Best Majors for Patent Law and the Patent Bar: Does Your Degree Qualify?
Your degree decides whether you can sit for the patent bar. Check that first. Then choose a field you can do well in for years.
Last checked: October 26, 2026. This page summarizes the USPTO's General Requirements Bulletin (issued August 2026). The bulletin is guidance from the USPTO's Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED). Read it before you pay any fee: General Requirements Bulletin. Wysebridge is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with the USPTO.
The three-question self-check
- Is your degree subject on the Category A list, and is it a bachelor's, master's or Ph.D. from an accredited U.S. school (or an equivalent foreign degree)? (Bulletin, Section III.A)
- If not, do your transcripts show enough of the right science and engineering courses for one of the four Category B options? (Bulletin, Section III.B)
- If not, do you hold a bachelor's degree and have official results showing you passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) test? (Bulletin, Section III.C)
Yes to one means you have a route. No to all three means you have a planning problem to solve before you spend money.
Which category fits you
| Category | Route | What the USPTO asks for |
|---|---|---|
| A | A degree in a listed subject | An official transcript showing the degree. A diploma, a copy of the diploma or a copy of the transcript is not accepted. Transcript-demonstrated equivalence to a listed degree can count. |
| B | A degree in another subject, plus coursework | Semester hours in physics, chemistry, biology or engineering (by option), grade C- or better, with official transcripts and course descriptions. |
| C | FE test | Official FE results and an official transcript showing the award of a bachelor's degree. State boards of engineering examiners develop and run the FE test; the USPTO does not. |
| D | Design patent practice only | A degree in a listed design subject, such as architecture, graphic design or industrial design. Registration covers design patent matters only. |
Source for the table: General Requirements Bulletin, Section III. Categories A to C qualify you to practice in all patent matters before the USPTO.
Category A in one view
The bulletin lists engineering fields (for example electrical, mechanical, chemical, biomedical, civil, materials and computer engineering) and science fields (for example biology, biochemistry, general chemistry, organic chemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, neuroscience, physics and biomedical science). Computer Science is listed with a condition: it must be a bachelor of science degree from an accredited college or university. A computer science degree that is not a bachelor of science, or that is from a non-accredited institution, must qualify under Category B or C. Source: Bulletin, Section III.A.
For the full list, use our guide to Category A qualifying degrees. That page owns the list. This page owns the “which major” decision. See also whether a computer science degree is eligible.
Category B in one view
The bulletin gives four options, counted in semester hours. To convert quarter hours or trimester credit hours into semester hours, multiply by 2/3. Source: Bulletin, Section III.B.
| Option | Semester hours | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 in physics | Only physics courses for physics majors are accepted. |
| 2 | 32 | 8 in chemistry or physics (at least one course with a lab), plus 24 in biology, botany, microbiology or molecular biology. Only courses for science or engineering majors are accepted. |
| 3 | 30 in chemistry | Only chemistry courses for chemistry majors are accepted. |
| 4 | 40 | 8 in chemistry, physics or biology (at least one course with a lab), plus 32 in chemistry, physics, biology, botany, microbiology, molecular biology or engineering. Only courses for science or engineering majors are accepted. |
Only courses with a grade of C- or better are accepted. The bulletin lists mathematics, patent law courses, pass/fail courses, audited courses and correspondence courses among the coursework that is typically not accepted. See Category B coursework requirements.
Categories C and D
Category C is for applicants who rely on practical engineering or scientific experience, or who do not qualify under Category A or B. It requires official results showing you passed the FE test, plus an official transcript showing a bachelor's degree. See the Category C guide. Category D lets a design-subject degree qualify you for design patent practice only. See the Category D guide. Source: Bulletin, Sections III.C and III.D.
Choosing a major once you know your route
No major is best for everyone. Match the field to the technology you want to explain for a living.
- Electrical and computer engineering, computer science: electronics, software, communications. Watch the Computer Science condition above.
- Mechanical, aerospace, industrial engineering: machines, manufacturing, devices.
- Chemical engineering, chemistry, materials: processes, formulations, materials.
- Biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, biomedical fields: life-science and medical inventions.
An exact title match is not the same as a qualifying transcript. A degree that sounds similar to a listed one may still need Category B or C. The bulletin says the Office accepts degrees where the transcript demonstrates equivalence to a Category A degree. For example, molecular cell biology may be equivalent to biology.
By degree: electrical engineering, chemistry, biology.
Patent agent or patent attorney
The technical requirement is the same for both. The difference is admission to a state bar. An attorney files a certificate of good standing from the highest court of a state with the Data Sheet after passing. An attorney for whom no certificate is received is registered as a patent agent or design patent agent. Source: Bulletin, Section XIV.
What it costs to find out
The bulletin lists a $118.00 non-refundable application fee and a $226.00 registration examination fee, submitted with the application. Source: Bulletin, Section IV. The USPTO's page on becoming a patent practitioner also lists a $221.00 Prometric examination administration fee, which the test center collects when you schedule. Fees change, so check the current amounts on the USPTO page before you pay. See also our exam fees guide.
Next step
Know your route. Then start studying.
- Try the free practice set.
- See the patent bar exam prep course and pricing.
- Check your own situation with Do I qualify?, or read the OED application guide.
Wysebridge cannot tell you whether the USPTO will accept your transcript. Only OED decides that.