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EASA Part 21 Subpart J – Design Organisation Approval (DOA) Training
For design offices, CVEs, airworthiness and quality teams: understand how a design organisation is approved, organised and overseen, and what it may approve on its own.
Course sheet
Part 21 J – Design Organisation Approval course sheet
Any applicant for a type certificate, an STC or a major change must demonstrate its design capability. The normal route is a Design Organisation Approval (DOA), issued and overseen by EASA under Part 21 Subpart J of Regulation (EU) No 748/2012.
The course follows a DOA end to end: regulatory framework, scope of approval, design management system (design assurance, safety management, independent monitoring), key personnel and CVEs, the organisation handbook, the certification process, the 21.A.263 privileges, obligations and EASA oversight.
Key facts
Duration, formats and delivery
Duration
About 3 hours of e-learning: 8 narrated videos with subtitles, 10 PDF sheets, 8 quizzes and a final exam.
Available 24/7, at your own pace.
Formats
E-learning on aero-consulting-online.com (individual access).
On-site, live video or blended for a team, using your own procedures.
Teaching methods
Narrated videos, process diagrams and practical cases.
One study sheet per module and an appendix of Part 21 Subpart J references.
5-question quiz after each module.
Assessment
Final exam: 20 multiple-choice questions.
80% correct answers required (16 out of 20).
Certificate
Personal training certificate in PDF, as soon as you pass the exam.
Up to date: design management system (2023) and Part-IS (2025).
Price
€85 per learner in e-learning.
Groups and companies: quote on request, volume discounts.
Learning objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Place Part 21 Subpart J within the regulatory framework, from ICAO to EU rules.
- Explain the scope of a DOA: product types, activities and technical areas.
- Describe the design management system and its three pillars.
- Identify the key personnel of a design organisation and the signature chain.
- Follow a certification project, from certification basis to declaration of compliance.
- List the privileges and obligations of a DOA and understand EASA oversight.
Why a Part 21 J course?
A DOA lives by its system: an up-to-date handbook, independent CVEs, an airworthiness office that masters the certification basis, and independent monitoring that detects deviations. Every weakness costs EASA findings, more Agency involvement in your projects, or even a limitation of the approval.
Since 2023 the design management system includes safety management, and since October 2025 information security (Part-IS). This course brings you up to date and complements the Aircraft Parts Certification – Part 21 course.
Course programme
Module 1 – Regulatory framework
ICAO, Basic Regulation, Part 21, hard law and soft law, competent authorities.
Module 2 – What is a DOA?
Why the approval, DOA, ADOA and POA, scope and how to obtain the approval.
Module 3 – Design management system
21.A.239: design assurance, safety management, independent monitoring, Part-IS.
Module 4 – Organisation and key personnel
Head of design organisation, airworthiness office, CVEs and signature chain.
Module 5 – The organisation handbook
Handbook content, significant changes, 21.A.243 to 21.A.253.
Module 6 – The certification process
Certification basis, programme, MC0 to MC9 means of compliance, LOI, minor / major.
Module 7 – Privileges and obligations
21.A.263 privileges and 21.A.265 obligations.
Module 8 – Oversight and continuing airworthiness
EASA oversight, findings, occurrence reporting, interfaces.
Study sheets and appendix
One sheet per module and the Part 21 Subpart J references appendix.
Final exam
20 multiple-choice questions, then the certificate is issued.
Target audience and prerequisites
The course is designed for:
- Design office engineers and compliance verification engineers (CVEs).
- Airworthiness office teams and certification project managers.
- Quality and independent monitoring managers, heads of design organisations.
- Production, maintenance (Part-145, CAMO) and operations staff working with a DOA.
Prerequisites: read and understand English; some knowledge of aviation regulations is useful but not required.
FAQ – Part 21 J training
What is a DOA?
A DOA (Design Organisation Approval) is the approval issued by EASA under Part 21 Subpart J. It recognises an organisation’s capability to design products, changes and repairs, and grants privileges, such as approving minor changes itself.
Who is the Part 21 J course for?
Design office engineers and CVEs, airworthiness office teams, quality and independent monitoring managers, heads of design organisations, and production, maintenance or operations staff who work with a DOA.
How long does the course take?
About 3 hours of e-learning at your own pace: 8 narrated videos with English subtitles, 10 PDF study sheets, 8 practice quizzes and a final exam.
Is the course up to date?
Yes. It covers the design management system of 21.A.239, applicable since 7 March 2023, the 72-hour rule of 21.A.3A, Part-IS (16 October 2025) and the 21.A.263 privileges.
How is the certificate issued?
As soon as you pass the final exam (20 questions, 80% correct answers), your personal certificate can be downloaded as a PDF.
Is the course available in French?
Yes, the French version « Agrément d’organisme de conception (DOA) – Part 21 J » is available in e-learning at the same price.
Related courses
See all our EASA aviation courses
E-learningTake the Part 21 J – DOA course in e-learning on Aero Consulting Online
Training your teams?
Tell us the number of participants, the format and the preferred period: we will send you a proposal within 48 hours. Volume discounts on request.
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