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ARTICLE · 22 MAY 2026

New EQE Paper M3 Will Provide Exemption From UK Papers FD2, FD3

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The UK's Intellectual Property Regulation Board has made a crucial determination regarding the equivalence of the new European Qualifying Examination Paper M3 to traditional UK patent examination requirements.

United KingdomIntellectual Property
Susan Bradley
Susan Bradley
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Following a Board meeting on 21 May 2026, IPReg has confirmed that a pass in EQE Paper M3 will be recognised as equivalent to the competencies assessed in the UK Patent Examination Board drafting (FD2) and amendment (FD3) papers. 

Prior to the introduction of the new EQE exams, candidates who passed the EQE did not need to also pass the UK FD2 and FD3 papers, since these were considered “equivalent” to EQE Paper A and Paper B, respectively.

However, the “legacy” EQE Papers A and B were run for the last time in 2025, and moving forwards it was unclear whether new EQE paper M3 would be sufficiently equivalent to Papers A and B to provide an exemption for candidates.

Today's announcement from IPREG also states that it will recognise “mixed routes” comprising a pass in legacy Paper A together with M3 Part 2, or a pass in legacy Paper B together with M3 Part 1. Existing exemptions and recognition arrangements remain unchanged, such that passes in legacy Papers A and B, and the full

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