There is only one type of expert-level certificate, which represents the highest-level certification offered by SOLIDWORKS: Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert (CSWE). It demonstrates mastery over all SOLIDWORKS modeling and design functions. To qualify for this exam, the user must have the CSWP in addition to four CSWPA certificates.

It is not necessary for a SOLIDWORKS user to obtain all certifications. In fact, it is rare to find one person with all the certificates. This is because each certification level can address very different needs and serve different industries and/or positions. Also, some certification levels are more in demand than others as they are more essential and, hence, used in more industries. Sequentially, the certifications can be viewed as follows: 

This book covers the two most essential, sequential certification levels: Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate (CSWA) and Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP). These two certifications cover common usage scenarios with SOLIDWORKS.