Only 12% of construction disputes involving shared boundaries are resolved without professional surveyor involvement — a figure that underscores just how critical specialist knowledge has become in this field. For professionals working under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, staying current with training, certification, and evolving best practice is not optional. It is the foundation of competent practice.
The FPWS Training and Events for Party Wall Surveyors in 2026: Key Takeaways from Upcoming Faculty Workshops and Certification Updates programme reflects this reality directly. Whether a surveyor is newly entering the field or a seasoned practitioner navigating RICS 8th Edition changes, the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors (FPWS) has structured its 2026 events calendar to address the full spectrum of professional need — from foundational Act interpretation to advanced award drafting and dispute resolution.
This article unpacks the most important developments from the FPWS 2026 training schedule, what the workshops cover, how certification paths are evolving, and what surveyors should prioritise to stay ahead.
Key Takeaways
- 🏛️ FPWS delivered its flagship Two-Day Party Wall Training Course in March 2026 at CIARB, London, covering the entire Party Wall etc. Act 1996 curriculum [1]
- 📋 12 CPD hours are awarded upon course completion, supporting mandatory professional development requirements [1]
- 💻 Virtual delivery is now a confirmed option, with the April 2026 Administration Process course offered entirely online [4]
- 💷 The 2026 course fee is £935 (nil VAT), inclusive of training and a membership interview [1]
- 🤝 FPWS Local Forums provide ongoing peer networking beyond formal certification, strengthening the professional community [8]
Understanding the FPWS 2026 Training Landscape
The Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors has long been recognised as one of the UK's primary bodies for specialist party wall education. In 2026, its training calendar reflects both the enduring complexity of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 and the profession's growing need for structured, accredited learning pathways.
The Two-Day Party Wall Training Course: March 2026
The centrepiece of the FPWS 2026 events schedule was the Two-Day Party Wall Training Course, held on 11th and 12th March 2026 at The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIARB), 12 Bloomsbury Square, London, WC1A 2LP [1]. Sessions ran from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM on both days, providing an intensive, structured learning environment.
💬 "Twelve CPD hours in two days — the FPWS March 2026 course is one of the most efficient routes to structured party wall competency available to UK construction professionals."
The course fee was set at £935 (nil VAT), which includes both the full two-day training and an interview for FPWS membership — making it a genuinely comprehensive investment in professional standing [1].
Who should attend? The course is designed for:
- Practising surveyors seeking formal party wall qualification
- Architects and engineers involved in notifiable works
- Construction managers and technical professionals
- Anyone advising building owners or adjoining owners on their rights
For surveyors working across London — whether as a building owner's surveyor or an adjoining owner's surveyor — this level of structured training directly supports the quality of advice and award drafting delivered to clients.
What the Curriculum Covers
The FPWS two-day curriculum is comprehensive by design [1][10]. Below is a breakdown of the key modules:
| Module | Topic Area |
|---|---|
| 1 | History and context of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 |
| 2 | Interpretation of party walls and party fence walls |
| 3 | Notifiable works under the Act |
| 4 | Building owner duties and rights |
| 5 | Surveyor responsibilities and appointment |
| 6 | Notice procedures, counter notices, and letters |
| 7 | Award drafting and dispute resolution |
Each module builds on the last, moving from legislative history through to practical application. This structure ensures that participants leave with both theoretical grounding and the practical skills needed to handle real-world party wall awards and notices.
Understanding party wall notices — when to serve them, how to respond, and what happens if they are ignored — is one of the most practically valuable elements of the curriculum. Errors at the notice stage can cascade into costly disputes, making this module particularly critical for new entrants to the field.
FPWS Certification Updates and Virtual Training in 2026
The FPWS Training and Events for Party Wall Surveyors in 2026: Key Takeaways from Upcoming Faculty Workshops and Certification Updates story does not end with the March in-person course. A significant development in 2026 is the confirmed expansion of virtual training delivery.
April 2026: The Administration Process Course Goes Virtual
On 22nd April 2026, FPWS delivered "The Administration Process & Role of the Party Wall Surveyor Course" as a fully virtual session, running from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM [4]. This marks a meaningful shift in how the faculty approaches accessibility.
