Professional Certificate of Dermoscopy

Learn to assess skin lesions with greater accuracy, detect melanoma early, and avoid unnecessary excisions.

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CPD

36 hrs Education
54 hrs Performance
17 hrs Outcome

Delivery

Fully online
Learn from
anywhere

Duration

80.5 hours
Self-paced
Start anytime

Overview

With teachings from the world’s most influential dermoscopy experts, learn how to independently and competently diagnose most common benign and malignant lesions using dermoscopy.

Who it is for and what you will learn:

Ideal foundation course for practitioners with little knowledge in lesion diagnosis.
CPD-accredited and delivered in collaboration with the International Dermoscopy Society.
Presented by the world's leading dermoscopy experts including Prof Harald Kittler (Austria), Prof Giuseppe Argenziano (Italy), Prof Ashfaq A. Marghoob (USA), A/Prof Iris Zalaudek (Austria), and more.
This course is for physicians, nurse practitioners, and degree-qualified nurses.

Your education pathway

Professional Certificate

Establish foundational clinical knowledge and essential skills.

You are here

Advanced Certificate

Develop advanced techniques and diagnostic capabilities.

Learn more

Professional Diploma

Master complex cases and achieve high-level clinical proficiency.

Learn more

Learning outcomes

Learn to assess skin lesions, including melanoma, using different algorithms like the Elephant Approach.
Understand the Chaos & Clues method for simple lesion assessment and faster diagnoses.
Confidently identify benign non-melanocytic lesions in your patients.
Learn to spot frequently encountered malignant non-melanocytic lesions.
Accurately assess and differentiate melanocytic naevi from potential melanomas.
Provide early intervention to your patients.

Course contents

Algorithms and the elephant approach

This course introduces the key dermoscopic algorithms used to distinguish benign from malignant skin lesions in primary care. Participants learn the evolution of diagnostic methods from pattern analysis to modern structured tools including the ABCD rule, Menzies’ method, the Seven-Point Checklist, the Three-Point Checklist, and the Elephant Approach. The course provides practical strategies for recognising melanoma, differentiating common benign lesions, and applying rapid “blink” and comparative techniques for confident decision making. Through high-quality dermoscopic images, practical tips, and interactive quizzes, learners build accuracy and confidence in assessing suspicious lesions in everyday clinical practice.

Benign non-melanocytic lesions

"Benign Non-Melanocytic Lesions" is an essential course for healthcare professionals focusing on the use of dermoscopy to identify and manage common benign skin lesions. This course covers key conditions such as seborrheic keratosis, dermatofibroma, vascular tumors, and sebaceous hyperplasia, highlighting diagnostic patterns, morphological variations, and management principles. Presented by A/Prof Iris Zalaudek, this evidence-based course equips participants with the skills to confidently differentiate benign from malignant lesions in clinical practice.

Malignant non-melanocytic lesions commonly seen in the practice

The "Malignant Non-Melanocytic Lesions" course provides medical professionals with essential skills in diagnosing and managing common skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Utilising dermatoscopy as a diagnostic tool, the course focuses on recognising key patterns and clues in both pigmented and non-pigmented lesions. Participants will enhance their ability to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions, with a focus on keratinocyte cancers, ensuring accurate clinical decisions in dermatology and general practice.

Dermoscopy for melanocytic nevi

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to dermoscopic assessment of melanocytic nevi in primary care. Participants learn to distinguish common benign nevi, recognise dermoscopic patterns, identify atypical features, and determine when monitoring or excision is required. Through high-quality dermoscopic images, practical explanations, and evidence-based guidance, the course builds confidence in evaluating junctional, dermal, compound, blue, Spitz and Reed nevi. It also covers the principles of short-term monitoring and the early detection of melanoma. The course supports safer clinical decision making, reduces unnecessary excisions, and strengthens diagnostic accuracy in everyday general practice.

