ARP 4754 Quality & Process Assurance Online Training (AV-CERT-250)

Course overview

AV-CERT-250 provides an overview of the role of Quality Assurance and Process Assurance in aircraft and avionics certification. Quality and Process Assurance is a key element of Development Assurance for systems, hardware, and software, and this course gives participants a clear understanding of the objectives and activities defined in ARP-4754A, DO-178C, and DO-254.

It explains where Quality Assurance fits within the development assurance process, including responsibilities for process compliance and process adherence, then walks through practical QA strategies and the key QA activities. By the end, participants understand how Quality and Process Assurance ensures disciplined, traceable, and compliant development throughout the avionics lifecycle.

What you will learn

• Aircraft and avionics certification and the organizations involved
• The role of Development Assurance for systems, hardware, and software
• Understanding guidance objectives and activities
• The role of Quality and Process Assurance
• Quality Assurance strategies
• Key Quality Assurance activities

Who should take this course

Quality and process assurance engineers, certification leads, and systems, hardware, and software teams who need to apply QA objectives across the avionics development lifecycle.

Recommended prerequisite: AV-CERT-101 — Introduction to Design Assurance (ARP 4754A & ARP 4761)

Course outline

1. QA in development assurance — the role of quality and process assurance across ARP 4754, DO-178C and DO-254.
2. Process compliance versus process adherence — what QA is actually responsible for.
3. QA strategies — planning assurance that scales to the program and the assurance level.
4. Key QA activities — reviews, audits, conformity and non-compliance tracking.
5. Independence — where it is required and how to demonstrate it.

Process assurance versus product conformity

Quality and process assurance is often reduced to a checklist, but its real job is twofold: confirming that the defined processes were actually followed (process assurance) and confirming that the product conforms to its approved data (conformity). Both are needed. A program can follow its process diligently and still ship a non-conforming build, or produce a conforming build through an undocumented process that no reviewer can trust. QA is the independent function that closes both gaps.

What gives QA its weight under DO-178C, DO-254 and ARP 4754 is independence and authority — the ability to audit, to raise findings, and to track them to closure without being overruled by schedule pressure. This course explains where that independence is required, what the key QA activities are, and how to plan assurance that is rigorous without becoming a bottleneck.

What you will be able to do afterward

After AV-CERT-250 you will understand the QA objectives across the major standards, distinguish process assurance from conformity, plan proportionate QA strategies, and demonstrate the independence reviewers expect.

How this course fits your certification path

AV-CERT-250 complements AV-CERT-110 (Configuration Management & QA) and supports audit readiness in SW-CERT-250. For context, see our ARP 4754 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