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LES Now Accepting Applications for Licensing Professional Credentialing Program

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Over 400 Applications Already Submitted Under "Grandfathering" Provision

Alexandria, VA -- The Licensing Executives Society (USA & Canada) Inc. (LES) is now accepting regular applications for its Certified Licensing Professional (CLP) program, which was launched last fall.

The designation offers an opportunity for IP licensing executives to earn a credential to validate their expertise and experience to employers, licensing partners, and other professionals with whom they interact.

Since October 2007, more than 400 applications have been submitted by experienced licensing professionals under a special "grandfathering" provision, which allows these professionals to obtain the CLP designation without taking the examination provided they meet several criteria demonstrating their experience, expertise, and level of current responsibility for licensing. The application deadline for these "grandfathering" candidates was December 31, 2007, and applicants will be notified in March whether they successfully met the criteria.

"We are thrilled with the initial interest in the CLP program," said LES President Thomas A. Picone, Ph.D. "Licensing professionals clearly see the value of earning the CLP designation and we anticipate many more applications now that we have opened the regular application process."

To become a CLP, candidates must meet requirements in three areas:

Education – Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited university
Experience – At least three years of professional-level experience involving the development, use, transfer, marketing, and/or management of IP within the past eight years.
Knowledge – Pass the CLP examination

The CLP exam will include 175-200 multiple choice questions on subject areas including legal, intellectual asset management, valuation, negotiation and ethics, and licensing.

LES is now developing test questions and working with a third-party testing company to structure the program and exam to include objective testing criteria. The first exam is scheduled for mid-2008.

A study guide for the CLP exam is expected to be published by March 2008. The application fee for the CLP program is $995.

An independent Board of Governors oversees the CLP program. Members of the board include:

Jack Anthony, Osprey Pharmaceuticals
Allen Baum, Hutchison Law Group
Kathleen Denis, The Rockefeller University
Simone Nuzze, General Electric
Dwight Olson, Consor
Patrick O’Reilley, Finnegan Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner
James Sobieraj, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Thierry Sueur, Air Liquide

Professionals earning the CLP credential will be required to recertify every three years by accumulating 60 credits from attending IP licensing-related meetings, publishing articles, presenting at IP seminars and conferences, and paying a recertification fee.

For more information about the program, visit www.usa-canada.les.org and click on the link to the CLP program, or contact LES at 703-836-3106.

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