Patent Examiner Employment Application

OMB Control No: 0651-0042	ICR Reference No: 201406-0651-001
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201106-0651-008
Agency/Subagency: DOC/PTO	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Patent Examiner Employment Application
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 10/31/2014
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 09/11/2014
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	10/31/2017	36 Months From Approved	10/31/2014
Responses	16,103	0	10,000
Time Burden (Hours)	8,052	0	5,000
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	10,800

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Abstract: With the help of the Monster Hiring System, the information supplied by an applicant seeking a patent examiner position with the USPTO assists the Human Resources Specialists and hiring managers in determining whether an applicant possesses the basic qualifications for a patent examiner position. This information collection is necessary to comply with 5 U.S.C. Sec. 2301, which requires adequate public notice to assure open competition by guaranteeing that necessary employment information will be accessible and available to the public on inquiry. The USPTO uses the electronic transmission of this information to review and rate applicants on-line almost instantaneously. It is also used by the USPTO to expedite the hiring process by eliminating the time used in the mail distribution process, thereby streamlining labor and reducing costs.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 5 USC 2301 Name of Law: null

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	79 FR 34722	07/18/2014
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	79 FR 52636	09/04/2014
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title Form No. Form Name Patent Examiner Employment Application

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	16,103	10,000	0	0	6,103	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	8,052	5,000	0	0	3,052	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	10,800	0	-10,800	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: OMB previously approved the renewal of this collection in September of 2008 with a total of 10,000 responses and 5,000 burden hours. With this renewal, the USPTO estimates that the responses will be 16,103 and the burden hours 8,051.5, which is an increase of 6,103 responses and 3,051.5 burden hours from the currently approved burden for this collection. The hourly rate for the candidate pool or users of the on-line employment application system has been updated from $46.07 in the previous renewal to the present $44.69. The USPTO estimates that the total annual (non-hour) cost burden will decrease by $10,800 for this renewal, from $10,800 currently reported on the OMB inventory to the present $0 per year. The decrease is due to the agency deciding to require all applicants to use the electronic application system; no paper applications will be accepted.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $988,084

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

Agency Contact: LaRita Jones 571 272-6196 [email protected]

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(i) Why the information is being collected;
			(ii) Use of information;
			(iii) Burden estimate;
			(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
			(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
			(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date: 09/11/2014

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