Category A Patent Bar Eligibility: Complete List of Qualifying Degrees

Category A Eligibility for the Patent Bar (Degrees That Qualify)

Category A Eligibility for the Patent Bar

Category A represents the most straightforward path to Patent Bar eligibility, allowing candidates with qualifying technical or scientific degrees to demonstrate their eligibility with minimal additional documentation. If you hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in a recognized technical field, Category A provides direct access to the registration examination without requiring individual course evaluation or practical experience verification.

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Key Takeaways

Category A is the simplest eligibility path, requiring only a qualifying degree in a recognized technical field
Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees all qualify if in approved disciplines
The USPTO maintains a specific list of qualifying degree titles in Appendix I of the General Requirements Bulletin
Engineering degrees qualify, but engineering technology degrees typically do not
Computer science degrees qualify, but information technology degrees may not
Foreign degrees can qualify with proper credential evaluation
Your degree must come from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
Double majors or minors in technical fields don’t create Category A eligibility unless your primary degree qualifies

What Is Category A Eligibility?

Category A eligibility allows candidates to qualify for the Patent Bar Exam by possessing a bachelor’s degree or higher in specific scientific or technical disciplines recognized by the USPTO. This category requires no additional coursework evaluation, practical experience documentation, or supplemental examinations beyond proving you earned a qualifying degree from an accredited institution.

Complete List of Category A Qualifying Degrees

The USPTO publishes the definitive list of qualifying degrees in Appendix I of the General Requirements Bulletin. Understanding exactly which degrees qualify prevents wasted time and ensures you pursue the correct application pathway.

Engineering Disciplines

Engineering degrees form the largest category of qualifying disciplines. The USPTO recognizes most traditional engineering fields without question.

Automatically Qualifying Engineering Degrees:

Aerospace Engineering
Agricultural Engineering
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
Ceramic Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Electronics Engineering
Environmental Engineering
General Engineering
Geological Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Marine Engineering
Materials Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Metallurgical Engineering
Mining Engineering
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
Nuclear Engineering
Ocean Engineering
Petroleum Engineering
Structural Engineering
Systems Engineering
Textile Engineering

Engineering Physics and Engineering Science degrees also typically qualify under Category A, though the USPTO may request course descriptions to verify sufficient engineering content.

Physical Sciences

Physical science degrees demonstrate the mathematical and analytical rigor necessary for patent prosecution work.

Qualifying Physical Science Degrees:

Physics (all specializations)
Applied Physics
Engineering Physics
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Chemistry (all specializations)
Biochemistry
Geochemistry
Physical Chemistry
Geology and Geophysics
Geosciences
Earth Sciences

Atmospheric sciences, meteorology, and oceanography also qualify, as these fields require substantial physics and chemistry foundations.

Life Sciences and Biological Fields

The USPTO recognizes biological sciences due to the substantial patent work in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and related fields.

Qualifying Biological Science Degrees:

Biology (general and specialized)
Biochemistry
Biophysics
Botany
Cell Biology
Genetics
Marine Biology
Microbiology
Molecular Biology
Neuroscience
Pharmacology
Physiology
Zoology

Medical degrees (M.D., D.O.) automatically qualify, as do veterinary medicine degrees (D.V.M.), dental degrees (D.D.S., D.M.D.), and pharmacy degrees (Pharm.D.).

Computer and Information Sciences

With the explosion of software patents and technology-related applications, computer science degrees have become increasingly important for Patent Bar eligibility.

Qualifying Computer Science Degrees:

Computer Science
Computer Engineering
Software Engineering
Computational Science

Information Technology, Information Systems, and Management Information Systems degrees do NOT automatically qualify under Category A. These programs often lack the theoretical computer science, mathematics, and engineering content the USPTO requires.

Agricultural and Food Sciences

Agricultural sciences qualify when they contain sufficient scientific rigor and technical content.

