If you have been using Solidworks for a while now, you may have gained some amount of expertise in using the tool. While it is seen when someone is using a design tool if he is naive or a professional, you may not be able to convey your efficiency on the tool effectively without a valid credential. 

In our earlier post on CSWA, we discussed the process which will help you with your CSWA exam preparation. Now you have a CSWA credential and you have been working on Solidworks to get practical exposure i.e. to bring your designs and ideas to life. Maybe you have become a working professional now and landed your first job as a design engineer or you have been working on your startup and have completed a number of projects for your clients and now looking for the next big thing in your career then the CSWP (Certified Solidworks Professional) exam is your next target.

While it is a valid question many of you may have, ‘Why would I be taking another exam?’ or  ‘Is it worth it?’. I would like to tell you that being a CSWP won’t take your career from zero to a hundred but it certainly will help to take that next step in your career, attracting a few more opportunities.

But before starting I would suggest you get your ‘WHY’ clear. This will help you keep track during your process as the process for CSWP is going to be a long one compared to CSWA.

For Individuals: 

For many of you, the reason for taking up the CSWP exam is that it simply gives you a challenge and questions your expertise on the tool. For me, this was a chance to get a certificate from Dassault Systems itself and receive a credential that I am a competent candidate for this tool. But for all of you, this will surely be a learning journey as no matter how much you think you know about Solidworks it is always more to be explored. Solidworks comes up with a new version every year and they try to make it more and more flexible and user-friendly. New features and capacities are added every year so while preparing for CSWP you will surely learn a ton of new things.

For Small businesses and Startups:

While being in the industry, if you as a new business or startup want to showcase the expertise of your design team, you should make your design team take up the CSWP exam. This is surely the best way to upgrade them and keep them aligned with new advancements in the Software. Also advertising that your design team consists of CSWP members may attract more clients to you.

 

After all the CSWP can be looked at as a feather in your cap, both for businesses and individuals.

I am suggesting some ways you can start working on your next quest for the CSWP credential.

 

The prerequisites:

Unlike the CSWA, the CSWP exam has some prerequisites. You must be a CSWA before taking up this examination. Ideally, you should also have hands-on working experience on industry projects. 

 

Exam Coupons:

The exam coupons can be purchased from Solidwork’s official website itself. However, if your company has a valid Solidworks license Solidworks provides you with two exam vouchers annually free of cost. Try reaching out to your employer and ask them for it. Many employers are generally helpful and inclined towards upgrading their employees.

 

MySolidworks:

As in the case of CSWA, the resources for CSWP can be found on the same website i.e. the mysolidworks website. If you go to the CSWP page you may notice that some of the modules are already completed by you. That is because you (most likely) studied them during your CSWA preparation. Now you will have to just chill and watch the rest of the modules and try to be as attentive as possible to grasp all the knowledge. Remember now you are most likely aware of what’s being taught in the modules. This time, however, you should be listening to them in order to be aware of the most time-efficient ways to go about designing something. Try to understand the design intent behind designing anything.

 

Additional Learning:

This could be a LinkedIn Learning course or a Udemy course to get more practice. You may even take up exercises to improve your design intent. Try to practice more and more so that you can get faster on the tool.

 

Working on Large Assemblies:

CSWP exam will include questions where large assemblies may need to be opened on your PC. Make sure to check if you can efficiently work with large assemblies and try to get comfortable with them. This will also make sure that your PC setup can handle these assemblies without lagging. 

 

The sample CSWP test:

As for the CSWA, there will be a sample test for the CSWP also on the official certification page of the Solidworks Website. I urge you to take up this test before attempting the main exam, just to test the waters before you dive into it. Once that is done most likely you will be missing some questions given the time constraint that the exam has. This points out that there is room for additional practise before going for the exam itself. The sample test works as a feedback system not only for your preparation but also for your PC setup.

Set up the PC and Go for it:

Just as you had set up the PC for CSWA, do the same thing this time as well. It’s better to have two screens rather than one so as to avoid the time consumed between switching the windows. Make sure you get power back up too. Make sure you use the latest possible version of Solidworks this will just make your life easier.

 

This exam is a milestone for your career but try to understand that it is just an exam that if passed gives you more liberty in expressing your efficiency on the tool. Just by genuine efforts and sticking to your goal you will be able to pass it.