Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine

The Skin Cancer College of Australia and New Zealand is pleased to offer primary care doctors a fundamental skin cancer training programme and examination process, designed for both general practitioners and skin cancer clinic doctors who wish to demonstrate expertise in this often challenging area of medicine. Preparation for this examination will be based on self directed learning using suggested textbooks, an 8 hour online skin cancer course, participation in the skin cancer blog site as well as clinical experience. Successful candidates will be awarded a “Certificate of Primary Care Skin Cancer Medicine”. This assessment will be comparatively inexpensive and will require a basic, but sound, knowledge of the important aspects of high quality skin cancer medicine, as well as proficiency in relevant office procedures. These areas include dermoscopy, diagnosis and treatment of common skin cancers and pre-cancerous conditions, basic histopathology and an understanding of the fundamentals of biopsy, excision and wound repair techniques.

Preparation for this examination will depend on the candidate’s prior experience and expertise. For inexperienced candidates, detailed review of suggested texts, participation in suggested workshops, on-line courses and, if possible, some assisting in plastics theatre, will be quite sufficient to pass this assessment.

The “Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine” is the educational prerequisite for the upcoming Skin Cancer Practice Accreditation process which is being developed in conjunction with the RACGP and AGPAL. It also constitutes Part 1 of the SCCANZ Fellowship training programme. Doctors who attain this qualification will have a comprehensive knowledge of skin cancer diagnosis and management, and be able to competently perform two layered elliptical closures on most parts of the body.

The assessment for this Certificate is in three parts. Parts A and B are in the format of a closed book written examination. Part A is comprised of multiple choice questions and Part B requires applicants to view multiple clinical and dermatoscopic images and answer questions regarding them.

Part C requires the submission of 5 clinical cases, with photodocumentation, demonstrating high quality elliptical excisions from various parts of the body. No flaps or grafts are required, but at least one closure must demonstrate the use of buried absorbable sutures.

Parts A & B

Questions for Parts A & B have been developed in conjunction with A/Prof. Scott Menzies from the Sydney Melanoma Diagnostic Centre, and the dermoscopy component of the curriculum is based largely on the “Menzies method”. The following textbooks include all the information required to pass Parts A & B:

  • Dermoscopy: An Atlas – 3rd edition – Menzies, Crotty, Ingvar, McCarthy – 2009
    The entire book should be read and online cases reviewed
  • Cancer of the Skin (with CD-ROM)  - DS Rigel – Elservier 2005
    Chapters 8-10, 13-19, 31-32
  • Surgery of the Skin – Procedural dermatology (with CD-ROM)  – Robinson – Elservier Mosby 2005
    Chapters 1-9, 12, 14, 16-19

Part C

This part of the examination will evaluate the candidate’s competence with basic elliptical excisions and wound closures.  Flap or graft repairs are not included in this assessment. Students have 12 months from the date of registration to submit these cases.

Five elliptical excisions (with photo documentation), sourced from the candidate’s own practice, are required. One lesion is required to be excised from each of the following areas of the body and should be photodocumented and submitted:

  • Face
  • Neck or scalp
  • Upper limb/ Hand
  • Lower leg
  • Back/ Shoulder

A minimum of five images per lesion, taken by digital camera, should be submitted in either electronic (eg jpg) or printed format as follows:

  • Two clinical images of tumour (firstly, a wide angled shot to show position of lesion on the body, and secondly a close up ‘macro’ photo to show clinical features of the lesion
  • Pre-op clinical image with periphery of lesion dotted and excision margins drawn
  • Immediate post-op image before dressing
  • Post-op image of wound after removal of sutures

Dermoscopy images are not required for this section.

As of July 2008, it is a requirement that one of these cases show the use of interrupted buried absorbable sutures, either alone or in combination with an epidermal suture or buried subcuticular suture. An additional photograph will need to be taken immediately after the insertion of these buried sutures, before the second layer is inserted. Complete apposition of skin edges will need to be demonstrated in this additional photograph. Failure to show apposition of entire length of wound will result in a Part C failure.

Brief discussion of submitted cases should include:

  • History and clinical features of lesion
  • Differential provisional diagnoses and eventual histology result
  • Excision margins used
  • Techniques of wound repair including reasons for choice of suture and suturing technique
  • Dressings and post-op management
  • Observed complications, if any, and their treatment

All cases will be marked by the SCCANZ examination panel, which will consist of experienced skin cancer practitioners.  Any cases that are considered not of high standard will be discussed with specialist colleagues assisting the examination panel and may be subsequently failed.  If the images submitted are not perfectly in focus or do not clearly demonstrate the techniques used, then they will be failed. If the wound does not have appropriate orientation, following recommended RSTLs, shows inverted edges, becomes infected or dehisces, the case will be failed. The candidate would then be requested to prepare another case with no additional fee charged.  Work on these case studies may commence immediately upon registration for examination. 

Registration Fee includes:

  • 40 hour Study Programme using recommended textbooks, online & CD teaching material
  • Sydney University 8 Hour Online Skin Cancer Course - 12 month registration
  • Written 3 1/2 hour Examination & Marking of Surgical Case Studies
  • Certificate
  • Optional Listing on SCCANZ website as a Certified Skin Cancer Doctor

Registration Fee $1,400.00 (inc GST)  

Discounted Registration Fee $1,155.00 (inc GST)

**  Discounted Registration Fee applies to current SCSA/SCCANZ members or Graduates of the SCSA Diploma of Dermoscopy, UQ Skin Cancer Courses (Cert PCSCM, Cert PCSCS, Cert Adv Dermoscopy or Cert Adv SCS) or UQ Masters of Medicine (PCSCM) 

For further information please email the exam coordinator at: admin@sccanz.com.au

 

Exam Sitting Dates

Please email admin@sccanz.com.au to register for an exam sitting date.  Please note that a minimum of 3 candidates are required for a exam sitting to proceed.

There is also the option of external examination where the candidate must provide a suitable exam supervisor.  An additional fee will be charged for administration costs and postage.  Requests for external examinations must be made well in advance of the requested date and are subject to prior approval. 

If you would like to register for an exam sitting on one of the above dates or enquire about external exam approval please email the exam coordinator at:  admin@sccanz.com.au

 

CSCM - Brochure
CSCM - Registration Form