WIPO offers a distance learning course called Introduction to the Patent Cooperation Treaty. The course is free of charge. My suggestion is that any person who is involved in providing services to clients relating to the PCT ought to take this course, pass the quizzes, and obtain the certificate of completion. My suggestion extends to patent practitioners, paralegals, and administrative assistants. I took the course just today and here is my certificate of completion.
To learn more or to register for the course, click here. You can see more information about the course below.
The PCT course provides an introduction and general overview of the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
Self-assessment tools are strategically placed throughout the course to measure your understanding and progress. In addition to the course material, links to specific reference documents are provided, such as legal texts and other official WIPO documents.
Participants are able to review course material at their own pace.
Curriculum
The PCT course is comprised of fourteen modules:
- Module 1: What is the PCT?
- Module 2: Why Use the PCT?
- Module 3: Preparing the PCT Application
- Module 4: Filing the PCT Application
- Module 5: PCT Electronic Services
- Module 6: Patent Agents and Common Representatives
- Module 7: International Search Report and Written Opinion of the ISA
- Module 8: International Publication
- Module 9: International Preliminary Examination
- Module 10: Entry into the National Phase
- Module 11: Special International Phase Procedures
- Module 12: Procedures for Inventions in the Field of Biotechnology
- Module 13: Access by Third Parties to the File of a PCT Application
- Module 14: PCT Outlook
Final Exam and Certificate
This course is entirely self-study. When you successfully complete the quizzes, you receive an electronic certificate of completion.