PROGRAM OVERVIEW

GPs are confronted with common skin, nail and hair conditions on a regular basis as patients have limited access to dermatologists. In fact, the largest organ of the human body makes up 15 percent of general practice consultations on a day-to-day basis. Undergraduate dermatology training is minimal in many medical schools and without additional education in general dermatology, GPs are often underequipped to handle common presentations such as paediatric infections, atopic eczema, chronic plaque psoriasis, female pattern hair loss, and many more conditions.

Presented by noted dermatologists, the online Professional Diploma of General Dermatology program will teach you how to manage all major dermatological conditions as well as general disease states manifesting through the skin, and help you minimise unnecessary referrals to specialists.

The education pathway is Professional Certificate of General Dermatology, Advanced Certificate of General Dermatology and Professional Diploma of General Dermatology.

Professional Certificate of General Dermatology Advanced Certificate of General Dermatology Professional Diploma of General Dermatology
CAPTIONS STANDARD General Dermatology DTL promo video w Richard Usatine

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE OF GENERAL DERMATOLOGY

The Professional Certificate course will teach how to diagnose various dermatological conditions in the early presentation stage and choose appropriate treatment options for common skin, hair and nail problems.

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ADVANCED CERTIFICATE OF GENERAL DERMATOLOGY

In the Advanced Certificate course, you will increase your clinical knowledge, learn how to assess more complex and rare cases, and make differential diagnoses for various dermatological conditions.

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PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMA OF GENERAL DERMATOLOGY

In the Professional Diploma course, you will develop the most advanced clinical knowledge and critical awareness of dermatology principles and treatment options.

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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND COURSE REQUISITES

This course is for general practitioners and for degree-qualified nurses and dermal therapists who work under their supervision.  

  • No previous formal training is required for the Professional Certificate course.
  • Participants of the Advanced Certificate course must have successfully completed the Professional Certificate course or have equivalent qualifications.
  • In order to qualify for the Professional Diploma, participants must complete both certificate courses in sequential order.

Other professionally accredited qualifications and prior studies may be recognised for entry into the program.

PROGRAM CONTENTS

Professional Certificate of General Dermatology

Module 1: Common benign lesions, pigmentary conditions and skin infections

Module 2: Facial rashes, systemic diseases and fungal skin infections 

Module 3: Psoriasis, lichen planus and pityriasis rosea 

Module 4: Atopic dermatitis and acne 

Module 5: Dermatopathology, pruritus and contact dermatitis 

Module 6: Nail diseases and hair loss 

Module 7: Paediatric dermatology, follicular disorders and blistering disorders 

Module 8: General dermatology cases 

Advanced Certificate of General Dermatology

Module 1: Dermatological emergencies, vitiligo and skin infestations 

Module 2: Treatment of dermatomyositis and sarcoidosis 

Module 3: Systemic treatment options for psoriasis and lichen planus 

Module 4: Systemic treatment for atopic dermatitis, and the differential diagnosis and treatment of acne 

Module 5: Patch testing, contact dermatitis and cutaneous lymphomas 

Module 6: Cicatricial alopecia and rare nail disorders 

Module 7: Hidradenitis suppurativa and bullous pemphigoid 

Module 8: More challenging cases  

Concluding webinar: Summary and questions/clarification prior to exams

Professional Diploma of General Dermatology

Module 1: Bites: animals, snakes and insects

Module 2: Skin ulcers, pressure sores and wound care

Module 3: Pregnancy dermatoses

Module 4: Oral mucosal diseases

Module 5: Urticaria and drug eruptions

Module 6: Nutritional dermatoses and delusions of parasitosis

Module 7: Sexually transmitted infections and HIV

Module 8: Vulvar skin diseases

WHAT YOUR COLLEAGUES SAY 

Meet Your Instructors

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS Your instructors are widely regarded as some of the world’s foremost specialists in skin cancer medicine and business management, including:
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Prof Richard P. Usatine

MD PhD

Professor of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery at the University of Texas, USA

Founder and medical director of the University Health System Skin Clinic in San Antonio, USA

Professor Richard Usatine is the Professor of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery at the University of Texas. He is the author of nine books and over 120 papers, founder of the Interactive Dermatology Atlas on the web, and is the most recognised presenter on skin conditions in the USA. He is also the national chair of the yearly Skin Course held by the American Academy of Family Physicians, and is the founder and medical director of the University Health System Skin Clinic in San Antonio.

Richard has been involved in Global Health through his work in Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Haiti and Ethiopia. In 2000, Richard Usatine was recognised as the national recipient of the Humanism in Medicine Award, by the Association of American Medical Colleges.

