Activity Overview

The Fundamentals of Rheumatology Course is a series of (10) online learning activities developed to provide foundational knowledge and develop skills needed for professionals new to rheumatology to succeed in clinical practice.  The course provides information on signs, symptoms, and treatments for the most common forms of rheumatic disease, and addresses key areas such as pain management, psychosocial challenges, rehabilitation, and self-management support strategies.  This course is also useful for experienced rheumatology professionals looking for a refresher on these key areas of practice.

*A passing score of 70% or greater on the post-test is required to be eligible to claim CME credits.

Fundamentals of Rheumatology Course: All Activities

• Activity 1 –  Discover the Basics: Immunology, Autoimmunity, and Inflammation
• Activity 2 – Explore Systemic Inflammatory Diseases in Adults and Children
• Activity 3 –  Differentiate Non-Inflammatory Conditions: Osteoarthritis, Fibromyalgia, and Soft Tissue Disorders
• Activity 4 –  Assess your Patient with Rheumatic Disease
• Activity 5 –  Address Psychosocial Impact to Enhance Patient Outcomes
• Activity 6 –  Counsel your Patient on Rheumatology Medications
• Activity 7 –  Help Your Patient Manage Their Pain
• Activity 8 –  Use Rehabilitation to Improve Your Patient’s Function, Fatigue, and Pain
• Activity 9 –  Stimulate and Support Your Patient’s Self-Management
• Activity 10 –  Optimize Care for Your Pediatric Patient

Registration is complimentary for ACR/ARP members. If you are not a member, consider joining ACR/ARP.

Target Audience

The course was created for professionals looking to expand their understanding of interdisciplinary rheumatology care. This includes registered nurses, occupational therapists, office staff, physical therapists, pharmacists, psychologists, research associates, social workers, other rheumatology professionals, and students who have been working in rheumatology for less than two years. More experienced professionals might also find this Fundamentals of Rheumatology Course a helpful review.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to do the following:

• Describe the basics of innate and adaptive immunity and their functions
• Describe the structure and function of bone, muscle, cartilage, and connective tissue
• Recognize the immunologic targets of various common disease-modifying agents and biologics
• Describe the physiologic processes of inflammation, immunity, and immune deregulation in context of rheumatologic diseases
• Recall the basics of joint structure, synovium, and different types of joints

CE & MOC Information

CME

ACCME Accreditation Statement
The American College of Rheumatology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 

AMA Designation Statement

The American College of Rheumatology designates this Enduring Material for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CME credit must be claimed by June 23, 2028, at 11:59 PM ET.

ACR Disclosure Statement

It is the policy of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) to ensure that Continuing Medical Education (CME) activities are independent and free of commercial bias. To ensure educational content is objective, balanced, and guarantee content presented is in the best interest of its learners and the public, the ACR requires that everyone in a position to control educational content disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies within the prior 24 months. An ineligible company is one whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. Examples can be found at accme.org.

In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, ACR has implemented mechanisms prior to the planning and implementation of this CME activity to identify and mitigate all relevant financial relationships for all individuals in a position to control the content of this CME activity.  

Nature of Financial Relationships

All individuals that participate in an ACR-sponsored activity and are able to change content or influence the content of the activity must disclose to the planning committee and audience all financial or other relationships with ineligible companies including, but not limited to:

• Advisor or review panel member
• Consultant
• Employee
• Officer or Board Member
• Grant/research support
• Speaker/honoraria includes speaker’s bureau, symposia, and expert witness
• Independent contractor
• Executive role and/or ownership interest
• Royalties and/or patent beneficiary
• Intellectual property/patents
• Stock options or bond holdings in a for-profit corporation or self-directed pension plan
• Private investigator
• Expert witness
• Equity interest
• Other: specify details 

None: Has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose. 

All participants that created and/or were able to influence the content and delivery of this activity reported the following disclosures. All of the relevant financial relationships listed have been mitigated. FRC Relaunch 2025 Financial Relationship Disclosures.

ACR Disclosure Statement

No commercial support was provided for this activity.

Educational Activity Policies

See ACR educational activity policies, including the online enduring activity refund policy.