# SOLIDWORKS Simulation Associate (CSWA-S)

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### SOLIDWORKS Simulation Associate (CSWA-S)

The main requirement for obtaining the SOLIDWORKS Simulation Associate (CSWA-S) certification is to take and pass the on-line 120 minute exam which consists of 20 questions.

- [Take the Exam](https://store.solidworks.com/1919/?scope=checkout&cart=286095&cb_ident=3b383a66&cfg=1919-solidworks-certification&continueurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.solidworks.com%2Fsolidworks-certification-program&continuehash=AA11E3C361EED5846AA960487A31C612&cookie=true&paymenttypes=PPA_STD,CCA_AMX,CCA_DIS,CCA_MAS,CCA_VIS&x-s)

**Note**: You must use at least SOLIDWORKS Premium 2012 or SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2012 or SOLIDWORKS Student Edition 2012 for this exam. Any use of a previous or lower version will result in the inability to open some of the testing files or access some of the needed functionality.

#### Recommended Training Courses

- [SOLIDWORKS Simulation](https://www.solidworks.com/support/training/solidworks-simulation)
- [SOLIDWORKS Simulation Learning Path](https://my.solidworks.com/training/path/60/solidworks-simulation)
- Built-In SOLIDWORKS Simulation Tutorials

#### Exam Length

2 hours

#### Minimum Passing grade

70% (70 points out of 100 points total)

#### About the Exam

All candidates receive electronic certificates and personal listing on the CSWA directory\* when they pass.

The questions consist of 3 hands-on problems, single answer, multiple-choice, yes/no and multiple selections for a total of 100 points. Point allocation ranges from 3 points to 20 points per question, depending on the difficulty.

Qualified schools that are CSWA Providers may apply to become CSWA-Simulation Providers. A minimum network license on subscription applies.

Anyone can take this exam including students and commercial SOLIDWORKS users. The intended audience to take and pass the CSWA-Simulation exam is anyone with a minimum of 6 - 9 months of SOLIDWORKS and SOLIDWORKS Simulation experience and knowledge in the following areas:

- Basic View Creation
- Engineering Mechanics - Statics
- Strength of Materials
- Finite Element Method / Finite Element Analysis Theory
- Applied concepts in SOLIDWORKS Simulation:
- Top-level
- Defining Static Analysis Study
- Applying Materials
- Working with Solid and Sheet Metal models
- Defining Solid, Shell, and Beam elements
- Applying and modifying Connections, Contact Set, and Contact Type
- Defining Standard and Advanced Fixtures and External loads
- Knowledge setting and modifying of SI/English units
- Defining Local and Global coordinate systems
- Understanding the axial forces, sheer forces, bending moments, a factor of safety
- Defining Connector properties such as Contact Sets, No Penetration, Bonded
- Setting up and modifying plots to display in the Results folder
- Working with Multibody parts as different solid bodies
- Creating different mesh types, quality, and parameters for parts and assemblies
- Selecting different solvers as directed to optimize problems
- Determining if results are valid and make sense
- Understanding the types of problems SOLIDWORKS Simulation can solve
- Using SOLIDWORKS Simulation Help

#### Re-test Policy

There is a minimum 14 day waiting period between every attempt of the CSWA-Simulation exam. Also, a CSWA-Simulation exam credit must be purchased for each exam attempt.

- [Take the Exam](https://store.solidworks.com/1919/?scope=checkout&cart=286095&cb_ident=3b383a66&cfg=1919-solidworks-certification&continueurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.solidworks.com%2Fsolidworks-certification-program&continuehash=AA11E3C361EED5846AA960487A31C612&cookie=true&paymenttypes=PPA_STD,CCA_AMX,CCA_DIS,CCA_MAS,CCA_VIS&x-s)