The European Patent Office (EPO), within the framework of training and certification examinations for Qualified Representatives (QR), also offers the Candidate Support Programme (CSP) to support interested individuals in their participation in this training.
The application period for the CSP will run from 8 July to 15 August, and applications must be submitted via the link: Candidate Support Programme | SAP .
Only candidates who are already registered with the EPO and meet the relevant eligibility criteria will be able to start their registration for the EQE 2026 from 8 July. Once registered, they will receive confirmation of their registration from the EPO Examination Secretariat. With this confirmation, they may apply for the CSP, if they wish.
More information about the program and the content of the EQE (European Qualifying Examination) can be found here
The EPO’s information file regarding the Candidate Support Programme (currently available only for the EQE) can be found here
In addition, the EPO has developed and is implementing the online training programme and the European Patent Administration Certification (EPAC) examinations, which are also supported through the CSP (though not during the current period). More information about the program and useful links can be found here.
The terms and conditions for participation in the EPO’s CSP for the EQE can be found here.
