- CSWA-S is a $49 (North America), two-hour, 20-question online exam scored out of 100 points, delivered through the TesterPRO Client.
- You need 70 of 100 points to pass, and the exam mixes three hands-on problems with multiple-choice, yes/no, and multiple-selection items.
- Content spans five domains, from statics and strength of materials to hands-on SOLIDWORKS Simulation setup.
- Anyone can register; Dassault recommends 6-9 months of SOLIDWORKS and SOLIDWORKS Simulation experience first.
What Is A CSWA-Simulation, Exactly?
A CSWA-Simulation - the SOLIDWORKS Simulation Associate (CSWA-S) credential - is Dassault Systemes' entry-level certification for engineers and designers who use SOLIDWORKS Simulation to run static stress studies. It confirms that you understand both the mechanical engineering theory behind finite element analysis (FEA) and the practical workflow of setting up, meshing, solving, and validating a simulation inside SOLIDWORKS.
This is not a general "SOLIDWORKS CAD" credential and it is not affiliated with any other certifying body that happens to share a similar acronym elsewhere in the industry. It is issued specifically by SOLIDWORKS, and results are tracked through the 3DEXPERIENCE Certification Center. If you're comparing it to other credentials you've seen online, treat this page - and the rest of the site - as the authoritative source on what SOLIDWORKS actually tests.
For a deeper breakdown of the term itself, see CSWA-Simulation Meaning and What Does CSWA-Simulation Stand For?.
How the Exam Works
The exam runs online through the TesterPRO Client rather than at a physical testing center, which means you can take it from your own workstation as long as you meet the software and connectivity requirements. It's a two-hour exam containing 20 questions worth a combined 100 points.
- Format mix: single-answer, multiple-choice, yes/no, and multiple-selection questions, plus three hands-on problems where you actually build and run a simulation study.
- Passing score: 70 out of 100 points. See CSWA-Simulation Passing Score 2026 for a full breakdown of how points map to questions.
- Time pressure: two hours across 20 items, including three full simulation setups, leaves limited room for trial-and-error - a topic covered in more depth in How Hard Is the CSWA-Simulation Exam?
Because the hands-on problems require actually operating SOLIDWORKS Simulation live during the exam, a dual-monitor setup is preferred - one screen for the exam interface, one for the software. A stable internet connection on a Windows PC is required; there's no offline or mobile option.
Key Takeaway
Because three of the twenty questions are full hands-on simulation builds, practice actually running static studies in SOLIDWORKS Simulation - not just reading about FEA theory - before exam day.
The Five Domains You'll Be Tested On
The exam content is organized into five domains that blend engineering theory with software execution. For the full weighting and topic-by-topic detail, see CSWA-Simulation Exam Domains 2026. Here's what each one actually covers.
Domain 1: Basic View Creation
Covers reading and interpreting standard part and assembly views well enough to understand geometry before you simulate it.
- Recognizing orthographic and isometric representations of a model
Domain 2: Engineering Mechanics - Statics
Tests your grasp of equilibrium, forces, moments, and reactions - the theoretical foundation every static study depends on.
- Free body diagrams, sum of forces/moments, support reactions
Domain 3: Strength of Materials
Focuses on stress, strain, deformation, and material behavior under load - the concepts that let you judge whether a simulation result makes physical sense.
- Stress-strain relationships, factor of safety, yield vs. ultimate strength
Domain 4: Finite Element Method / Finite Element Analysis Theory
Covers the mathematical and conceptual basis of FEA: how continuous geometry gets discretized into elements and nodes, and how solvers approximate a solution.
- Element types, degrees of freedom, mesh convergence concepts
Domain 5: Applied Concepts in SOLIDWORKS Simulation
The largest practical domain - this is where the three hands-on problems live. It covers the full software workflow from setup to validated results.
- Static study setup and study properties
- Material assignment and fixtures
- Loads and contact conditions between bodies
- Solid, shell, and beam element selection
- Meshing strategy and solver choice
- Reading stress/displacement plots and validating results
Who Takes This Exam - and Who Hires For It
Anyone is eligible to register for the CSWA-S exam - there's no formal prerequisite check at signup. That said, Dassault recommends candidates have roughly 6-9 months of hands-on experience with SOLIDWORKS and SOLIDWORKS Simulation before attempting it. Full eligibility details are in CSWA-Simulation Requirements 2026.
In practice, this credential is aimed at:
- Mechanical engineering students who've completed statics and strength of materials coursework and want to pair that theory with tangible FEA software skills.
