These tests relate to a subject belonging to one of the following technical sectors (chosen at the time of registration): mechanics / electricity or chemistry / pharmacy. The candidate retains the ability to compose on a subject belonging to the other technical sector.

1. First test : drafting of one or more requests for protection according to French law from a technical note relating to an invention. 
2. Second test : drafting of a note in the form of a consultation or an opinion on the validity and infringement of a French patent or a European patent designating France or on the procedure for granting a patent by the INPI. 

Duration : the candidate has 5 hours for each written test.

This is a presentation followed by an interview with the examination committee, on the acquisition and exploitation of a patent in France, in particular on the technical, legal and/or contentious aspects of a problem of validity, ownership and/or infringement. During the interview, questions concerning professional ethics, the application of European or international conventions and community regulations and directives as well as foreign laws may be raised.

The test covers a subject belonging to the technical sector chosen at the time of registration (mechanical / electrical or chemical / pharmaceutical).

Duration : the oral test is limited to 45 minutes and the candidate has a preparation time of one and a half hours.

1. First test : drafting of an opinion on the validity and availability of a sign based on the results of a search for prior rights according to French law.
2. Second test : filing an opposition to a trademark registration application before the INPI or before the OHIM in French or drafting observations in response to such an opposition.
3. Third test : drafting of a note in the form of a consultation or an opinion on a practical problem in the law of trademarks and distinctive signs, including domain names and the law of unfair competition or parasitic acts in French and Community law and international conventions and arrangements to which France is a party.
4. Fourth test : drafting of a note in the form of consultation or opinion on a practical problem of design law, including copyright, French and Community law and international conventions and arrangements to which France is a party.

Duration : the candidate has a total duration of 5 hours for all tests 1 and 2, and a total duration of 5 hours for all tests 3 and 4.

The oral tests focus on the analysis and discussion of legal problems relating to the application of French law, international conventions, community regulations and directives and the main foreign laws.

1. First test : in matters of trademark law, distinctive signs, including domain names, and unfair competition and parasitic acts.
2. Second test : in terms of design law, including copyright; questions concerning professional ethics may be raised in the context of this test.

Duration : the oral test is limited to 30 minutes. The candidate has for each of the tests a preparation time of one hour.

● a diploma corresponding to 60 ECTS credits after the license governed by the decree of April 23, 2002, sanctioning legal, scientific or
technical;
● a title of graduate engineer issued by a school appearing on the list of public technical schools, private technical schools recognized by the State and private technical schools authorized to issue a title of graduate engineer, established annually by the securities commission engineer pursuant to article 11 of the law of July 10, 1934;
● a title of master engineer awarded under the conditions provided for by decree no. 92-84 of January 23, 1992 creating the title of master engineer;
● a medical doctor's degree;
● a state doctor's degree in pharmacy;
● a doctor's degree in dental surgery;
● a veterinary doctor's degree;
● a diploma of the end of the 2nd cycle of medical or pharmaceutical studies;
● a DPLG architect diploma;
● a diploma from an institute of political studies;
● any diploma bearing the visa of the minister responsible for higher education, attesting to training at least equal to three years after the baccalaureate and issued by a higher education establishment in commerce and management recognized by the State and authorized to issue such a diploma;
● any foreign university or technical title or diploma required for access to professional qualification in the field of industrial property in the State where this title was issued.

One of the prerequisites for registering for the EQF patents examination is to be in possession of the corresponding diploma issued by the Center for International Industrial Property Studies (CEIPI) of the University of Strasbourg or the title of professional European representative registered on the list held by the EPO before 1 April 1992.

One of the prerequisites for registering for the EQF examination on trademarks and designs is to be in possession of the corresponding diploma issued by the Center for International Industrial Property Studies (CEIPI) of the University of Strasbourg. or a national postgraduate diploma or a national master's diploma governed by the decree of April 25, 2002, sanctioning training in the field of industrial property.

Find here a list of national diplomas recognized as equivalent CEIPI Trademarks, designs. This list, given as an indication, is not exhaustive, for any question concerning the other diplomas which could be worth equivalence contact the INPI.

A certificate attesting to this practice and signed by the person(s) qualified in IP under whose responsibility it was acquired must be produced.
The certificate of professional practice must be written in the form reproduced in the appendix to the decree of September 23, 2004:
● professional practice must have been acquired in France in the subject matter of the specialization sought and under the responsibility of a person qualified in industrial property registered with the same mention;
● when the practice has not been acquired under the responsibility of such a person, the jury provided for in article R421-6 may, on file, admit to the examination a candidate whose practice has been recognized equivalent in content, scope and compliance with the usual standards in the specialization concerned.

There is a special scheme for people who can provide proof of a diploma or title allowing them to practice the profession in a Member State of the European Union or to practice the profession full-time for at least 2 years in during the previous ten years in a Member State which does not regulate access to or the exercise thereof.

They may, depending on whether or not their training covers subjects substantially different from those required by the nature of the tests mentioned above, either be exempted from the examination or, on the decision of the jury, be subject to a specific examination. The decision is made on the file to be provided by the candidate.

Within the meaning of Law No. 84-52 of January 26, 1984 empowered to issue it, or of a title recognized as equivalent under the conditions set by joint order of the Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice, Minister responsible for industrial property and the minister in charge of higher education (cf. art 1 of the decree of September 23, 2004).

The equivalence of the diploma is recognized under the conditions set by joint order of the Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice, the Minister responsible for Industrial Property and the Minister responsible for Higher Education (cf. art 2 of the order of September 23, 2004).

This professional practice must have been acquired:

• within one or more companies, groups of companies, associations, foundations or public establishments;
• as an employee of a lawyer or an industrial property attorney, an association or a law firm or an industrial property attorney firm, an attorney's office or lawyer at the Council of State and at the Court of Cassation;
• within an administration, a public service or an international organization, subject to candidates having the status of civil servant or former civil servant of category A (and assimilated).
   

The professional practice required may result from the exercise of several of the functions listed above, provided that the total duration of these activities is at least equal to eight years. Except when it results from functions exercised within an international organization, the professional practice must have been acquired in a Member State of the European Union or part to the european economic area.