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Build your expertise in Medicinal Cannabis

Progress from the foundations of plant-based therapies through to complex clinical applications with a structured certificate pathway designed for primary care.

Medicinal cannabis, oil and capsules beside a prescription pad

Progressive pathway

Build your expertise across 3 structured certificate levels

Flexible online learning

Study each certificate online at your own pace

University-reviewed CPD

Complete university-reviewed and CPD-accredited education

Experienced clinicians

Learn from practising GPs and prescribers of medicinal cannabis

Medicinal Cannabis program overview

More patients are asking their GP about medicinal cannabis, and prescribers need to show they have the knowledge to use it safely.

The Medicinal Cannabis pathway is designed to progressively build the knowledge to assess, prescribe and manage plant-based therapies in primary care — from the endocannabinoid system and dosing through to complex chronic disease, epilepsy and palliative care.

  • Understand the endocannabinoid system, THC and CBD, routes of administration, side effects and contraindications.
  • Use plant-based therapies for chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia, depression and cancer symptoms.
  • Manage complex applications, including neurological, autoimmune, mental health and palliative care conditions.
  • Progress at your own pace through three certificate levels, fully online.

Progress your Medicinal Cannabis skills step by step

Build your knowledge progressively across three certificate levels, from common presentations in general practice through to complex cases.

Professional Certificate

 Acquire the knowledge to safely apply plant-based therapy as a medicinal tool for patients with common ailments in primary care. 

Advanced Certificate

 Explore the medical applications of cannabinoids to manage common health conditions in primary care. 

Professional Diploma

 Advance your knowledge in the applications of plant-based therapies for patients in primary care. 

Explore the Medicinal Cannabis pathway

Compare the three certificate levels and choose the right starting point for your current experience and clinical goals.

Professional Certificate of Medicinal Cannabis banner image

Professional Certificate of Medicinal Cannabis

Acquire the knowledge to safely apply plant-based therapy as a medicinal tool for patients with common ailments in primary care.

From $1,695
Save 15% with code BF2026.
*T&Cs apply

  • History of Cannabis and Medical Acceptance
  • Introduction to the Endocannabinoid System
  • The major phytocannabinoids: THC and CBD
  • Medicinal Cannabis - Routes of Administration, Side Effects and Contra Indications
  • Medicinal Cannabis - Patient Cases and Basic Ailments
  • Chronic Pain and Medicinal Cannabis
  • Medicinal Cannabis - Anxiety, Insomnia and Depression
  • Medicinal Cannabis - Cancer Symptomatic Treatment

Explore Professional Certificate
Advanced Certificate of Medicinal Cannabis banner image

Advanced Certificate of Medicinal Cannabis

Explore the medical applications of cannabinoids to manage common health conditions in primary care.

From $1,695
Save 15% with code BF2026.
*T&Cs apply

  • Medicinal Cannabis - Multiple sclerosis, spasticity, tremor and dystonia
  • Medicinal Cannabis - Treatment resistant pain, neuropathic pain, cluster headaches and migraines
  • Medicinal Cannabis - Auto immune disorders and Inflammatory Conditions
  • Medicinal Cannabis - Inflammatory bowel disease - Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
  • Medicinal Cannabis - ASD - Autism, ADHD, OCD and Tourettes
  • Medicinal Cannabis - Diabetes, Glaucoma and Hypertension
  • Medicinal Cannabis - Women's health and endometriosis, PMT and osteoporosis
  • Medicinal Cannabis - COPD, asthma, eczema, psoriasis and skin conditions

Explore Advanced Certificate
Professional Diploma of Medicinal Cannabis banner image

Professional Diploma of Medicinal Cannabis

Advance your knowledge in the applications of plant-based therapies for patients in primary care.

From $1,695
Save 15% with code BF2026.
*T&Cs apply

  • Medicinal Cannabis - Geriatric and palliative medicine
  • Medicinal Cannabis - Epilepsy – Adults and child
  • Medicinal Cannabis - PTSD – Treatment in clinical practice
  • Medicinal Cannabis - Advanced mental health
  • Medicinal Cannabis - Cancer – a curative approach – where to beyond symptom relief
  • Medicinal Cannabis - Complex chronic disease
  • Endocannabinoid support – advanced techniques for maximising ECS efficiency
  • Medicinal Cannabis - GP Cases: Practice Review of Dosing

Explore Professional Diploma

 *For Australian residents only: Online course prices are shown exclusive of GST. If you are GST-registered, please enter a valid ABN at checkout to ensure GST is not applied. Otherwise, 10% GST will be added at checkout. View our FAQ for more information. 

