Frequently Asked Questions
No prior knowledge is required. Each course is designed to build understanding of IP protection, patent applications, and the generation of value from your inventions—from fundamentals to more complex processes.
Yes. All courses, learning materials, and certificates on The Inventor’s Patent Academy are entirely free to access.
Because we are using a new Learning Management System, your course progress will not transfer from learn.inventtogether.org to theinventorspatentacademy.org.
You have two options:
- Complete your current course on learn.inventtogether.org before May 31, 2026, to earn your certificate.
- Utilize fast-track options on theinventorspatentacademy.org to quickly catch you up to where you left off:
“Mark Complete”
In the course content view mode, there is a button that lets you mark a module or course as complete. You can use this to catch the new system up on your progress from the previous system:
“Lesson-Chapter Markers”
The new modules and courses include a lesson table of contents with markers that will jump past content you may have already watched. This can also be useful for reviewing and re-playing our content if you’re using it as reference materials:
We’ve also removed any prerequisite viewing requirements across all our course material, allowing you to freely explore the content and use it as a resource for future reference. We hope the new system improves your overall experience.
We have made improvements to the student dashboard—turning it into a primary tool for tracking your progress and navigating student resources.
No special software is required. Each course lives within your browser. All you need is a computer, tablet, or smartphone to access the internet.
Yes. Certificates granted at the end of each course on theinventorspatentacademy.org are the same as certificates that were granted on learn.inventtogether.org.
All TIPA courses are mobile-friendly, so you can continue learning on the go.
The only major difference in content is the removal of the “Values” exercise.
All courses are self-paced, so you can learn whenever it’s convenient.
You will have the opportunity to retake a quiz as many times as you need to pass.
No. You can start with any course and jump to any chapter, lesson, or quiz in our content. We’ve made the system work for you as both a resource and a learning tool, so you can return to any portion of the material whenever you need it.
Yes! We believe education that supports patent protection should never be locked behind a paywall.
New features added to The Inventor’s Patent Academy:
- Student Dashboard UI
- Video format with captions and transcripts
- Live transcript follow-along
- Playback speed is now adjustable
- Skip to sections (lesson chapterization)
- Spanish language support
- Improved Glossary and Resources pages
- New accelerated course with more on the way
- Better mobile and tablet support
Yes. Teachers and organizations are welcome to use TIPA materials for classrooms, workshops, and other programs. Dozens of colleges and universities across the country have incorporated TIPA courses into their curricula.
If you’ve already checked your internet connection, updated your browser, and tried logging in again, contact TIPA’s support team at [email protected]
Anyone is welcome to take these courses. Learning about the U.S. patent system can be helpful even for international inventors, since you’ll have to apply for a patent in any country in which you want IP protection.
Once you register, you’ll have full access to our Resource Hub and Glossary. Easy to access and free, the Resource Hub provides information, including assistance with USPTO filing, business plan templates, Business Model Canvas resources, and entrepreneurship resources tailored for the military community.
