SOLIDWORKS Certification Course Online

SolidWorks Certification Course Overview

VDCI’s SolidWorks Certification course is designed to equip you with the essential skills needed to excel in the SolidWorks certification exams, including both the Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate (CSWA) and Professional (CSWP) levels. Through a structured, two-part program consisting of basic & intermediate SolidWorks modules, you will build a comprehensive understanding of CAD design from the ground up. 

The curriculum focuses on hands-on, project-based learning, ensuring you gain practical experience in fundamental areas such as part modeling, sketching with design intent, and creating complex assemblies. This approach directly aligns with the competencies tested in the certification exams, preparing you to tackle real-world design challenges confidently.

As you advance through the modules, you will master the creation of production-ready technical drawings and learn to manage intricate part relationships within large assemblies. These advanced skills are critical for passing the demanding CSWA and CSWP exams and are highly valued in professional CAD design roles. By completing this course, you will not only be prepared to earn valuable industry-recognized certifications but will also possess the practical expertise to succeed in mechanical engineering, product design, and manufacturing environments.

What You Get: 

• Free SolidWorks Software: Access to the SolidWorks software.
• Free Certification Exams: A CSWA or CSWP exam voucher with 1 retake.
• Flexible Learning: Self-paced online learning options.
• VDCI Certificates: SolidWorks Course Completion Certificates.

SolidWorks Certification Exams for CAD Design

SolidWorks certifications serve as an industry-recognized benchmark for measuring a user's knowledge and competency with the software. Earning a certification validates your skills in 3D CAD modeling and design principles, demonstrating your expertise to potential employers and professional peers. This overview details the primary CAD design certifications, the Certified SolidWorks Associate (CSWA) and the Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWP), and explores their value in the job market.

Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate (CSWA) - Mechanical Design

The CSWA certification is the starting point for professionals and students looking to demonstrate their fundamental knowledge of SolidWorks. It confirms that a user has a solid foundation in 3D modeling, design concepts, and sustainable design principles. The exam is a single, timed test that assesses core competencies.

Skills Tested in the CSWA Exam:

• Sketching and Part Modeling: Candidates must create 3D parts from 2D drawings. This includes proficiency with sketch entities (lines, circles, arcs), sketch tools (offset, trim), and applying sketch relations.
• Basic Part Creation and Modification: The exam tests your ability to use foundational features like Extruded and Revolved Boss/Base, as well as applying fillets and chamfers.
• Design Intent: A key component is creating robust, parametric models. This means building parts that can be easily updated by changing key dimensions while maintaining the model's integrity.
• Assembly Modeling: Candidates are required to build assemblies by inserting parts and applying standard mates (e.g., Coincident, Concentric, Parallel) to define their relationships.
• Drawings: The exam covers interpreting engineering drawings and creating standard views (e.g., front, top, isometric) from a 3D model.

Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP) - Mechanical Design

The CSWP certification is for users who have passed the CSWA and want to demonstrate advanced proficiency. Achieving CSWP status indicates that a user can design and analyze parametric parts and complex assemblies using a wide range of sophisticated SolidWorks tools. The exam is broken down into three distinct segments, which can be taken separately.

Skills Tested in the CSWP Exam:

• Segment 1: Part Modeling: This segment focuses on advanced part creation. Skills include using linked dimensions and equations, modifying geometry on existing parts, and creating multiple configurations of a part from a drawing.
• Segment 2: Configurations and Advanced Part Features: This section tests the ability to create and modify configurations using a design table, rearrange features, and use more complex modeling tools.
• Segment 3: Assembly Modeling: The final segment is dedicated to advanced assembly skills. This includes adding parts, applying basic and advanced mates, creating flexible and rigid subassemblies, replacing components, and performing collision and interference detection. It also requires using a coordinate system to perform mass properties analysis.

The Value of SolidWorks Certification in the Job Market

Holding a SolidWorks certification is a clear indicator of your capabilities and commitment to your profession. It helps you stand out in a competitive job market and can lead to greater career opportunities and higher earning potential. Many employers in technical fields either require or strongly prefer candidates with these credentials because it reduces training time and ensures a baseline level of competency.

Industries and Job Roles Valuing Certification:

• Mechanical Engineering: Engineers use SolidWorks for designing machinery, tools, and mechanical systems. Employers in this field look for CSWP certification as proof of advanced skills.
• Product Design: Product designers who create consumer goods, electronics, and furniture rely on SolidWorks for everything from initial concepts to manufacturing-ready designs. A CSWA or CSWP shows you can bring ideas to life efficiently.
• Manufacturing and Automation: In roles like CNC programming or manufacturing engineering, professionals use SolidWorks to design jigs, fixtures, and factory layouts. Certifications demonstrate the ability to create precise and functional designs for production.
• Aerospace and Automotive: These industries demand high precision and complex assembly management. A CSWP certification is highly valued, as it proves a user can handle intricate designs and large assemblies, a common requirement for designing vehicle components or aircraft structures.
• Medical Device Design: The design of surgical tools, implants, and medical equipment requires extreme accuracy. A SolidWorks certification signals that a designer has the skills to create detailed and reliable models that meet strict regulatory standards.

The CSWA and CSWP certifications are more than just items on a resume; they are verified proof of your skills on one of the most widely used CAD platforms worldwide. The CSWA establishes your foundational knowledge, while the CSWP confirms your ability to handle complex design challenges. For anyone serious about a career in engineering, design, or manufacturing, pursuing these certifications is a direct investment in your professional future, providing a clear advantage when seeking employment with top-tier companies.

