Doctors who have completed 1) ACCO surgical certificate and 2) ACCO dermoscopy certificate are encouraged to advance their training next to Associate Fellow level.
Doctors must have also completed:
- Face and ear workshop
- Dermatopathology workshop
- A log book showing 8 flap closure techniques covered during ACCO workshops. Photographic examples of each required
- The log book must also demonstrate skills with skin grafting, - including photos.
The ACCO Associate Fellow level has been designed with the vast rural areas of Australia and New Zealand in mind. In rural and remote patients frequently expect their doctor to manage their problems locally. A holder of will be able to manage most of their patient's skin cancers in their own town. In towns that have a hospital, the ACCO Associate Fellow indicates the doctor has the knowledge to safely effect skin cancer surgery in the hospital's facilities. This level indicates the knowledge and surgical skills to manage most skin cancers that present to the clinic.
Associate Fellows holders are not expected to manage all skin cancers. More difficult malignancies will frequently be referred to more senior colleagues.
Further knowledge required at Associate Fellow level?
ACCO Associate Fellows have a sound knowledge of facial anatomy including the facial nerve, trigeminal nerve, arteries on the face and facial landmarks.
Candidates are expected to know a little of some rarer skin cancers such as atypical fibroxanthoma, merkel cell tumour and sebaceous carcinoma. However knowledge of management of these tumours is not required at Associate Fellow level.
Associate Fellows have a sound knowledge of photodynamic therapy, usage of topical imiquimod and 5 fluoro uracil and diclofenac.
Associate Fellows are aware of the role of medications in managing melanoma, including PD1 drugs, BRAF and MEK inhibitors