- Junior design engineers and CAD designers whose employers use SOLIDWORKS Simulation for structural verification and want a way to demonstrate proficiency.
- Engineers transitioning from pure modeling roles into simulation-heavy design validation work.
Employers who use SOLIDWORKS Simulation as part of their design verification process - machine design shops, product development teams, consulting engineering firms - are the natural audience for this credential on a resume. For a broader look at where the certification shows up in job listings, check CSWA-Simulation Jobs.
Registration, Software, and Fees
Registration and delivery both run through SOLIDWORKS' own systems rather than a third-party testing network.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Delivery method | Online via the TesterPRO Client |
| Results/certificate management | 3DEXPERIENCE Certification Center |
| North America price | $49 per attempt |
| Credit expiration | Unused exam credits do not expire |
| Retake policy | Requires a new exam credit and a 14-day wait |
| Required software (minimum) | SOLIDWORKS Premium 2012, SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2012, or SOLIDWORKS Student Edition 2012 |
| System requirements | Windows PC, internet access, dual monitors preferred |
Some subscription customers and students at participating academic providers may qualify for vouchers instead of paying out of pocket - worth checking before you pay full price. For a complete cost breakdown including what happens if you fail and need to retest, read CSWA-Simulation Certification Cost 2026. For a calendar view of when and how often you can schedule, see CSWA-Simulation Exam Dates 2026.
Preparing Domain by Domain
Because the exam blends theory-heavy domains (statics, strength of materials, FEA theory) with one execution-heavy domain (applied concepts in SOLIDWORKS Simulation), the most efficient prep sequences the theory first and saves software repetition for last, closest to exam day.
Statics & Strength of Materials
- Review equilibrium, free body diagrams, stress-strain curves, and factor of safety until they're automatic, not memorized.
FEA Theory + Basic View Creation
- Study element types, meshing theory, and degrees of freedom; refresh reading of standard part/assembly views.
Applied Concepts in SOLIDWORKS Simulation
- Run full static studies repeatedly: materials, fixtures, loads, contacts, meshing, solving, and plot interpretation - timed, under two-hour pressure.
This isn't a generic study calendar - it's sequenced this way specifically because Domain 5's hands-on problems draw directly on the theory from Domains 2-4. Skipping straight to software practice without the mechanics foundation tends to produce candidates who can operate the software but can't judge whether their results are physically reasonable. For a full week-by-week plan with checkpoints, see the CSWA-Simulation Study Guide 2026, and use the CSWA-Simulation Cheat Sheet 2026 for last-minute review the night before.
Throughout your prep, running timed practice questions on our CSWA-Simulation practice test platform is one of the fastest ways to find out which domain is actually weak versus which one just feels unfamiliar.
Does It Expire? Is It Worth Holding?
SOLIDWORKS certificates have no official expiration date, so once you earn the CSWA-S credential, it stays on your record and resume indefinitely - you're not locked into a renewal cycle or continuing-education requirement to keep it active.
Whether it's worth the time and $49 fee depends on your goals: if you're a student or early-career engineer trying to signal FEA competency to employers who use SOLIDWORKS Simulation, it's a low-cost way to do that. If you're weighing it against other credentials or trying to gauge return on investment, Is the CSWA-Simulation Certification Worth It? walks through the tradeoffs in more depth, and CSWA-Simulation Salary Guide 2026 covers how it fits into compensation conversations.
If you're still deciding whether to pursue it at all, or comparing it against related credentials, browse CSWA-Simulation Certification and What Is CSWA-Simulation Certification? for adjacent detail, and CSWA-Simulation Training if you want structured coursework before you test on your own.
Key Takeaway
There's no renewal requirement - the CSWA-S credential you earn today stays valid on your resume with no expiration date to track.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's SOLIDWORKS' entry-level credential proving you can set up, run, and correctly interpret static FEA studies in SOLIDWORKS Simulation, backed by statics and strength-of-materials theory.
You get two hours to answer 20 questions worth 100 total points, including three hands-on simulation problems, and you need 70 points to pass.
No formal prerequisite is enforced - anyone can register - but 6-9 months of SOLIDWORKS and SOLIDWORKS Simulation experience is recommended before attempting the exam.
At minimum, SOLIDWORKS Premium 2012, SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2012, or SOLIDWORKS Student Edition 2012, run on a Windows PC with internet access; a dual-monitor setup is preferred for the exam itself.
You'll need to purchase a new exam credit and wait 14 days before retaking it, so it pays to be fully prepared, especially on the Applied Concepts domain, before your first attempt.