DO-178C Audits & Stages of Involvement (SOI) Online Training (SW-CERT-250)

Course overview

SOI audits are where programs succeed or stall. SW-CERT-250 walks the full audit journey across the four Stages of Involvement, from readiness through completion.

It offers a meaningful interpretation of the FAA Job Aid so you understand not just what is checked, but why — and how to prepare evidence that passes the first time.

What you will learn

• The purpose of each Stage of Involvement (SOI 1–4)
• How to assess and demonstrate audit readiness
• A meaningful interpretation of the FAA Job Aid
• Preparing evidence and traceability that survive audit
• Closing findings and bringing an audit to completion

Who should take this course

Certification leads, DERs, and software/quality engineers preparing for or supporting SOI audits.

Recommended prerequisites: SW-CERT-101 — DO-178C Overview & PSAC Explanation, AV-CERT-110 — Avionics Configuration Management & Quality Assurance

Course outline

1. The four Stages of Involvement — SOI #1 planning, #2 development, #3 verification and #4 final certification, and what each examines.
2. The FAA Job Aid — a meaningful interpretation of the software review Job Aid and how reviewers actually use it.
3. Demonstrating readiness — assessing whether the life-cycle data is mature enough before each SOI.
4. Evidence and traceability — presenting data, trace and verification results so a review runs smoothly.
5. Findings and closure — responding to problem reports and bringing an audit to completion.

Why SOI audits decide your certification timeline

The Stages of Involvement are the points at which a certification authority or its designee examines your DO-178C evidence, and they are where programs either build momentum or stall. SOI #1 looks at planning, #2 at development data, #3 at verification, and #4 at the final, conformed software product. A program that treats each SOI as a readiness gate — confirming the relevant life-cycle data is mature before inviting review — moves through certification far more predictably than one that schedules audits by the calendar.

Much of the difficulty is interpretive: the FAA Job Aid lists what reviewers check, but understanding why each item matters is what lets you prepare evidence that passes the first time. Weak traceability, planning that does not match the as-built data, and unresolved problem reports are the recurring causes of findings. This course walks the full audit journey so you can assess readiness honestly, present evidence clearly, and close findings efficiently.

What you will be able to do afterward

After SW-CERT-250 you will understand the purpose of each Stage of Involvement, be able to assess audit readiness against the FAA Job Aid, prepare evidence and traceability that survive review, and close findings to bring an audit to completion.

How this course fits your certification path

SW-CERT-250 ties together the planning, development and verification work from SW-CERT-101, SW-CERT-110 and SW-CERT-120, and depends on solid configuration management and quality assurance. For more 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