Exam Registration
How to Schedule the Patent Bar Exam at Prometric
You can schedule the USPTO registration examination only after the Office of Enrollment and Discipline approves your application and issues a notice of admission with your examination eligibility information.
Once admitted, you schedule the computerized examination through Prometric, choose an available test center and appointment date, and pay Prometric's current $221 examination-administration fee.
As of September 2026, OED has temporarily extended the registration-exam scheduling window to 180 days for applicants until further notice. The normal USPTO guidance is generally about 90 days, so candidates should follow the exact window shown in their own notice of admission.
Last verified September 2026
- Prometric
- Test provider
- Administers the exam for the USPTO
- Year-round
- Availability
- Subject to test-center availability
- 180 days
- Scheduling window
- Temporary; normally ~90 days
- $221
- Prometric fee
- Exam administration
Key facts
Patent Bar Scheduling at a Glance
| Who approves you to schedule? | USPTO Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) |
|---|---|
| Who administers the exam? | Prometric |
| Current scheduling window | 180 days temporarily, until further notice |
| Normal scheduling guidance | Generally about 90 days |
| Prometric exam-administration fee | $221 |
| Exam availability | Year-round, subject to test-center appointment availability |
| Where you test | Prometric test centers in the United States and U.S. Territories |
From admission to appointment
OED admission
Step 1 – Wait for OED Admission
Applying to take the Patent Bar and scheduling the test are two separate steps. If you have not applied yet, start with how to apply for the Patent Bar.
First, OED reviews your registration-examination application and technical eligibility. If the application is approved, OED sends a notice of admission containing the period in which you are eligible to schedule and take the examination.
A course enrollment, USPTO application receipt, or pending OED application is not authorization to book the exam. Prometric needs the eligibility information transmitted after OED admits you.
Your deadline
Step 2 – Check the Exact Expiration Date in Your Notice
The USPTO's normal application guidance describes an examination period of generally about 90 days. However, the current Registration Examination page says OED has temporarily extended the scheduling window to 180 days for applicants until further notice.
Your own admission notice controls your deadline. The temporary policy can end, so treat 180 days as the current rule as of September 2026, not a permanent one.
Book
Step 3 – Schedule With Prometric
After OED admission, use Prometric's USPTO registration-examination scheduling system to choose an available location, date, and time.
Prometric availability can differ significantly by test center. The USPTO advises admitted applicants to contact Prometric as soon as possible after receiving the admission letter.
- 01Open the Prometric USPTO scheduling page.
- 02Enter the candidate/eligibility information required by Prometric.
- 03Search available testing centers by location.
- 04Compare dates and appointment times within your OED eligibility window.
- 05Choose the appointment.
- 06Pay the current $221 Prometric administration fee.
- 07Save the confirmation and verify the test-center address, appointment date, and reporting time.
How Early Should You Book?
There is no single USPTO rule requiring you to book a certain number of weeks in advance, but waiting until the end of the eligibility window creates avoidable risk. Test-center availability is not guaranteed on a particular date or at a particular location.
A practical approach is to schedule once you have a realistic target date and then use the remaining preparation period to build toward consistent timed performance. If your preferred center has limited availability, booking earlier can preserve more options.
For readiness and timing strategy, use the Patent Bar study plan and practice under timed conditions in the Patent Bar exam simulator.
Book the date, then build toward it.
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Prometric fees
Prometric Rescheduling Fees
Rescheduling the Prometric appointment does not extend the OED eligibility period. For the complete cost breakdown, see Patent Bar exam fees.
| When you reschedule | Fee |
|---|---|
| 31+ calendar days before the appointment | $0 |
| 6–30 calendar days before the appointment | $60 |
| 0–5 calendar days before the appointment | $221 |
| Outside your OED eligibility window | Prometric cannot extend the USPTO window |
Can You Extend the Patent Bar Scheduling Window?
Yes, under current USPTO rules, 90-day extensions of the eligibility period are available for a fee if OED receives the request before the current window expires.
The current OED FAQ lists the extension fee as $124. Requests can be made through the Applicant Portal when available, or through the filing methods described by OED.
Extensions may be requested more than once under the current guidance, but each request must be timely and accompanied by the applicable fee. Because the base window is temporarily 180 days, verify the current extension rules before relying on an extension strategy.
What Happens If Your Window Expires?
Do not assume Prometric can restore an expired USPTO eligibility period. Prometric administers the appointment, but OED controls examination eligibility.
If the eligibility window expires without a timely extension, the candidate generally must reapply to OED and pay the applicable application and examination fees again.
The current OED FAQ lists $118 for the application fee and $226 for the registration examination fee upon reapplication. Previously submitted documentation generally does not need to be resubmitted if OED already has it, although changed application responses must be updated.
What If You Miss the Appointment or Arrive Late?
A missed appointment or late arrival can trigger Prometric's fee and rescheduling rules. If time remains in your OED eligibility window, the USPTO FAQ says you may contact the USPTO to request that your eligibility be reset with Prometric.
If no time remains in the window, you may need to reapply for admission. The safest approach is to confirm the exact reporting time, route, identification requirements, and test-center rules well before exam day. Review the Patent Bar test-day rules before your appointment.
Can You Choose Any Prometric Test Center?
The USPTO says the registration examination is administered at Prometric test centers in the United States and U.S. Territories. Candidates choose among available Prometric appointments after admission.
Locations and appointment availability can change, so search current locations on Prometric's USPTO exam page.
The September 2026 Exam Update and Scheduling
The USPTO updated the registration examination on September 23, 2026 and blacked out examination administration from September 17 through September 22, 2026.
That blackout has now passed, but blackout dates, source-material changes, and temporary scheduling notices can recur. Check the USPTO registration examination information and the current USPTO General Requirements Bulletin before you book.
Schedule Early Enough to Preserve Options
Once OED admits you, check Prometric availability promptly and choose a date that fits both your preparation plan and the expiration date in your notice. Treat the OED eligibility window and the Prometric appointment as separate deadlines, and verify both before making any change.
FAQ
Patent Bar Scheduling FAQs
As of September 2026, OED is temporarily setting the examination scheduling window to 180 days until further notice. Normal USPTO guidance is generally about 90 days. Follow the deadline in your own notice of admission.
The current Prometric examination-administration fee for the USPTO registration examination is $221.
Yes, if you reschedule 31 or more calendar days before the appointment. The current fee is $60 at 6–30 days and $221 at 0–5 days.
No. Changing the Prometric appointment does not change the USPTO deadline. Any extension of the eligibility window must be requested through OED under the current USPTO rules.
Prometric availability varies. Search other dates or test centers while staying inside your OED window. If timing becomes a problem, review the OED extension rules before the eligibility period expires.
No. OED must first admit you to the registration examination and transmit the eligibility information needed for Prometric scheduling.
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