The eLearning Center for Ivy Tech Community College - Northeast

Overview

This course will provide the student with a general introduction to the various types of U.S. patents that are available. The student will also learn the parts of a patent application, what can get an inventor in trouble, patent professionals that can help with drafting, filing and prosecuting a patent application, how to find out how much getting a patent will cost, and what kind of inventions get special treatment from the U.S. patent office.

The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of sixteen (16) questions at the end of this course to earn PDH credits.

This course cannot be taken to fulfill your continuing education requirements in the state of New York since the course does not fall under the category of "Areas of Practice" or "Law/Ethics".

Specific Knowledge or Skill Attained

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

  · What determines patentability
  · Types of patents available
  · Parts of a patent application
  · Costs of getting a patent
  · Subject matter that gets special treatment from the USPTO
  · Patent drawing requirements
  · Differences between a patent agent and a patent attorney
  · Acting as your own agent
  · Additional resources for patent information

State Board Acceptance

This course can be used by professional engineers to fulfill PDH requirements mandated by state and provincial licensing boards. Decatur Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing education in all states that pre-approve course providers. In all other states that mandate continuing education for engineers, it is the individual engineer's responsibility to determine the suitability of activities for PDH credit. The state boards typically accept online* courses that cover technical, managerial** or ethical content and which are relevant to the practice of engineering. The course must have a clear purpose or objective with a content that will maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice. For questions about your mandatory PDH requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board.

This course cannot be taken to fulfill your continuing education requirements in the state of New York since the course does not fall under the category of "Areas of Practice" or "Law/Ethics".

*Online courses are accepted by all state licensing boards that mandate continuing education. Other than New York (which limits online courses to 18 PDH) and Iowa (which limits online courses to 6 PDH), there are no limits placed by other states on the number of hours that can be earned through online continuing education. Consult with your state licensing board if you have any questions about the acceptability of online courses.

**The New York State Board of Engineers does not accept general office management courses, but will accept project management courses that are offered by an approved provider and that are technical in nature and contribute to the engineer's professional practice.