Course Overview:

The 2025 Dermatology Essentials and Advanced Pharmacology for NPs and PAs course focuses on common and complex dermatology, excluding aesthetics. The educational content is organized to maximize learning and aligns with the blueprints for the Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam, as well as the NCCPA CAQ-Derm certification. A variety of teaching methods are employed during the program and includes audience polling to assess attendee’s acquisition of knowledge and prescribing practices. A copy of the course agenda is included.

The first two days of the program concentrate on building knowledge for accurate diagnosis and therapeutic management of skin diseases, including the newest pharmacotherapeutics. In addition to preparing dermatology NPs and PAs for certification, the goal is to enhance their ability to synthesize and integrate new knowledge to formulate management approaches for patient care. The third day features newly expanded content that not only enhances foundational concepts of pharmacotherapies, but also engages learners in the clinical integration of new drugs. Dermatology NP and PA attendees will actively participate in polling during case studies that involve patient selection, drug options, adverse events, and monitoring. The goal is to empower clinicians to confidently prescribe dermatologic medications safely and effectively.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:
    • Utilize advanced dermatology knowledge and skills to improve diagnostic accuracy including assessment, differential diagnosis, and evidence-based practices for optimal patient outcomes.
    • Synthesize and apply comprehensive dermatology knowledge to achieve expert-level proficiency for attendees preparing for the DCNP certification or CAQ-DERM certificate examinations.
    • Critically evaluate and incorporate advanced pharmacological principles to develop innovative and individualized treatment strategies for complex dermatologic conditions.
    • Conduct in-depth analysis of patient-specific factors, including genetic and immunological profiles, to optimize drug selection, monitor adverse events, manage contraindications, and refine dosing regimens for dermatologic therapies.

Program Highlights

    • Enhanced full day of pharmacology with interactive sessions focused on patient selection, safety, efficacy, monitoring, and when to change drug therapies.
    • Core curriculum based on DCNP and CAQ-Derm certification blueprints- clinical competencies for all dermatology NPs and PA
    • Focused sessions on medical dermatology to improve diagnostic accuracy and confidence to prescribe pharmacotherapeutics
    • “Test Your Knowledge” sessions and contests
    • Certification test-taking skills and certification exam practice questions
    • All faculty are expert dermatology NP & PA educators
    • Professional networking opportunities
CDNP PA