ABIM Rheumatology Board Certification Practice Test
Build your confidence for ABIM Rheumatology Board Certification. Practice the concepts, understand the answers, and strengthen your knowledge one question at a time.
Try a sample questionExam overview and details
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
Choose an answer and explore the explanation to see how practice works.
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?
Career Opportunities & Salary
Exam insights and study advice
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.
What this exam covers
Use the published domain weights to plan your study. Practice results do not predict your certification exam score.
01Other Rheumatic and Connective Tissue Disorders (ORCT)
This section addresses a broad range of connective tissue disorders not categorized elsewhere, requiring candidates to understand complex connective tissue pathology and manage the systemic symptoms that often accompany these challenging and diverse clinical conditions.
02Rheumatoid Arthritis
This section focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of rheumatoid arthritis, requiring candidates to be proficient in identifying joint inflammation and utilizing disease-modifying therapies to slow disease progression and improve patient outcomes.
03Lupus Erythematosus
This domain focuses on the clinical management of systemic lupus erythematosus, requiring candidates to identify autoimmune markers and manage organ involvement to provide care for patients living with this complex and multi-system autoimmune disease.
04Nonrheumatic Systemic Disorders
This domain addresses systemic conditions that present with nonrheumatic features, requiring candidates to recognize systemic manifestations and understand the impact of these conditions on various organ systems to provide holistic care for their patients.
05Vasculitides
This section focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of various forms of vasculitis, requiring candidates to identify vessel inflammation and apply current vasculitis classification systems to guide effective treatment and improve long-term patient health outcomes.
06Basic and Clinical Sciences
This domain covers the fundamental scientific principles and clinical applications necessary for rheumatology practice, ensuring that candidates understand the underlying mechanisms of disease and the appropriate application of scientific knowledge in a clinical setting.
07Nonarticular and Regional Musculoskeletal Disorders
This section covers regional musculoskeletal disorders that do not primarily involve joint articulation, requiring candidates to diagnose soft tissue disorders and provide effective treatment for patients experiencing localized or regional pain in the musculoskeletal system.
08Spondyloarthritis
This domain covers the spectrum of spondyloarthritis conditions affecting the spine and joints, requiring candidates to recognize the signs of spinal inflammation and implement appropriate management plans for patients with these chronic inflammatory conditions.
09Infections and Related Arthritides
This domain addresses infections that manifest as arthritis or related joint inflammation, requiring candidates to distinguish between infectious and non-infectious causes while developing appropriate management strategies for patients presenting with these complex clinical symptoms.
10Metabolic Bone Disease
This section covers the diagnosis and management of conditions affecting bone metabolism, focusing on the evaluation of bone density and the treatment of metabolic disorders to prevent fractures and maintain skeletal health in patients.
11Crystal-induced Arthropathies
This section focuses on the identification and management of various arthropathies caused by crystal deposits, requiring candidates to demonstrate proficiency in diagnostic techniques and the implementation of effective treatment protocols for these specific joint conditions.
12Osteoarthritis and Related Disorders
This domain examines the clinical presentation and management of osteoarthritis and related degenerative joint disorders, emphasizing the importance of understanding cartilage degradation and implementing joint management strategies to improve patient mobility and quality of life.
13Miscellaneous Topics
This domain covers miscellaneous topics relevant to the practice of rheumatology, ensuring that candidates stay informed about emerging topics and general rheumatology principles that are necessary for maintaining a high standard of clinical practice today.