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A/Prof Caterina Longo

MD PhD

Scientific Coordinator, Skin Cancer Unit, ASMN-IRCCS, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy

Associate Professor Caterina Longo is a board-certified dermatologist specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers. Although providing the best care possible for patients remains her primary goal, she also committed to education and clinical research. She is actively involved in clinical research and has published numerous papers on topics related to skin cancer with an emphasis on melanoma, atypical nevi, Spitz/Reed nevi and non-melanoma skin cancer.

Caterina’s research interests are focused on the use of imaging instruments such as dermoscopy and confocal laser microscopy to recognise skin cancer early in its development. She pioneered the use of ex vivo fluorescence confocal microscopy for micrographic Mohs surgery applied for basal cell carcinoma and other visceral tumours. Caterina frequently lectures on these topics both nationally and internationally.

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Dr Christopher Ross

BMBS, BSc(BiomedSc)(Hons), FACD – Dermatologist

Dr Christopher Ross is a graduate of Flinders Medical Centre and trained in dermatology in South Australia with experience in all major dermatology specialist units. He commenced work with Darwin Dermatology in Tiwi in February 2017.

Christopher visits multiple rural locations in South Australia in addition to Western Hospital, Henley Beach for private clinics. He also holds visiting dermatology specialist positions at Flinders Medical Centre and Repatriation General Hospital in South Australia.

Christopher’s interests include general dermatology (eczema, acne, psoriasis and inflammatory dermatology), as well as drug eruptions, infections, paediatric dermatology, hair and nail disorders, and skin cancer medicine.

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Dr Daniel Stulberg

MD, FAAFP

Dr Daniel Stulberg is a Professor and the Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of New Mexico, USA. After completing the Inteflex program and residency at the University of Michigan in 1990, he worked for eight years in rural Arizona before moving into full time teaching. Daniel has published multiple articles and presents at national conferences regarding skin care and treatment. He has a dual appointment in family medicine and dermatology with an emphasis on skin care and procedural family medicine.

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Dr Jonathan B. Karnes

MD

Dr Jonathan B. Karnes is a family medicine physician with special fellowship training in dermatology. He is employed by MDFMR Dermatology Services and is a member of Maine General Medical Center's active staff. He is also a faculty member in the Maine Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency program.

Jonathan’s special interest areas include:

  • Advancement flaps
  • Burn therapy (excluding burns requiring grafting)
  • Cryotherapy of skin lesions
  • Destruction of malignant skin lesions by electrosurgery or cryosurgery
  • Excision/biopsy of skin lesions without grafting
  • Fricke graft for small skin defects
  • Incision and drainage of superficial abscesses and haematomas
  • Intermediate and complex facial repairs
  • Local infiltration anaesthesia with minor nerve blocks
  • Patch tests for allergy diagnosis
  • Phototherapy
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Dr Zoe Apalla

MD PhD

Consultant Dermatologist at State Hospital for Skin and Venereal Diseases, Thessaloniki, Greece

Dr Zoe Apalla was board certified in dermatology in 2008 at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. She was trained in dermatopathology at the St John’s Institute of Dermatology in London in 2010 and obtained her PhD degree at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 2013.

Zoe has worked as a consultant in the First Dermatology Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki since 2010. She oversees the Supportive Oncology Outpatient Clinic and the Skin Cancer Outpatient Clinic, and the department’s dermatopathology laboratory. She also holds General Dermatology and Inflammatory Dermatoses Outpatient Clinics.

Zoe’s main research fields include skin oncology, melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, topical treatments, photodynamic therapy and dermatoscopy. She has published more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles in international journals and has lectured at many international and national congresses and meetings.

IMPORTANT Dates

online

START STUDIES ANYTIME.

JOIN ONE OF 3 COHORTS.

Professional CertificateREGISTER NOW

Advanced CertificateREGISTER NOW

Professional DiplomaREGISTER NOW

COURSE FEES AND PAYMENT OPTIONS

REGULAR TUITION FEE

Professional Certificate

$1,895

Two-Course Bundle

$3,790

Three-Course Bundle

$5,685

Different payments options available.
EARLY BIRD RATE

Professional Certificate

$1,695

Two-Course Bundle

$3,220 

Three-Course Bundle

$4,590
 Register 30 days prior to the course commencement date.
DEFERRED PAYMENT

Professional Certificate

$664 x 3

Two-Course Bundle

$682 x 5 

Three-Course Bundle

$600 x 8 
 Defer your payments over several months.