Why this matters:
- 🌍 Removes geographic barriers for surveyors outside London
- 🕐 Offers scheduling flexibility for busy practitioners
- 💻 Demonstrates FPWS commitment to modern delivery methods
- 📈 Expands the potential reach of CPD-accredited training
The virtual format covers the administration process in detail — a topic that sits at the heart of day-to-day party wall practice. Understanding how appointments are made, how surveyors interact across the dispute process, and how awards are administered is essential for anyone handling types of party wall works from excavations to loft conversions.
IPWS: A Complementary Training Pathway
The Institute of Party Wall Surveyors (IPWS) also offers professional training courses in 2026, running from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM on both days, with flexibility built in for group consensus on timing [6]. Notably, IPWS training is open to a broad range of applicants — including practising surveyors, engineers, architects, and professionals from construction management, technical, and trade backgrounds [6].
This inclusive eligibility reflects the reality that party wall matters touch many disciplines. A structural engineer advising on underpinning, for example, benefits enormously from understanding the Act's requirements around schedule of condition surveys and building owner obligations.
Certification Paths: What's Changing in 2026?
The RICS 8th Edition of the Surveying Safely guidance — alongside evolving best practice in dispute resolution — is reshaping what competency looks like for party wall practitioners. The 2026 FPWS training events are structured to align with these shifts.
Key certification considerations for 2026 include:
- CPD compliance — 12 accredited hours from the two-day FPWS course directly support annual CPD requirements [1]
- FPWS membership interview — included in the March 2026 course fee, providing a route to formal faculty membership [1]
- Specialist seminar access — FPWS offers Construction-Related Party Wall Act seminars for more advanced practitioners, with enquiries handled via 01424 883300 [5]
- Local Forum participation — counted as ongoing professional engagement within the FPWS development ecosystem [8]
Workshops, Local Forums, and the Broader FPWS Events Ecosystem
The FPWS Training and Events for Party Wall Surveyors in 2026: Key Takeaways from Upcoming Faculty Workshops and Certification Updates picture is broader than individual courses. The faculty maintains a rich ecosystem of professional development touchpoints throughout the year [9].
FPWS Local Forums: Peer Learning in Practice
Beyond formal certification, FPWS Local Forums serve as a vital community infrastructure for party wall professionals [8]. These forums bring together practitioners at a regional level to discuss:
- Recent case law and its implications
- Practical challenges in award drafting
- Emerging issues in dispute resolution
- Updates from RICS and other professional bodies
For surveyors operating in specific areas — whether as a party wall surveyor in North London, South London, or West London — local forums provide a geographically relevant space to connect with peers facing similar site conditions and client profiles.
💬 "Local forums are where textbook knowledge meets real-world application. They are where surveyors sharpen the judgment that formal courses begin to build."
Construction-Related Party Wall Act Seminars
For more experienced practitioners, FPWS offers specialist seminars focused on construction-related party wall matters [5]. These sessions go beyond the foundational Act curriculum to address:
- Complex excavation scenarios
- Multi-party disputes on large development sites
- Interface between the Party Wall Act and planning conditions
- Practical award drafting for unusual structures
These seminars are particularly valuable for surveyors advising on high-value or technically complex projects where the standard frameworks require careful interpretation.
Practical Skills That Training Builds
The workshops and events in the 2026 FPWS calendar are not purely theoretical. Across all formats — in-person, virtual, and forum-based — the focus is on building practical competency in areas including:
| Skill Area | Relevance to Practice |
|---|---|
| Notice drafting | Ensuring legally valid party wall notices are served correctly |
| Award preparation | Producing enforceable, clear party wall awards |
| Dispute resolution | Managing disagreements between building and adjoining owners |
| Schedule of condition | Protecting both parties with accurate pre-works records |
| Client communication | Explaining complex rights and obligations in plain terms |
These skills directly translate into better outcomes for clients — whether they are carrying out works or responding as an adjoining owner when their neighbour is building.
