ABIM Rheumatology Board Certification Practice Test
Board certification for rheumatology subspecialty covering autoimmune diseases, inflammatory arthritis, vasculitis, crystal arthropathies, and biologic therapies. Administered by American Board of Internal Medicine. Key domains include Other Rheumatic and Connective Tissue Disorders (ORCT), Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus Erythematosus and Nonrheumatic Systemic Disorders. The exam consists of 240 questions over 600 minutes.
Sample Questions
Try a few questions to see what the full exam is like.
43 of 140 answers carry a checkable reference.
A 73-year-old woman with hemochromatosis develops acute swelling of the second and third MCP joints and wrist. Radiographs show hook-like MCP osteophytes and chondrocalcinosis. Synovial fluid has weakly positive rhomboid crystals. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A 40-year-old woman has recurrent low-grade fevers, urticaria-like plaques lasting more than 24 hours, arthralgias, low C4, and biopsy showing leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Anti-C1q is positive. Which mechanism best explains her syndrome?
A 33-year-old woman with photosensitive rash, arthritis, leukopenia, and positive ANA has anti-Sm antibodies. Her anti-dsDNA is negative and complements are normal. She asks whether the anti-Sm result is useful if it does not track disease activity. Which statement is most accurate?
A 67-year-old man with hip pain has groin pain with internal rotation, reduced hip internal rotation, and radiographs showing superior joint-space narrowing and osteophytes. ESR and CRP are normal. Which feature most supports hip OA rather than trochanteric pain syndrome?
A 31-year-old woman with biopsy-proven class IV lupus nephritis begins mycophenolate, hydroxychloroquine, and a glucocorticoid taper. Her proteinuria remains 2.7 g/day at 3 months but creatinine is stable and urinary sediment is improving. Which add-on concept reflects current guideline-era care for selected patients with persistent proteinuria?
Why This Certification Opens Doors
Board certification is more than a credential; it is a public commitment to excellence. In practical terms, it is often a prerequisite for hospital privileges, academic appointments, and certain leadership roles. For patients, it provides assurance that their physician has met nationally recognized standards for knowledge and competence in diagnosing and managing often-chronic, systemic diseases that significantly impact quality of life. The certification process ensures that rheumatologists are equipped to navigate the rapid advancements in biologic therapies and complex treatment algorithms, directly translating to more accurate diagnoses, safer treatment plans, and improved patient outcomes in a challenging clinical domain.
Exam Blueprint
Each domain is weighted to match the real certification exam, so a full practice simulation predicts your result.