Qualifying Agricultural Degrees:

Agricultural Engineering
Agricultural Science (with substantial chemistry and biology)
Animal Science (with sufficient biology and chemistry)
Food Science and Technology
Horticulture Science

General agriculture or agribusiness degrees without substantial scientific coursework typically do not qualify under Category A.

Interdisciplinary and Emerging Fields

Several interdisciplinary fields have emerged that combine traditional technical disciplines in ways that qualify for Category A.

Qualifying Interdisciplinary Degrees:

Materials Science and Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Nanotechnology and Nanoscience
Biotechnology (when degree-granting, not certificate)

These fields qualify because they maintain rigorous scientific and mathematical foundations even while bridging multiple traditional disciplines.

Degrees That Do NOT Qualify Under Category A

Understanding which degrees don’t automatically qualify prevents disappointment and helps you evaluate alternative pathways.

Engineering Technology vs. Engineering

The USPTO draws a critical distinction between “engineering” and “engineering technology” programs. Engineering technology focuses on practical application and implementation, while engineering emphasizes theory, design, and analysis.

Engineering Technology Degrees (DO NOT Qualify):

Electrical Engineering Technology
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Civil Engineering Technology
Any degree with “Technology” in the title following an engineering discipline

Engineering technology graduates should evaluate Category B eligibility through coursework or consider completing additional technical courses to qualify.

Information Technology and Systems

Despite the technical nature of IT work, most information technology programs lack the theoretical computer science and mathematics content required for Category A.

IT-Related Degrees That Don’t Qualify:

Information Technology
Information Systems
Management Information Systems
Computer Information Systems (at most institutions)
Cybersecurity (unless heavily computer science-focused)

These candidates should carefully review their transcripts for Category B eligibility or consider completing additional computer science coursework.

Health Sciences Without Sufficient Technical Content

Many health science programs, while rigorous, don’t provide the technical scientific foundation the USPTO requires.

Health Science Degrees Typically Not Qualifying:

Nursing (B.S.N.)
Health Administration
Public Health (M.P.H. without substantial biology/chemistry)
Exercise Science (without substantial biology/chemistry)
Nutrition (unless heavily chemistry and biochemistry focused)

Business and Liberal Arts

Business degrees with technical concentrations, no matter how quantitative, do not qualify under Category A.

Non-Qualifying Business and Liberal Arts Degrees:

Business Administration (even with technical concentration)
Applied Mathematics (typically Category B eligible instead)
Statistics (typically Category B eligible instead)
Psychology (including biopsychology, unless substantial biology content)
Architecture (typically does not qualify despite technical content)

Degree Level Requirements

Bachelor’s Degrees

A bachelor’s degree in a qualifying field is sufficient for Category A eligibility. You don’t need an advanced degree, though having one doesn’t hurt.

The degree must be a traditional four-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Associate’s degrees, even in technical fields, do not satisfy Category A requirements.

Master’s and Doctoral Degrees

Master’s (M.S., M.Eng.) and doctoral degrees (Ph.D., Sc.D.) in qualifying fields automatically satisfy Category A requirements, even if your undergraduate degree was in a non-technical field.

For example, if you hold a B.A. in History but earned an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, you qualify under Category A based on your master’s degree alone.

Professional Degrees

Certain professional degrees automatically qualify:

M.D. (Doctor of Medicine)
D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)
D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine)
Pharm.D. (Doctor of Pharmacy)
D.D.S./D.M.D. (Doctor of Dental Surgery/Medicine)

Law degrees (J.D.) do not satisfy the technical requirement. You must have a separate technical degree or qualify through Category B or C.

Accreditation Requirements

U.S. Institutional Accreditation

Your degree must come from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Regional Accreditation (most common and broadly accepted):

Middle States Commission on Higher Education
New England Commission of Higher Education
Higher Learning Commission
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
WASC Senior College and University Commission

National Accreditation (less common, evaluate carefully): Some nationally accredited institutions are recognized, but regional accreditation is preferred and rarely questioned.

