Get a significant professional edge with the SolidWorks certification! At the moment, more than 165,000 companies worldwide are using the SolidWorks computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE) software programs.
Getting certified as a proficient SolidWorks user is, therefore, going to provide you with a key advantage when seeking employment. We are going to walk you through the main steps of the process of getting certified so that you know exactly what you have to do. Take a look!
5 Reasons Why Getting Certified in SolidWorks Is Worth the Effort
Getting a SolidWorks certification will definitely open quite a few doors for you and here’s why!
- The SolidWorks certification is a standard of competency in engineering design, so you will be able to demonstrate your program operating skills to any employer.
- You will earn an extremely useful skill set in operating Solidworks software!
- You will acquire a significant competitive advantage over your contenders.
- The SolidWorks certification will represent you as being dedicated to your professional development.
- You will stand a much higher chance of being employed in the job of your dreams.
Which Is the Best SolidWorks Certification for You?
Take a look at the SolidWorks certification catalog to get an idea about what your options are. Read about what each of the certificates could do for you and choose the ideal one for your professional needs.
We are going to tell you the most important details about each of the 13 available SolidWorks certificates. Please note that for each of them you are required to complete at least one certified course. You will find the mandatory courses for each exam listed in the description so that you can prepare properly.
Certified SolidWorks Associate (CSWA)
This is the entry-level SolidWorks certificate and the first exam that you can take as part of the SW suite. The recommended training courses for this one are SolidWork Tutorials and SW Essentials and the exam will focus on your sketching abilities, on linear, circular and fill patterns and component insertion, as well as reference geometry, mass properties, and materials.
The exam takes three hours to complete and you will have to get a minimum score of 70% to pass it. If you fail the exam, you will need to wait at least 30 days to take it again and you will have to pay the registration fee once again.
Certified SolidWorks Associate – Academic (CSWA – Academic)
This SolidWorks certification exam will assert your abilities in 3D modeling software, advanced design concepts, as well as sustainable design. It is offered only by the SolidWorks Academic Certification Provider program. It also takes three hours to complete and you need at least a 70% score in order to pass it.
Certified SolidWorkd Professional (CSWP)
This CSWP certificate will recommend you as an advanced user of the SolidWorks software suite. You will have to prove your skills in designing and analyzing parametric parts and moveable assemblies by making use of the SolidWorks tools.
The suggested training courses for this exam are SolidWorks Drawings, SolidWorks Essentials, Advanced Part Modeling and Advanced Assembly Modeling. The examination process entails the following three segments:
- Segment 1 – you are given 90 minutes to complete this part of the exam and you will be required to create a certain part from a drawing by making use of you mass property analysis skills, as well as advanced geometry and design skills.
- Segment 2 – you are given 40 minutes to complete this section of the exam. You will be required to create certain configurations from other configurations and display your abilities to change these by making use of your Design Table and Mass properties skills.
- Segment 3 – you are given 80 minutes to perform this segment of the exam. You will be required to display your assembly skills by using the appropriate SolidWorks tools.
Certified SolidWorks Expert (CSWE)
This SolidWorks certificate will demonstrate your proficient skills in using the engineering design software, as well as your abilities to handle complex modeling challenges. It is actually the most difficult exam offered by the SolidWorks Certification Academy, but you will be given the title of “Expert” if you manage to pass it.
Please note that you are not allowed to take this exam first, regardless of your skill level. The exam prerequisites are a CSWP certificate, as well as a minimum of four advanced topic exams passed successfully (the Sheet Metal, Surfacing, Weldments, Mold Tools and Drawing Tools exams are described in detail below).
The exam takes a total of three hours to complete and you will need a minimum of 85% to pass it. Please note that if you do not pass the exam on your first attempt, you will be required to wait as much as 180 days before you can retake it. These are the main topics included in the curriculum:
- Sweeps
- Lofts
- Imported part modification
- Belts and Chains
- In-context assembly changes
- Multi-bodies
- Sketch blocks and pictures
- Split tool
- Move/Copy Body
If you manage to pass this exam, you will be presented with an electronic certificate, a business card logo and a personal listing on the CWSP directory.
