EXPLORE what it means to become a patent examiner, MEET our diverse employees, and LEARN key details about the role!
Not sure where your education fits within the qualification requirements? Please review the Patent Examiner Disciplines list to see where your education and experience will fit best within the USPTO.
If you are a student nearing graduation, within 9 months from the date of your applications, you can still apply! Just submit your application now, and we will verify your degree before your start date.
Applicants may continue to update their application package between each cut-off period.
Applicants not selected at one cut-off date will continue to be considered for the position at each subsequent cut-off until the close of the vacancy announcement.
This position permits, but does not require, remote work pursuant to a telework program. The official duty station and physical worksite for employees who do not opt for remote work will be the Alexandria, VA Headquarters or one of the USPTO's Regional Offices located in Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Detroit, MI or San Jose, CA. The official duty station for employees who opt for remote work, will be their approved remote work location pursuant to their applicable telework program. Employees' locality pay will be determined by the location of their official duty station.
As a patent examiner, you will:
Explore Innovation: Use specialized and cutting-edge technology to search prior art-information known publicly before the filing date of a U.S. patent application
- -to ensure inventions are unique.
- Review Applications: Assess patent applications for new inventions, making sure they meet our standards and determining if they are eligible for a patent.
- Communicate Findings: Write legal office actions and respond to applicants who have filed a patent application.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
The USPTO strives to embed diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in all aspects of our work. Intellectual property is most effective when people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives participate in exchanges with others and programs to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity for the benefit of all Americans and people around the world. The USPTO incorporates DEIA best practices throughout our exchanges, programs, and community partnerships, and in our workforce and workplace. The agency is committed to addressing barriers based on race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, geographic location, education, income, socioeconomic status, and other diversity dimensions that may hinder inclusion in the organization. The USPTO's commitment to DEIA strengthens the intellectual property ecosystem and is vital to building trust and partnerships in the United States and around the world.
What are the work history and educational requirements for this position?
The Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the Patent Examiner (Biology) position are under the Individual Occupational Requirements for General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series. OPM's prescribed Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Patent Examiner Series, GS-1224, is available at OPM Patent Examiner Series 1224.
Please notify the USPTO Office of Enrollment and Discipline at OED@uspto.gov if you currently represent clients before the USPTO and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflict of interest or disqualification issue concerning representation of others before the Office that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.
- Applications will be accepted from all United States Citizens and Nationals. You must be suitable for Federal Employment.
- Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related competencies. You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
- You are required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
- If this is your first federal appointment, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period. Current federal service employees may be given a new appointment, and a new probationary period may be required.
- You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
- You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
- This is a Bargaining Unit position and is represented by the Patent Office Professional Association (POPA).
- This is a Public Trust position and has a risk level designation of "moderate."
BASIC REQUIREMENTS for all grade levels in this series include:
A. Degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR
B. Combination of education and experience-courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above (24 semester hours or the equivalent in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position), plus appropriate experience and/or additional education.
Applicants must also meet the additional requirements listed below.
Applicants for the GS-9 position have many ways to qualify. In addition to the basic requirements as stated above, applicants may have A, B, C, D or E listed below to qualify:
(A) At least two years of graduate-level education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree in biological sciences or other directly related field of study.
(B) One year of specialized experience, interpreting and applying biological science and/or scientific principles, theories, concepts, and methodologies used in the evaluation of technology; participating in planning and conducting research; applying appropriate references to the claimed invention; etc. Work experience would have involved following established methods and procedures, or detailed instructions; using some judgment in applying basic principles and procedures; and independently completing recurring assignments, but referring deviations, problems, and unfamiliar situations to a designated person for decision or help.
(C) A combination of education and experience in college-level education, training, and/or technical experience.
(D) A combination of successfully completed progressive graduate-level education, as described above, that is beyond the first year of graduate study and professional experience.
Applicants for the GS-11 position have many ways to qualify. In addition to the basic requirements as stated above, applicants mayhave A, B, or C listed below to qualify:
(A) At least three years of progressively higher-level graduate-level education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited college and/or university in the fields of study as described.
(B) At least one year of specialized experience: (1) interpreting and applying advanced engineering and/or scientific principles, theories, concepts, and methodologies used in the evaluation of technology; or (2) planning and conducting technical research to draft technical papers; or (3) applying appropriate references and case law to claimed inventions. Experience may include independent responsibility for a well-defined study or for a phase of a larger study that required the planning and carrying out of routine (physics, engineer, biological, etc.) work (such as those who have PhDs). They have ability to independently perform moderately difficult and responsible work.
