Patent Bar Authority Guide ✓ Verified for MPEP Ninth Edition, Rev. 01.2024 (Nov 2024) Updated for 2026 Exam Window

Patent Bar Exam Cost & Fees (2026)

The mandatory official fees to take and register for the USPTO Patent Bar Exam in 2026 total $785 ($110 USPTO application fee + $210 USPTO examination fee + $255 Prometric testing center fee + $210 post-exam registration fee upon passing).

Key 2026 Takeaways at a Glance

✓ Upfront Cost to Sit for the Exam: $575 total ($110 OED Application + $210 OED Exam Fee + $255 paid to Prometric when booking your seat).
✓ Post-Pass Licensing Fee: $210 Registration Fee paid to the USPTO only after you pass.
✓ Prep Cost: Ranges from $0 (50 free questions) or $49/$89 regular (Launch 50% off: $24/$44) on patentbarexam.app—a fraction of PLI’s $2,995 course.

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2026 Official Patent Bar Exam Fee Schedule (37 CFR 1.21)

Every candidate pays fees to two entities: the United States Patent and Trademark Office (under 37 CFR 1.21(a)) and Prometric (the testing vendor that operates the computer testing centers).

Fee Item	37 CFR / Vendor Reference	2026 Amount	When Paid
1. OED Application Fee (Non-Refundable)	37 CFR 1.21(a)(1)(i)	$110	At initial application submission
2. USPTO Registration Examination Fee	37 CFR 1.21(a)(1)(ii)(B)	$210	At initial application submission
3. Prometric Testing Center Seat Fee	Prometric Commercial Rate	$255	When scheduling your test date at Prometric
Subtotal to Sit for the Exam	Mandatory Pre-Exam Total	$575	Paid before test day
4. Final Registration to Practice Fee	37 CFR 1.21(a)(2)	$210	Paid ONLY after passing the exam
5. Question Bank & Mock Exam Prep	patentbarexam.app (Free 50 Qs / Hero 400 Qs / Master 800 Qs)	$0 / $49 / $89 Regular (Launch 50% off: $24 / $44)	During exam preparation

Hidden Costs to Avoid: Rescheduling & Late Cancellation Fees

If you need to move your exam date within your 90-day OED eligibility window, Prometric’s rescheduling fee depends on how many days in advance you make the change:

• 30+ Calendar Days Before Appointment: $0 rescheduling fee at Prometric.
• 5 to 29 Calendar Days Before Appointment: Prometric charges a rescheduling fee (typically $50–$65).
• Less Than 5 Days or No-Show: You forfeit the entire $255 Prometric fee AND the $210 USPTO examination fee, requiring a new $110 + $210 re-application.

How This Topic Fits Into the 2026 USPTO Registration Examination Blueprint

Every question on the USPTO Patent Bar Exam traces directly back to three primary legal authorities loaded onto Prometric testing workstations: Title 35 of the United States Code (35 U.S.C. 101 Subject Matter Eligibility, 35 U.S.C. 102 Novelty & Prior Art, 35 U.S.C. 103 Obviousness, and 35 U.S.C. 112 Specification & Claims), Title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations (37 CFR Parts 1, 11, 41, and 42), and the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP Ninth Edition, Rev. 01.2024).

Prometric Exam Day Execution Checklist

During each 3-hour, 50-question Prometric session, you have exactly 3.6 minutes (216 seconds) per question. High-scoring candidates answer 35 to 40 questions on their first pass using memorized rules from MPEP 700, MPEP 200, MPEP 600, and MPEP 1800, and reserve the final 50–60 minutes to look up marked edge-case exceptions in the on-screen MPEP PDF viewer.

AIA vs. Pre-AIA & Deadline Verification Protocol

Before selecting an option on any Patent Bar question, run a three-point check: (1) check the effective filing date against the March 16, 2013 AIA transition date, (2) verify whether the deadline is extendable under 37 CFR 1.136(a) or non-extendable by statute (such as the 12-month provisional period, 6-month maximum reply cap, or 2-year broadening reissue rule in MPEP 1400), and (3) check whether the proceeding is before the examiner, the PTAB (MPEP 1200), or Ex Parte Reexamination (MPEP 2200).

To turn passive reading into a passing 70%+ score (63 out of 90 scored questions), pair this guide with active question drills in our Free 50-Question Practice Hub, review worked hypotheticals on our Example Questions page, and benchmark your lookup speed in the Timed Patent Bar Mock Exam Simulator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to retake the Patent Bar if I fail?

If you do not pass and apply to retake the exam, you must pay the $110 USPTO application fee, the $210 USPTO exam fee, and the $255 Prometric seat fee again ($575 total). That is why investing in timed mock exams ($49 Hero / $89 Master — Launch 50% off: $24 / $44) before your first attempt pays for itself tenfold.

Are there annual renewal fees for registered Patent Agents and Patent Attorneys?

Currently, the USPTO does not charge an annual practitioner maintenance fee, making your $210 post-pass registration fee one of the highest-ROI professional credentials in the United States.