Meet your instructors

Dr Joe Kosterich Course Presenter Dr Joe Kosterich MBBS Dr Joe Kosterich

Lecturer, Curtin Medical School

Dr Joe Kosterich is a general practitioner, speaker, author, media presenter and health industry consultant. He writes for numerous medical and mainstream publications and is a regular on radio and television. He is often called to give opinions in medico legal cases, is clinical editor of a medical magazine, adjunct professor (teaching) at UWA and a lecturer at Curtin Medical School.

Dr Kosterich has a special interest in plant-based therapies, men’s health, chronic disease and mental health. He has self-published two books and maintains a website and blog with health information and commentary. Through all this, Dr Kosterich continues to see patients as a GP each week.

Dr Orit Holtzman Clinical Audit Reviewer Dr Orit Holtzman MBBS PhD Dr Orit Holtzman

Chief Medical Officer, Compass Lifestyle Clinics

Co-Founder & Vice President, ANZCCP

Dr Orit Holtzman is the Chief Medical Officer of Compass Lifestyle Clinics, where she practises functional and cannabinoid medicine, and the Co-Founder and Vice President of the Australian and New Zealand College of Cannabinoid Practitioners (ANZCCP). 

Dr Holtzman holds a Bachelor of Science in biology and psychology from the University of Tel Aviv, a PhD in neuroscience from the University of NSW, and an MBBS from the Sydney Medical School at the University of Sydney. She is also a Kresser Institute Trained Practitioner in functional and evolutionary medicine. 

After working in the public hospital system, Dr Holtzman has begun exploring holistic health solutions and become passionate about utilising medicinal cannabis as a therapeutic agent. She began prescribing cannabis in 2019, when she joined Compass Lifestyle Clinics. Dr Holtzman has prescribed medicinal cannabis for hundreds of patients for various indications, and is an authorised prescriber for multiple conditions. She is also a sought-after medical educator, teaching doctors about medicinal cannabis and the endocannabinoid system. 

Dr Holtzman lives in the beautiful Blue Mountains in NSW with her husband and three children.

Dr John Teh Course Presenter Dr John Teh MBBS Dr John Teh

Cannabinoid Clinician, Clinical Educator

Medical Director, PlantMed 

Dr John Teh is the Medical Director of Plantmed Medical Cannabis Clinic, Australia. He has been working within the Medicinal Cannabis industry since the legalisation of cannabis for medicinal use in Australia in February 2016.

Dr Teh is actively involved in Cannabis Medicine education, training medical practitioners and allied health professionals in all areas of cannabinoid therapeutics. He is a medical advisor to various cannabis producers and suppliers within Australia, and consulted the Thailand government prior their introduction of their medicinal cannabis program in 2019.

Dr Teh has vast experience treating a variety of patients with Medical Cannabis and integrates nutrition and plant based medicines which support cannabinoid treatment in his practice. His wealth of knowledge makes him sought after in all areas of cannabis medicine and education.

Professor Marco Falasca Course Presenter Professor Marco Falasca Professor Marco Falasca

Professor, Metabolism, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Australia

Professor Marco Falasca graduated in Pharmacy and then in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Camerino, Italy. His education further includes a Diploma of Specialisation in Applied Pharmacology at the University of Bari and a FORMEZ Research Award (PhD equivalent) at the Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, Italy. After three years at the New York University Medical Center, Department of Pharmacology (Head Prof Joseph Schlessinger), Prof Falasca took up a position as Head of the Unit of Physiopathology of Cell Signalling within the Consorzio Mario Negri Sud in 1998.

In 2001 he moved to London where he was appointed as Principal Research Fellow, Senior Lecturer within the Department of Medicine at the University College London. In 2007 he was appointed as Professor of Molecular Pharmacology at the Queen Mary University of London. He is currently Professor of Metabolism at Curtin University, Australia. He has published more than 100 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member for several international journals.

