FSMA Schedules In-Person 2026 Continuing Education Sessions for Certified Auditors in Brussels

Key Takeaways

• The Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) will hold two in-person continuing education sessions for certified auditors on November 19 and November 24, 2026, covering occupational retirement institutions and collective investment sectors.
• Registration is free but must be completed by October 21, 2026, through the FSMA Event app.
• Audit firms and their compliance teams should confirm attendance plans promptly to meet continuing education obligations.

Deep Dive

The FSMA has announced its 2026 continuing education program for certified auditors, delivered in person at its Brussels offices (rue du Congrès 12-14, 1000 Brussels). The program is split into two three-hour sessions, each from 2 pm to 5 pm. The first, on Thursday, November 19, 2026, addresses institutions for occupational retirement provision (IORPs). The second, on Tuesday, November 24, 2026, addresses collective investment undertakings, their management companies, and regulated real estate companies (RRECs). The release references communication FSMA_2026_17 for further detail.

The topics indicate where the FSMA expects auditors to hold current knowledge: pension fund supervision and the collective investment and real estate fund sectors. Auditors who certify or review entities in these sectors, and the institutions they audit, should expect supervisory themes, reporting expectations, and recurring findings to be covered. Compliance teams at supervised entities may find the content useful for anticipating audit focus areas and for aligning internal controls and regulatory reporting with FSMA expectations.

Key deadlines and logistics: registration runs through the FSMA Event app, with login via eID or Itsme, and closes no later than Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Registration is free of charge. The in-person format means no remote option is indicated, so travel and scheduling must be arranged by participants. Note that the sessions are separate, so auditors with relevant mandates may need to register for both.

Recommended actions: (1) Identify which certified auditors, internal or external, require the training based on their client portfolios and mandates. (2) Register well before October 21, 2026, and confirm that eID or Itsme access works. (3) Review communication FSMA_2026_17 for accreditation details and how attendance counts toward continuing education requirements. (4) Block calendars for both November dates. (5) Plan to circulate session takeaways to compliance, risk, and finance teams at IORPs, collective investment undertakings, management companies, and RRECs.

Risk implications are low in severity but real in administrative terms. Missing registration or attendance could create a continuing education shortfall for individual auditors, potentially affecting their standing or ability to hold mandates. For supervised entities, the risk is indirect: auditors who are not current on FSMA expectations may produce weaker assurance or surface issues late. The impact is manageable with early planning.

Source: Financial Services and Markets Authority