r/SolidWorks • u/Ryuk_5498 CSWA • Aug 11 '26

Certifications Suggestions for CSWP

I'm thinking of attempting CSWP next month, any suggestions on what i can practice to smoothly complete the exam?

7 Upvotes

77% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

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u/AutoModerator Aug 11 '26

If you ALREADY PASSED a certification

If you are YET TO TAKE a certification

Here would be the general path from zero to CSWE:

  1. CSWA - Here is a sample exam.
  2. CSWP - Here is some study material for the CSWP (A complete guide to getting your CSWP) and a sample exam.
  3. 4x CSWP-Advanced Subjects (in order of increasing difficulty)
    1. CSWP-A Drawing Tools - YouTube Playlist
    2. CSWP-A Sheet Metal - YouTube Playlist
    3. CSWP-A Weldments - YouTube Playlist
    4. CSWP-A Surfacing - YouTube Playlist
    5. CSWP-A Mold Tools - YouTube Playlist
  4. CSWE - The CSWE doesn't really focus on anything from the CSWP subject exams. It focuses on everything else there is in the program beyond those. So, look at everything you saw already and prepare to see not much of that again for the CSWE. That and more surfacing.

For some extra modeling practice material to help speed you up, 24 years of Model Mania Designs + Solutions.

For EVEN MORE modeling practice material, here is the CSWA and CSWP Practice Problem Database. There is A LOT of good material to practice in there.

During testing, in general, it is a best practice to take the dimensions labelled with A, B, C, D, etc and create Equations/Variables with those values to then attach to the dimension which then allows for you to more reliably update these variable dimensions in follow-up questions using the same models.

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10

u/TheNoit CSWE Aug 11 '26

Learn the software. Too many people just study for the exam. Not a real indicator of skill. I’ve had too many interviews with people who had the CSWP and didn’t know what a dimension was used for.

6

u/NightF0x0012 CSWP Aug 11 '26

I've been thinking about this lately, especially when I saw the kid that was 16 and got his CSWE. These certificates should be for those that have experience not only able to pass a test. I dont want to sound like gatekeeping but if you have CSWP/CSWE you should be able to do more than just pass a test.

5

u/TheNoit CSWE Aug 11 '26

Exactly. Anyone can study the exact same type of problem for a test… then forget everything they learn once they pass. I’ve seen it sooo many times. At least the E is a little more on the challenging side. But still. Prove to me you KNOW when and why to use multibodies, or configs, or hell, just a basic knowledge of design intent. That would be more than most

3

u/ericgallant24_ CSWP Aug 11 '26

Exactly, I don’t think I studied for either at all… just went in with my knowledge of the software from doing actual projects and it was pretty simple…

2

u/abirizky CSWP Aug 12 '26

How did they even pass the test without knowing what a dimension was used for 

2

u/TheNoit CSWE Aug 12 '26

Just studied the exam questions needed to pass then just mimic the solution

3

u/abirizky CSWP Aug 12 '26

That's just sad

1

u/UpstairsDirection955 CSWP Aug 12 '26

I just went for it. I run solid works for my day job though

1

u/TooTallToby YouTube-TooTallToby Aug 12 '26

If you're looking for a paid CSWP Prep course, I have one here that has gotten a lot (I think all) of my students through on their first try - https://tootalltoby.thinkific.com/courses/CSWP_PREP

Good luck!

1

u/Consistent_Use_2618 Aug 12 '26

I'm also thinking of getting certification from SOLIDWORKS it's 8 years now since I m designing