The focus of Prof Falasca’s research in the past 25 years has involved the investigation of signalling pathways regulating intracellular physiological and pathological processes. Prof Falasca’s current specific projects are dedicated to the investigation of the mechanisms involved in development and progression of pancreatic diseases.

Professor Jonathon Arnold Course Chair Professor Jonathon Arnold Prof Cannabinoid Pharmacology Professor Jonathon Arnold

Deputy Academic Director of the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics at the University of Sydney, Australia.

Professor Jonathon Arnold is a world leader in the science of cannabis and the cannabinoids. He is Deputy Academic Director of the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics at the University of Sydney, Australia. This is a cross faculty research initiative that specialises in the discovery and development of cannabis-based medicines. In 2018 he was one of four scientists selected to advise the World Health Organisation (WHO) on their historical review of cannabis and the cannabinoids.

Prof Arnold has over 20 years’ experience in cannabinoid pharmacology and has published extensively on the molecular, cellular, neurobiological and behavioural actions of the phytocannabinoids, cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Since 2016 he and his team have conducted epilepsy research to improve the understanding of the anticonvulsant properties of the phytocannabinoids. He recently published a high-profile paper which shed new light on the mode of action of CBD in the treatment of childhood epilepsy (Altmetric 75). This paper received the Epilepsia Brain Science Prize honouring the most significant advance in knowledge in the field of epilepsy in 2019.

Dr Harry McIlroy Course Presenter Dr Harry McIlroy MD Dr Harry McIlroy

Integrative physician in San Francisco

Dr Harry McIlroy, MD is an integrative physician in San Francisco who combines the best of Western and Eastern medicine to help people live well and feel better.

Dr McIlroy is a licensed acupuncturist with training in functional medicine. He considers himself to be an old-time, small town family doctor with a big bag of tricks! He works hard to truly know his patients and help them optimise their health and vitality as naturally as possible. His specialities include medical cannabis, chronic pain, digestive health, regenerative medicine and insomnia.

Designed to build real-world clinical capability

Go beyond short updates with structured certificate education designed to progressively build knowledge and clinical skills for everyday practice.

Structured curriculum

Progress through a comprehensive curriculum that builds from foundational knowledge to advanced practice. 

Clinical capability

Develop practical knowledge and clinical decision-making skills designed to be applied in everyday patient care. 

University reviewed

University-reviewed education, developed and taught by practising clinicians and subject matter experts.

Flexible CPD learning

Flexible self-paced online learning, accredited for RACGP and ACRRM CPD requirements.

Medicinal Cannabis program details

Entry requirements

The Medicinal Cannabis program is suitable for physicians, nurse practitioners and degree-qualified nurses.

  • Professional Certificate: there are no prerequisites for this course.
  • Advanced Certificate: participants must have completed the Professional Certificate of Medicinal Cannabis (or a qualification deemed equivalent).
  • Professional Diploma: participants must have completed the Advanced Certificate of Medicinal Cannabis (or a qualification deemed equivalent).
  • Participants do not have to pass an IELTS test but, as the courses are delivered in English, proficiency in listening, reading and writing English is assumed.
  • Participants will require access to a computer/laptop, an internet connection and a basic level of technology proficiency to access and navigate the online learning portal.
Course inclusions

For your one-off investment, you will receive unlimited access to all course content, additional learning materials, ongoing post-course support and more.

  • Online pre-course activity to be completed in your own time.

  • Online video modules to be viewed, replayed and completed at your convenience.

  • All presentation slides and further learning materials available for permanent access and download.

  • Post-course online assessment to be completed in your own time within six months of the course start date.

  • Ongoing post-course support in monthly webinars with the opportunity to discuss cases with course presenters.

  • Access to the HealthCert Community with additional free learning opportunities, special offers and other benefits.

Prescribing plant-based therapies

GPs working in Australia (except for in Tasmania) may prescribe plant-based therapies, however, as part of the guidelines of the TGA SAS-B, you will need to indicate that you have the knowledge necessary to do so. This program will equip you with the knowledge required to manage and prescribe plant-based therapies for various conditions and can serve as part of your documentation showing that you have undertaken education in this field when you decide to become an authorised prescriber. More information here.

University-assured and CPD-accredited education

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Get in touch with us

Our Education Advisors can assist you with any queries and tailor your education pathway to suit your current expertise, interests and career goals.

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