Chaos and Clues

The "Chaos and Clues Method" course provides healthcare professionals with an advanced approach to dermoscopy for identifying suspicious skin lesions. This course introduces the Chaos and Clues diagnostic algorithm, a proven method for determining whether skin lesions such as melanomas, basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are benign or require further investigation. Participants will learn to apply this method through practical case studies, detailed image analysis, and expert guidance, improving their ability to make accurate and timely diagnoses in clinical practice.

Dermoscopy for facial lesions

"Dermoscopy for Facial Lesions" is designed for healthcare professionals looking to enhance their skills in diagnosing skin lesions on the face using dermoscopy. This course provides practical insights into identifying various dermoscopic patterns in pigmented and non-pigmented facial lesions, aiding in the differentiation between benign and malignant conditions. Focusing on facial naevi, melanomas, actinic keratosis, and other common lesions, the course equips participants with the knowledge to make accurate assessments using dermoscopy for better patient outcomes.

Dermoscopy for acral lesions

The "Dermoscopy for Acral Lesions" course is designed for healthcare professionals looking to enhance their skills in identifying and diagnosing acral skin lesions using dermoscopy. Focusing on the distinct parallel patterns found on the palms and soles, participants will learn to differentiate between benign and malignant acral lesions, including acral nevi and acral lentiginous melanoma. The course covers various dermoscopic patterns and their clinical significance, providing practical insights for accurate diagnosis. This evidence-based course is ideal for practitioners aiming to improve their diagnostic confidence in managing acral lesions.

Dermoscopy for melanoma

The "Dermoscopy for Melanoma" course offers healthcare professionals a comprehensive guide to identifying and managing melanoma through dermoscopy. Participants will learn to recognize melanoma-specific structures, improve diagnostic accuracy, and understand dermoscopic patterns associated with melanoma. This evidence-based course covers ten critical melanoma-specific structures, aiding in the detection of early-stage melanoma. With practical case studies and dermoscopic images, learners will enhance their skills in diagnosing suspicious lesions and applying effective management strategies in clinical settings.

Introduction to the Dermatoscope

Introduction to the Dermatoscope provides a practical foundation for clinicians beginning their journey in skin cancer detection and dermoscopy. Led by Associate Professor Tony Dicker, this short online course explains how a dermatoscope works, how to use it effectively in daily practice, and how to capture, store, and manage clinical images securely. Through clear demonstrations, participants learn proper device handling, photography techniques, and maintenance essentials to ensure accuracy and reliability. By the end of the course, participants will confidently operate a dermatoscope, understand its diagnostic value, and apply safe, professional standards in primary care dermatological assessments.

Meet your instructors

Dr Camila Scharf MD PhD

Professor Cliff Rosendahl MBBS PhD

Assoc. Professor Iris Zalaudek MD PhD

Professor Harald Kittler MD

Professor John Paoli MD

Professor Harald Kittler MD

Live Tutorial Presenter Professor Aimilios Lallas MD PhD MSc

Professor Ashfaq A. Marghoob

Workshop Presenter Assoc. Professor Tony Dicker MBBS, PhD

FROM

$2195

Payment plans, special rates and bundle savings available

University-assured and CPD-accredited
Structured pathways for real-world practice
Led by recognised clinicians
Lifetime access to course materials

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Workshop

Complete your certificate online, then build practical skills in the accompanying optional hands-on workshop.

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Short courses

Study selected topics from this certificate as focused, standalone short courses for targeted upskilling in under 10 hours.

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CPD accreditation and course details

CPD Accreditation and Activities

Accredited CPD activities in this certificate

Each module in this certificate is an RACGP and ACRRM approved CPD activity. The certificate provides 50 hours of CPD for medical professionals in Australia.*

RACGP Activity Number	ACRRM Activity Number	Activity Title	Education Hours	Performance Hours
403764	38723	Algorithms and the elephant approach	4.0	6.0
403769	38745	Benign non-melanocytic lesions	3.5	5.5
403772	38754	Malignant non-melanocytic lesions commonly seen in the practice	4.0	6.5
1425218	38698	Dermoscopy for melanocytic nevi	4.0	5.5
403766	38734	Chaos and Clues	4.5	6.0
1430860	38760	Dermoscopy for facial lesions	4.5	6.5
403783	38761	Dermoscopy for acral lesions	3.5	6.0
1430878	38762	Dermoscopy for melanoma	4.5	6.0
1404643	39109	Introduction to the Dermatoscope	3.5	6.0
Total hours			36.0	54.0

*When the optional outcome measurement activity (minimum 5 hours) is completed. See our FAQs for more information about annual CPD requirements.

