# SOLIDWORKS Solution Partner Program Levels ![SOLIDWORKS level vector art](/sites/default/filesd10/styles/webp/public/2025-10/SOLIDWORKS-Partner-Program-Level-hero.png.webp) By joining the SOLIDWORKS® Solution Partner Program, you can improve your ability to develop, promote and market your software or hardware solutions to the growing number of designers and engineers who rely on SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD, simulation, and Product Data Management (PDM) solutions. The SOLIDWORKS Solution Partner Program provides three levels of participation to help you succeed. To achieve the highest partner designation—Certified Gold Partner —you must first become a Research Associate Solution Partner, then a Certified Solution Partner. Click the links below for details about each level in the SOLIDWORKS Solution Partner Program. *Level 1:* Companies that have, or plan to have, a product or service for sale to the SOLIDWORKS customer base and can provide customer references within two years. *Level 2:* Research Associates Solution Partners that have released a product and can provide a minimum of two SOLIDWORKS customers who will provide references. *Level 3:* Certified Gold Partners have passed design review and meet the Certified Gold Product criteria. This level is open to Certified Solution Partners with software products **only**. Their product must be able to read native SOLIDWORKS files, provide bi-directional associativity, and undergo and pass certification testing. ## Research Associate Solution Partner The first level in the SOLIDWORKS Partner Program is to become a Research Associate Solution Partner. This step is necessary to attain the next level, Certified Solution Partner and to achieve Gold Product certification. #### Who can apply? The SOLIDWORKS Solution Partner Program might be a fit for your organization if: - You have or plan to offer a valuable product or service to the SOLIDWORKS customer base. - Your product is either ready for market release or will be available for distribution within the next two years. - Your organization is a commercial entity with a principal place of business. - Your solution involves a direct integration or full compatibility with a SOLIDWORKS product. - Your solution, domain, and business model are fully complementary with the Dassault Systèmes and SOLIDWORKS portfolios. Both steps below are REQUIRED and MUST be completed for your application to be processed. We are unable to process partial or incomplete applications. **STEP 1 (Required)** Download and complete the SOLIDWORKS Solution Partner Program - [**Application Questionnaire**](/sites/default/filesd10/26docs01/SPP_APPLICATION_QUESTIONNAIRE_Jan2026.pdf). Please carefully complete the questionnaire, as your responses will be used in the review process to evaluate your application. Email the completed questionnaire to - [**SOLIDWORKS.PartnerProgram@3ds.com**](mailto:solidworks.PartnerProgram@3ds.com). The email subject line must include: “Research Associate Solution Partner Application Questionnaire” and your Organization Name. Continue to Step 2 to complete your application. **STEP 2 (Required)** Complete and submit the online - [**Research Associate Solution Partner Application and Partner Program Agreement**](https://www.solidworks.com/sw/partners/applications/research/company.htm)**.** Applicants are required to accept the Partner Program legal terms and conditions as outlined in the agreement, and agree to ship their product to SOLIDWORKS or to demonstrate its conformance with the program. *Note:* Research Associate Solution Partner-level applications are processed on a first-in, first-out basis. We must receive **ALL** the information requested above within two weeks of your initial submission to continue processing your application. Failure to provide all the required information within the specified timeframe will result in no further consideration to your application, and we will have no obligation to notify you. Partial or incomplete applications cannot be processed. The time it takes us to determine whether your product aligns with the mission of the SOLIDWORKS community can vary. Please be advised that applications can take up to six weeks to be processed. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to provide status updates. Following review of your application, you will receive a notification from the SOLIDWORKS Solution Partner Program indicating whether your application has been accepted or declined. Once you are accepted as a Research Associate Solution Partner, you will be required to complete additional application tasks to continue working with SOLIDWORKS towards the next levels. Thank you for your patience. #### As a Research Associate Solution Partner you will receive the following benefits: - A copy of the latest version of SOLIDWORKS to use during the R&D phase of your SOLIDWORKS-compatible product. - Gain access to the SOLIDWORKS Application Programming Interface (API) support team and resources for assistance as you develop your product. - Obtain access to the Solution Partner Desktop—a secure online portal that provides partners with marketing information, technical resources, and an online store where you may purchase additional SOLIDWORKS licenses. ## Certified Solution Partner The second level in the SOLIDWORKS Solution Partner Program is becoming a Certified Solution Partner. This status is required to achieve Gold Product certification. Certified Solution Partner status is a market-facing acknowledgement that a company is offering products that are complementary and compatible with products in the SOLIDWORKS portfolio. SOLIDWORKS has verified that these products are