DO-178C Online Training: Overview & PSAC (SW-CERT-101)

Course overview

SW-CERT-101 introduces the DO-178C software certification process and the planning objectives that set every program up for success. It demystifies the document set and shows where each plan fits.

The centerpiece is a guided walkthrough of a PSAC template — the Plan for Software Aspects of Certification — explaining how it should be organized and what the authorities expect to see.

What you will learn

• The structure of DO-178C and its software lifecycle processes
• The planning objectives and the role of each plan
• How a PSAC template should be organized and written
• What reviewers look for in the planning data
• How planning decisions shape downstream development and verification

Who should take this course

Engineers, managers, and DERs new to DO-178C who need a clear grounding in the process and the planning documents.

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

Course outline

1. DO-178C structure and lifecycle — the planning, development and integral processes, and how the software levels (A–E) drive the objectives that apply.
2. The software plan set — how the PSAC, Software Development Plan, Software Verification Plan, Configuration Management Plan and Quality Assurance Plan work together.
3. Purpose of the PSAC — why the Plan for Software Aspects of Certification is the top-level agreement with the certification authority.
4. Inside a PSAC template — system and software overview, software level, lifecycle, environment, software life-cycle data and the certification schedule.
5. Planning for SOI #1 — how to organize the planning data so it passes the first Stage of Involvement review.

What the PSAC is and why it comes first

The Plan for Software Aspects of Certification is the foundation of a DO-178C program. It is the agreement between the applicant and the FAA or EASA on how the software will be developed and shown to be compliant: it identifies the software level, describes the lifecycle and the processes that will be followed, defines the development environment, and lists the life-cycle data that will be produced as evidence. Because the PSAC is reviewed early — at the first Stage of Involvement (SOI #1) — the decisions captured in it shape every downstream activity.

Most programs that struggle later do so because their planning was weak: an unclear lifecycle, a verification approach that does not match the software level, or life-cycle data that was never properly defined. Time invested in a clear, complete PSAC is the single highest-leverage activity in a DO-178C effort, which is why this course starts there.

What you will be able to do afterward

After SW-CERT-101 you will understand how the DO-178C objectives and plan set fit together, what belongs in each section of a PSAC, and how to write planning data the certification authority will accept with minimal rework — ready to move confidently into development.

How this course fits your certification path

SW-CERT-101 is the starting point of the DO-178C software track. It leads into SW-CERT-110 (Software Development Plan) and SW-CERT-120 (Software Verification Plan), with audit preparation covered in SW-CERT-250 (Audits & SOI). For a written primer on the standard, see our DO-178C explained guide. Prefer instructor-led? Explore our full DO-178C 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