Please note: You may choose to complete either one or both of the Outcome Improvement Activities listed.

View the CPD Hours for all HealthCert Education activities.

Outcome measurement

The purpose of outcome measurement activities is to improve your clinical confidence in managing an identified learning gap. Outcome measurement activities are not a requirement of our Professional Certificate of Advanced Certificate courses; they are a requirement for Australian CPD purposes.

HealthCert Education provides a variety of outcome measurements activities to suit your needs:

Outcome Improvement Activities relating to specific topics within a course. They are designed to examine current clinical care, align clinical practice with best practice standards, and identify opportunities for improvement. These activities are accredited with RACGP and ACRRM.
Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) options on a specific topic or your identified area. A generic template and guides are provided. PDSAs are self-submitted activities.
Additional activities with guides include Test Measurement, Pathology Results, Practice Meetings, Peer Review, Practice Accreditation, Project Management, Student Supervision, and Pick your own topics (General Practice and Log Book methods). These are self-submitted activities.

Entry Requirements

The Professional Certificate of Dermoscopy is suitable for physicians, nurse practitioners, and degree-qualified nurses. There are no prerequisites for this course.

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.

Recognised Prior Learning (RPL)

Doctors who have completed the UQ Certificate of Advanced Dermatoscopy and Histopathology or other formal dermoscopy training can receive academic credit towards the Professional Diploma (the final course in the three-part program) if they achieve a pass mark in the exams of the first two certificate courses: the Professional Certificate of Dermoscopy and the Advanced Certificate of Dermoscopy. Upon successful exam completion doctors can directly progress to (and will only need to pay for) the Professional Diploma of Dermoscopy course.

NOTE: While the HealthCert Professional Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine course covers Dermoscopy, it does not qualify for RPL in the Professional Diploma of Dermoscopy program which quickly moves on to more advanced dermoscopy techniques, including the Chaos and Clues method and the assessment of lesions on the face and acral sites. HealthCert Professional Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine alumni should begin with the Professional Certificate of Dermoscopy course.

Further professionally recognised qualifications and prior studies may be recognised for entry into this course if the learning outcomes match exactly. Please ask a HealthCert Education Advisor for an individual assessment of your prior qualifications and experience.

Certification

This certificate course meets the minimum 50 hours CPD annual requirement across all three mandatory CPD activity types, provided an outcome measurement activity with a minimum of five hours is completed. You may use an optional HealthCert outcome measurement activity or develop your own.

Outcome measurement activities are not a requirement of Professional or Advanced Certificates.

Upon successful completion of the course requirements, participants will receive the Professional Certificate of Dermoscopy and CPD hours.

This certificate course:

Is recognised by the International Dermoscopy Society. Membership is worldwide and more than 100 countries are represented.
Has been collaboratively designed with, and reviewed by, Professor Giuseppe Argenziano (Head of the Dermatology Unit, Second University of Naples in Italy and a prolific author in this field).
Qualifies for CPD hours from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
Qualifies for CPD hours from the Australian College 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. Hours are calculated differently.
Is a self-submitted activity in Dubai. The number of CPD hours 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. Contact mainprocredits@cfpc.ca for more information.
Meets World Federation of Medical Education standards.
Has been independently developed with subject experts and does not receive education grants from any pharmaceutical company.

Australia-based course participants, please note that HealthCert certificates are not accredited by TEQSA or ASQA and do not fall within the Australian Qualification Framework. All HealthCert certificates are professional development awards, accredited by RACGP, ACRRM and RNZCGP.

To learn more about the delivery of certificates in Australia and overseas, please visit our FAQs.