commercially available, and members of the SOLIDWORKS community have confirmed the usefulness of these products. #### Who can apply? - Approved SOLIDWORKS Research Associate Solution Partners. - Applicant must have a released product that is complementary to a SOLIDWORKS solution and have secured a minimum of two SOLIDWORKS customer references. - Applicant agrees to demonstrate its product conformance with the program to obtain the Certified Solution Partner status. - This program is primarily focused on Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and providers of hardware technologies complementary to design and manufacturing workflows. - Applicants must have access to their Research Associate Solution Partner account on the - [Solution Partner Desktop](https://www.solidworks.com/sw/partners/login/). - Applicant must maintain a professional web presence that clearly promotes its SOLIDWORKS compatible product, including a dedicated product webpage featuring marketing materials such as product descriptions, feature highlights, brochures, or demonstration content. #### Certified Solution Partner benefits: - This market-facing designation includes having your solution listed in the online SOLIDWORKS Solution Partner Product Catalog, which is published on the SOLIDWORKS website. Click - [**here**](https://www.solidworks.com/engineering-software-partners-products) to see the catalog. - Access to the Solution Partner Desktop so you can update your account profile and catalog listing. Keeping your information up-to-date in our online catalog is the best way to ensure that potential customers find your products and services among their search results. - Use of the Certified Solution Partner logo. - Participation in special SOLIDWORKS Solution Partner Program marketing opportunities. ## Certified Gold Partner The Certified Gold Partner is the final level of participation in the SOLIDWORKS Solution Partner Program. It is open to software companies only. A Certified Gold Product represents the highest level of integration with SOLIDWORKS software and requires an ongoing partnership with SOLIDWORKS. #### Certified Gold Products must: - Provide fully integrated, single-window, interoperable functionality for SOLIDWORKS. - Run on the same operating systems as SOLIDWORKS. - Use and support SOLIDWORKS file types and terminology. - Provide edit definition capabilities. - Implement the SOLIDWORKS UI and Help standards in tutorials and other relevant guides. - Ensure ongoing compatibility with future releases of SOLIDWORKS. - Have technical support and QA processes in place to assure the timely resolution of customer issues. #### Who can apply? - Approved SOLIDWORKS Certified Solution Partners. - Applicant must have released an integrated, interoperable product that is complementary to a SOLIDWORKS solution and have secured a minimum of five commercial SOLIDWORKS customer references. - Applicant agrees to present its product for certification testing and SOLIDWORKS deems the product to be fully integrated and associative with SOLIDWORKS. #### Certified Gold Partners benefits: - Approved products will be clearly identified and prominently listed on the SOLIDWORKS Solution Partner Products page which is published on the SOLIDWORKS website. Click - [here](/partners/engineering-software-partners-products)to see our online catalog. - Use of the Certified Gold Product logo. - Notification of your Certified Gold Product status and the nature of your product by SOLIDWORKS to all of its Value-Added Resellers (VARs) worldwide. - Access to the Solution Partner Desktop so you can update your account profile and catalog listing. Keeping your information up-to-date in our online catalog is the best way to ensure that potential customers find your products and services among their search results. - Participation in special SOLIDWORKS Solution Partner Program marketing opportunities. ### SOLIDWORKS Solution Partner Program Benefits and Opportunities Benefits**Research Associate Partner**Certified Solution PartnerCertified Gold PartnerFree licenses of SOLIDWORKS Premium Additional software licenses at a discount Access to request non-CAD software assets SOLIDWORKS API support Technical & non-technical support Solution Partner Program account support Access to SOLIDWORKS Demo Data Sets Extensive online training for SOLIDWORKS Design & API Fundamentals SOLIDWORKS early visibility programs Partner designation and logo Dedicated page(s) in the online Solution Partner catalog Press release support Introductions upon request to SOLIDWORKS VARs User event marketing benefits Co-marketing initiatives *Status as a Research Associate Solution Partner, Certified Solution Partner, or Certified Gold Partner does not guarantee access to any particular marketing benefit, and SOLIDWORKS, at its sole discretion, may choose not to offer certain joint marketing opportunities to Solution Partners as listed above.* ## Questions or comments? Please contact the SOLIDWORKS Solution Partner Program at SOLIDWORKS.PartnerProgram@3ds.com ![SOLIDWORKS women answering support call](/sites/default/filesd10/styles/webp/public/2025-10/SOLIDWORKS-Partner-Program-Contact-Us.png.webp) Solution Partner Product Program Levels- [](mailto:?subject=https://www.solidworks.com/partners/solution-partner-product-program-levels) - [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.solidworks.com/partners/solution-partner-product-program-levels) - [](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.solidworks.com/partners/solution-partner-product-program-levels) - [](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https://www.solidworks.com/partners/solution-partner-product-program-levels)