SolidWorks Exam Preparation

Starting with the Basics

Success in the CSWA exam starts with a strong understanding of the fundamentals. The first part of VDCI’s SolidWorks Certification course is designed for beginners and serves as the perfect starting point. The curriculum focuses on building core competencies that are directly tested in the certification exam.

Sketching and Part Modeling

A significant portion of the CSWA exam revolves around part creation from 2D sketches. The introductory modules provide extensive, hands-on training in these areas. You will learn to use essential sketch tools, such as lines, circles, arcs, and splines, to create precise geometric profiles. These introductory modules also cover the importance of sketch relations and dimensions, which are critical for creating robust and easily editable models, a key concept known as design intent.

From these sketches, you will learn to build 3D parts using foundational features such as Extruded Boss/Base, Revolved Boss/Base, and fillets. These skills are tested in the "Basic Part Creation and Modification" section of the CSWA exam, making this initial training invaluable.

Understanding Design Intent and Parametric Modeling

The CSWA exam doesn't just test your ability to create a shape; it tests your ability to create intelligent, parametric models. VDCI’s curriculum emphasizes design intent from day one. You'll learn how to build parts that can be easily updated by changing a few key dimensions, ensuring your models are flexible and efficient. This skill is crucial for real-world design scenarios and is a core evaluation point in the certification exam.

Advanced SolidWorks Features & Workflows

Once you have mastered the basics, you’ll be able to advance your skills to the next level with the intermediate course modules. These delve into more complex topics that align with the advanced sections of the CSWA exam, specifically focusing on assemblies and more intricate part features.

Creating and Managing Assemblies

The CSWA exam requires you to work with assemblies, which involves bringing multiple parts together to create a finished product. The intermediate course modules provide in-depth training on assembly modeling. You will learn how to insert components, apply standard mates like Coincident, Concentric, and Parallel, and analyze the relationships between parts.

A key part of the exam involves calculating the center of mass for an assembly, which requires you to correctly position each component. VDCI’s project-based lessons give you practical experience in building and mating assemblies, preparing you to handle these tasks accurately and efficiently under exam conditions.

Advanced Part Features and Drawings

Beyond basic extrudes and revolves, this course introduces more complex features like lofting, sweeping, and sheet metal design. While some of these are advanced topics, the underlying principles strengthen your overall modeling capabilities.

More importantly, the course covers the creation of 2D drawings from 3D models. The CSWA exam often includes questions on generating standard drawing views (e.g., front, top, isometric) and interpreting engineering drawings. In this part of the course, you will learn to create production-ready drawings complete with dimensions, annotations, and a bill of materials (BOM), providing you with the exact skills needed for this portion of the exam.

How VDCI Prepares You for the SolidWorks CSWA Exam

Earning the Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate (CSWA) certification is a significant milestone for any aspiring design professional. It validates your expertise in SolidWorks and signals to employers that you have the skills needed to succeed in a competitive industry. While the exam is comprehensive, the right training can fully prepare you to pass with confidence. VDCI's SolidWorks Certification course is structured to build your proficiency from the ground up, aligning directly with the competencies tested in the CSWA exam.

VDCI’s Learning Approach

VDCI's educational philosophy is built on hands-on, project-based learning. Instead of just watching lectures, you will actively create parts and assemblies from real-world examples. This approach ensures you not only understand the theory but can also apply it to solve practical design challenges, just as you will be required to do in the CSWA exam.

The courses are led by industry-experienced instructors who’ve taken the certification exams nd can provide personalized feedback and support. This guidance helps you identify areas for improvement and master the techniques necessary to pass the exam. By completing the comprehensive projects in both the introductory and intermediate courses, you will build a portfolio of work that demonstrates your skills while simultaneously preparing for the format and complexity of the certification test.

Some key features of VDCI's SolidWorks training include:

• Hands-On Learning: Courses are designed with hands-on exercises that simulate real-world challenges.
• Experienced Instructors: Learn from industry-expert instructors who have years of AEC experience.
• Flexible Learning Options: Participate in online courses that fit your schedule.
• Dedicated Live Support: Dedicated instructor and support staff to guide you 1-on-1.
• Certified Training: SolidWorks-approved training by SolidWorks Certified Instructors.

The Value of the CSWA Certification

Before diving into the training, it’s important to understand why the CSWA certification matters. The CSWA - Mechanical Design certification is an industry-recognized credential that demonstrates your fundamental knowledge of 3D CAD modeling and design principles using SolidWorks. It shows that you can create and analyze parts, work with complex assemblies, and produce detailed drawings, skills that are essential in fields like mechanical engineering, product design, and manufacturing.

Holding this certification can open doors to new career opportunities, increase your earning potential, and give you a competitive edge in the job market. It proves you have a solid foundation in one of the most widely used CAD software platforms in the world.

Your Path to Certification with VDCI

Achieving the SolidWorks CSWA certification is an excellent way to advance your career in CAD design. VDCI’s structured course progression provides a clear and effective path to get there. By starting SolidWorks basics to build your fundamental skills and continuing with the intermediate applications & techniques to master complex assemblies and drawings, you will be well-prepared to tackle the CSWA exam.

The combination of a targeted curriculum, project-based learning, and expert instruction gives you the practical knowledge and confidence needed to not only pass the exam but also excel in your future design roles.

SolidWorks is one of the most powerful and widely used 3D computer-aided design (CAD) software solutions. With its intuitive user interface, this software allows engineers, designers, and professionals across various industries to create, simulate, and analyze robust designs efficiently. From concept creation to production-ready models, SolidWorks streamlines the design process and helps bring innovative ideas to life.