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
Describe the basic functions of a dermatoscope, including when to use polarized versus non-polarized light.
Outline a foundational, step-by-step triage algorithm to categorize skin lesions as benign or suspicious.
Recognize the classic dermoscopic red flag patterns associated with early-stage skin cancers.
Identify key dermoscopic features that distinguish common benign lesions from their malignant mimics.
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
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Dr. Ilya Mukovozov, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Instructor
Board-certified Dermatologist, Toronto, OntarioDr. 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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Dermoscopy in Skin of Colour
Part 7
Pearls for darker skin types, including skin type related nevus patterns, longitudinal melanonychia and benign melanocyte activation.
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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.
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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.
Testimonials
FAQs
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Yes. The course is free, including the contact hours and the certificate. You only need an NP Circle account, and joining NP Circle is also free.
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No. This course was first offered as a live workshop and is now available on demand, so you can start anytime and learn at your own pace. The recording has been organized into short lessons, and the live Q&A is included.
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Yes. NP Circle is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
This course is designated for 3.0 ANCC contact hours, available until September 17, 2029. ANCC contact hours are accepted by the AANP Certification Board for NP recertification.
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Complete all lessons and the post-activity evaluation. We recommend completing the evaluation within 48 hours of finishing the course. You can then request your certificate here.
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No. You can take the full course without one. If you are thinking about buying a dermatoscope, Part 8 covers what to look for and Dr. Mukovozov’s top picks.
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No. Although the course is designed with NPs and primary care clinicians in mind, it is open to physicians, physician assistants, registered nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals who assess skin lesions.
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NP Circle is founded and led by NPs. Our team plans, reviews and moderates every program, with needs assessments guiding the topics we cover and the clinical questions we address.
We bring together expert NPs, physicians, pharmacists and other specialists so learners can benefit from the depth of knowledge and clinical experience across disciplines. Faculty are selected for their topic expertise, teaching ability and the practical value they bring to NP practice.
Interested in teaching with us? Apply here.
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Dr. Ilya Mukovozov has disclosed relevant financial relationships within the past 24 months with AbbVie (advisory board, speaker), Amgen (speaker), Arcutis (advisory board, consultant), CeraVe (consultant), Cliniderm (advisory board), Galderma (consultant, speaker), Kenvue (advisory board), L’Oréal (consultant, advisory board), NAOS (consultant), Novartis (speaker, consultant), Pfizer (advisory board, consultant, speaker), Sun Pharmaceuticals (advisory board, speaker) and UCB (consultant, advisory board). All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.
All other individuals in a position to control the content of this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. This activity has not received any commercial support.
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

