DO-330 / ED-215 Tool Qualification Online Training (AV-CERT-220)

Course overview

Whenever a tool's output is trusted in place of a required activity, that tool may need to be qualified. AV-CERT-220 explains the DO-330/ED-215 framework: how to classify a tool by its impact, determine its Tool Qualification Level, and produce the qualification evidence.

The course connects tool qualification back to the DO-178C software lifecycle so you can decide which tools need qualification and scope the effort realistically.

What you will learn

• When a tool requires qualification under DO-178C / DO-330
• The three tool criteria and how to determine Tool Qualification Levels (TQL)
• What the Tool Operational Requirements and qualification data must show
• How to scope and plan a tool qualification effort
• Common pitfalls that invalidate tool qualification credit

Who should take this course

Software and verification engineers, tool owners, and certification leads deciding whether and how to qualify development and verification tools.

Recommended prerequisites: SW-CERT-101 — DO-178C Overview & PSAC Explanation, SW-CERT-110 — DO-178C SDP Setup & Development Objectives, SW-CERT-120 — DO-178C SVP Setup & Verification Objectives

Course outline

1. When a tool needs qualification — the difference between using a tool and relying on its output in place of a required activity.
2. The three tool criteria — how a tool’s potential to insert or fail to detect an error classifies it.
3. Tool Qualification Levels — how the criteria and the software level combine to set TQL 1–5.
4. Tool Operational Requirements — defining what the tool must do and the data that proves it.
5. Scoping the effort — planning a qualification that is proportionate to the credit claimed.

How tool criteria map to Tool Qualification Level

DO-330 (and its EUROCAE counterpart ED-215) exists because modern avionics development leans heavily on tools — code generators, static analyzers, test harnesses, coverage tools. Whenever a tool’s output is trusted instead of an activity DO-178C would otherwise require, the question becomes: could that tool insert an error, or fail to detect one? The three tool criteria capture exactly that distinction. A tool that could insert an error into the airborne software is treated more rigorously than one that merely automates verification, and the most rigorous case is reserved for tools whose output justifies eliminating or reducing other activities.

The criterion, combined with the software level of the product, sets the Tool Qualification Level (TQL 1 through 5), which in turn determines how much qualification evidence — starting from the Tool Operational Requirements — you must produce. Misjudging the criterion is the classic mistake: it either invalidates the credit you were counting on or saddles the program with qualification it never needed. This course shows how to get the classification, and therefore the scope, right.

What you will be able to do afterward

After AV-CERT-220 you will be able to decide whether a tool needs qualification, determine its tool criterion and Tool Qualification Level, define Tool Operational Requirements, and scope a proportionate qualification effort.

How this course fits your certification path

AV-CERT-220 builds on the DO-178C lifecycle from SW-CERT-101 through SW-CERT-120, and is especially relevant when qualifying the coverage tools used in SW-CERT-200. For background, see our DO-178C explained guide. Prefer instructor-led? Explore our full ARP 4754 & 4761 training courses.

How on-demand training works

Every ConsuNova module is delivered online and self-paced, so you can learn on your own schedule. Each purchase includes 30-day access with unlimited views and downloads for one user, and a certificate of completion is issued automatically when you finish the module.

Your instructors

This module is authored and delivered by ConsuNova’s senior certification authorities, giving you both FAA and EASA perspectives on compliance:

Reza Madjidi FAA DER Consultant

Provides FAA Designated Engineering Representative expertise on U.S. avionics certification.

Martin Beeby EASA CVE Authorized

Brings EASA Certification Verification Engineer authority on European avionics compliance.

Frequently asked questions