What is SolidWorks Virtual Tester?
Virtual Tester is a service that powers SolidWorks Certifications. It includes a virtual test client as well as a certification center that allows users to manage their certifications and public facing certification profile.
What is SolidWorks Virtual Tester?
Where Can I Access SolidWorks Virtual Tester?
SolidWorks Virtual Tester Website
Introduction
Even to some of the more seasoned SolidWorks users, the phrase “SolidWorks Virtual Tester” may be completely unfamiliar. Understanding virtual tester, how it works, and how to navigate it starts with understanding what it is used for. The SolidWorks Virtual Tester is something like a digital proctor for SolidWorks certification exams. This allows anyone to take an exam to become certified in the use of SolidWorks. In the following article, we will take a look at what virtual tester is and where to find it, how to use virtual tester to take exams, and how to navigate your virtual tester account.
What is SolidWorks Virtual Tester?
In short, SolidWorks virtual Tester is the service that SolidWorks uses to manage their certifications. If that whole sentence makes sense you could probably skip ahead to the next section without missing much, but, in reality, there is a little more to it than that. Virtual Tester is service managed by Tangix Design and Development. This service is used by SolidWorks to provide certifications, a testing client, and management of certification accounts. The phrase “SolidWorks Virtual Tester” refers to SolidWorks’ specific ecosystem within this tool created by Tangix. So, what exactly is contained within the ecosystem? For any who are unfamiliar with this system, SolidWorks provides certifications for the use of their software. At the time of this writing, they list seventeen distinct certifications in everything from simulation to mechanical design. All of these certifications are organized by SolidWorks Virtual Tester. Specifically, there are two distinct areas of the SolidWorks Virtual Tester that users must navigate, the website and the test client. The website covers management of certifications, test attempts, and records. The test client allows users to purchase exam credits and then take exams. It also serves the function of proctoring the exams, including timing exams and providing immediate results upon completion.
Where Can I Access SolidWorks Virtual Tester
Everything to do with SolidWorks Virtual Tester starts at their web page. We provide a link to this page at the bottom of the article. From the homepage of the website, there is a button in the top right-hand corner to download TesterPRO client as shown below.
This is the aforementioned test client. You can create an account either through the test client or the website, just keep in mind that the same account should be used for both. To use the website to create an account, simply click the login button in the upper right corner. Instead of entering login credentials, simply select the option to create an account. If you download the test client first, you will be prompted to create an account when first running the application.
The Test Client
It may seem a little bit backwards to discuss the function of the test client before the website. Especially considering that you download the test client from the website. There is very little functionality that the website can offer, however, if one hasn’t taken a certification exam yet, so we will start by discussing the test client. Upon opening the exam client and creating an account you will see a page that looks very much like this one.
This page shows a variety of tests. It will not show every test that is available on this page. It may show test you’ve already taken or not show tests that you aren’t qualified to take yet. Regardless of what shows up when you open the application, selecting any test that says “No Credit” will bring up an option to purchase an exam credit. This link will take you to the exam credit store, regardless of what exam you clicked on. From here you can buy credits for any exam, including exams that you did not see listed. Because it will let you buy a credit for any exam, be sure that you know the requirements for the exam and don’t purchase an exam credit for an exam that you aren’t qualified to take. When purchasing exam credits, be sure to use the same email that is attached to your virtual tester account. This is how SolidWorks knows who to apply the credit to. Once you have an exam credit purchase and have refreshed the test client. You should see that exam show up and listed as being ready to take the exam. If you have an exam credit for a particular exam, you may start that exam at any time. Once you start an exam the timer for completion begins. The amount of time given is based on which exam you intend to take. All the questions in the exam are given through the test client, and all answers will be submitted through the test client. The only other thing you need to take an exam, is a copy of SolidWorks which you can run on the same machine. Dual monitors are recommended to be able to switch quickly between SolidWorks and the test client. Answers in the test client can be in many forms depending on the question including multiple choice, yes-no, or entering a number. It is worth noting that at the time of writing all numbers should be entered with a period as the decimal point and answers entered using a comma as a decimal point are counted as incorrect. Upon finishing an exam, the test client will provide you with an immediate feedback on your score. This score can also be viewed on the SolidWorks Virtual Tester Website.
SolidWorks Virtual Tester Website
Once you have attempted a certification test, whether you passed or failed, it should show up on your account on the SolidWorks Virtual Tester website. To access your account, go to the website homepage and select the “Login” button near the top right of the home page. Once you’ve entered your credentials, the website automatically directs you to your “Certificates” page. Here you can see all the certificates that you’ve earned for tests that you have passed. Clicking on one of these certificates brings up a special window on the right side of the screen. This window gives details about the certificate, including the ID number for validation. It also has links to download the certificate, as well as icons you can download and use to show that you’ve passed the exam. Across the top of this page you will see tabs. You are currently on the “Certificates” tab. The next tab on the list is labeled “Your Exams.” This tab contains information about all the exams that you have taken pass or fail. It also gives information regarding which areas of the test that you did well in, and which areas you may need to work on. This is the page that is going to be most helpful if you did not pass the test. The next tab is labeled “Your Credits.” This tab shows a history of exam credits that you have purchased as well as any active or redeemed vouchers that you may have. This is also the page where you would redeem an exam voucher should you have one to redeem. The final tab is the “Settings” tab and is the location where you change all of the information associated with your account. This tab is also important because it is where you find the option to be listed in the online directory. If you turn this option on, anyone can search the database and find your profile. This includes, your name, location (it will display city, state, and country, but not address), and all tests that you have passed. You can also choose to have your LinkedIn profile associated with your entry in the directory. If you choose not to be listed in the directory, anyone can still validate your certification with the certificate ID that you can retrieve from the “Certificates” tab. There are a few more functions of the site worth noting. These features can be found on the navigation bar on the left side of the website. Using this navigation bar, we can look up certified users, find certified resellers and training centers, and access support and contact information. The look up features for users and certified resellers use drop down menus to narrow down searches by country and state (if applicable). Finally, this also contains a “Validate Certificate” feature. This feature can be used by anyone to validate a certification using a certificate ID. Knowing how to use this feature can be an important part of explaining to a potential employer how to validate your SolidWorks certification.
Conclusion
The SolidWorks Virtual Tester is an integral part of SolidWorks system of certification. Becoming certified in any aspect of SolidWorks can be a challenging and rewarding endeavor. Learning to use SolidWorks virtual Tester can help to ensure that the only challenges that you face are those intended by the certification exam. The Virtual Tester system is used for everything from taking exams to displaying your certifications and knowing how to use it is vital for anyone intending to obtain a SolidWorks certification.
