification, you’ll have to retract your announcement and explain the embarrassing situation.
Not checking your spam/junk folder for results email. USPTO emails sometimes get filtered as spam. If 3+ business days have passed, thoroughly check all email folders before contacting USPTO to report missing results.
Comparing your status timeline to other candidates who tested the same day. Each exam processes independently. Your friend might receive results Tuesday while yours arrive Wednesday—this means nothing about your performance. Focus only on your own timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does “Processed/Closed” mean I failed the exam?
No. “Processed/Closed” is a neutral administrative status that appears for all candidates regardless of whether they passed or failed. It simply indicates your exam has been completed and is being processed for official verification. It provides zero information about your results.
How long should I expect to see “Processed/Closed” status?
Typically 2-4 days. The status usually appears within 24-48 hours of taking your exam and remains until official results are released (2-3 business days after exam). Some accounts show status change to “Pass” or “Fail” upon results release; others keep showing “Processed/Closed” indefinitely.
What if my status never changes from “Processed/Closed” even after I get my results?
This happens to some candidates and is normal. The USPTO OED account system doesn’t always update status fields consistently across all accounts. As long as you received your official pass/fail email, the OED account status field doesn’t matter.
My preliminary result said “Pass” but my status is “Processed/Closed”—should I be worried?
No. Preliminary results are accurate 99%+ of the time, and “Processed/Closed” is the normal status during the verification period. Your official results will almost certainly confirm your preliminary “Pass.” Wait for email confirmation before celebrating publicly, but don’t worry.
Can the status change from “Processed/Closed” to “Failed” or back to “Registered”?
The status should progress to “Pass” or “Fail” (or similar final status) after results are released. It should not revert to earlier statuses like “Registered.” If you see unusual status changes, contact USPTO OED at (571) 272-4097.
Will I receive a notification when my status changes, or do I have to keep checking?
You’ll receive email notification when your official results are ready. Most candidates receive the email before noticing any status change in their OED account. Check your email rather than obsessively monitoring the OED account dashboard.
My friend took the exam the same day and already has results, but I’m still seeing “Processed/Closed”—why?
USPTO processes exams in batches, and individual exam processing times can vary by 24-48 hours even for candidates who tested the same day. This variation is normal and doesn’t indicate any issue with your exam. Wait until 5 business days before contacting USPTO.
Does “Processed/Closed” status affect my ability to retake the exam if I failed?
No. This status has no impact on retake eligibility. If you failed, you’ll need to wait 30 days (under current waiver) before retaking, and you’ll register for a new exam regardless of what status your previous attempt shows.
What if my status says “Processed/Closed” but Prometric’s system shows nothing or shows “No Show”?
Contact both Prometric and USPTO immediately. This discrepancy could indicate a data transmission problem. If Prometric shows “No Show” but you actually took the exam, you’ll need to resolve this quickly with documentation from the testing center.
Can I trust the preliminary on-screen result I saw at the testing center?
Yes, with 99%+ accuracy. Preliminary results are generated immediately by the software and are almost always confirmed by official verification. Very rare exceptions occur only when technical issues or scoring errors are discovered during verification. Plan based on your preliminary result while awaiting official confirmation.
Don’t Let Status Anxiety Distract You
The “Processed/Closed” status is simply an administrative indicator in the USPTO system—nothing more, nothing less. Focus on the facts: you completed the exam, you saw a preliminary result, and official results will arrive within 2-3 business days. Use this waiting period to rest, decompress, and prepare for next steps rather than obsessing over status updates.
Preparing for your Patent Bar attempt? Visit our Patent Bar Exam preparation course for comprehensive prep materials, practice exams, and strategies to pass on your first attempt—so you can confidently await your “Pass” notification.
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