Program Overview

Fundamentals of Skin Cancer Diagnostics

Overview

The Fundamentals of Skin Cancer Diagnostics course is delivered by the Medical School and provides an opportunity to learn how to diagnose skin cancer, starting with the basics and progressing to an advanced level over 1 semester. This course benefits practitioners in the health sector, as well as in industries such as hairdressing and beauty therapy.

Upcoming Courses

• Delivery mode: online, self-paced
• Date: 23 February–29 May 2026
• Time commitment: 65 hours

Who Should Attend

The course is suitable for:

• General practitioners
• Nurses
• Melanographers
• Health practitioners involved with skin cancer practice
• Professionals who may encounter skin lesions during their work, such as in physiotherapy, podiatry, natural therapy, massage therapy, or hairdressing

Entry Requirements

This course is suitable for anyone who is:

• working in skin cancer diagnostics or has a sound foundation of clinical knowledge and skills
• working in other professions, such as hairdressing and the beauty industry

What You'll Learn

The course covers:

• Understanding skin evolution, embryology, micro-anatomy, histology, and physiology
• Learning the pathology of skin and skin malignancies
• Understanding the principles of effective skin cancer history-taking and clinical examination
• Learning to correlate dermatoscopy and dermatopathology, and how they integrate with clinical practice

Time Commitment

The course requires roughly 65 hours to complete, consisting of:

• 6 hours of classes (via Zoom)
• 59 hours of study outside of class
• Over 14 weeks

Course Curriculum

Topics include:

• Topic 1: History, Embryology, Evolution, Vitamin D, Microanatomy, Melanin/Melanocytes
• Topic 2: Clinical examination, Introduction to dermatoscopy; Algorithms; Language of dermatoscopy
• Topic 3: Dermatoscopic decision algorithm for pigmented skin lesions; Chaos and Clues
• Topic 4: Dermatoscopic decision algorithm for non-pigmented skin lesions; Prediction without Pigment
• Topic 5: Dermatopathology

Assessment

The course includes:

• An open-book assessment for each module
• 1 open-book written assignment

Certification and Accreditation

Upon completion, participants receive a Digital Badge that verifies their skills and achievements.

Facilitators

The course is facilitated by Dr. Mohsen Hassani, Course Coordinator, General Practice Clinical Unit, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Behavioural Sciences.

Cost

The course costs A$1,760 (GST included), with the course code being 4008. Payment options include credit cards (Visa/MasterCard), including corporate credit cards.