Certified Entreprise PDM Administrator (CEPA)
This certificate will attest your advanced SolidWorks Enterprise PDM skills and it will recommend you as the ideal person to manage this software on behalf of the company. This will give great weight to your resume and it will provide you with a considerable advantage over your contenders when applying for employment.
The recommended training includes the SolidWorks Enterprise PDM Administration Class, as well as Project Management classes. The exam takes a total of two hours to complete and you will be required to get a minimum score of 70% in order to receive the certificate.
Certified Sustainable Design Associate (CSDA)
The CSDA certificate will attest your skills in environmental assessment and sustainable design. The suggested training material is the Sustainable Design Guide, which you can access directly from the official website. The exam takes only 60 minutes to complete, but you are expected to earn a minimum score of 80% in order to pass.
Certified SolidWorks Associate – Simulation (CSWA-S)
The CSWA-S certificate will demonstrate your skills in stress management and the Finite Element Method (FEM). The exam takes two hours to complete and it includes a total of 20 questions. You will have to use at least one of the following programs, as all the previous versions are deemed inadequate:
- SolidWorks Premium 2012
- SolidWorks Simulation 2012
- SolidWorks Student Edition 2012
Certified SolidWorks Professional-Simulation (CSWP-S)
The CSWP-S certificate demonstrates your ability to set up, perform and analyze the results of a wide range of simulation scenarios. It will also establish you as a proficient user of the SolidWorks Simulation program.
The recommended training courses are SolidWorks Simulation and SolidWorks Simulation Professional. The provided exam time is of 90 minutes and you will be required to get a minimum score of 75% in order to pass.
Certified SolidWorks Professional Advanced Sheet Metal (CSWPA-SM)
This is the first of the five SolidWorks advanced topic exams and it attests that you are a proficient user of the SolidWorks Sheet Metal tools. You will need to go through the basic SolidWorks tutorials during your training, as well as the Sheet Metal courses.
The SolidWorks Certification Center also offers a sample test for the advanced topic exams, which will be extremely useful for your preparation. The exam itself takes 90 minutes to complete and the minimum score required for certification is of 75%.
Please note that all the candidates who pass the SolidWorks advanced topic exams receive electronic certificates, as well as a personal listing on the CSWP directory.
Certified SolidWorks Professional Advanced Weldments (CSWPA-WD)
The CSWPA-WD certifies your advanced SolidWorks skills, as well as your proficient knowledge of the Weldments tools. This will assert you as the ideal candidate for any position that requires the use of this program.
The exam takes two hours to complete and requires you to earn at least 75% of the total amount of points in order to receive the certification. Please note that you will be required to use at least SolidWorks 2010 for this exam, as all previous versions are not compatible with the examination process.
Certified SolidWorks Professional Advanced Surfacing (CSWPA-SU)
This certificate will establish you as a proficient user of the SolidWorks Advanced Surfacing Tools. The provided time for the exam is 90 minutes and the minimum score requirement is 75%. Please note that you will have to use at least the SolidWorks 2009 software for this exam, as some of the files in the test are incompatible with previous versions.
Certified SolidWorks Professional Advanced Mold Tools (CSWPA-MT)
The CSWPA-MT certificate attests your proficient use of the SolidWorks Mold Tools. You are advised to go through the Mold Design using SolidWorks class in order to prepare for the exam and you are expected to use at least the SolidWorks 2008 software for the exam.
Certified SolidWorks Professional Advanced Drawing Tools (CSWPA-DT)
This certificate will validate your advanced skills in using the SolidWorks Drawing tools. You will have to use at least the 2010 version of the SolidWorks software for the exam and you are required to get a score of at least 75% in order to pass.
The SolidWorks Certification Center advises you to complete the Drawings course for your preparation and to take the sample test, which you can access on the official website.
On the company’s official website you will find more extensive information about the SolidWorks software suite, the certificates you can earn, as well as the training courses you can enroll in. Get your SolidWorks certification to be regarded as a highly trained professional in your field!