COURSE OVERVIEW

Skin cancer is the most common dermatological condition seen in general practice – and it is not overly complex to manage if you have the right skill set. This certificate course has been specifically designed for time-poor general practitioners wishing to acquire the knowledge required to safely and confidently diagnose and treat commonly encountered skin lesions.

The course is delivered both face-to-face and online. The two-day face-to-face course combines interactive lectures, case discussions and surgical practical sessions on pork parts. The online course offers a flexible learning experience with video lectures and online case discussions with the presenters.

This course is the first part of the three-part Professional Diploma of Skin Cancer Medicine. The education pathway is Professional Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine, Advanced Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine and Professional Diploma of Skin Cancer Medicine.

Professional Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine

Entry Requirements and course requisites

The Professional Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine is the ideal starting point for medical professionals who wish to build their core knowledge in skin cancer management and acquire vital diagnostic skills and basic management techniques to provide effective care to patients with skin cancer concerns. Participants will learn proven techniques to independently and confidently diagnose and treat skin lesions in primary care. The course is suitable for general practitioners and the nurses and dermal therapists who work under their supervision, as well as for International Medical Graduates. The course assumes no prior knowledge or training in the field.

COURSE CONTENTS

The course provides training in skin cancer medicine and teaches various techniques allowing GPs to treat more complex cases in the primary care setting. The program includes practical surgery sessions. Our team of surgical assistants will guide and support you as you practise the various surgical techniques.

The theory and practical sessions cover:

• Skin anatomy and histology
• Diagnosis with dermoscopy
• Benign and malignant skin lesions
• Melanoma management
• Dermatopathology
• Topical treatment options
• Punch and shave biopsies
• Elliptical excisions and suturing
• Workflow and Medicare billing

Course participants will:

• Observe experts performing Skin Cancer Medicine techniques on a large screen with close-up camera
• Participate in discussion of patient cases, evaluate and make decisions
• Receive a comprehensive course folder and research/readings in the field
• Receive unlimited and ongoing access to free alumni learning resources, video lectures, and discussion forums, as well as invite-only events and special offers after completion of the course
• Receive ongoing support post-course through webinars and case review
• Have the opportunity to participate in optional clinical attachments at dedicated skin cancer clinics

COURSE OUTLINE

Saturday

Sunday

DELIVERY FORMAT 1: FACE-TO-FACE 

The Professional Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine is designed as a face-to-face course that is supported by online materials. There are eight units in a HealthCert Professional Certificate program. Course learning materials will be available for a minimum of 15 weeks. There will be pre-reading activities, an intensive weekend program with expert demonstrations and practical hands-on activities, online materials and further readings, individual assessment tasks and finally two online examinations. 

What you get for your one-off investment:

• Online pre-course activity (to be completed in your own time prior to the course component).
• Two-day practical course including catering.
• All materials including surgical instruments and consumables for practical sessions.
• Full-colour workbook including all presentation slides.
• Additional online training in dermoscopy.
• 18 video-based lectures for reference and review for life. 
• Post-course online assessment (to be completed in your own time within three months of attending the program).
• Post-course support in monthly webinars with the opportunity to discuss cases with course presenters.

DELIVERY FORMAT 2: ONLINE 

For delegates who are unable to attend the face-to-face two-day program due to timetable conflicts or travel distance, we offer a 100% online training option. Upon registration, you will be able to access all learning contents immediately and complete the certificate course online. If you would then like to cement your knowledge, you have the option to attend the face-to-face equivalent of the course anytime it suits you*.  

You can enjoy the flexibility to study at your own pace, in your own time, within your home or office, and on your favourite mobile device. The modules are set up in such a way that you are not required to be online at specific times but can view and replay the video lectures at your convenience. The webinars offer the opportunity to join and interact with the presenters online in real-time but can also be viewed later. There are no face-to-face requirements for exams which can be conveniently completed online within three months of trimester end date. With no travel, accommodation or out-of-office expenses incurred, you can build critical skills and tailor your career while working in a busy practice or raising a family.

What you get for your one-off investment:

• 18 video lectures, including all content from the 2-day face-to-face course.
• Full-colour workbook including all presentation slides.
• Disposable instrument pack, sutures and biopsy kit for surgery practice in your own office or home (posted to you via Express Post upon registration).
• Additional online training in dermoscopy (100 image quiz using the Three-Point Checklist).
• 5 x webinar case study sessions, held at fortnightly intervals with a mandatory attendance requirement.
• Post-course online assessment (to be completed in your own time within three months of attending the program).
• Post-course support in monthly webinars with the opportunity to discuss cases with course presenters.

ASSESSMENT

In order to meet the requirements of professional and academic learning, the course assessment includes a professional requirement and two online examinations.

• Develop a one-page report/explanation of how you will use the learning from this course in your professional work.

Online assessment

• 88 knowledge questions based on a scenario of a medical practitioner undertaking special interest training.
  • 11 per module
    Example: The medical practitioner believes that 10% of the population … Is he correct?  Yes/No

• 88 authentic scenario based questions based on cases of patient care at a clinic
  • 11 per module
    Example: A patient arrives at your clinic with this problem … What should you do?  Multiple choice images based on patient cases.

The knowledge-based examination is worth 50 per cent and the application-based examination is worth 50 per cent. The overall pass mark is 80 per cent. It is therefore not possible to pass this course on knowledge alone. Knowledge must be successfully applied to patient cases in order to pass the course.

CERTIFICATION AND ACCREDITATION

Upon successful completion of the course requirements, course participants will receive the Professional Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine.

Face-to-face:
The Sunday component of this course has been approved for the Training Grant for Rural and Remote Procedural GPs Program (Procedural Grant Program).

EDUCATION PATHWAYS

Professional Diploma Pathway

This course is the first stage of the three-part professional diploma pathway. The full pathway is Professional Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine, Advanced Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine, Professional Diploma of Skin Cancer Medicine.

Postgraduate Diploma in Dermatology

Postgraduate Diploma in Dermatology studied through the Rila Institute of Health Sciences and awarded by the University of Plymouth (UK).

There are three modules in the Postgraduate Diploma. Medical professionals who successfully complete the HealthCert Professional Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine, Advanced Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine and Professional Diploma of Skin Cancer Medicine will be eligible to apply for Accreditation of Prior Certified Learning (APCL) for module 3.

The Postgraduate Diploma is mainly delivered online. No practical workshops will be required due to the APCL from the HealthCert qualifications. Overall there will be a time saving of 40 per cent of the postgraduate program due to the APCL. Exams will be held in Perth, Western Australia.

When the Postgraduate Diploma has been successfully completed, medical professionals can apply for credit from the Postgraduate Diploma to the Master of Science in the specialism awarded by the University of Plymouth.

For more information, please click here.

Certified Clinical Attachments Pathway

Doctors participating the Skin Cancer Medicine program can attend a HealthCert Clinical Attachment at a specialist clinic or university teaching hospital to further refine and enhance their professional knowledge. A HealthCert Australian Clinical Attachment is recommended as the first clinical attachment and a HealthCert International Clinical Attachment is recommended for subsequent clinical attachments.