Training Program

This program is geared toward rheumatologists and other applicable health care professionals who want to learn how to utilize musculoskeletal ultrasound to provide improved patient care.

A Fellow is a rheumatology fellow who is currently enrolled in a fellowship program.

A Non-Fellow is someone who is NOT enrolled in a rheumatology fellowship program. While previous participants have included academic and private practice rheumatologists, internal medicine physicians, or other MDs, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and sports medicine specialists, the focus of the teaching is on rheumatic disease manifestation visible on ultrasound scanning.

View the 2025-2026 Course Syllabus here

FELLOWS

• USSONAR Fundamentals in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Program Registration Fee: $530 (by credit card payment, nonrefundable)
  • This Program Registration Fee ($530) gives registrants full access to the program's educational materials for 1 year and 8 months with at least 4 weeks of ability to submit and receive mentorship on their scans. Please see FAQ below on "Will everyone be accepted into the program?" for full details regarding the competitive exam, and full admission into the program after September.
• Written and Practical Exam Registration Fee: $0
• USSONAR Fundamentals in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Program Mid-Year Hands-On Course Registration Fee: $2,100 (Scholarships are available, see below)
  • $2,100 covers the full cost of registration to the hands-on course.
• Scholarships are available depending on funding. If funding is available, there will be a limited number of scholarships based on competitive fellow participation in the program during the months of October through December.
• NOT INCLUDED: Fees associated with travel and hotel accommodations for hands-on course and final exam.

NON-FELLOWS

• USSONAR Fundamentals in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Program Registration Fee: $5800 (by credit card payment)
• Written and Practical Exam Registration Fee: $0
• USSONAR Fundamentals in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Program Mid-Year Hands-On Course Registration Fee: $0
• NOT INCLUDED: Fees associated with travel and hotel accommodations for hands-on workshop and final exam.

View the 2025-2026 Course Syllabus here

FELLOWS
 

• We have a minimum of 35 fellow spots due to variable non-fellow demand
• Participation in the first month of the program is open to all fellows who successfully register, but participation in the full program is a competitive process determined by program participation in the month of September and may be limited to 35 fellows.
• The top 35 fellows who complete all of the assignments, submit at least 16 full ultrasound studies and show responsiveness to feedback, and get the highest scores on a written quiz at the end of September will be invited to participate in the remaining 7 months of the program.
• If you are not accepted into the full 8-month program
  • You will receive 1 year 7 months free access of USSONAR membership which gives you immediate access to the same internet-based course material used in the 8-month training program.
  • You will no longer be able to upload studies/assignments for review, or attend the hands-on workshop or final examination.

NON-FELLOWS
 

• We have 30 non-fellow spots available for participation in the full 8-month program. If we receive more than 30 applications, then preference is given to academic rheumatologists who train fellows.
• If you are not accepted into the full 8-month program
  • You can reapply next year and will have priority over other applicants.
  • You can sign up to become a member of USSONAR which gives you immediate access to the same internet-based course material used in the 8-month training program.

View the 2025-2026 Course Syllabus here

FELLOWS ONLY

• Permission from your program director to scan your patients for educational purposes and to fully participate in all three portions of the training program.
• Download, review and complete the Program Director Letter of Fellow Support.
• Attend the Fundamentals Applicant Informational Zoom meeting on Aug. 11th at 8 PM ET.
  • If you were not able to attend, please watch the Zoom Recording here. Passcode: Tbc68$cy
  • You can view the PowerPoint Presentation for the meeting here. Please be aware of the following clarifications:
    • Fellows cannot use Butterfly (or similar handheld devices, such as Clarius, Vscan, Sonoque, or Lumify).
    • If a fellow does not make the full program this year, he/she cannot pay the non-fellow price for acceptance this current year.
    • The system that the application is housed in does not send confirmation emails, but when it comes time to make the payment for the course, you will receive an email confirmation for the payment. Please ensure you receive the “Thank You” message as confirmation that your application has gone through.

FELLOWS and NON-FELLOWS

• Access to ultrasound equipment during the time you see patients (this equipment must allow you to export images for editing and web-based submission.)
• The dedication and time to spend 3 hrs per week on ultrasound-related learning outside of your day-to-day work or school time.
• Attend the hands-on workshop
• Attend the final ultrasound exam
• Full payment for the program, in-person events, and travel fees.
• Acceptance of our Terms of Use → Click here to read.
• View the 2025-2026 Course Syllabus here
• To help us better evaluate curriculum effectiveness and track individual growth in competencies over time, all participants will also need to complete the USSONAR Fundamentals in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Program Applicant Survey

NON-FELLOWS

• Download, review, and complete the Non-Fellow Letter of Agreement
• Optional, but recommended: Attend the USSONAR Fundamentals in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Program Applicant Informational Zoom meeting on Aug. 11th at 8 PM EST.
  • If you were not able to attend, please watch the Zoom Recording here. Passcode: Tbc68$cy
  • You can view the PowerPoint Presentation for the meeting here. Please be aware of the following clarifications:
    • Fellows cannot use Butterfly (or similar handheld devices, such as Clarius, Vscan, Sonoque, or Lumify).
    • If a fellow does not make the full program this year, he/she cannot pay the non-fellow price for acceptance this current year.
    • The system that the application is housed in does not send confirmation emails, but when it comes time to make the payment for the course, you will receive an email confirmation for the payment. Please ensure you receive the “Thank You” message as confirmation that your application has gone through.

The training program is the right choice if you’re looking for personalized 1:1 training where you upload your own ultrasound scans and receive direct mentor supervision with personalized feedback, explore our 8 month training program. This program combines online training along with live in person events. It's only offered once a year and has limited enrollment. You will receive a free year of membership upon completion of the program.

The membership is perfect if you want a self-paced learning curriculum taught by experts in musculoskeletal ultrasound and do not want the other features of the training program. The educational materials include all of the modules used in our 8 month training program, plus 3 additional ones. Membership is open to anyone interested in learning musculoskeletal ultrasound, and you’ll have immediate access to all of the educational materials after signing up.

View the 2025-2026 Course Syllabus here

• Application window opens - Aug. 5, 2025
• USSONAR Fundamentals in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Training Program Applicant Informational Call - Aug. 11th at 8 PM ET (Mandatory for fellow applicants, optional but encouraged for non-fellows).
  • Watch the USSONAR Fundamentals in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Program Applicant Informational Call Zoom Meeting here.
    Passcode: Tbc68$cy
  • Please note the following corrections.
    • Fellows cannot use Butterfly (or similar handheld devices, such as Clarius, Vscan, Sonoque, or Lumify).
    • If a fellow does not make the full program this year, he/she cannot pay the non-fellow price for acceptance this current year.
    • The system that the application is housed in does not send confirmation emails, but when it comes time to make the payment for the course, you will receive an email confirmation for the payment. Please ensure you receive the “Thank You” message as confirmation that your application has gone through.
• Application deadline - Aug. 29, 2025
• Quiz to determine the selection of fellows attending the full course - Sept. 27, 2025
• Notification of acceptance or denial into the full program (fellows only) - End of Sept, 2025
• Full course begins - Oct. 1, 2025
• Hands-on Workshop in Tampa. FL - Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2026
• Virtual Knowledge and Skills Assessment - May 2026

View the 2025-2026 Course Syllabus here