52900WA Graduate Certificate in Cosmetic Medicine

GCMPCM01 - Analyse the principles of cosmetic medicine

This unit provides the underpinning knowledge to prepare doctors for practice as a cosmetic physician. It focuses on multi-disciplinary practice, examining the scope of practice for each cosmetic professional, including the allied health workers who support cosmetic patients. Lectures cover the governance surrounding cosmetic practice, with attention to appropriate marketing strategies, medical indemnity and the cosmetic physician's role in a supervisory capacity. This unit is applied by medical doctors within a cosmetic medical context.

GCMRPA01 - Review patient consultation and assessment strategies

This unit covers the foundation skills needed to ensure thorough, effective consultation strategies in aesthetic practice. Lectures provide a step-by-step guide to assessment as part of a holistic consultation — including referral, informed consent, and written and photographic documentation — to support positive patient outcomes. They also explore the patient management systems currently used in aesthetics and how these tie together every aspect of patient assessment and consultation to ensure best practice. This unit is applied by medical doctors within a cosmetic medical context.

GCMAPD01 - Apply principles of dermatology to cosmetic medicine

This unit evaluates the principles of dermatology and their application to cosmetic practice. Lectures explore both cosmetic and dermatological skin conditions, with a focus on developing a holistic treatment plan built on a multi-modality approach that includes dermal therapies and prescription topical and systemic medications. Doctors gain a sound understanding of the cutaneous manifestations of systemic disease, differential diagnosis of skin disorders, over-the-counter dispensing, prescription skin care, non-ionising cosmetic devices and epidermal resurfacing techniques. This unit is applied by medical doctors within a cosmetic medical context.

HLTINF005 - Maintain infection prevention for skin penetration treatments

This unit ensures doctors hold the essential knowledge and skills to maintain infection prevention across all areas of cosmetic medical practice. Lectures focus on current hygiene standards and regulations and the principles of infection prevention in a cosmetic medical context. The unit is divided into theory and practical components, with the practical competencies demonstrated and assessed during hands-on training.

GCMPAI01 - Prepare for and administer cosmetic injectable medications

This unit provides doctors with the underpinning theoretical knowledge and practical skills for prescribing and administering basic cosmetic injectable procedures. Learning covers the standard best-practice protocols for cosmetic neurotoxins and a range of dermal fillers, and develops knowledge of facial anatomy, rheology, pharmacology, and absolute and relative contraindications. Clinical skills are developed through supervised case studies covering consultation, informed consent, facial analysis, product selection, dosage and patient aftercare advice, ensuring a complete and effective cosmetic medical service. This unit is applied by medical doctors within a cosmetic medical context.

Course Fees

$20,940

Candidates will be required to successfully fulfil the requirements of each unit prior to proceeding to the next. This ensures candidates will have a good theoretical and practical grounding in how to operate within the cosmetic medical profession and recognise general medical and dermatological concerns. As a result, graduates will be better placed to deal with general medical and dermatological concerns that may arise during consultations for cosmetic procedures.

Upon successful completion of each unit within this postgraduate training course, candidates will be awarded a digital badge for use on their website and professional networking pages. To learn more about digital credentials, please visit https://cpca.net.au/digital-credentials/.

Graduate Certificate in Cosmetic Medicine graduates, who have also completed a minimum number of logged hours working in the aesthetic treatment areas covered by the Graduate Certificate course are encouraged to apply to the CPCA Membership Review Committee for an upgrade to Full Membership of the College if they do not already hold it.

• Doctors currently practising cosmetic medicine wishing to formalise and strengthen their clinical expertise
• GPs looking to expand their scope of practice and offer procedures in cosmetic medicine
• Doctors seeking formal postgraduate education in cosmetic medicine
• Doctors currently practising in aesthetics who desire a nationally accredited qualification to formalise their aesthetics skills.