(C) A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education, as described above, that is beyond the second year of progressive graduate study and professional experience, as described above.
Unless otherwise indicated by the school, 18 semester hours will be considered an academic year of graduate study.
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to General Schedule Qualifications Policies for more information. You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of coursework and the degree. A listing of services that can perform this evaluation is available at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course-by-course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.
NOTE: Only education and experience acquired before the filing deadline will be considered. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.
If you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes: your name, name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.
For documentation requirements, see the Required Documents section.
USPTO Job Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should request accommodation(s) from the USPTO at Accommodations for Job Applicants.
Please review the relevant conflict of interest laws and standards of ethical conduct that may affect you as a patent examiner. If you are an attorney applicant, you must also be able to comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible professional responsibility conflicts in connection with your application.
If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.
Background Investigation - If selected for this position, you will be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306), which includes a fingerprint and credit check, to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.
The USPTO participates in E-Verify. For more information on E-Verify, please visit the Department of Homeland Security Website.
All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.
Relocation Expenses are not authorized and will not be paid.
Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicants will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: OPM CTAP/ICTAP.
CTAP/ICTAP documentation requirements are listed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.
More than one selection may be made from this announcement.
All application materials become the property of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Please search USAJobs for "Patent Examiner" or visit our Careers Website for further information.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors. If you believe that you have been discriminated against and would like to file an EEO complaint, you must do so within 45 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act. Claims of employment discrimination must be submitted to the attention of the USPTO's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity via email (oeeod@uspto.gov) or phone (571-272-8292).
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your resume and supporting documentation will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position.
If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the job announcement, the USPTO will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses to the self-assessment questions and place you in one of two categories: "gold" and "bronze." Applicants placed in the "gold" category will be referred to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.
Dependent upon the grade level of which you are qualified, preference eligibles with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category (gold).
Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate possession of any specialized experience and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement. Responses to job questions that are not fully supported by the information in your resume may result in adjustments to your rating. Any experience claimed in a cover letter should be substantiated by information contained in your resume. A HR Representative will validate the qualifications of those candidates eligible to be referred to the hiring official.
The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies. Please do not provide a separate written response.
- Oral Communication
- Technical Skills
- Written Communication
For more information on category rating, please go to: DOC Bulletins
Please click the link below to preview the Assessment Questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12509379
Please answer each question to the full extent of your experience/ability and be sure to consider ALL of your experience when answering.
Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. Please review the
Required Documents section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application.
A complete application consists of:
1. A resume or any other written format you choose to describe your job-related qualifications and optional cover letter. Your resume should indicate your citizenship and should list your educational and work experience including titles, salary, employment dates (month and year), duties, experience and how it relates to the specialized experience in the job announcement.
2. Transcripts: You MUST submit copies of your college transcripts for verification of the education requirements. Unofficial copies are accepted, however, if selected you will be required to furnish official transcripts. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirement. Inadequate or illegible information could result in non-qualification and loss of consideration.
If you are combining and/or substituting education for specialized experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes: your name, name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.
Supporting Documents:
1. Veterans' Preference Documentation: If you are a veteran with preference eligibility, you will be asked to submit a copy of your DD-214 containing your discharge disposition, dates of service, and rank. If you are a preference eligible claiming a service connected disability of 10 percent or more, you will be asked to submit documentation (i.e. a letter dated 1991 or later from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces) certifying to the veteran's present receipt of compensation. Veterans must include dates of military service within the automated application process, and submit a copy of each Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214. For more information, please visit Special Appointing Authorities for Veterans.
2. CTAP or ICTAP documents:
CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: 1. A copy of your A copy of your Reduction-In-Force (RIF) separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter. a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement. or similar notice); 2. A copy of your SF-50. Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade/band level, and duty location; 3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and 4. Any documentation from your bureau/operating unit that shows your current promotion potential.
ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: 1. A copy of your RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination, certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a work-related compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement. 2. A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", documenting your RIF separation, noting your position, grade/band level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through the Reemployment Priority List (RPL), etc.; 3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and 4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
You can upload your documents when you register or update your information on the Department of Commerce site which you access through the USAJobs site.
Your application and all required documents must be received by 11:59 pm ET on the closing date of this job announcement.
NOTE: The preceding documents requirement are based on job requirements and individual applicant eligibility. Not all documents are applicable to all applicants. If you are unsure which documents apply to you, contact JoinUSPTO@uspto.gov.
