Preparing for the SolidWorks Certification exams (version 2)

There continues to be a lot of interest in getting certified as SolidWorks Expert (CSWE).  Through there are no official accolades that go long with passing the CSWE, the certificate can garner employer and industry recognition of your established skills.  Even as the number of Certified SolidWorks Professional grows (CSWP), the number of those with the higher CSWE certification is still small by comparison.  Right now, there’s just over 1500 CSWEs.  To earn your opportunity to take the CSWE exam, you have to pass the CSWP and also pass four advanced exam modules from a selection including topics like Weldments, Surfacing, FEA, etc.

Applian Way Technologies has a blog with several articles that are brief preparation guides for various exam modules. A Very Swell Idea, Inc has some good advice for taking the modules in their discussion of CSWP Weldment exam. 3D Dimensional Engineer also has a great series on CSWP Preparation.

SolidWorks website itself has great information for each exam, including the core, advanced and the expert exams.

• CSWA – Certified SolidWorks Associate
• CSWA – Acedemic – Certified SolidWorks Academic Associate
• CSWP – Certified SolidWorks Professional
• CEPA – Certified Enterprise PDM Administrator
• CSDA – Certified Sustainable Design Associate
• CSWSA-FEA – Certified SolidWorks Simulation Associate – Finite Element Analysis Advanced Exam
• CSWSP-FEA – Certified SolidWorks Simulation Professional – Finite Element Analysis Advanced Exam
• CSWP-Sheet Metal – Certified SolidWorks Professional – Sheet Metal Advanced Exam
• CSWP-Weldments – Certified SolidWorks Professional – Weldments Advanced Exam
• CSWP-Surfacing – Certified SolidWorks Professional – Surfacing Advanced Exam
• CSWP-Mold Tools – Certified SolidWorks Professional – Mold Tools Advanced Exam
• CSWP-DRWT – Certified SolidWorks Professional – Drawing Tools Advanced Exam
• CSWE – Certified SolidWorks Expert

Once you’ve earned your certificate, you can exhibit it in a number of ways.  The certificate with a unique code is provided to you in the form of a PDF file, which can be printed out or shown on your mobile device.  You can use your unique code number to allow others to verify your acheivement.  Banner images are also provided so that you can add a certificate badge to your emails or website.  You can also add your certification information to your Linkedin account.  Don’t forget to notify your employer and colleagues.

Author: fcsuper

As a drafter, mechanical designer and CAD engineer, I've been in the mechanical design field since 1991. For the first 8 years of my career, I was an AutoCAD professional. I utilized AutoLISP and many other AutoCAD customization features to streamline drafting activities for 6+ drafters and designers. I authored several custom functions, one of which was published in the March 1997 issue of Cadalyst Magazine. Since 1998, I've been used SolidWorks non-stop. I've worked to utilize the SolidWorks' user environment to simplify drafting and design activities for 20+ engineers. I've created this website to provide current information about SolidWorks from a variety of contributors. More recently, I am now employed by Dassault Systemes as SOLIDWORKS Sr. Product Definition Manager to improve drawing, annotation and MBD related areas. View all posts by fcsuper