In the United States, a patent attorney or a patent agent is licensed to practice and allowed to represent a client before the Patent Office. Patent agents and attorneys are also both allowed to file, prepare, and prosecute any patent applications they are interested in. According to the U.S. Supreme Court case Sperry v. Florida, patent agents and patent attorneys can offer their patentability opinions. Usually, it is required that patent attorneys and patent agents are in possession of a technical degree and that they take and pass the Examination for Registration to Practice in Patent Cases. This test must be taken before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In order to be registered as a patent agent or patent attorney, passing the USPTO registration examination is required. This exam is known for testing the candidate's knowledge of patent law. In addition, it tests the person's familiarity with USPTO policies and procedures, which are available in the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure.