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.

Please note: 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 practise.

Face-to-face, interactive learning, including hands-on practical sessions working on pig flesh.

2-day workshop (9.00am to 5.00pm daily)

Program summary outlined below. 

Candidates must be registered medical practitioners or nurses.

Undertaking the assessment is optional and comprises two parts:

1. Online exam: multiple choice format; 90 minutes duration
2. Surgical case studies: five elliptical excisions from a combination of body sites (view surgical case study example)

Successful completion of both parts of the assessment is required to be awarded the Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine (view the Assessment Summary).

2-day workshop attendance

RACGP:                   40 Category 1 points

RNZCGP:                12 GPEP & MOPS points

ACRRM:                  30 PRPD & SURG MOPS points

Australian practitioners are also eligible for the rural surgical grant