Last year, I passed the certified solidworks expert test. Even though this isn’t an active improvement project for me, I thought I would document my experience.
What it is and why valuable
Solidworks has an array of certifications that are meant to demonstrate competency in using their software. Certified Solidworks Expert (CSWE) is the last of a progressive series of certificates for mechanical design. In order they are:
- Certified Solidworks Associate (CSWA) – demonstrates basic knowledge, in my mind this shows the level of skill from completing an introductory course. Honestly, feel free to skip this one.
- Certified Solidworks Professional (CSWP) – demonstrates advanced skills, this shows the level of skill expected from an experienced user.
- Certified Solidworks Professional Advanced Surfaces (CSWPA-SU) – specific to advanced surfacing skills
- Certified Solidworks Professional Advanced Sheet Metal (CSWPA-SM) – specific to advanced sheet metal skills
- Certified Solidworks Professional Advanced Weldments (CSWPA-WD) – specific to advanced weldments skills
- Certified Solidworks Professional Advanced Drawing Tools (CSWPA-DT) – advanced skills with drawings, easiest CSWPA in my opinion
- Certified Solidworks Professional Advanced Mold Making (CSWPA-MM) – skilled in mold making tools
The exams are a practical exam involving using solidworks to make models and come up with answers. There are some multiple choice knowledge questions as well. It is an online test taken on your own computer using their proctoring software. In order to take the CSWE exam you must of have passed the CSWP and four of the five CSWPA exams. If you fail a test there is a waiting period until you can attempt again. There is a small fee with all of these. However, with a current maintenance subscription you can get two free test vouchers every 6 months (there is no voucher for the CSWE – it is $149). Reach out to your VAR about how to get the vouchers. You can find out more info at https://www.solidworks.com/solidworks-certification-program.
There are two reasons to get industry certifications: 1) to learn something useful 2) to tell people you learned something useful. If it’s a good test you accomplish both. A lousy test might allow you to get the certificate without knowing much, watering it down for yourself and everyone else. I think the solidworks certifications are good tests but not perfect. The fact that they are practical exams do a good job of making sure people actually have the skillsets being tested. The minumum passing grade varies on each test between 70-80%. The curriculum and required knowledge translate well to real world modeling. In short it passes the test of learning something useful.
It is valuable to work on these certifications in order to increase your modeling skills. It can also be valuable to put them on your resume. My boss at my second job mentioned that my CSWP and CSWPA-SM were an important part of me getting an interview and ultimately getting the job. Not everyone has heard of the exams however and many don’t know what they mean. Your mileage may vary. At the very least it can be a talking point about why studying for and passing the exams made you a better engineer. *If doing so didn’t make you a better engineer then you wasted your time. Sorry. Maybe you should have focused less on jumping through the hoops and more on the reason why.
How to prep/learn
Learn the software inside and out is good advice. See my earlier post on upgrading your solidworks skill. Let’s assume you are working on that. How do you specifically prepare for the certifications? First, go to the solidworks certification page for the exam you want to take and look over the list of exam topics. They mean these when they write them down. I don’t ever remember a single question that didn’t fall within one of the topics. Now go learn about these topics; don’t just read about them or watch youtube videos. Make sure to use the tools yourself while modeling. After learning all the topics, take the practice exams provided on the solidworks certification page. There is only one free practice exam which is why I recommend taking it after you have done your learning. They do a decent job of being representative of the real exam. However, they are always a little easier because it is not a full length exam.
The other thing you should do to prepare is work on your modeling speed. These are all timed exams and they can be long (2-4 hours). I rarely felt like I had excess time in any of the certifications. Most of the time I felt a time crunch. This was one of my specific focuses in my prior post. Everything you do to model more quickly will help you in the exams but more importantly help in your whole modeling career. A 10% speed improvement means a 10% increase in productivity.
Testing Tips
Like any standardized test, some testing strategy can go a long way. Here are my tips in this regard:
- Take the test in a space and at a time where you won’t get interrupted. I always did mine at work after hours.
- Use the computer, mouse, and keyboard you are most comfortable with. This also allows you to be familiar with the software presets and shortcuts your have.
- Use two screens – one for solidworks and one for the exam questions.
- Have food and water ready – they are long tests.
- Read through all the questions first, then answer them in order from easiest to hardest. Some are abominably difficult and you can’t afford to waste time being stuck.
- Save a copy of your solidworks files at the end of every question (with the question number). Many questions build on the previous question. This allows you to go back and check your work if you have extra time. It also allows you to return to an earlier part in the modeling process if you make a mistake.
- You are not penalized for wrong answers, so if you run out of time guess on the ones you don’t know.
- Make use of multiple choice questions to gain confidence. Often at the beginning of a series of interconnected questions the first will have multiple choice for the correct value and then free response after that. If your first answer isn’t one of the options then you aren’t going to get any of the following right.
- Pay attention to units – the metric vs imperial fiasco will affect you here too.
My Story
I found out about the certification program on my own and started testing while at my first job. I got my CSWA easily, learned a lot to get my CSWP, passed my CSWPA-Sheet Metal (I did a lot of sheet metal design) and failed my first attempt at CSWPA-Surfacing. As I said above, those certifications helped me get my second job when I moved.
About a year ago, during a slow time at work, I quickly took and passed the exams for CSWPA – Drawing Tools (easiest CSWPA by far), CSWPA – Weldments, and finally the CSWE. I never payed for any of the exams. Free vouchers for having a subscription and then my employer payed for the CSWE. If I had to pay for every exam myself it would have cost $446.75. If I skipped CSWA and didn’t fail my first surfacing exam it would have cost $327.80. There is also the time investment of studying and taking the exams.
This deeper learning of the software has taught me a lot and exposed me to a lot of resources of how to improve my modeling. Could I have learned these things without the exams? Yes. Would I have? Some but not all. I liked having the measuring stick to push myself against. I also like being able to put a detailed bullet on my resume rather than just “Experience with Solidworks”. It has been worth it to me.
A few numbers to close out the post, as of 2015, there were 110,000 people with any solidworks certification (out of 6 million users), there were only 32,000 people with CSWP, and only 2,339 people with CSWE. With only 2% of those with certificates and only .039% of users passing the CSWE, it is an achievement that helps you stand out from the pack.