Best SOLIDWORKS Certification & Courses in 2026: CSWA & CSWP Prep

Last updated: October 2026. Written by Josh Hutcheson. See our review methodology.

A SOLIDWORKS certification is the clearest way to prove your CAD skills to an employer. Dassault Systemes, the company behind SOLIDWORKS, runs the program, and the main ladder goes from Associate (CSWA) to Professional (CSWP) to Expert (CSWE). The exam alone does not teach you anything, though: you need to learn the software and practice the question style first. We checked every course on this page on its live Udemy listing on 17 October 2026, read the exam details and prices on Dassault’s own certification pages, and read recent r/SolidWorks threads from people who passed.

See the official CSWA prep on Coursera →

The best SOLIDWORKS courses at a glance

Ratings, review counts, hours and update dates as shown on each course page on 17 October 2026. Coursera shows no update date (“Live” means open for enrollment) and estimates the specialization at about four weeks at 10 hours a week. Udemy listed each of its courses at $14.99 for new learners that day.

1. SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD for Education (Coursera): best official CSWA prep

This five-course specialization is published on Coursera by SOLIDWORKS itself, and its stated aim is to prepare you for the Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate (CSWA) exam. It works through sketching, feature application, patterns and assembly techniques, and one of its courses, SOLIDWORKS Assemblies and Exam Level Part Modeling, practices parts at the difficulty of the real test. On 17 October 2026 the specialization had 4.7 stars from 261 reviews and 14,010 learners; Coursera estimates about four weeks at 10 hours a week.

It is the most authoritative course you can take, because it comes from the company that runs the exam. The trade-offs are price and pace: it runs on a Coursera subscription rather than a one-time $15, and it has far fewer reviews than the Udemy courses. You can preview the first module free, and Coursera offers financial aid on most courses. You also need access to the software.

Best for: students and beginners who want an official, structured path to the CSWA. Watch for: the subscription; finish in one or two months to keep the cost down.

See the specialization on Coursera →

2. SOLIDWORKS: Become a Certified Associate Today (CSWA): fastest CSWA prep

Tayseer Almattar’s CSWA course is the most-reviewed SOLIDWORKS certification course on Udemy: 4.6 stars from 11,491 ratings and 46,385 students, with 5 hours of video and a January 2026 update. It is built around the exam: the sketching, features, mass properties and assembly tasks the CSWA asks for, worked through in the format you will see on test day.

Almattar also sells two other editions. The newer SOLIDWORKS 2025 edition (4.8 stars, 127 ratings, updated February 2026) is filmed on the current interface, and the older 2017–23 edition (4.6 stars, 2,093 ratings, updated June 2025) suits anyone on an older release. They cover the same exam; pick the one that matches your version.

Best for: anyone who knows basic SOLIDWORKS and wants to pass the CSWA quickly. Watch for: it is exam preparation, not a full course in the software. If you are new, start with pick 1, 4 or 6.

Check the CSWA course on Udemy →

3. SOLIDWORKS: Become a Certified Professional Today (CSWP): best for the CSWP

The CSWP is the level recruiters in mechanical and product design look for, and it is harder: it tests parametric modeling, configurations and assembly modeling, and much of it is modifying an existing model and recalculating mass properties without breaking it. Almattar’s CSWP course had 4.5 stars from 3,649 ratings, 17,483 students and 4 hours of video, updated June 2026.

Dassault splits the CSWP into three segments that you can buy and take together or separately, in any order. A passed segment never needs retaking, and if you fail one you only repurchase that one. Once all three are passed, the certification is awarded automatically (Dassault CSWP page).

Best for: CSWA holders and working designers. Watch for: the clock. Recent passers on r/SolidWorks say they breezed through the CSWA and then fought the timer on the CSWP.

Check the CSWP course on Udemy →

4. SOLIDWORKS Mastery: best for learning by practice

Roy Academy’s course is built around volume of practice: 500 worked examples, 500 questions and answers, 20 projects and 10 tests. That is how CAD sticks, because modeling is a motor skill. On 17 October 2026 it had 4.6 stars from 1,130 ratings and 6,981 students, with a September 2026 update, so the interface on screen is current.

Best for: beginners who want one structured course before any exam prep. Watch for: the video is shorter than the exercise count suggests; most of your time goes into the exercises.

View SOLIDWORKS Mastery →

5. Master SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD: best for real-world parts

Johno Ellison’s course is the long-running favorite: 4.8 stars from 2,481 ratings and 19,808 students, with 19 hours of video. Learners like it because the parts are useful objects rather than abstract shapes, so you learn why each feature exists.

The honest caveat is age: it was last updated in April 2022, so the interface in the videos is several releases behind. The modeling fundamentals have not changed, but if you want the current interface on screen, take pick 4 or pick 6 instead.

