Program Overview

Microcertificate Course on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing and Interpretation

Course Information

The Microcertificate course on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing and Interpretation is an asynchronous, completely online course via Canvas LMS, accommodating a global audience across many time zones. The learning objectives are logically ordered into modules and supported by multimedia content to deliver principles and reinforce applied practices in the laboratory setting. Each week, 1-2 thought-provoking questions will be posted on the learning management system discussion board, which will be monitored and guided by a lead Subject Matter Expert (SME) currently practicing in the field of microbiology. Students will interact with a different faculty lead/subject matter expert for each module of the course and work through the curriculum together on a weekly basis.

Course Length

• The course is 12 weeks long.
  • Each module's running time is not expected to exceed 6 contact hours.

Learning Objectives

• Appropriate selection and collection of microbiology specimens
• Isolation and accurate identification of clinically relevant bacterial pathogens
• Biological mechanisms of action and of resistance to Antimicrobials
• Review of AST methods, including Disk Diffusion, MIC broth microdilution, and agar dilution
• Understanding breakpoints, interpretive categories, and international standards & guidelines
• Internal Quality control and Quality assurance for AST, cumulative antibiograms
• Detection of intrinsic resistance, mechanisms of resistance, and appropriate reporting
• Selection of effective Antimicrobials based on laboratory information and clinical use case, including selective reporting
• Data utilization and practical and effective implementation in the clinic setting, including effective communication within the clinical management team
• AMR and One Health

Prerequisites

• Students should have a foundational knowledge of microbiology before considering enrollment.

Continuing Education Credits

• The course has been awarded:
  • MOC (Section 3) 72 credit hours by the UBC Continuing Professional Development office (UBC CPD)
  • 4.1 CPS credits and 82 PEP hours by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS)

Course Fee

• The course fee is CAD 1450.

Start Date

• The course starts on February 4, 2026.