Why 2026 Training Matters More Than Ever
The party wall surveying profession is at an inflection point. Several converging pressures make the 2026 FPWS training and events calendar more relevant than at any point in recent years:
1. 🏗️ Rising Construction Activity in London
London's development pipeline continues to generate high volumes of notifiable works — from basement excavations in Central London to loft conversions across East London. More works mean more notices, more awards, and more potential for dispute. Surveyors without current, structured training are increasingly exposed to professional risk.
2. 📚 RICS 8th Edition Alignment
The RICS 8th Edition guidance has introduced updated expectations around competency, record-keeping, and professional conduct. FPWS training in 2026 is designed to help practitioners align their practice with these updated standards — reducing liability and improving service quality.
3. ⚖️ Growing Complexity of Disputes
Party wall disputes are becoming more technically complex, particularly where excavation works intersect with existing drainage, foundations, or basement structures. The award drafting and dispute resolution modules within FPWS courses directly address this growing complexity.
4. 🔄 Regulatory Scrutiny
Professional bodies are paying closer attention to the quality of party wall practice. Surveyors with formal FPWS certification and active CPD records are better positioned to demonstrate competency in any regulatory review.
How to Access FPWS Training in 2026
For surveyors ready to engage with the FPWS 2026 training calendar, the practical steps are straightforward:
Step 1: Review the full FPWS events list for remaining 2026 dates [9]
Step 2: Identify whether in-person or virtual delivery best suits scheduling needs [1][4]
Step 3: Confirm eligibility — the courses welcome surveyors, architects, engineers, and construction professionals [6]
Step 4: Register and secure a place — the March 2026 course demonstrated strong demand, so early booking for future dates is advisable
Step 5: For specialist seminar enquiries or custom training discussions, contact the FPWS administration team directly [5]
Step 6: Engage with FPWS Local Forums to maintain ongoing professional development between formal course dates [8]
Conclusion: Actionable Next Steps for Party Wall Surveyors in 2026
The FPWS Training and Events for Party Wall Surveyors in 2026: Key Takeaways from Upcoming Faculty Workshops and Certification Updates programme represents one of the clearest pathways available to UK construction professionals seeking to build or deepen their party wall expertise.
The March 2026 two-day course at CIARB demonstrated the value of structured, intensive training — 12 CPD hours, a membership interview pathway, and comprehensive curriculum coverage for £935. The April 2026 virtual course confirmed that access is no longer limited by geography. Local Forums and specialist seminars extend that learning into ongoing professional practice.
Actionable next steps for surveyors:
✅ Check the FPWS events calendar for the next available two-day course date and register early
✅ Explore virtual training options if in-person attendance is not practical
✅ Join an FPWS Local Forum to build peer networks and stay current between formal courses
✅ Review CPD records to identify gaps that the 12-hour accredited course can fill
✅ Consider specialist seminar attendance if practice involves complex construction or multi-party scenarios
✅ Align practice with RICS 8th Edition expectations using the updated curriculum frameworks
The party wall surveying profession rewards those who invest in their knowledge. In 2026, the FPWS training and events ecosystem provides every tool needed to make that investment count.
References
[1] Two Day Party Wall Training Course 11th 12th March 2026 – https://fpws.org.uk/fpws-events/two-day-party-wall-training-course-11th-12th-march-2026/
[2] Eeeventslist – https://fpws.org.uk/eeeventslist/
[3] Two Day Party Wall Seminar 2 – https://fpws.org.uk/two-day-party-wall-seminar-2/
[4] The Administration Process Role Of The Party Wall Surveyor Course 22nd April 2026 Virtual – https://fpws.org.uk/fpws-events/the-administration-process-role-of-the-party-wall-surveyor-course-22nd-april-2026-virtual/
[5] Construction Related Party Wall Act Seminar – https://fpws.org.uk/construction-related-party-wall-act-seminar/
[6] Training Course – https://www.ipws.co.uk/training-course/
[7] Ipws Events – https://www.ipws.co.uk/ipws-events/
[8] Fpws Local Forums – https://fpws.org.uk/fpws-local-forums/
[9] Fpws Events – https://fpws.org.uk/fpws-events/
[10] Party Wall Training – https://fpws.org.uk/party-wall-training/