View Master SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD →

6. SOLIDWORKS Complete Course: Beginner to Advanced: best current all-rounder

Alen Oletic’s course was updated in July 2026 and runs 13.5 hours, from first sketch to advanced part, assembly and drawing work. 4.6 stars from 451 ratings and 14,613 students. It is the course to take if you want Ellison’s breadth on a current release.

View the Complete Course →

7. Master SOLIDWORKS Sheet Metal: best specialty course

Sheet metal is its own discipline, with its own professional exam (CSWP-SM, $20). Ellison’s course covers base flanges, edge flanges, bends, gussets, flat patterns and the manufacturing limits that matter in fabrication. 4.8 stars from 1,577 ratings, 10,008 students, 4.5 hours, updated March 2026. Take it after a general course.

View the Sheet Metal course →

More SOLIDWORKS courses worth knowing

8. SOLIDWORKS for Beginners and Intermediate Users (CADArtifex)

A structured 12-hour course that moves from the basics to intermediate part, assembly and drawing work. 4.6 stars from 128 ratings and 728 students; updated September 2026, so it shows a current release. The review base is small. View on Udemy.

9. Become a SOLIDWORKS Simulation Associate Today (Tayseer Almattar)

Prep for the SOLIDWORKS Simulation associate exam, which the course calls CSWA-SM. 4.6 stars from 202 ratings, 3.5 hours; last updated March 2024. Useful if analysis is part of your job. View on Udemy.

10. SolidWorks Complete Course: Learn 3D Modeling (Sattha)

A no-frills six-hour course covering parts, assemblies and drawings. 4.4 stars from 891 ratings and 14,091 students; last updated January 2025. A fair choice on sale if you only need the basics. View on Udemy.

SOLIDWORKS certification levels and costs

Dassault’s certification catalog lists more than 30 exams. These are the ones most people consider, with the North America prices shown on 17 October 2026 (each price covers one attempt):

Exam names now read “SOLIDWORKS Design Associate” and “SOLIDWORKS Design Professional” on Dassault’s pages; the CSWA and CSWP abbreviations are unchanged. Older guides call the specialty exams CSWPA; the current codes are CSWP-SM, CSWP-WD and so on. Prices vary by region.

For most people the CSWP is the target: it is the credential that signals working competence. Take the CSWA first if you are a student or career changer, because it is a natural stepping stone. Save the CSWE for senior roles.

What the CSWA exam covers

According to Dassault’s CSWA page, the exam may include hands-on challenges in:

• Sketch entities, sketch tools (offset, convert, trim) and sketch relations
• Boss and cut features: extrudes, revolves, sweeps and lofts; fillets and chamfers; linear, circular and fill patterns
• Dimensions, feature end conditions, mass properties and materials
• Inserting components and standard mates: coincident, parallel, perpendicular, tangent, concentric, distance and angle
• Reference geometry, drawing views and annotations

You need at least SOLIDWORKS 2011 to open the test files. People who passed in September 2026 gave r/SolidWorks the same advice: practice assemblies and mass properties (finding the center of gravity of an assembly is a classic question), take the free sample exam on Dassault’s page, and do it under time pressure. One passer finished in under 90 minutes with 235 of 240 points; another said the assembly questions tend to repeat in style, so practicing three or four is time well spent.

How to get a SOLIDWORKS certification for free

Dassault’s testing instructions list three ways to get an exam: buy an exam credit, obtain a free voucher code, or get access from your school or instructor. In practice that means:

• Through your school. Universities and colleges that teach SOLIDWORKS often hold exam vouchers for students. Ask your instructor or lab before paying.
• At Dassault events. Dassault periodically gives free vouchers to attendees of webinars and livestreams; in October 2026, r/SolidWorks users shared a student livestream that included free CSWA and CSWP vouchers. Users also report voucher giveaways in the summer.
• Through an employer or reseller. Some resellers include a voucher with paid classroom training.

Exam credits you buy do not expire until you use them, so there is no rush to sit the exam the day you pay.

Is a SOLIDWORKS certification worth it?

Yes for students and early-career designers. At $99 the CSWA or CSWP is cheap compared with most professional exams, and it gives a hiring manager an objective signal when you have little work history. Dassault says more than one million people hold a SOLIDWORKS certification, so it is widely recognized in mechanical, product and manufacturing design.

It matters less as you gain experience. Senior designers are hired on their portfolio and the products they have shipped. Treat the certificate as a door-opener, then let real parts, assemblies and drawings do the talking.

Course or certification first?

