Certificate of Primary Care Dermatology
Overview
This comprehensive course trains general practitioners (GPs) to diagnose and optimally manage common skin conditions (including skin cancer). The certificate course has been developed through a special interest education partnership between the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD). It is open to all GPs and GP registrars. It is also open to registrars in the ACD training program.
This certificate course consists of 25 modules:
- Twenty three online modules are delivered through gplearning (RACGP members) and ClinED (RACGP nonmembers). Participants are required to complete an assessment at the conclusion of each module. Participants must achieve an assessment mark of 80% to successfully complete each module.
- Module 5: Dermatological surgery workshop is a face to face, 2 day event conducted by the ACD. A workshop will be held 25–27 February 2011 in Sydney. Participants must complete Module 4: Practical procedures in dermatology prior to attending the workshop.
- Module 6: Clinical experience consists of several education options including clinical attachment, peer group discussion and virtual classroom. Participants can only undertake module 6 after they have completed all 24 other modules.
Successful completion of all 25 modules is required to attain the Certificate of Primary Care Dermatology. Modules1–4, 7 and 8 will be available online from late August 2010. Further modules will be released on an ongoing basis.
You can enrol in, and pay for, each module as you are ready to undertake them (and have completed any prerequisites). Alternatively, you can pay for all modules in advance (save $800) and complete them at your pace over 3 years (see Payment options).
Course module details and fee schedule
Module |
Title |
Fee ($) |
Duration (hours)* |
| 1 | Premalignant and malignant non-melanoma skin cancer | 450 | 10–12 |
| 2 | Melanoma and melanocytic lesions | 450 | 7–9.5 |
| 3 | Benign skin tumours | 450 | 4.5–5.5 |
| 4 | Practical procedures in dermatology | 600 | 16–25 |
| 5 | Dermatological surgery workshop | 2100 | 2 days |
| 4 & 5 | Two module package | 2500 | As above |
| 6 | Clinical experience | 1200 | As determined |
| 7 | Introduction to the skin | 300 | 3.5–4 |
| 8 | Eczema, dermatitis and related conditions | 600 | 9–12.5 |
| 9 | Psoriasis and other papulosquamous diseases | 450 | 6–8.5 |
| 10 | Bacterial skin infections | 300 | 3.5–4 |
| 11 | Viral infections with cutaneous manifestations | 450 | 4–5 |
| 12 | Fungal skin infections | 450 | 5–6 |
| 13 | Acne vulgaris, acne rosacea and related disorders | 300 | 3–3.5 |
| 14 | Urticaria | 300 | 3–3.5 |
| 15 | Exanthems and drug reactions | 300 | 3–3.5 |
| 16 | Hypersensitivity syndromes and vasculitis | 300 | 3.5–4 |
| 17 | Infestation and bites | 300 | 2–2.5 |
| 18 | Vesicular and bullous diseases | 300 | 1.5–2 |
| 19 | Connective tissue diseases | 300 | 2.5–3 |
| 20 | Light related diseases and pigmentation disorders | 300 | 4–4.5 |
| 21 | Vascular tumours and malformations | 300 | 4–4.5 |
| 22 | Hair and nail disorders | 450 | 5–6 |
| 23 | Neonatal skin diseases | 300 | 1 |
| 24 | Sexually transmitted infections and skin | 300 | 2.5–3 |
| 25 | Cutaneous manifestations of internal disease | 450 | 4–5 |
* Lower end of range = core education only. Higher end of range = core education plus recommended reading and any predisposing/reflection activities.
A more detailed course syllabus is available.
QA&CPD Program approval
Modules 1, 5, 6, 8 and 9 will be submitted to the RACGP QA&CPD Program for approval for 40 Category 1 points in the 2008–2010 and 2011–2013 trienniums. Category 1 points will be allocated when the predisposing activity, education content, and reinforcing (assessment) activity for each module are completed. All other modules will be submitted for Category 2 point approval.
Procedural skills grant eligibility
The Australian Government offers rural and remote procedural and emergency medicine GPs financial assistance to access skills maintenance and development activities in their respective disciplines. General practitioner surgeons who attend Module 5: Dermatological surgery workshop may be eligible for a support grant of $2000 per day. The full course may also be eligible for the 10 day procedural grant in surgery ($20 000). Participants,who would like to access this grant need to be registered in the surgical component of the Rural Procedural Grants Program prior to commencing the course. Please contact the RACGP National Rural Faculty on 1800 636 764 to check your eligibility for these grants prior to enrolling in the course. Further training grant information is available online.
Course references
Key recommended reference
Habif T, Campbell J, Chapman S, Dinulos J, Zug K. Skin disease.
