Beyond the Naked Eye: Dermoscopy in Practice Course

A free, on-demand, case-based course led by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ilya Mukovozov, designed to help you tell a harmless lesion from a possible skin cancer, and know when to monitor and when to refer.

Trusted by clinicians across Canada and the United States

Earn 3.0 ANCC contact hours

NP Circle is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Why take this course?

In primary care, telling a harmless mole from a possible skin cancer is a critical, life-saving skill. The naked eye has its limits. Dermoscopy bridges that gap, bringing out the subtle red flag patterns that often go unnoticed, so you can decide with confidence when to monitor a lesion and when a patient needs an urgent referral.

First offered as a live NP Circle workshop on September 10, 2026, this course is now available on demand. Dr. Mukovozov starts with how a dermatoscope works and builds a clear, step-by-step approach, the two-step algorithm, then applies it to the lesions you see every day: benign nevi, seborrheic keratoses, vascular lesions, dermatofibromas, basal and squamous cell carcinomas, actinic keratoses, lentigines and melanoma, so you can put what you learn into practice in clinic the very next day.

What you will be able to do

  1. Describe the basic functions of a dermatoscope, including when to use polarized versus non-polarized light.

  2. Outline a foundational, step-by-step triage algorithm to categorize skin lesions as benign or suspicious.

  3. Recognize the classic dermoscopic red flag patterns associated with early-stage skin cancers.

  4. Identify key dermoscopic features that distinguish common benign lesions from their malignant mimics.

  5. Define clear, evidence-based criteria for deciding when to monitor a lesion in primary care and when to refer to a specialist.

Meet your instructor

  • Headshot of Dr. Ilya Mukovozov

    Dr. Ilya Mukovozov, MD, PhD, FRCPC

    Instructor
    Board-certified Dermatologist, Toronto, Ontario

    Dr. Ilya Mukovozov is a Canadian board-certified dermatologist with interests in medical dermatology, skin cancer surveillance and cosmetic dermatology. He completed his Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences at McMaster University, followed by MSc and combined MD/PhD training at the University of Toronto, and his Dermatology Residency at the University of British Columbia.

    Dr. Mukovozov is a Lecturer in the Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology at the University of Toronto and a Clinical Associate in the Division of Dermatology at Women’s College Hospital. He is actively involved in dermatology research and education, with over 100 peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, a member of the Canadian Dermatology Association, and is passionate about teaching practical dermatology and dermoscopy.

Course outline

  • Dermoscopy Basics

    Part 1

    How dermoscopy works, polarized and non-polarized light and when to use each, why dermoscopy matters in primary care, and an introduction to mole mapping and digital monitoring.

  • Pattern Analysis and Variations

    Part 2

    The structured approaches to a pigmented lesion: pattern analysis, the ABCD rule of dermoscopy, the 7-point checklist, the Menzies method and the 3-point checklist, with knowledge checks.

  • The Two-Step Algorithm

    Part 3

    Step 1 of the algorithm: deciding whether a lesion is melanocytic or non-melanocytic, the foundation for every lesion you assess.

  • Dermoscopic Criteria

    Part 4

    The features that define common lesions and their mimics: benign nevus and pigment network patterns, acral lesions and the furrow ink test, intradermal nevi, seborrheic keratosis, angiomas, dermatofibroma, sebaceous hyperplasia, basal cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis, squamous cell carcinoma and lentigo.

  • Nevus or Melanoma?

    Parts 5 and 6

    Step 2 of the algorithm: telling a benign nevus from melanoma, and the melanoma-specific structures that should prompt a referral.

  • Dermoscopy in Skin of Colour

    Part 7

    Pearls for darker skin types, including skin type related nevus patterns, longitudinal melanonychia and benign melanocyte activation.

  • Choosing a Dermatoscope

    Part 8

    What to look for when buying a dermatoscope, and Dr. Mukovozov’s top 3 picks for best overall, best optics and best value.

  • Putting It All Together

    Questions and cases

    5 cases to practise the two-step algorithm and the 7-point checklist, plus answers to the questions NPs asked during the live workshop.

How does it work?

Enroll free, then learn at your own pace on the NP Circle platform.

  • On demand: 11 short lessons, about 3 hours in total, on your computer or in the NP Circle app. Pick up where you left off.

  • Real cases: Every part is taught through real dermoscopic images, with knowledge checks along the way and 5 cases to practise on at the end.

  • Live Q&A included: 40 minutes of the questions NPs asked during the live workshop, with practical answers.

Who should take this course?

This course is designed for NPs in primary care, urgent care and other settings who assess skin lesions and want a confident, structured approach to dermoscopy.

Family physicians, physician assistants, registered nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals are also welcome.

No dermoscopy experience is needed.

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Start learning today

Free

On demand • 3.0 ANCC contact hours

NP Circle members: go straight to the course

NPs and NP students who aren’t members yet: click Enroll free and fill out the form

Other healthcare professionals: click Enroll free and fill out the form