Professional Certificate in Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics
Course Overview
The Professional Certificate in Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics is designed to meet a demand for postgraduate level education in the science of tissue typing for transfusion and transplantation. Solid organ and tissue transplantation saves and/or improves the lives of approximately 12,000 recipient Australians annually, and blood and platelet transfusion is a core part of Australia’s healthcare system.
Successful completion of the Professional Certificate in Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics prepares students for sitting the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) examination for Clinical Laboratory Standards Part 1 (Immunopathology: subtopic Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics)
Why the Professional Certificate in Histocompatibility and Immunogenetic?
This Professional Certificate will be suitable for recent graduates or professionals working in the field to build on their existing skills and further develop their career, including;
- recent graduates of a Medical Laboratory Science degree (e.g., UniSA’s Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine (Hons)), or
- Bachelor of Science with studies in immunology, genetics, molecular biology and pathology, or scientists already working in diagnostic or research laboratories who aspire to work in tissue typing, or
Scientists working in Tissue Typing laboratories who wish to obtain professional recognition. This recognition may be through the Professional Certificate in Transplantation Immunology, and through additional studies with the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia.
Course structure
The Professional Certificate in Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics requires the completion of two short courses delivered entirely online:
- Concepts in Immunogenetics and Histocompatibility (SCCHS 90006)
- Clinical Immunogenetics and Histocompatibility (SCCHS 90007)
Available courses
Concepts in Immunogenetics and Histocompatibility
This course has been designed to develop student knowledge of immunogenetic and histocompatibility related to solid organ transplantation, stem cell transplantation, transfusion medicine and HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) mechanisms in disease and pharmacogenetics.
Immunogenetic and Histocompatibility topics covered include General Histocompatibility, Clinical histocompatibility in transplantation, Stem Cell transplantation, Solid Organ Transplantation, HLA – disease associations and pharmacogenomics and HLA in transfusion.
Clinical Immunogenetics and Histocompatibility
This course, designed to follow on from the course Concepts in Immunogenetics and Histocompatibility, has been designed to develop understanding of transfusion and transplant immunopathologies, laboratory testing and results analysis in clinical settings.
Students must complete the first course Concepts in Immunogenetics and Histocompatibility before enrolling and completing in the second course Clinical Immunogenetics and Histocompatibility.
Assessment
Both courses in the Professional Certificate in Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics are graded and feature the following assessments
Concepts in Immunogenetics and Histocompatibility
- Quiz – 1 hour (50%)
- Viva – 30mins (50%)
Clinical Immunogenetics and Histocompatibility
- Quiz – 1 hour (30%)
- Viva – 30mins (35%)
- Case Study – 2000 words (35%)
Students are required to successfully complete all assessments of both courses to be eligible for the short program award Professional Certificate in Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics
Prerequisite requirements
Students seeking admission into the Professional Certificate in Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, students must meet the following prerequisite requirements
- Completion of an Undergraduate program including coursework in fields including Immunology, Pathophysiology, Genetics, Molecular Biology and Pathology at 2nd or 3rd year (AQF 7 intermediate or advanced) levels (or equivalent industry experience as determined by the course coordinator)
For the course Clinical Immunogenetics and Histocompatibility access to OrganMatch or similar laboratory management systems is required to understand the registration and management of patient data within clinical transplantation and transfusion medicine.
Membership of the American Society of Immunogenetics and Histocompatibility (ASHI) is highly recommended to enable access to ASHI-developed education material including “ASHI quarterly” and online access to online education material including the journals “Human Immunology” and “HLA”.
Janeway’s “Immunobiology” textbook is also acceptable.
How to apply
Applications for Semester 2, 2023 are now open.
Please download and complete the application form and include it with your application.
Please contact CHS-TeachingLearning@unisa.edu.au to submit your application .
Additional information
Cancellation and Refund Policy
The University of South Australia reserves the right to cancel the delivery of this short course and issue refunds.
In the event that an attendee cannot attend, a substitute is welcome to attend in their place. No refunds will be given unless 21 days’ notice is given in writing prior to the date of the course. If less than 21 days the fee can be used for the same course at a later stage, or another course of the same value.
Refunds for the Professional Certificate in Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, and its associated short courses, will only be available prior to the course delivery start date. No refunds will be considered or issued after the teaching start date.
Certificate of Completion
Students who successfully complete the Professional Certificate in Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics will receive a certificate of completion.
