From its inception, the Certification program
for Solidworks has served as "a benchmark to measure your knowledge and
competency with Solidworks software". There have been significant refinements to the program over the years and at present there are a variety of
levels and areas of interest as outlined on the Solidworks Certification
site. Each year at Solidworks World,
candidates are allowed to take either Certified SolidWorks Associate
(CSWA), Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWPCORE) or any of the Certified
SolidWorks Professional Advanced Specialist exams. The current program then certainly encourages
consideration for anyone looking to assess or promote their skill with
Solidworks. Along with the sample
exams provided by Solidworks and information found in The Solidworks Blog, searching online can also reveal a number of
articles that address general exam content and collectively this information may serve well
in preparing for a successful exam.
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| (c) DS Solidworks |
One benefit of Certification in Solidworks is that
it demonstrates proficiency due in part to the time constraint imposed
by an exam. While there is certainly
nothing new to be found in an exam, a users competency in the software is
revealed in the ability to model and navigate through the test criteria
decisively. In this regard, most users
could certainly attain the desired results with a good working knowledge of the
exam set and given enough time. A Certification then clearly validates a users ability to attain the desired results
effectively and accurately.
Solidworks has a very respectable arrangement
to the Certification program, being both accessible and a fair representation of the
software. Whether Certification
affords a secular advantage is mixed, as it may for some and may not for
others. Regardless of this, simply by recalling or contemplating your first impression of Solidworks and how it may have affected your secular goals, perhaps the most notable benefit to gaining Certification in Solidworks is the milestone and significance of genuine personal
achievement.
Here are a few recommendations for taking a Solidworks Certification exam:
- ensure you have a stable internet connection
- if available, use a dual monitor arrangement to view both the Solidworks program and the VirtualTester Client simultaneously
- have a folder location already prepared and easily accessible in which to save the models you create, and those you may need to download for an exam
- ensure you have an adequate window of time and an environment free of distraction
- endeavor to read questions and view images carefully and thoughtfully
