☰ Menu
Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office

Navigating the EQE format changes

New EQE Papers and Required Experience for new EQE

To access information about an EQE paper, click on its title within the following text. To access regulations and notices relating to EQE, please visit the official website www.eqe.org.

Standard track:

    • Paper F - 1 year of experience (Art.11(2)(a) REE)
    • Papers M1, M2 – 2 years of experience (Art.11(2)(a) REE)
    • Papers M3, M4 – 3 years of experience (Art.11(2)(a) REE)

    • M1, M2, M3, M4 can be enrolled only after a PASS in F (R.10(2) IPREE)

Fast track:

    • 3 years of experience, enrol for M1, M2, M3, M4 without F (R.10(3) IPREE)
    • If at least M1&M2 or M2&M3 passed – exemption from F (R.10(3) IPREE)

    • Reminder: candidates must register with the Examination Secretariat at the start of training to accumulate the required training experience! (Art.11(1) REE, R.1 & R.28(1) IPREE)

 

Deadlines for registration and enrolment

As a reminder, the process for sitting EQE papers (including paper F) requires the following steps:

(i) Compulsory Registration (Art.11(1) REE, R.1 & R.28(1) IPREE)

    • Candidates must prove that they possess the proper scientific or technical qualifications and have fulfilled the required period of mandatory practical training according to the REE/IPREE.
    • Candidates that have not registered in time cannot enroll for the EQE.

  For paper F, held on 21 March 2025, candidates must register by 28 May 2024

(ii) Enrolment for each exam (Art.11 REE, R.1 IPREE)

    • Candidates must follow the enrolment procedure and pay the respective fee for each paper they intend to take

  Candidates may enrol from 8 July – 23 September 2024 for paper F, held on 21 March 2025

OJ EPO 2024, A26 (https://link.epo.org/elearning/Announcement_2025)
Further information available: https://www.epo.org/en/learning/professional-hub/european-qualifying-examination-eqe

 

Reasonable Accommodations (R.17 IPREE)

As a reminder, candidates may request reasonable accommodations for the examination under R.17 IPREE:

    • Candidates with a permanent or temporary disability, injury, particular condition (including pregnancy) or the like may request accommodations for the EQE;
    • Such candidates should contact the Examination Secretariat as soon as possible, describe the condition and provide evidence of it;
    • Various accommodations may be provided by the Secretariat accordingly.


New EQE – Standard Track 

 

New EQE – Fast Track (R.10(3) IPREE)

 

EQE in 2025-2027

Options for candidates at different training stages in 2025

 

Schedule of EQE Papers 2025-2027

 

 

Options for EQE Candidates with 1 year of experience on day of exam in 2025

 

Important factors to consider

  • Candidates with 1 year of experience on exam day in 2025 will only have the option of entering the New System
  • Selecting the Standard Track (R.10(2) IPREE)
    • Paper F is taken
    • Candidates can follow a gradual learning curve or go by any of the options provided on image depending on personal preference/needs
    • Once paper F is passed, there are no restrictions regarding re-sitting papers M as necessary
  • Selecting the Fast Track (R.10(3) IPREE)
    • Paper F is skipped*
    • It is possible to pass all papers M in one sitting (candidates will have no exams in 2025 & 2026)
    • All four papers M must be taken in one sitting once candidates have 3 years of experience
      • *If papers M1 & M3 or M2 are failed, candidates will need to pass paper F in addition to re-sitting failed papers M; re-sat papers M are only marked if paper F is passed
  • Fast Track can be risky if candidates will not pass all papers M on first try

Options for EQE Candidates with 2 years of experience on day of exam in 2025

Important factors to consider

  • Candidates with 2 years of experience on exam day in 2025 will have the option of continuing via the Old System while it runs and/or entering the New System
  • Continuing via the Old System
    • Exempt from Pre-Exam paper (not offered in 2025) (Art.25(6) REE)
    • Candidates will take papers A, B, C & D in 2026 and may qualify as EPA in 2026
    • If any of ABCD papers are failed in 2026, candidates will enter the New System in 2027 with exemptions according to transitional provisions for passed papers (Art.25 REE)
    • Compensable fails do not qualify for transitional provisions for candidates that do not pass all papers ABCD in 2026
  • Entering the New System
    • Possible to enter Standard Track (R.10(2) IPREE) or Fast Track (R.10(3) IPREE)
    • Not possible to qualify as EPA until 2027 (M3 & M4 not offered until 2027)
  • Continuing with the Old System will provide candidates with opportunity to qualify as EPA in 2026
  • Entering the New System will delay possible qualification as EPA until 2027


Options for EQE Candidates with 3 years of experience on day of exam in 2025

 

Important factors to consider

  • Candidates with 3 years of experience on exam day in 2025 will have the option of continuing via the Old System while it runs and/or entering the New System
  • Continuing via the Old System
    • Take papers A, B, C & D in 2025 and potentially qualify as EPA in 2025
    • If any of ABCD failed in 2025, re-sit any of ABCD in 2026 as necessary and potentially qualify as EPA in 2026
    • If any of ABCD papers are failed in 2026, candidates will enter the New System in 2027 with exemptions according to transitional provisions for passed papers (Art.25 REE)
    • Compensable fails do not qualify for transitional provisions for candidates that do not pass all papers ABCD in 2026
  • Entering the New System
    • A pass in Pre-Exam will provide exemption from papers F & M1
    • Candidates can take paper M2 in 2026 or take all papers M2, M3 & M4 in 2027
    • Not possible to qualify as EPA until 2027 (M3 & M4 not offered until 2027)
  • Continuing with the Old System will provide candidates with opportunity to qualify as EPA in 2025 or 2026
  • Entering the New System will delay possible qualification as EPA until 2027


Options for candidates that fail pre-exam 2024

 

Important factors to consider for candidates sitting the pre-examination in 2024

  • Candidates that pass the pre-examination may enrol for papers ABCD in 2025
    • and in 2026 as needed for re-sitting
  • Candidates that fail the pre-examination may either:
    • Be exempt from pre-exam 2025 and sit papers ABCD in 2026
      • earliest possible qualification year is 2026
    • Start with paper F in the new system in 2025 (Standard Track)
      • earliest possible qualification year is 2027
    • Skip 2025 & 2026 and sit M1, M2, M3 & M4 in the new system in 2027 (Fast Track
      • earliest possible qualification year is 2027
  • Transitional provisions apply to papers ABCD passed in 2025 & 2026
    • For more detail, see Notice from the Examination Secretariat of 11 March 2024

     

    Transitional provisions

    These transitional provisions will apply for a maximum of five years from the first time a candidate avails themselves of an exemption under this Regulation (Art.25(4) IPREE).

Candidates moving from old to new system

Old EQE

Papers with PASS grade

New EQE

Will have exemption from

Pre-examination

Papers F and M1

Paper A

Part 1 of Paper M3 (drafting)

Paper B

Part 2 of Paper M3 (defending)

Paper C

Part 3 of Paper M3 (attacking)

Paper D

Papers M2 and M4

Transitional provisions for candidates that passed any of ABCD where no pre-examination was held prior*

Old EQE

Papers with PASS grade

New EQE

Will have exemption from

Paper A

F and M1 + Part 1 of Paper M3 (drafting)

Paper B

F and M1 + Part 2 of Paper M3 (defending)

Paper C

F and M1 + Part 3 of Paper M3 (attacking)

Paper D

F and M2 + M4


* Past versions of REE (prior to 2012), Cancellation of Pre-exam in 2020 and Exemption from Pre-exam in 2025