Diagnosis and treatment. 2nd ed: Elsevier Mosby, 2005.
Recommended further reading for those particularly
interested in dermatological surgery
Robinson J, Hanke C, Sengelmann R, Siegel D. Surgery of the
skin. Procedural dermatology: Elsevier Mosby, 2005
Payment options
All prices quoted include GST
Option |
Process |
Cost |
How to enrol |
A: Entire certificate course |
Pay for all modules upfront. Note Module 4 must be completed prior to the workshop. Module 6 must be completed after all other modules. Rural and remote GPs may be eligible for a procedural skills grant. The entire course must be completed within 3 years of the date of enrolment confirmation to attain the certificate. |
$11 200 |
Download and complete the registration form. Fax to 03 8699 0400 or mail to: |
B: Pay as you go |
Pay for modules individually. Note Module 4 must be completed prior to the workshop. Module 6 must be completed after all other modules. Rural and remote GPs may be eligible for a procedural skills grant. The entire course must be completed within 3 years of the date the first module was accessed to attain the certificate. |
Individual modules fees start from $300 (see table above). |
Online modules except modules 4 & 5 package and practical experience modules 5 and 6 RACGP members - please download and complete registration
form. Modules 4 & 5 package and practical experience modules 5 and 6 Download and complete the registration form. Fax to 03 8699 0400 or mail to: |
C: Upgrade |
Those who have completed the Certificate in Primary Care Skin Cancer Management can pay for modules 7–25 upfront. |
$6500 |
Download and complete the registration form. Fax to 03 8699 0400 or mail to: |
Terms and conditions
- Access to online modules is ongoing and available for the
following time periods:
- Option A – 3 years from the date of your enrolment confirmation
- Option B – 3 years from the date that you have accessed your first online module
- Option C – 18 months from the date of your enrolment confirmation.
- Associated program costs with attending the practical modules such as travel, accommodation and other materials are to be covered by the registrant.
- Registration in the program will be confirmed upon receipt of the completed enrolment form and payment of the relevant course fees to the RACGP.
- Participants are required to complete Module 4: Practical procedures in dermatology before commencing Module 5: Dermatological surgery workshop. Workshop registrations close 20 working days prior to the workshop date.
- Participants are only eligible to undertake Module 6: Clinical experience after they have completed all 24 other modules.
- Participants can defer the commencement of modules 5 and 6 through a written request to the Dermatology Education Program Administrator (RACGP, 1 Palmerston Crescent, South Melbourne, VIC 3205) that is received no later than 20 working days before the date of the workshop or clinical experience option.
- Participants are required to review the terms and conditions and cancellation/refund policy prior to registering and to acknowledge acceptance of these conditions during the registration process.
- This certificate is not included in the RACGP membership package.
Cancellation/refund policy*
Option A |
Money refunded will be the cost of modules (as stipulated in the fee schedule) not accessed less an $1100 withdrawal fee. |
|
Option B |
||
Two module package |
Module 4 not accessed Full refund issued if a written request is received at least 20 days before the workshop date. Module 4 accessed $1400 refund if a written request is received at least 20 working days before the workshop date. No refund if a request is received less than 20 working days before the workshop date. |
|
Practical modules 5 and 6 |
Module price refunded less a $600 withdrawal fee if a written request is received at least 20 working days before the commencement date. No refund if a request is received less than 20 working days before the commencement date. |
|
Option C |
Money refunded will be the cost of modules (as stipulated in the fee schedule) not accessed less a $600 withdrawal fee. |
|
* All prices include GST.
- A full refund of fees will be payable when an offer of placement is withdrawn or in the unlikely event a college is unable to provide any components of the program.
- No refund of fees will be made if the course is not completed
within the following timeframes:
- Option A – 3 years from the date of your enrolment confirmation
- Option B – 3 years from the date that you have accessed your first online module
- Option C – 18 months from the date of your enrolment
confirmation.
- All requests for refunds must be made in writing to the gplearning Manager (dermcert@racgp.org.au ).
- To appeal a refund decision, the registrant must write to the gplearning Manager (1 Palmerston Crescent, South Melbourne, 3205) within 10 working days of the date that their cancellation is processed. In the event of an appeal the registrant will be required to submit a statutory declaration to the gplearning Manager for consideration. The statutory declaration must include:
- the name and address of the registrant
- information which fully addresses the circumstances and case for a refund. The statutory declaration must also be witnessed by a Justice of the Peace, Proclaimed Policy Officer or Commissioner for taking affidavits. The statutory declaration signatory list is available online. Please read the RACGP appeals policy for further information.
Further Information
For further information, email dermcert@racgp.org.au or freecall 1800 284 732
