What are the eligibility requirements for the Accelerated Examination program?

This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.

To be eligible for the Accelerated Examination program, an application must meet the following criteria:

• Be a non-reissue utility or design application filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) on or after August 25, 2006
• Not be a plant application, reissue application, national stage application, reexamination proceeding, or RCE (unless previously granted special status)
• Not be based on applicant’s health, age, or participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program

As stated in the MPEP: “Any non-reissue utility or design application filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) on or after August 25, 2006 is eligible for the accelerated examination program.”