Certified SolidWorks Expert – CSWE
General session today was fun. James Cameron was the main speaker, and they did another session with Q&A like last year with Branson. This time Hirschtick asked the questions. It was a great session, but one you kinda had to be there to appreciate. So I won’t rehash it here.
To me, the big news today was that there is a new certification level, the CSWE, Certified SolidWorks Expert. It is live NOW. I’m interested in learning more, but that will have to wait.
The only expert that I know told me, there are no experts, you must become your own expert.
Great… more buzzwords! I thought a Professional *was* an Expert? *Shakes head*
Whats next? Super Turbo XXX Over Clocked Expert Certification?
All of a sudden “Professional” means SFA and they get to do the ol’ cash grab to get everyone to “upgrade” to the new tittle!
FFS SolidWOrks Corp. Get on with fixing the sh1t software alread and leave this other crap alone. YOu don’t hear NX people complaining about their “Installation Manager” giving them grief… it just installs frst time.. every time!
“Exam Prerequisites:
To qualify to take the CSWE exam, a candidate must have:
Successfully passed the CSWP exam
Successfully passed at least three advanced topic exams
The CSWE exam is meant to be the most challenging exam we offer, so therefore no sample exam is provided. If the exam is not successfully passed, you will have wait 90 days to take the exam again.”
So since they only offer 4 advanced exams, you dont have much choice in the path you take to becoming an “expert”. Sounds like a good challenge.
I suppose this new level of sweet-smelling expertiness will get you into another exclusive meeting at the next Solidworks World!
Yep, there’s nothing quite like making Solidworks users feel like a part of the global team! Let’s make another social club and invite only those who have the “right stuff” or in this case, the right certification.
Good challenge indeed. Too bad I haven’t done any of the advanced topic exams. Time to bust out the training manuals…
Im with ben on the fact that there is not much choice with only 4 advanced exams offered. I always viewed the advanced exams as “specialist” exams. If your “path” includes FEA for example, how much will that really help or be required on the CSWE?
Also as of yesterday when I went to the page to purchase the exam, it was not listed.
@Ben Paprocki
I like the idea of a higher level of certification (since the CSWP doesn’t prove one “knows” SW at all). I still think the online testing environment is not the appropriate way to evaluate knowledge of SolidWorks. It just proves one can perform a sub-set of commands in a fast manner. A “Real’ will know how to troubleshoot and have an understanding of the How and Why of things, how is that measured online?
I find interesting that the Certified User Directory does not list any CSWE yet. Are they waiting for me to get it?
Another idea – at SWW we received that little adhesive patch – CSWP. Now, that we have so many flavours of CSWP + CSWE, would be nice to create something similar to military ribbons to allow for showing off.
Maybe even get a design competition started to create the badges…
What about a special CSWE Event at SWW11? Champagne and caviar?
When the old system gets watered down and doesn’t carry the same merit, put a new system on top of it. Sounds like a true democracy to me. The only test I’ve ever taken that proves I know SolidWorks is a real project, done on time, on budget, and scrutinized by my pears and client. I am a CSWP, CSWST, and CSWI and I didn’t know anything until I got back to working in the real world.
I got my CSWE. CertificateID: C-WCMM8TVJZ7.
Very nice test, very nice case studies!