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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Medicine in Dermatology 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
21417  Master of Medicine in Dermatology 
ORIGINATOR
University of Cape Town 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Preventive Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
This qualification forms part of the credential process, for medical practitioners, to qualify as specialists in dermatology. It aims to meet the needs for formal assessment and certification as a specialist dermatologist, as well as to set standards, nationally, for such a qualification. It aims to provide a specialist with the necessary knowledge, specific skills and applied competence in dermatology and related fields to enable the competent practice of dermatology in the private, public and academic sector.

The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) stipulates training requirements, including a minimum period of experiential learning. It is usual for the assessment to be taken and passed prior to the completion of the required period of supervised learning specified by the HPCSA. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Entry requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, NQF Level 8, 480 Credits. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    N 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate ability to assess, diagnose and manage dermatological problems.
    2. Demonstrate ability to assess, diagnose and manage general medical problems.
    3. Competent in the basic surgical procedures necessary for the practice of dermatology.
    4. Competence in dermatopathology and clinic-pathological correlation.
    5. Be able to conduct and present independent research. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • Ability to identify and solve problems using critical and creative thinking.
  • Ability to use science and technology appropriately.
  • Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
  • Ability to work as a team member.
  • Ability to demonstrate empathy and sensitivity to the individual and community, acknowledging cultural and religious differences.
  • Ability to organise and manage one's activities responsibly and effectively.
  • Ability to collect, analyse and critically evaluate information.
  • Demonstrate ability to assess and diagnose dermatology problems.
  • Demonstrate ability to manage dermatology problems.
  • Demonstrate knowledge regarding physiology and pathogenesis of adult and paediatric diseases.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of investigations relevant to adult and paediatric diseases.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the management of adult and paediatric diseases.
  • Demonstrate ability to critically assess literature on the mechanisms of disease and the cost effectiveness of medication and investigation.
  • Demonstrate ability to successfully liaise between clinicians, allied health professionals technical and laboratory staff to optimise patient care.
  • Demonstrate the ability to lead, communicate, advocate, plan and manage for a health promoting intervention at all levels of societal organisation.
  • Demonstrate the ability to perform simple skin and mucosal biopsies relevant to office dermatology.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of basic skin anatomy relevant to this surgery.
  • Demonstrate the ability to recognise and interpret skin pathology with clinico-pathological correlation.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of normal human skin anatomy and histology.
  • Ability to collect and analyse relevant data in order to draw conclusions for publication and to inform policy decision making.
  • Ability to formulate and implement appropriate research and to interpret the results.

    Integrated Assessment:
    1. Certification by the head of the learners training qualification that they have completed at least 3 years in a Health and Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA) approved dermatology registrar post prior to writing the final assessments.
    2. Three written exams in basic sciences - Part 1(anatomy and histochemistry of the skin; physiology and biochemistry of the skin; general principles of pathology).
    3. An oral assessment in basic sciences - Part 1(anatomy and histochemistry of the skin; physiology and biochemistry of the skin; general principles of pathology).
    4. Two written assessments on the principles and practice of general medicine and dermatology - Part II (including diagnosis, pathogenesis, pathology, investigation, differential diagnosis, and treatment of diseases).
    5. An objective oral assessment in the principles and practice of dermatology and general medicine - Part II (including diagnosis, pathogenesis, pathology, investigation, differential diagnosis and treatment of diseases).
    6. An objective assessment of dermatopathology - Part II (evaluation of histopathology slides of skin diseases).
    7. Submission of a dissertation - Part III (reporting the results of research conducted by the learners. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification compares with the international qualifications in terms of the range of competencies in the learning content offered. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows for both horizontal and vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Medicine, NQF Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Medicine, NQF Level 10.
  • Doctor of Medicine in Dermatology, NQF Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. University of Cape Town 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.