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Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine

Welcome to our foundational Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine Course. This course is the recommended starting point for GPs wanting to expand their knowledge and skills in primary care skin cancer medicine. The focus is on core skills for the safe practice of skin cancer medicine.

Participants learn to recognise and describe both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, plus benign lesions – which are commonly confused with malignant conditions. Techniques for diagnosis are covered including clinical examination, assessing risk factors for skin cancer, basic dermoscopy, and biopsy (shave, punch and excision). Both surgical and non-surgical management options are explored including elliptical surgery and basic suturing techniques. Other key topics include setting up a procedure room, wound management, common complications and working with your pathologist.

This course offers a combination of online learning and a practical face-to-face workshop. 

  • Flexible learning
    Students can complete the 4-week online learning phase at their own pace.
  • More time for hands-on practice
    Practical sessions focus on surgical skills with ample time for interaction between presenters and students.
  • Ongoing access to content
    Consolidate your skills with on demand access to all course content, including instructional videos (e.g. surgical techniques).
  • Robust assessments
    Multi-phase assessment across the course, designed to build confidence in your skin cancer medicine knowledge and practical skills.

PLEASE NOTE:
It is recommended online content is completed on a desktop or laptop for the best learning experience.

Commencement

Click here to see course dates

Duration

Click here to see course timeline

CPD Hours


*Disclaimer – please refer to below.

Format

Online learning over 4 weeks followed by a practical face to face workshop.

I really enjoyed this course, unlearnt many bad/poor habits and learnt a lot about various skin cancer and their management.

2024 STUDENT

Very good course, able to answer all questions I had. Lots of hands on practical experience and plenty of practice.

2024 STUDENT

I will apply everything I have learned on a daily basis. Thoroughly enjoyed the course and found all topics very relevant to my practice.

2023 STUDENT

Will help me improve my technique for skin cancer excisions and better care for patients.

2023 STUDENT

Course Timeline

Features

  • Learn techniques for diagnosis of skin lesions including clinical examination
  • Understand how to assess risk factors for skin cancer
  • Discover basic dermoscopy, and biopsy techniques (shave, punch, and excision)
  • Learn surgical skills, including elliptical surgery and basic suturing, as well as non-surgical management strategies
  • The assessment for this course comprises two parts:
    1. Online exam: multiple choice format
    2. Surgical case studies: five elliptical excisions from a combination of body sites (view surgical case study example here)

Successful completion of online learning, face-to-face workshop, and all assessment is required to be awarded the Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine (view the Assessment Summary here).

  • This course DOES NOT include skin flap surgery. The College does not recommend doctors undertake skin flaps or grafts until completing more comprehensive surgical training to ensure they can safely assimilate flaps and grafts into their clinical practice.

Entry Requirements

Candidates must be registered medical practitioners. Nurses interested in this course should contact SCCA prior to enrolling.

2025 Course Fees

$2,660 AUD / NZD*

*Member discount $110 AUD / NZD
*Fees inclusive of GST

Further Information

1300 754 676

Course Dates

*The above summary shows the hours reasonably required for a diligent person holding the necessary pre-requisite qualifications and knowledge to properly complete all aspects of this CPD activity.
If required, additional hours can be optionally self-reported together with supporting evidence.