Programmatic Accreditation

While not required, ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accreditation for engineering programs provides additional assurance your degree meets USPTO standards. However, many excellent programs lack ABET accreditation, and the USPTO does not require it.

Institutional vs. Programmatic Accreditation

Institutional accreditation covers the entire college or university. Programmatic accreditation covers specific programs within an institution. For Patent Bar purposes, institutional accreditation is what matters—your institution must be recognized, even if your specific program lacks specialized accreditation.

Foreign Degrees and International Credentials

Foreign Degree Recognition

The USPTO accepts foreign degrees if they are equivalent to U.S. bachelor’s degrees or higher in qualifying fields. However, you must prove equivalency through credential evaluation services.

NACES-Member Evaluation Services:

World Education Services (WES)
Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
International Education Research Foundation (IERF)
Academic Evaluation Services
Foreign Academic Credentials Service (FACS)

The evaluation must conclude your degree is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher. “Diploma” or “Certificate” equivalencies do not satisfy Category A requirements.

Evaluation Report Requirements

Your credential evaluation report must include:

Country-by-country analysis of your education
Statement of U.S. equivalency (bachelor’s level or higher)
Field of study determination
Confirmation the institution was authorized to grant degrees

“Document-by-document” evaluations meet USPTO requirements. “Course-by-course” evaluations provide additional detail but aren’t required for Category A eligibility if your degree clearly qualifies.

Three-Year Bachelor’s Degrees

Many countries offer three-year bachelor’s programs that differ from the U.S. four-year standard. Whether these qualify depends on the country’s educational system and the evaluator’s determination.

Indian three-year bachelor’s degrees typically do not meet the equivalency standard, but combined bachelor’s and master’s programs often do. UK three-year bachelor’s degrees generally do meet equivalency standards due to the educational system structure.

Combined Educational Systems

Some countries use combined secondary-tertiary education or other non-traditional structures. Credential evaluators familiar with these systems can determine whether your total education meets U.S. bachelor’s equivalency.

Proving Category A Eligibility

Required Documentation

To establish Category A eligibility, you must provide:

Official Transcripts: Your official transcript must come directly from your institution to the OED or through an approved electronic transcript service like Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse.

The transcript must show your degree conferral date. Transcripts showing “in progress” or “expected” degree completion do not satisfy the requirement until updated with the actual conferral date.

Degree Title Verification: Your transcript must clearly show your degree title. If your transcript only shows a general “Bachelor of Science” without specifying the field, you may need to request clarification from your registrar or provide a copy of your diploma.

Foreign Credential Evaluation (if applicable): International graduates must submit credential evaluation reports from NACES-member services. These reports must accompany your application—the OED will not process applications without them.

When Additional Documentation Helps

Even for Category A candidates, additional documentation sometimes strengthens applications:

Degree Name Not in Appendix I: If your degree title doesn’t appear verbatim in the USPTO’s list but is clearly equivalent (e.g., “Biochemical Engineering” vs. “Biomedical Engineering”), include a brief explanation and perhaps relevant program information.

Engineering Science or Engineering Physics: These interdisciplinary programs sometimes prompt OED review. Including a program description or curriculum outline can expedite approval.

Specialized or Emerging Fields: For degrees in new interdisciplinary fields like computational biology or nanoengineering, program descriptions help the OED understand the technical content.

Special Category A Situations

Double Majors and Minors

If you have a double major and one major qualifies under Category A, you meet the eligibility requirement. The non-qualifying major is irrelevant.

Minors in technical fields do NOT establish Category A eligibility if your primary degree doesn’t qualify. The USPTO evaluates your degree, not your minor or additional coursework (that’s Category B).

Incomplete Degrees and Graduate Coursework

If you completed substantial graduate work but didn’t finish a degree, you cannot qualify under Category A. Category B might work if you have sufficient technical coursework with grades.

Online and Distance Learning Degrees

Online degrees qualify identically to on-campus degrees if the institution is properly accredited. The delivery method is irrelevant—accreditation and field of study matter.