Pathways

Professional Diploma pathway

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

RPL with The University of Queensland

The University of Queensland Master of Medicine (Skin Cancer) includes the unit IMED7002: Clinical and Dermatoscopic Diagnosis in Skin Cancer Practice. Credit precedence has been established for this subject if students have completed all three of the following HealthCert dermoscopy qualifications: Professional Certificate of Dermoscopy, Advanced Certificate of Dermoscopy and Professional Diploma of Dermoscopy to the unit IMED7002. Doctors who have applied and been accepted into the Master of Medicine (Skin Cancer) program may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning for IMED7002. View The University of Queensland's Master of Medicine (Skin Cancer) program here.

Master of Medicine (Skin Cancer)
Doctors who complete the HealthCert Professional Diploma programs in Dermoscopy, Skin Cancer Medicine and Skin Cancer Surgery can receive RPL for the units IMED7002, IMED7010, and IMED7011, which are high-level subjects in the Master of Medicine (Skin Cancer) at The University of Queensland. The Master of Medicine is open only to registered medical practitioners with at least two years' postgraduate experience. View The University of Queensland, Master of Medicine (Skin Cancer) program.

Please note, only HealthCert Education qualifications completed within the last ten years can be recognised. Credit is assessed on an individual basis and is not guaranteed. If you are considering continuing your studies at UQ, we encourage you to speak with a HealthCert Education Advisor before enrolling. They can explain the current RPL process and help you understand the available credit pathways.

HealthCert clinical attachments

Course participants who successfully complete the HealthCert Professional Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine may continue their professional development by completing a HealthCert Clinical Attachment at a clinic or university teaching hospital to further develop professional knowledge. A HealthCert Australian Clinical Attachment is recommended as the first clinical attachment after completing the HealthCert dermoscopy qualifications and a HealthCert International Clinical Attachment is recommended for subsequent clinical attachments.

What are the costs and payment options of the course?

Fees will vary based on the program and study option selected (fully online vs online + optional practical workshop). Payments can be made upfront or in monthly instalments. Special rates and various payment options are available. GP registrars and doctors in training enjoy a scholarship of up to $500. Talk to us to learn more.

What is the Alumni Support Program?

Completion of any HealthCert course or attendance at an event will enable you to access the HealthCert Alumni Program which includes:

Access to special alumni rates for new courses when they are released.
Special alumni price for HealthCert Conferences.
Exclusive advanced access to HealthCert events.
Regular Alumni Webinars pertaining to the course(s) you have attended. These will provide content review of the course and an opportunity to discuss case studies.
Access to the video lectures as seen during the course(s) that you have attended.

How will I receive my certificate?

HealthCert Education is pleased to issue digital credentials for alumni. Digital credentials are a permanent online record of your successful completion of a HealthCert course and are issued to all course participants in addition to PDF certificates. If you are based in Australia, you also have the option to order a hard copy of your digital certificate for a small additional fee.

How long will the course take to complete?

The recommended study duration of this certificate course is listed at the top of this page. The estimated duration includes study of the pre-course activities and readings, online lectures, live tutorials, and online assessment. This self-paced course offers the flexibility of 100% online study in your own time, at your own pace, in your own home or office, with no mandatory face-to-face requirements. You are not required to be online at specific times but can view and replay video lectures at your convenience.

Is this course recognised in my country?

All HealthCert courses meet World Federation of Medical Education standards. This certificate course qualifies for CPD hours from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) in Australia. It is recognised by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) in New Zealand. It is recognised by the Hong Kong College of Family Physicians (HKCFP) in China. It is a self-submitted activity in Dubai and the United Kingdom. It is a self-submitted activity through the College of Family Physicians in Canada. If you live or work outside one of the above-mentioned countries, please contact us on admin@healthcert.com to discuss whether this course can be recognised in your country.

Cancellation policy: What happens if I can't attend a practical workshop?

Course/workshop cancellations and transfers policy

Should you be unable to attend a course or practical workshop you have registered for, please inform us asap at admin@healthcert.com so we can make your place available to waitlisted doctors.

Charges may apply for course/workshop cancellations and/or transfers. Click here for details.

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Professional Certificate of Dermoscopy

Overview