If you are new to CAD, do not book an exam yet. Spend a few weeks learning the software with a full course (picks 1, 4, 5 or 6): modeling parts, building assemblies, producing drawings. Then switch to exam prep (picks 2 and 3) to learn the question style and timing, and sit the CSWA. People who jump straight into exam prep tend to run out of time because their modeling is slow.

A six-week plan to pass the CSWA

How to choose the right SOLIDWORKS course

• Goal. For a credential, choose exam-aligned prep (picks 1, 2, 3, 9). To become productive, a full course (picks 4 to 6) is better value.
• Version. The interface changes between releases. Udemy courses updated in 2026 (picks 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8) show a current screen; pick 5 is from 2022.
• Practice files. CAD is learned by doing. Courses built around exercises beat lecture-heavy ones.
• Review count. A 4.6 from 11,000 ratings is a stronger signal than a 4.9 from 40.

What SOLIDWORKS skills are worth in the job market

SOLIDWORKS is one of the most widely used CAD packages in mechanical engineering, product design, industrial design and manufacturing. Roles that list it include mechanical designer, CAD technician, design engineer and product development engineer. We do not quote a single salary figure: pay varies widely by country, industry and seniority. Pairing SOLIDWORKS with drawing standards (GD&T), a 2D tool such as AutoCAD and basic simulation makes a candidate noticeably stronger.

Free ways to learn SOLIDWORKS

You can start without paying for a course:

• The built-in tutorials inside SOLIDWORKS walk through parts, assemblies and drawings.
• MySolidWorks, Dassault’s official community site, hosts forums and learning content.
• SOLIDWORKS for Makers is the low-cost hobbyist license: $48 USD a year list price, offered at $24 a year when we checked on 17 October 2026. It is for non-commercial use.
• Your school. Many engineering programs provide SOLIDWORKS and certification vouchers to students.
• YouTube. r/SolidWorks users point CSWA candidates to channels that walk through exam-style parts and assemblies.

Free material is good for exploring. For a credential, one paid, exam-aligned course on sale is usually the faster path.

Get the fast CSWA prep course →

Frequently asked questions

Which SOLIDWORKS certification is best?

For working designers, the CSWP (SOLIDWORKS Design Professional) carries the most weight with employers. Students and career changers should start with the CSWA (Design Associate). The CSWE (Design Expert) is for senior users, and the specialty exams such as Sheet Metal or Weldments only matter if that discipline is your job.

How much does a SOLIDWORKS certification cost?

Dassault Systemes lists the CSWA at $99 USD, the CSWP at $99 USD and the CSWE at $149 USD for North America, each good for one attempt. Professional specialty exams such as Sheet Metal, Weldments, Surfacing, Drawing Tools and Mold Making are $20 USD each. Students can often get free vouchers through their school or at Dassault events.

How do I get a SOLIDWORKS certification for free?

Dassault’s own instructions list three ways to get an exam: buy a credit, use a free voucher code, or get access from your school or instructor. Students at schools that use SOLIDWORKS often receive vouchers, and Dassault periodically hands out free vouchers at events and webinars.

How hard is the CSWA exam?

Most people who already use SOLIDWORKS find it manageable. The exam is three hours with a 70% passing grade, and it tests sketching, features, mass properties, materials, assemblies with standard mates, and drawing views. Recent passers on r/SolidWorks describe it as easy if you have practiced assemblies and mass properties, and say the CSWP is a real step up.

Do SOLIDWORKS certifications expire?

Dassault’s certification pages do not list an expiry date for the CSWA or CSWP. They do state that purchased exam credits do not expire until they are used. If you need the newest version on your resume, you can retake a current exam, but employers generally accept older certificates.

Is a SOLIDWORKS certification worth it?

For students and early-career mechanical, product and manufacturing designers, yes: at $99 it is an inexpensive, vendor-backed signal that you can model competently, and it helps a resume with little professional experience. For experienced designers, a portfolio of real parts and assemblies matters more.

How long does it take to learn SOLIDWORKS?

Most learners reach working competence with parts, assemblies and drawings in two to three months of regular practice alongside a course. CSWA readiness can come sooner, often in a few weeks for engineering students. The CSWP usually needs extra weeks of timed practice.

Can I learn SOLIDWORKS for free?

You can learn a lot for free with the SOLIDWORKS tutorials built into the software, the MySolidWorks community, and YouTube. You still need access to the software: through a school, an employer, a trial, or the SOLIDWORKS for Makers hobbyist license, which lists at $48 USD a year.

Is there an official SOLIDWORKS course on Coursera?

Yes. SOLIDWORKS itself publishes the SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD for Education specialization on Coursera: five courses covering sketching, features, patterns and assemblies, built to prepare you for the CSWA exam. It had 4.7 stars from 261 reviews and 14,010 learners on 17 October 2026, and Coursera estimates about four weeks at 10 hours a week.

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