Important news for everyone who graduated after June 30th of 2023: the cabinet has signed the adaptation of the rules.

New Ministerial Decree on surgical training criteria

N https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi/article.pl?language=nl&sum_date=2026-09-15&lg_txt=n&numac_search=2026006607

F https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi/article.pl?language=fr&sum_date=2026-09-15&lg_txt=f&numac_search=2026006607

A new Ministerial Decree dated 7 September 2026 amends the recognition criteria for training in cardiac, thoracic, vascular and visceral surgery.

What is relevant for vascular surgery?

* Important transitional pathway for surgeons

A surgeon already recognised in general surgery under the 2002 criteria can apply for recognition in vascular surgery (or cardiac, thoracic or visceral surgery) through an individual assessment, provided the training application is submitted before 1 July 2027.

Relevant competencies acquired during previous training and/or recent professional experience obtained before 1 July 2026 can be taken into account.

Importantly, under this transitional provision:

• exemptions may exceed 50% of the minimum training duration

• the candidate may perform medical activity outside the formal training activities during the training period

• the pathway can result in recognition in one of the four specialties

For an additional specialty outside this transitional pathway, the normal rules apply, with at least half of the training duration required.

* New staffing ratio for higher training

For higher training in vascular surgery, the number of trainees supervised by a training supervisor may never exceed the number of other physicians in the training team who:

• are recognised in the same specialty as the supervisor

• work at least 0.8 FTE in the training department

This is part of a broader temporary exception covering the truncus communis of cardiac, thoracic, vascular and visceral surgery, as well as urology, orthopaedics, neurosurgery and plastic surgery.

* Temporary measure

The new provisions concerning staffing ratios, cardiac/thoracic training-volume exceptions and the transitional pathway are currently scheduled to cease on 1 July 2029.

* Other changes

Thyroid and parathyroid procedures are added to the specified surgical training requirements.

Key date for vascular surgeons:

1 July 2027 — deadline for submitting an application under the transitional pathway.

The decree enters into force on the day of its publication in the Belgisch Staatsblad.

Source: Ministerial Decree of 7 September 2026 amending the Ministerial Decree of 23 May 2024 on the recognition criteria for cardiac, thoracic, vascular and visceral surgery.

*cave: AI summary so advised to consult the official website (links above) if any discussion arises the message above is not an official text but to help with an easier to read overview