Military Academy Degrees

Degrees from U.S. military academies (West Point, Annapolis, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy) in qualifying fields meet Category A requirements. These institutions are regionally accredited and their engineering and science programs are rigorous.

Common Mistakes

Assuming Engineering Technology Qualifies This is the most common mistake. “Engineering” and “engineering technology” are not the same for USPTO purposes. Verify your exact degree title.

Submitting Transcripts Before Degree Conferral Wait until your institution officially confers your degree and it appears on your transcript. “Expected graduation” or “in progress” doesn’t establish eligibility.

Confusing Minors with Majors Your minor field, no matter how technical, doesn’t establish Category A eligibility unless your major also qualifies.

Not Verifying Accreditation Especially for newer institutions or online programs, verify your school has proper regional accreditation recognized by the Department of Education before assuming your degree qualifies.

Foreign Graduates Skipping Credential Evaluation Foreign degrees require formal evaluation regardless of how obviously they qualify. Don’t skip this step—your application will be rejected.

Frequently Asked Questions

My degree isn’t exactly listed in Appendix I, but it’s very similar. Do I qualify? Possibly. The USPTO evaluates degrees based on content, not just title. If your degree is substantially equivalent to a listed degree, explain the similarity in your application. Including program documentation can help.

I have a master’s in a qualifying field but my bachelor’s is not technical. Do I qualify? Yes. Any qualifying degree at the bachelor’s level or higher satisfies Category A requirements, regardless of your other degrees.

Does ABET accreditation matter? Not specifically. ABET accreditation indicates quality but isn’t required. Many excellent programs, especially at top universities, lack ABET accreditation, and the USPTO doesn’t require it.

Can I qualify with an associate’s degree in engineering? No. Category A requires a bachelor’s degree or higher. Associate’s degrees don’t meet the requirement, though your coursework might qualify you under Category B.

I have a Ph.D. in Chemistry but never completed my bachelor’s. Do I qualify? This is highly unusual, but if you genuinely earned a doctoral degree without a bachelor’s, the doctorate should qualify. However, be prepared to explain the unusual educational path and provide extensive documentation.

My engineering technology degree is from a great school. Are you sure it doesn’t qualify? Engineering technology programs, regardless of school quality, focus on different competencies than engineering programs. They typically don’t qualify under Category A. Review Category B to see if your coursework qualifies.

I studied abroad for one year and got a degree from a foreign university. Does this count? Yes, if it’s a degree (not just exchange credit) and credential evaluation confirms it meets U.S. bachelor’s equivalency. Year-abroad exchange programs that only provided credit toward your U.S. degree don’t count as separate degrees.

Do I need to submit my diploma, or is the transcript enough? The transcript is the primary document. Diplomas are not required unless the transcript is unclear about your degree field or conferral date.

What if my school lost my records or closed down? Contact your state’s higher education department—they often maintain records for closed institutions. If records are truly unavailable, contact the OED directly to discuss alternative documentation options.

Can I qualify with a medical degree from a foreign country? Yes, if credential evaluation confirms your medical degree is equivalent to a U.S. M.D. or D.O. Foreign medical graduates can qualify even if they haven’t completed USMLE or ECFMG certification.

Moving Forward with Category A Eligibility

If you hold a qualifying degree under Category A, your path to Patent Bar eligibility is straightforward. Your next step involves gathering official transcripts and completing your OED application to receive authorization to test.

Category A eligibility eliminates uncertainty about coursework evaluation or practical experience documentation. With proper documentation of your qualifying degree, you can focus on what matters most—preparing for the examination itself.

Ready to apply? Visit our How to Apply for the Patent Bar guide for step-by-step application instructions.

Not sure if you qualify under Category A? Explore alternative pathways:

Need expert guidance on your specific situation? Our Patent Bar preparation program includes personalized eligibility consultation to ensure you’re pursuing the right qualification pathway.