EQE Background Information
What You Need To DoTo become a European Patent Attorney, you must first obtain a suitable qualification in the field of science and technology. Having obtained his/her qualification, the candidate must subsequently undergo a period of professional activity under the supervision of a professional representative or an employee, dealing with patent matters, of a European industrial concern. The period for professional activity is three years.
Particular exemptions apply to European Patent Office Examiners, details of which may be obtained from the European Patent Office.
Having completed the required period of professional activity candidates may then enrol to take the European qualifying examinations. These examinations comprise four written papers of between 3 ½ and 5+ hours long, held over a period of three days. Passing the examinations, either all at the same time or by passing individual papers over a period of several sittings, will then allow qualify the individual as a European Patent Attorney.