LEARN MORE ABOUT AVAILABLE PAYMENT OPTIONS

GP REGISTRARS: Doctors in training who are on a recognised pathway to General Practice Registration through a recognised training provider receive a HealthCert Scholarship.

COURSE DELIVERY and ASSESSMENT

Each of the three levels of this course consists of eight modules which are delivered online and can be viewed and replayed at any time. All courses include:

  • All presentation slides available for download.
  • Access to additional learning resources, reference materials and video lectures.
  • Reading list with references to peer-reviewed journal articles to keep up-to-date with developments in the field.
  • Web-based support with the opportunity to ask the instructors questions while you implement your learning.

For the Professional and Advanced Certificates, there is a three-month exam period at the end of each trimester. In order to pass the assessment and progress to the next course, you must complete the assessment within this period. Exam extensions of up to six months are available on a case by case basis.

Online activities for the Professional and Advanced Certificates include a pre-course activity, responding to interactive case discussions, knowledge- and scenario-based questions, two interactive webinars, and a post-course activity.

Online activities for the Professional Diploma level include a pre-course activity, literature review, responding to interactive case discussions, knowledge- and scenario-based questions, two interactive webinars, and a post-course activity. A clinical audit is also a module of the Professional Diploma designed to demonstrate your application of learning in clinical presentations. The clinical audit is separately accredited.

Online assessment

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

  • Develop a report/explanation of how the learning from this course will help you with your professional development. - All certificate levels
  • Complete a literature review of three articles nominated by the course chair. - Professional Diploma only
  • Complete a clinical audit (separately accredited) to demonstrate application of learning. - Professional Diploma only
  • There is a knowledge-based examination and an application-based examination which are both equally weighted. The pass mark for online examinations 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. - All certificate levels
  • Explanation of how the learning from this course has helped you with your professional development. - All certificate levels

HealthCert recommends completion of all requirements at your convenience within three months of the exam opening date for Professional and Advanced Certificates and nine months of the course commencement date for the Professional Diploma.

CERTIFICATION AND ACCREDITATION

Professional Diploma of General DermatologyUpon successful completion of the exam, course participants will receive the respective Certificates of General Dermatology and below points.

RACGP and ACRRM points pending. RACGP and ACRRM have revised their accreditation processes and recognitions will be updated as soon as they are received.

 

This program:

  • Provides CPD points from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
  • Provides PRPD points from the Australian Council of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).
  • Is recognised by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP).
  • Is recognised by the Hong Kong College of Family Physicians (HKCFP). The HKCFP recognises all courses endorsed by the RACGP. Points are calculated differently.
  • Is a self-submitted activity in Dubai. The number of CPD points must be stated on the certificate. Please contact PLD@dhcr.gov.ae for more information.
  • Is a self-submitted activity in the UK. CPD events overseas, applicable to a doctor’s scope of practice, may be submitted for revalidation. Please confirm with your Responsible Officer.
  • Is a self-submitted activity in Canada through the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Category 1 points are reported as certified and Category 2 points are reported as non-certified. Contact mainprocredits@cfpc.ca for more information.
  • Meets World Federation of Medical Education standards.
  • Is quality-assured by Bond University.
  • Qualifies for certified clinical attachments in General Dermatology in Austria at the University of Vienna.
  • Provides credit for Postgraduate Diploma in General Dermatology which is studied online at the Rila Institute of Health Sciences which in turn provides credit for a Master of Science in Dermatology awarded by the University of Plymouth (UK).
  • Has been independently developed with subject specialists and does not receive education grants from any pharmaceutical company.

EDUCATION PATHWAYS

Professional Diploma Pathway

This course is the first stage of the professional diploma pathway. The full pathway is: Professional Certificate of General Dermatology, Advanced Certificate of General Dermatology, Professional Diploma of General Dermatology.

Postgraduate Pathway

This pathway is suitable for doctors who are mainly interested in clinical academic study.

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 General Dermatology, Advanced Certificate of General Dermatology and Professional Diploma of General Dermatology will be eligible to apply for Accreditation of Prior Certified Learning (APCL) for module 3 of the Rila Institute/Plymouth University Postgraduate Diploma in Dermatology.

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

Upcoming intake dates are 6 February 2019 and 24 September 2019. For more information, please click here.

Certified Clinical Attachments Pathway

Upon completion of the Professional Certificate of General Dermatology, participants can complete a Dermatology Clinical Attachment to increase the safety and accuracy of their work. Clinical Attachments in Dermatology are currently available at the University of Vienna under the supervision of Professor Harald Kittler. 

Course graduates may also join the International Society of Dermatology (ISD).
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Postgraduate studies with
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