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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 22, 2021 / Notices suggestions beyond the scope of the request for comments and the questions posed therein were provided in many of the comments. The USPTO appreciates the suggestions and may address them in the future, once further evaluation and data are garnered.
This notice merely describes agency policy and procedures and does not involve substantive rulemaking. While the criteria for admission to practice in patent matters is generally described in 37 CFR 11.7, the rule does not set forth the specific scientific and technical criteria for admission.
Administrative Update 1: Add Common Category B Degrees to Category A
As explained further in the GRB, bachelors degrees listed under Category A present prima facie evidence of the requisite technical and scientific qualifications. Prior to this notice, the bachelors degree under Category A may only have been in one of the following subjects: Biology, biochemistry, botany, computer science, electronics technology, food technology, general chemistry, marine technology, microbiology, molecular biology, organic chemistry, pharmacology, physics, textile technology, aeronautical engineering, agricultural engineering, biomedical engineering, ceramic engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, electrochemical engineering, engineering physics, general engineering, geological engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, metallurgical engineering, mining engineering, nuclear engineering, and petroleum engineering. These degree categories will remain listed under Category A.
Acceptable computer science degrees under Category A must be accredited by the Computer Science Accreditation Commission of the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board or by the Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology on or before the date the degree was awarded.
This requirement for computer science degrees under Category A remains unchanged by this notice. Based on the comments received, the USPTO will continue to evaluate this requirement in light of the type of computer science degrees i.e., whether accredited or not and the nature of computer science degrees generally awarded by colleges and universities.
Starting in early 2020, the USPTO
undertook a review of Category B
applications to identify bachelors degrees that are routinely accepted as demonstrating the requisite scientific
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and technical qualifications. This review is ongoing. Based on the analysis to date and comments received, and understanding that Category A cannot be an exhaustive list of all degrees that would qualify, the Office is expanding the above list of Category A degrees to expressly include the following degrees that are routinely accepted under Category B: Aerospace engineering, bioengineering, biological science, biophysics, electronics engineering, genetic engineering, genetics, marine engineering, materials engineering, materials science, neuroscience, ocean engineering, and textile engineering.
Listing these Category B degrees under Category A will improve operating efficiency and streamline the application process for prospective patent practitioners.
The USPTO also invited comments on any additional degrees that should be considered under Category A. Based on the comments received and a review of the applicants in the suggested degree categories over the past three calendar years i.e., 2018 through 2020, the USPTO is also expanding the list of Category A degrees to expressly include the following degree: Environmental engineering. Other degree categories suggested by commenters were considered but are not being included under Category A at this time to allow for the additional collection and evaluation of data on these degree categories. For example, one of the degree categories suggested by commenters was artificial intelligence.
In the past three calendar years, however, there have been no applicants with an artificial intelligence degree.
The USPTO will continue to monitor degree categories as the degrees and data develop.
The Office will continue to accept degrees where the transcript demonstrates equivalence to a Category A degree For example, molecular cell biology may be equivalent to biology, and materials science and engineering may be equivalent to materials science..2

demonstrating acceptable technical and scientific training. This includes the newly added Category A degrees listed above and degrees where the transcript demonstrates equivalence to a Category A degree.

Administrative Update 2: Accept Advanced Degrees Under Category A

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Prior to this notice, Category A did not include post-baccalaureate degrees.
Based on a review of applicants and the comments received, the USPTO is updating the GRB to list possession of a masters or a doctor of philosophy degree in a Category A subject as 2 See OED Frequently Asked Questions FAQs, available at www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/
patent-and-trademark-practitioners/oed-frequentlyasked-questions-faqs.

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Administrative Update 3: Accept a Combination of Core Sciences Under Category B, Options 2 and 4
Prior to this notice, Category B, Option 4 in the GRB required a combination of 40 credit hours in acceptable technical and scientific courses, including at least 8 hours in either chemistry with a lab or 8 hours in physics with a lab. Category B, Option 2, which focuses on training in biology and related sciences, had a similar requirement. The requirement for lab-based core science courses is meant to ensure familiarity with the processes involved in conducting valid experiments, the scientific method, and proper analysis of scientific data.
It is not clear whether multiple courses in either chemistry or physics alone, with a lab, provide an appreciable benefit over general core science training. Accordingly, the USPTO is revising Category B, Option 4
by changing 8 semester hours in chemistry or 8 semester hours of physics . . . obtained in two sequential courses, each containing a lab to eight semester hours in a combination of chemistry, physics, and/or biology, with at least one course including a lab.
Category B, Option 2, which already requires training in biology, is being revised to require at least eight semester hours in a combination of chemistry and physics, with at least one course including a lab.
Andrew Hirshfeld, Commissioner for Patents, Performing the Functions and Duties of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
FR Doc. 202120378 Filed 92121; 8:45 am BILLING CODE 351016P

Department of the Navy National Nuclear Security Administration Pay and Performance System Department of the Navy, DoD.
Notice of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program NNPP conversion to the National Nuclear Security Administration NNSA pay and performance system.

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